iPhone 16 Pro Bluetooth pairing issue with 2013 Subaru Impreza stereo

Question

iPhone 16 Pro Bluetooth pairing issue with 2013 Subaru Impreza stereo

I recently upgraded to an iPhone 16 pro, and since I got it, it has never remained connected with my car radio via Bluetooth upon turning off and restarting the vehicle. (Subaru 2013 Clarion am/fm/usb/CD non-nav).

My last iPhone was an 11, and it connected every time I sat in the car. Now with the 16, the minute I turn off the vehicle, the pairing goes away and I have to re-pair it.

I have done all of the things I have found that were suggested online: toggled Bluetooth on and off on my phone. Unpaired from the vehicle, removed Bluetooth pairing on the phone, reset the connection on the car stereo, shut both off, rebooted, started all over again pairing them. I have tried it with another iPhone 16 pro Max and it does the same thing. I have reset the network settings on my phone. I have removed the pairing for my Apple Watch and hidden it inside while I went outside to pair my phone. Nothing works.

Any suggestions? I'm very frustrated because this feels like a step back from my last phone.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Mar 19, 2025 11:53 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 2, 2025 7:53 AM in response to LittleCowgirl

I'm pretty sure I fixed the problem and it's more of a Subaru-sided fix, but here it is, in case anyone else experiences the same thing. (However, this happened when I upgraded to the iPhone 16 from the 11).

First of all: this video helped me figure this out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLoAp64zs_8

Start off by turning your radio to FM

What I did: -deleted my phone using the menu/select phone/delete phone using the on-radio controls, then re-paired it using the voice commands on the steering wheel. Absolutely necessary to use the voice commands. More on that below…

Next, I deleted my phone using the voice commands on the steering wheel, just to start fresh

-click the voice command button and say SETUP, then follow the prompts. It'll say Security, or PHONE SETUP...say PHONE SETUP. I deleted my phone using the voice commands to be sure, then re-paired it using voice commands.

*** the voice command options are listed in the manual at 5-39 and 5-40

https://viewer.joomag.com/subaru-impreza-manuals-2013-impreza-owners-manual/0995966001386966207/p256?short=

***More instructions that walk you through the voice commands are on 5-47 and 5-48

Here's the thing: when you click on the BT-A...it'll look like your phone is not connected, but then if you hit play or take a call it works. (When I used to use my old iPhone it would say CONNECTED).

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iPhone 16 Pro Bluetooth pairing issue with 2013 Subaru Impreza stereo