Does iOS 8.1.3 update does it fix Bluetooth glitches/issues with in-car infotainment systems?

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iOS813Apple released iOS 8.1.3 update for iPhone 5/S/c and iPhone 6/6+ iPod 5G, iPad Air 1-2, iPad mini 1-3, second-to-fourth-gen iPad, with bug fixes, performances improvements and a reduction in the amount of free storage required to perform the update.

We know our readers want to know if it fixes the notorious Bluetooth glitches that honored Apple with the Edsel Hugo Award for the Biggest Snafu of 2014.

As of today, we were still receiving complaints from iOS 8.1+ and iPhone 6/6+ owners with problems with their in-car infotainment systems.

It has been reported that iOS 8.1.3 fixes these glitches:

  • Glitch that prevented users from entering their Apple ID password for Messages and FaceTime,
  • The Spotlight search feature showed app results.
  • Multitasking gestures didn’t work right on iPads.

The update is available over-the-air (OTA) or through iTunes. We have been combing changelogs and there seems to be no mention of the word “Bluetooth.”

We did see one report that after the 8.1.3 update, the user had to power down and re-pair the Bluetooth connection with Bluetooth headsets and then it worked.

“Apple is done. Their new IOS is #$%$,” wrote one web commenter.

According to forum posts, the update does not fix the slow Wi-Fi and battery-drain issues with older iPhone and iPads since the release of iOS 8 in September. There also appear to problems with calendars, Wi-Fi connections, out of order photos on iPhone 5 models,

The update to iOS 8.1.3 does add new configuration options for standardized education testing.

Bluetooth problems been reported, again with the release of iOS 8.1.3 just like every other update, reported another tech website.

We at AUTO Connected Car News continue to hear about Bluetooth connection problems and iOS 8.xx or iPhone 6/6+ reported with BMW, Audi, Acura, MINI, GM(Chevy, GMC, Cadillac, Buick), Honda, Kia, Toyota, Volkswagen (VW), Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, Lexus, Fiat, Dodge Challenger (UConnect), Hyundai and more from our readers’ comments.

The fourth version of iOS 8.2 is being Beta tested by developers and has a new Bluetooth setting for the Apple Watch due out in March with new Bluetooth settings. Since CES we have been working with a vendor of car accessories to see if they can offer an inexpensive device to help.

Previously, after talking to many car makers we tried to find out Why Bluetooth iOS 8-8.1 & iPhone 6-6+ issues persist in cars. Commenters showed their disgust and frustration to the tune of hundreds of reports of Bluetooth malfunctions. It seemed like the 8.1 update helped with a few new model cars. Read a summary of Bluetooth issues and fixes along with the new “audio-only” connection fix. Read the most popular nuke-it fixes.

If you have updated to iOS 8.1-8.1.3 or iPhone 6-6+ and it fixed or fried your Bluetooth issues with your in-car infotainment system, please let us know in the comments below, be sure to note the make, model and year of your vehicle as well as Bluetooth issues you have.

So far we haven’t a automaker that has been mentioned at least once. In fact, one of our readers alerted us to a link to the Mazda Handsfree website that shows functionality for cars and phones. We put in the Mazda 3 with a Verizon iPhone 5 running iOS 8, and you can’t receive calls hands-free.

Mazda previously noted problems with iOS8, at least they are telling the truth.

We are dedicated to finding a solution for ourselves and our readers. You are welcome to sign up for a newsletter that covers iOS 8 and Bluetooth issues to be notified of a solution. The Toyota website sends users to a link to Apple for Bluetooth fixes to update to iOS 8.1 for iPhone 6 models while Honda’s website shows that a 2014 Honda Accord is compatible for most features with an iPhone 6 with iOS 8.02.


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44 thoughts on “Does iOS 8.1.3 update does it fix Bluetooth glitches/issues with in-car infotainment systems?”

  2. New iPhone 6 with iOS 8.4 will not pair with MyLink on 2014 Chevy SS. iPhone 5 worked flawlessly. Sure glad I got a new iPhone!

  3. New 2015 Cadillac SRX with Cue problem. Receiving texts but unable to respond with pre-defined texts or call back from the text screen! Re-payed iPhone 6 many many times to know avail! Any fixes out there?

  4. IPhone S4 with – 2015 GMC Yukon and Buick LaCrosse, Both do exactly the same thing. Phone connects , but will driving the Iphone will continue to drop and reconnect to bluetooth every few minutes. Have repaired etc. with no luck. Any Help would be appreciated.

