Factory stereo Bluetooth connections dropping

2018 DCSB Sport 7" factory audio.

I keep my phone connected via Bluetooth all the time (try to anyway) and usually play Spotify or Pandora, do calls occasionally, and run Waze or Google Maps audio.

Recently the Bluetooth connection has been completely dropping a lot. I was having to go into Bluetooth settings on the radio and reconnect phone and audio separately and manually, but discovered I can power cycle the radio to reset it (a lot safer while driving).

Is this a known issue with the factory radio, and is there any fix other than putting an aftermarket stereo in?

 

I don't know if it's officially a "known" issue by toyota but many people here including myself have had various issues with the Bluetooth in these trucks. Mine is mostly not displaying music info with YouTube music and randomly sounding like a slowed down record. The latter is easily fixed by disconnecting and reconnecting BT but still very annoying. Some people have had luck by uninstalling the entune app from their phone.

 

If android, my s10 (unlocked) just updated and has had issues with a Bluetooth speaker connection dropping. Its odd, never had the issue before. Ill reset all the Bluetooth stuff later today and see how it goes. Updates of any sort on any kind of device seem to do crap like this for me, so ill clear caches, repair, etc and all is well. Back on task, I use my phone connected to the truck via USB (2020 AA) so I can't comment on that, really. I was irritated by the Bluetooth dropping out yesterday and thought it was funny to see you post, figured I'd chime in and see what you and others come up with.

Edit: i saw where people have had various apps vying for control of bluetooth and it really pissing things off, so maybe give that a once over too.

 

I should have mentioned it's an Android phone, and I don't have the Entune app installed.

 

I believe I read in another thread that someone had luck with taking it to a dealer and having them reset the head unit. I had the same exact issue in my 2019 before I sold it and was never able to find a fix for it.

 

Interesting, this JUST started happening to me today. Bluetooth drops, and then it’ll try to reconnect and fail.

Was able to clear bluetooth from my phone and headunit, seems to be working now.

 

It seems like that would work for me for like a day or so, but it always eventually came back. I hope it doesn't for you. That problem was the icing on the cake that just convinced me to upgrade.

 

dang... sucks because the ipad mount I am working on relies on the bluetooth working

 

I have a three week old Tacoma and it has happened to me three times. I took it to the dealer and they say everything is find, but I will bring it back if it keeps doing it and recording when and what it does.

 

It happens to me every once in a while too. Not sure if this happens to others, but for some reason it just stops playing the song. To fix it, I have to either go back and restart the song or go to the next song. I just live with it and either use the radio or yes even play a CD from time to time (I know the 2020's don't have the CD option anymore). I figure at some point I'll end up getting a different head unit.

 

I have a CD always loaded for when radio doesn’t work or bluetooth cuts out!

 

Same here. Wife and I have some old ones that we like to hear every once in a while.

 

It's frustrating... My connection dropped like 5 times during a 45 mile drive Friday evening.

 

Wow! I have never had that happen to me. Sometimes, I have to start playing the song on my phone so it can connect to bluetooth. Like I mentioned in a previous post I just live with it...

 

I have to restart my stereo multiple times a week. It sucks but its pretty quick

 

Out of curiosity how do you reset it?

 

My truck was at the dealer for 7.5 hours today for the “ Elapsed Time after start” and Car play not working correctly and has to go back so Toyota engineers can look at more stuff. They tried to reset the system, but they think it might take a new head unit.

 

Press the volume button in for a few seconds and the stereo will restart. Just press in until the stereo restarts

 

I do a test on my iPhone , if I using wireless charger during the talk on the phone , the head unit will drop the Bluetooth connection but if I using lightning cable charging it, it won’t do that. Can you do a test or tell me when it drop the Bluetooth connection are you using wireless charger or lightning port to charge your phone.

 

If you were asking me, I have an android phone without wireless charging.