2020 Tacoma Bluetooth and Audio Connection Issues

So I've had my 2020 Tacoma now for about 3 months and just about ready to take a hammer to the head unit.

It doesn't matter if I connect with lightening cable (Car Play) or Bluetooth (Toyota hands free), the quality of my conversation for the other person is absolute garbage. I've heard my voice sounds like there are 'bubbles' in the background that make most of the conversation next to impossible for them to understand.

I've tested the call quality with the local service manager and they too are having a hard time hearing the conversation and understanding what is being said.

Toyota has added a new microphone above the driver's head and have adjustments for in-call volume and transmission volume. This makes me think the engineers knew the system was challenged from the start with all these additional features. I've played with all the adjustments with the service manager and improvements are barely noticeable.

When my 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2016 Tacomas all had excellent call quality, the 2020 is disappointing to say the least.

Anyone else have this issue or should I push for a head unit replacement?

 

Mine works fine, I would push for replacement of components until it is fixed.

 

I may do that. I’m on the latest iOS and have done the whole remove/forget this device and relink process and it still fails to impress.

 

No call quality complaints here with Android Auto or Bluetooth.

 

I'm good too.

It may be either a bad headunit, yeah, or the cable between the mic and the radio. I don't know but if they're like other brands, it's a 3-wire shielded coax from mic to radio and if it's damaged somewhat but still has continuity, it'd pass tests, not set errors and still sound like trash.

Example to explain why the techs may be having a hard time- It's a microphone, right? So it's a speaker working the other way. You have a positive and negative wire, plus a 3rd wire that goes to the woven ribbon shield. If you have a half squished wire that is only shorting negative to shield (ground, it just goes to a chassis ground in the radio) maybe it won't set an error but it'll absorb some of the voltage of the signal and make it sound terrible. No error for the negative to ground because the radio is just grounding the negative after it reads it anyway. All wires still have continuity and the radio can still read the right resistance across the mic... or it's at least not open, showing that it's connected.

 

I have not experience that ... my problem is if I have the FM/AM on and touch my phone it automatic starts playing my music or podcast.....

 

Hm. android or apple? Touching your phone may be interpreted as wanting to control the radio with the phone. Update software on all the things! lol

 

My 2020 performs great with my Iphone. No complaints at all.

 

OP, I have the same complaint on my 2020 with my iPhone. Whether by bluetooth or carplay the person I'm talking to can't understand me and I also often get this high pitched digital noise for a few seconds on my end. Curious to know how it goes with the dealer trying to fix it as I want to get them involved with mine at some point.

 

My 19 pro is the same way. I have to use a bluetooth earpiece to be able to talk to anyone. Hopefully a fix in the works. I heard something about a service bulletin coming out to address the stereo reception, maybe this will fix the interference in the mic?

 

Picked up my 2020 Tacoma TRD OffRoad 4x4 6sp manual a week ago. I have noticed the same thing. With the manual transmission, the JBL System isn’t available. I was wondering if that played a role. Have you fixed your issue? I had a 2016 Tacoma and had no issues with phone quality.

 

I just bought a 2021 TRD Off Road 4x4 and mine sounds like garbage too. I am going to try pairing my wife's phone to see if it happens with hers.
This is the 4th Tacoma I have owned and never had this issue with any of the previous trucks.
Did anyone here get resolution who had the issue?

 

You have to buy an aftermarket headunit and mic, or use a bluetooth earpiece. I had my 19 pro w/ jbl in the shop several times before finally replacing the headnuit. They replaced the mic, then the cable, then the headunit due to random reboots. Still, people had a hard time on the other end.

 

I paired my wife's phone and everything sounded good. It seems to be compatibility with my particular Android phone.

 

I have the same issue with my 2018 . I even did the update to my head unit using entune app but still the same issue. I have a friend who works in the dealer and he’s going to check out using my VIN #. Let’s see what he finds !

 

2022 SR5 and less than 60 miles on it.. Can make/receive calls and hear the other caller fine, but they can not hear me - I have two Android phones and it does it with both. Also a few guys at work, all new trucks (company cars) have the exact same issues. Has anyone found a fix, Toyota dealer tells me nothing is wrong.

 

No issues from me and my 2020. I’ve had some people come through sounding very muted on rare occasions but not sure if that’s an actual issue with the car or other factors

 

Are there any updates regarding this issue? i just purchased a new 2022 trd off road and i am having the same issue but only when i am connected with the wire with my iphone. it seems to work fine when i am connected with just bluetooth

 

Same for me. I have a 2020 Tacoma and I can hear people but often they say they can’t hear me. I’ve tried IPhone and droid. Phones are new too. Has to be Toyota. Very disappointed.

 

I Just bought a 21 Tacoma and am having all these issues...people can't hear me...radio stops playing and changes source to Iphone...Very frustrating!!