  5. While I’m on the phone and I get into my 2014 Kia Sorrento, the bluetooth feature doesn’t automatically connect my phone to the car. I have the latest update on my iphone.

  6. I have a new Mercedes C class with Comand system. I have paired my iPhone 5s using IOS8.2 and the telephone works great. However, it will not connect to the Internet. Mercedes cannot help and state it is a provider tethering problem. My provider 02 states that tethering is activated and I was able to use personal hotspot to connect to the Internet on my iPad.
    When trying to connect to the Internet on my Comand the phone the settings show that personal hotspot is connected but it does not work. I have tried several of the apparent fixes to no avail. It appears to be an iPhone incompatibility problem.
    Any suggestions?

  7. just updated to IOS 8.1.3 have now got my bluetooth working in my car. just paired it and all is fine. i have a 2009 Holden VE Commodore Calais Where IOS8.1 I Lost my bluetooth connection in my car. glad to be working again.

    • Anthony – I’ve got 2011 VE Omega & iphone 5 (still running ios 7.1.1) – no prob with pairing or phone calls, but streaming music died last Friday for seemingly no reason!! Not confident in upgrading to ios 8.1.3 as I might lose phone calls too!! Wish Apple would fix this mess.

      • hi ken i paired my iphone 6 with ios 8.1.3 to my mate 2013 holden caprice with the IQ system. worked fine on his car. calls where working and Bluetooth streaming was fine. i agree about apple should sort out the Bluetooth connectivity problems. in the cars.

  8. iPhone 6 with a 2012 Acura TL. Bluetooth connects but drops calls and then reconnects during conversations. Spoke with Honda on 2/25/15. They claim that it is all an Apple issue and Honda is hoping that iOS 8.2 will include a fix.

  9. 2013 Infiniti G37x… Bluetooth connection worked perfectly (phone calls & music) until after the update to 8.1.3. Now my iPhone 6 Bluetooth connectivity doesn’t work at all. It won’t discover any devices in car or otherwise.

  10. After updating my iPhone 5c to iOS 8.1.3, my 2010 Mercedes Benz ML350 can find my iPhone, but won’t connect to it. My iPhone bluetooth does not even see the MB Connect in the Bluetooth device list. So frustrating. I have used hands-free every morning on my way to work after dropping kids at school to join in conference calls that I would otherwise miss. Argh!! My daughter’s iPhone didn’t update – iOS 7.1.2 still connects perfectly (just like my used to!)

  11. iPhone 5s iOS 8.1.3 will not even connect with 2009 bmw x5, can see it but won’t pair and as of right now bmw has no answers. My bmw does not have an option to update the firmware (older than March 2010). will have to see what the dealership can figure out….. :/

  12. iPhone 5s iOs 8.1.3 with 2010 BMW 335i frequently impairs/drops calls.
    I just recently (2/15) updated the software in my BMW from the 2010 original and issues began immediately.

  13. only allows my iPhone to work to or three times.then it defaults back to saying phonebook wont pair. his is really poor sevice on the buick an apple side

  14. Update from ios 8.1.2 to 8.1.3 on i phone 6+ has not fixed bluetooth connection to 2012 Mercedes E350. Reset phone numerous times for other issues. Loved Apple, but sick of support pleading ignorance re. well known issues.
    Done w/Apple.

  15. I have a 2014 Chevy Traverse with the chevy my link stereo and I have an iPhone 5s and have updated to 8.1.3. Starting with 8 most of my calls give a loud electronic feedback sound for the person on the other end. I haven’t been able to find others that have this issue. I can play music without a problem. While researching I found out that on star has an over the air update available and they were going to contact me in a few days to do the update. So far it’s been more than a week without a call back. Has anyone gotten the update and did it fix the problem?

  16. Still an issue with my range rover evoque 2014. My wife has iphone 5 and i have iphone 6 neither if the phones get bluetooth audio.

  17. If I had known about this bug I would not have purchased this iphone 6. I need connectivity in my car for work. SHAME ON YOU APPLE

  18. iPhone 6+ iOS 8.1.3 2014.5 Toyota Camry

    Worked fine up until this morning. Audio player will not connect. Connects for a second, displays the track info from Spotify, then disconnects.

  19. iPhone6 iOS 8.1.3 and 2015 Toyota Highlander — After upgrade to 8.1.3, for a time I would have to power off my phone and restart (every time I got in the car), then it would pair with the car — sometimes with contacts and other times not. Sometimes I could initiate a call from the iPhone and it could ‘activate’ the car. Now it has reached a point that no amount of action with the phone will make it connect.

