iPhone 14 Call Quality through Bluetooth

[TonyR0206]

I have an iPhone 14. Recently, I've noticed that when I call out or receive a call in my Expedition, the quality of the call is TERRIBLE. (static, the sound cuts in and out) It's bad enough, that I have to hang up and then call whoever back. The second call's quality is perfect. Has anyone else encountered this? At this point I don't know if it's the phone or the Expedition.

 

[GregTu]

I have the iPhone 14 Pro max running IOS 17.1.2. My experience is that the sound quality is very good in the ‘24 Expedition Platinum. No issues with sound quality. It’s a new vehicle but no issues in 3+ months.

I have seen this issue with the cellular connections on several different phones. See if you can correlate location to the poor connection. A cell site could have a bad radio channel and reconnecting will likely put the cellular connection on a different frequency. Remember that you could be connected to the same cell site over a distance of several miles. In cites cell sizes can be much smaller than out in the country. Check signal strength on the phone when it happens.

Of course this could/would happen without a BT audio connection as well.

My suggestion is to disconnect and re-pair the Bluetooth connection and or try a different phone to isolate which side might be at fault if you’re convinced it’s BT related. Also you might try turning off any other BT devices that might interfere with the connection and/or move the phone. If it’s not repeatable that will make it difficult to fix. Good luck.

 

[LokiWolf]

Are you using BT or Wireless CarPlay? If using Wireless CarPlay are you on the phone when you get in the vehicle and continuing on the call?

 

[TonyR0206]

Are you using BT or Wireless CarPlay? If using Wireless CarPlay are you on the phone when you get in the vehicle and continuing on the call?

It happens in both applications, with only BT and when using CarPlay. (Very rarely do I continue a call from handset to BT/CarPlay.) This is when I'm driving and making/receiving calls. I drove 1400 miles up and down the East coast last week. Every call made/received had to be hung up and then I'd call back....and again...the quality of the second call would be perfect.

 

[TonyR0206]

I have the iPhone 14 Pro max running IOS 17.1.2. My experience is that the sound quality is very good in the ‘24 Expedition Platinum. No issues with sound quality. It’s a new vehicle but no issues in 3+ months.

I have seen this issue with the cellular connections on several different phones. See if you can correlate location to the poor connection. A cell site could have a bad radio channel and reconnecting will likely put the cellular connection on a different frequency. Remember that you could be connected to the same cell site over a distance of several miles. In cites cell sizes can be much smaller than out in the country. Check signal strength on the phone when it happens.

Of course this could/would happen without a BT audio connection as well.

My suggestion is to disconnect and re-pair the Bluetooth connection and or try a different phone to isolate which side might be at fault if you’re convinced it’s BT related. Also you might try turning off any other BT devices that might interfere with the connection and/or move the phone. If it’s not repeatable that will make it difficult to fix. Good luck.

Thanks for the response! I drove 1400 miles down and up the East Coast last week. (From NY to NC, all over NC, and back to NY). I had five calls on the way down, both receiving/calling out, when traveling on I-81S through PA, MD, WV, VA and I-581 into NC....it happened on every call during the drive down; every call when driving in NC, and on the way home to NY. Regardless of if I'm using BT or CarPlay. When I'd hang up and call back, the connection would be perfect. It's a bit of an anomaly. lol

 

[Hellwig]

Thanks for the response! I drove 1400 miles down and up the East Coast last week. (From NY to NC, all over NC, and back to NY). I had five calls on the way down, both receiving/calling out, when traveling on I-81S through PA, MD, WV, VA and I-581 into NC....it happened on every call during the drive down; every call when driving in NC, and on the way home to NY. Regardless of if I'm using BT or CarPlay. When I'd hang up and call back, the connection would be perfect. It's a bit of an anomaly. lol

It sounds more like an iOS issue.

 

[TonyR0206]

It sounds more like an iOS issue.

I'm running IOS 17.2.1 and have the latest Sync 4 update in the Expedition.

