How to fix unreliable call making and constant call failures on iPhone?

Question

Level 1

4 points

How to fix unreliable call making and constant call failures on iPhone?

My brand new iPhone 17 Pro is extremely unreliable and often cannot make calls. When I try placing a call, the call fails. This has been going on ever since I bought the thing, and so far Apple has done absolutely nothing to fix the issue. Normally Apple break WiFi or Bluetooth, this time they decided to break cellular, which completely defeats the purpose of having a phone. How is it that Apple has released such a piece of crap product and not sent out a fix? I had sent in my iPhone 14 already for the trade-in, and so I have no backup phone. The 14 worked perfectly right out of the box when I got it, and so I expected the same from the 17. To say I'm extremely frustrated with this whole thing, after paying well over a thousand dollars for this garbage device, is greatly understating things. I need a working phone. As does everyone who had the misfortune of buying a new iPhone 17.

Anyway, is there an actual fix for this that I'm not aware of? I've had the SIM card reimaged at Verizon, there are no cellular updates showing up on my device, I've reset my network settings many times -- I've done all the things. iOS 26.1 seemed to help with a few things, as it doesn't seem to lose all cellular connection and go to SOS mode any more. But the inability for this POS to make a call, and one that is constantly breaking up, is still going on. So, have I missed anything?

Sorry for my rant; but I'm sure you are all feeling very similar (or have in the recent past). Thanks much.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: iPhone 17 Pro is failing at making calls -- Call Failed; retrying the call does not work

iPhone 17 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Dec 12, 2025 2:13 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 12, 2025 3:44 PM in response to pthielen

pthielen wrote:

Anyway, is there an actual fix for this that I'm not aware of?

If the phone is brand new, why not return it and get a different one?

Sorry for my rant; but I'm sure you are all feeling very similar (or have in the recent past). Thanks much.

No, I've never had any issues with cellular calling except in areas of poor signal strength. Nothing Apple has done has ever "broken" my WiFi or BT. I'm extremely pleased with my iPhone 17 Pro.

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Answer 2

Dec 12, 2025 5:19 PM in response to pthielen

Issues with your connection are within the purview of — and best handled by — your carrier.

Admittedly, making that call that is NOT something many of us relish … but that’s just the way it is.

Just be ready to hear “No one else has reported the problem” … and be ready to respond with something along the lines of, “Perhaps not, but that doesn’t mean that I’m NOT having the problem.”

Remember, that 1st tier CSR you reach is far too often scored on how quickly he/she makes you “go away.”

Best of luck.

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Answer 3

pthielen Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 12, 2025 2:18 PM in response to pthielen

I had been trying to call an 800 number and the calls kept failing. When I tried calling the same number, without putting a 1 in front of it, the call went through. But the person on the other end could not hear me; he was saying I was "stuck". I could hear him just fine. So.... Are you not supposed to put a 1 in front of a long distance or 800 number? And even if it does go through, the call quality is so crappy that the person you're trying to call cannot communicate with you.

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 4

Dec 12, 2025 5:56 PM in response to pthielen

800 numbers are not long distance calls. The whole reason they exist is they are toll free.

https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/what_is_a_toll_free_number_and_how_does_it_work.pdf

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