  20. iOS 8.1.2 iPhone 6+. 2010 Toyota Tundra Crew SR5. After upgrading to 8.1.2, all Bluetooth hands free and music functions are working 100%. Very afraid to move up to 8.1.3!!!

    • iOS 8.1.2 and 8.1.3 – 6+ 2012 Mercedes SLK350 no Bluetooth – connects, not connected. connected – not connected over and over again – very frustrating! Sorry I bought my first and probably last iPhone…may reactivate my Blackberry.

  21. I Have a 2010 Chevy Tahoe & a 2011 Chevy Silverado and on both cars My Bluetooth pairs and connects but I cannot make or receive calls I have tried everything from resetting my iphone.
    I contacting my Chevy dealership and took my cars in and they said right away that it’s not and issues with the vehicles Bluetooth and I complain so much that the service manager connected his Samsung Galaxy to both of my cars and the Bluetooth work perfectly, so then I was convinced that it’s a Iphone issue I hope Apple fixes this right away or they will be loosing another customer to Samsung . Please advise with any new update

  22. Upgrade to IOS 8.1.3 broke my bluetooth in my 2014 Honda Accord. Phone calls work but cannot play music via bluetooth. Phone appears to be “paired” but no music from the speakers.

    • Bought a 2014.5 Toyota Camry a week ago. Everything was fine until this morning. I can make phone calls, but cannot play Spotify (or any music) over Bluetooth. The audio player connects for a second, then disconnects.

  23. I purchased a 2014 Chevy Silverado High Country in October ’14. I have a iPhone 4s. It pairs with the truck but constantly toggles on and off. It also does not connect in regards to music.
    I have the ios 8.1.3 update but no luck. Have tried all suggested fixes to no avail. Maybe someday it will work. Time for a new phone?

  25. The scenario is the following: 530d Touring 2011, Business Pro Navigation System, using an iPhone 6+ and on the USB port an iPod (7g). iPhone updated with 8.1.3.

    Everything was working fine until this week Tuesday I realized that suddenly I lost mobile connection and also the music player on the USB. Wow.. I said.. what is happening here.. first time having such a failure like that!!.
    The system recovered itself after couple of minutes and working fine, but I realized that the iPhone was having a lot of time synchronizing the contact list and exchanging data?? suddenly fall out again.. and the BT connection fail as well and reconfiguration of the BT was needed…

    Researching along several Forums about the Issue, which is quite extended and makes you uncomfortable. I came out with my conclusion.

    What I did to fix it.
    First I updated the TX and MX files on the BMW on the bmw.com/Bluetooth site and downloaded the file and performed the update on the car.
    Home/power button Reset of the iPhone 6+.

    Delete the iPhone of the Car and connected again fresh even with a new name.
    Be practical… you never ever need all your contact list on the car.. just select on the favorites the most common number that you call, that will reduce significantly the sync times between the car and the iPhone 6+. just on the iPhone on BT Menu select the list that you want to sync with the car.
    De-select the option Data Transfer, you don’t need that, unless you still have a BMW Data service valid.

    Now testing two days after that and no issues at all, even having more than 26 minutes of phone conversation, the link is stable.

    • Good thinking. That is the first time we’ve seen the reduce-contacts fix and don’t transfer the data. It seems all of the problems come from too much going on the iPhone 6 and iOS 8.

  26. My 6+ was working great with my 2015 Subaru BRZ until the 8.1.3 update. Now it wil not connect. I will try pairing it again.

  29. I have a 2013 vw beetle with a 2014 kenwood 7701hd and even though with 8.1 the connection was iffy the phone and radio always connected and played music. Now with 8.1.3 the phone connectes/disconnects playing music for about 5 seconds between. The phone also pops an error that says “this device is not an iphone compatible accessory.

      • Yes i have been in contact with Kenwood and they said they have not tried the new firmware. On their site they haven’t checked any new phones for quite awhile.
        Thanks for reading

        • This is one big quagmire….We tested a brand new Chevy Volt with iOS 8.1.3 and worked. That is a very expensive fix.

  30. No I update iOS on iphone6 plus and it still does not open for me to pair with my Lexus LS460 2009. My car sees the iPhone though and waits for it to pair.

  31. Bought iphone 6 yesterday on 8.1.2 works hands free with my Kenwood DNN990HD,now with 8.1.3 phone will not pair but sees deck,this really sucks big time.Come on apple make it right this time

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