 

[Hellwig]

I'm running IOS 17.2.1 and have the latest Sync 4 update in the Expedition.

I would suggest borrowing a phone on another carrier's network and try again.

 

[Yupster Dog]

I'm running IOS 17.2.1 and have the latest Sync 4 update in the Expedition.

You haven't mentioned, so have you tried to
uninstall your phone from the truck and reinstall?

While uninstalled, do a soft reset on both truck and phone. Then reinstall.

 

[Rob6805]

If there are ever issues with BT or device mirroring (CP/AA) 99+% of the time it will be with an iPhone...
There are very rigorous tests and certifications that the OE's need to go through w/ Google and Apple and it's almost always Apple that has the issues.

 

[TonyR0206]

You haven't mentioned, so have you tried to
uninstall your phone from the truck and reinstall?

While uninstalled, do a soft reset on both truck and phone. Then reinstall.

I've not tried that. I'll give that a shot. Thanks!

 

[duneslider]

My wife's iphone has this problem but it isn't only in the expedition, it also does it in the house with her ear pods. I occasionally have the issue also but it seems to be less frequent than her. I have not been able to determine if the issue is bluetooth, or if it is a network issue (verizon). I think we have experienced the issue without bluetooth in the mix. So, I think it is either an iphone software issue, or a network issue. A little annoying for sure but typically a hang up and calling again solves it.

 

[TonyR0206]

My wife's iphone has this problem but it isn't only in the expedition, it also does it in the house with her ear pods. I occasionally have the issue also but it seems to be less frequent than her. I have not been able to determine if the issue is bluetooth, or if it is a network issue (verizon). I think we have experienced the issue without bluetooth in the mix. So, I think it is either an iphone software issue, or a network issue. A little annoying for sure but typically a hang up and calling again solves it.

For me, it's just the Expedition. I use a bluetooth conection to play music through a portable speaker, a set of ear buds and a pair of noise cancelling headphones, and the connection to those items is flawless. :/

 

[Dahammer]

Questions:
1) Is your phone updated to the current operating software?
2) Where is your phone placed while driving and using it? Is it on top of the dashboard, in the coffee cup holder, or in the wireless charger?
3) Are you driving on rural roads or on the highway?
4) Are you using a VPN?
5) When was the last time you rebooted your phone?
6) How many bars (signal strength) do you see when this acts up?
7) Solar flares. Solar flares can and will disturb cellular calls and other electrical components. However, it would affect the world. So, scratch this off the list.
8) Does it always happen at the same spot?

There are too many variables as to why this could happen. Unless more info is obtained, IMHO, then it's the phone.

 

[TonyR0206]

Questions:
1) Is your phone updated to the current operating software?

Yes. The latest IOS is installed as is the most current SYNC 4 software.

2) Where is your phone placed while driving and using it?
Is it on top of the dashboard, in the coffee cup holder, or in the wireless charger? 99% of the time

3) Are you driving on rural roads or on the highway?
Both...the rural roads I don't even try to make calls, because the reception is so poor, (lack of cell towers), but even in town and on major highways, the problem shows itself.

4) Are you using a VPN?
No personal network.

5) When was the last time you rebooted your phone?
Every morning.

6) How many bars (signal strength) do you see when this acts up?
Varies, but happens even when all the bars are showing.

8) Does it always happen at the same spot?
Doesn't matter where I'm driving. In town, on the highway....I traveled from NY to NC and back to NY last weekend and it happened all the way up and down Route 81.

 

[Dahammer]

Yes. The latest IOS is installed as is the most current SYNC 4 software.

2) Where is your phone placed while driving and using it?
Is it on top of the dashboard, in the coffee cup holder, or in the wireless charger? 99% of the time

3) Are you driving on rural roads or on the highway?
Both...the rural roads I don't even try to make calls, because the reception is so poor, (lack of cell towers), but even in town and on major highways, the problem shows itself.

4) Are you using a VPN?
No personal network.

5) When was the last time you rebooted your phone?
Every morning.

6) How many bars (signal strength) do you see when this acts up?
Varies, but happens even when all the bars are showing.

