As a devoted Apple family, largely due to work iPhones, the struggle to maintain connectivity in my 2013 van has pushed me to my Wits End On The Radio. For two and a half years, this vehicle has presented absolutely atrocious connectivity issues with our iPhones. Frankly, I’m at the point where I’m seriously considering trading it in for a Pathfinder just to escape this daily frustration. These aren’t new issues either; they’ve plagued me across multiple iPhones, from a 4S to a 5 and 5S.
First, simply pairing an iPhone is an uphill battle. The menu system and user interface are incredibly unintuitive and poorly designed. However, even if you manage to pair a device, the functionality is questionable at best. Attempting to pair a second iPhone seems to permanently disable the first. Despite the system listing both under “paired phones,” the original device will no longer connect. Is there some secret, user-manual-worthy phone switching procedure I’m missing? Am I expected to manually navigate this awful interface every time I get in the van just to get my phone to work? If that’s the case, it’s simply not a feasible solution.
Streaming music from my iPhone is another major headache, ranging from difficult to completely impossible. While podcasts might stream via Bluetooth sporadically, trying to stream YouTube music is usually a no-go. The only semi-reliable workaround is plugging in via the iPod interface, but even then, the connection is unstable. After playing a video, the connection frequently drops, forcing me to unplug and replug the cable repeatedly.
Even the “iPod” streaming, which used to offer a temporary reprieve through the USB cable, has become unreliable. As mentioned, the USB connection method used to work, but it’s now defunct. When I connect my iPhone 5S, the car recognizes it, but frustratingly displays a “no songs” message, regardless of any troubleshooting attempts. I’m left completely unable to play music from my phone.
I am convinced that there are fundamental problems with this van’s system. It’s worth noting that all of my iPhones operate flawlessly in both my current and previous Nissan vehicles. The crucial question is whether a firmware update could rectify these connectivity issues, and if so, is there a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that addresses these specific problems? I’ve seen a TSB circulating for iPod issues, but it seems unlikely to resolve the broader Bluetooth problems I’m experiencing.
It feels ridiculous to consider replacing a vehicle over something like this, but in 2015, having a relatively new vehicle with Bluetooth that is essentially unusable is infuriating. It’s a daily source of stress and frustration when what should be a simple function of a modern car fails so spectacularly. Any insights or assistance in resolving this “wits end on the radio” situation would be greatly appreciated.