8) Does it always happen at the same spot?
Doesn't matter where I'm driving. In town, on the highway....I traveled from NY to NC and back to NY last weekend and it happened all the way up and down Route 81.

Hi,
Have you tried using the iPhone Apple charger cable that came with your phone and connected to your phone to the onboard USB port? Was it better being on a connected cable?

If it was better, then Ford Sync has to be updated. Plus, maybe a master reset is to be done by the mechanic at the dealership afterward, too.

IMHO-My vehicle had problems with CarPlay, Bluetooth, etc. I took it to the dealership, and they did four updates even tho it had been updated over the air. Plus, the mechanic has tried doing a reset on the Sync screen, but to no avail; the dealership mechanic had an accident in the shop with my vehicle to boot.

I took it to another dealership, and they did a master reset, and BOOM, it now works wirelessly (CarPlay) with very good call quality.

Also, as a piece of mind, you can call Apple tech support, they can check your phone while you are on the phone to see if anything is wrong while you are waiting. They can also check your settings with you on the phone.

Free is good when your iPhone is under warranty.

Thank you for your answers, too. It helps in trying to figure out what's wrong.

 

[sdjacob72]

My wife and I both have this issue with are Android phones. (Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra and a Note 10 Plus). It seems to have started after the one of the latest updates to the vehicle. My phone also disconnects from wireless Android Auto all the time.

 

[LGA129]

I have an iPhone 14. Recently, I've noticed that when I call out or receive a call in my Expedition, the quality of the call is TERRIBLE. (static, the sound cuts in and out) It's bad enough, that I have to hang up and then call whoever back. The second call's quality is perfect. Has anyone else encountered this? At this point I don't know if it's the phone or the Expedition.

I purchased my 2023 Expedition in May 2023. Since January 2024, it has been back to the dealership on MULTIPLY occasions with the same phone issue you are referring to. It doesn't happen on every call but does happen on incoming as well as outgoing calls. I will hang up & call them right back with no issues. My husband & I both have iPhone, and it does this when either of our phones are connected to the car via Bluetooth. I have not even set up CarPlay, so I know that's not the problem. The dealership has reset the entire system and tried numerous fixes, according to them. I really thought they didn't believe me this was happening, but I was finally able to get a video of the problem. The last trip to the dealership in late March, they changed out the APEX Modular and said that was the problem. I wasn't home before it began with static again! I really think there is more to this than a quick fix. I'm very frustrated at this point!

 

[TonyR0206]

I purchased my 2023 Expedition in May 2023. Since January 2024, it has been back to the dealership on MULTIPLY occasions with the same phone issue you are referring to. It doesn't happen on every call but does happen on incoming as well as outgoing calls. I will hang up & call them right back with no issues. My husband & I both have iPhone, and it does this when either of our phones are connected to the car via Bluetooth. I have not even set up CarPlay, so I know that's not the problem. The dealership has reset the entire system and tried numerous fixes, according to them. I really thought they didn't believe me this was happening, but I was finally able to get a video of the problem. The last trip to the dealership in late March, they changed out the APEX Modular and said that was the problem. I wasn't home before it began with static again! I really think there is more to this than a quick fix. I'm very frustrated at this point!

I get it. I'm still having the issue, too. I actually just had mine in for service and it never crossed my mind to bring it to their attention. I'm not happy that you're having the issue, but I'm glad someone else can confirm what I have happening. What model iPhones do you have?

 

[TonyR0206]

UPDATE: So, I spoke with my dealer about the issue. He gave me different items to troubleshoot. First, he told me to hook my phone up to a portable speaker and try a call through it to see if I have the same static through the speaker. The speaker sounded great. He then suggested to make a phone call or two with my phone's Wi-Fi turned off. I tried that, and the calls were crystal clear. Incoming and outgoing. I then turned my Wi-Fi back on, and my calls have sounded great ever since. We'll see if it continues to work, or not. If it reverts back, I'll turn the Wi-Fi off again and see what happens.