CarPlay bricking

[Andrew25]

I tried wireless CarPlay once again letting spotify play some music and trying to ditch Google Maps as soon as it showed on the screen. The test was very short, like 15 mins, but it did work. I'll have a longer run as soon as possible.

 

[Rcktmn]

Mine has crashed with Google Maps and Apple Maps. It’s definitely gotten worse since I had a software update in September.

On google maps, it will crash anytime I change the destination mid drive.

 

[kgcharron]

My other frustration (non brick), is that if I'm using podcasts or audible (not music), everytime there is navigation guidance, the volume lowers by a few levels. Enough navigation guidance and the volume is completely silent

Did you find a solution for the volume drops every time there is navigation guidance? I have the same problem and cannot find any fix. Thanks

 

[Y Cymro]

A similar thing happened to me in September when Apple launched the iPhone 17 Pro with iOS 26 contemporaneously with the Lotus software update. Google Maps and Waze stalled/bricked using a wireless connection after around 30 seconds.
I reverted back to iPhone 15 Pro running iOS 18.7.2 and haven’t had a problem since.

 

[hentzG]

I also found that issue with Google Maps and an iPhone 16 pro. Very annoying as the whole system freezes. Not even normal navigation can be started. I especially experienced it when inserting a new address via voice in Google Maps. The issue with voice is the same in my mx-5. Just that the system reboots immediately in the mx-5, in the lotus it doesn’t.

 

[kitkat]

Did you find a solution for the volume drops every time there is navigation guidance? I have the same problem and cannot find any fix. Thanks

nope

 

[Reesebobby]

For what it’s worth I found Google Maps only bricks when using voice to enter a destination. Enter destination from your phone and it is fine.

 

[Andrew25]

I tried wireless CarPlay once again letting spotify play some music and trying to ditch Google Maps as soon as it showed on the screen. The test was very short, like 15 mins, but it did work. I'll have a longer run as soon as possible.

While I had no chance of doing a longer test, I did had the chance to do that 15 mins test several times now. It did not hang/crash/glitch. I won’t be able to test it for longer runs until april, but it looks like it does work at least with short runs! Weird.

 

[Milk242]

For what it’s worth I found Google Maps only bricks when using voice to enter a destination. Enter destination from your phone and it is fine.

I tried this and this was the only instance I ever had where it bricked. Basically could not disconnect CarPlay in the car infotainment and could not connect to Bluetooth. Turning off car play on my phone did nothing.

 

[Dewain27]

I am experiencing this quite often. I will try some other options too. I tried wired and non-wired and get the same result. I may try Android Auto and see if that has the same issues.

 

[Y Cymro]

I am experiencing this quite often. I will try some other options too. I tried wired and non-wired and get the same result. I may try Android Auto and see if that has the same issues.

If you’re using ios26.x then CarPlay dropping the WiFi connection is a known problem. There’s no consensus whether this has been resolved in ios27. iOS 18.7.x is reported to work without an issue.

 

[Dewain27]

Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of running old iOS builds. I work in IT and am forced to run the latest versions. I can try the iOS 27 update in preview I guess.

 

[Y Cymro]

Do you have a family member or pal with an iPhone or iPad running ios18 so you can test it? Or perhaps a forum member who’s reasonably close?

 

[seriously]

my CarPlay works 99% of the time. I remember vividly when driving through the freeways near Las Vegas there was major interruption of my CarPlay connection. It would drop or freeze every single time (100% error rate) I passed over the freeway between the Strip and Chinatown.

some people may be experiencing some kind of unavoidable interruption due to the infrastructure near where you live or commute.

 

[Y Cymro]

I don’t doubt there may be infrastructure factors that temporarily cause a drop in signal, and they should be repeatable when travelling through the same area. However, the problems with Apple CarPlay introduced with iOS 26 are well documented. I suggest an internet search to satisfy yourself, and you can ignore advice at the origin to switch off Bluetooth and WiFi and reset your device because later it was realised that the problem is in the OS. A YouTuber called Zollotech reports regularly about iOS updates, and includes in all his videos a segment about CarPlay. Interestingly, his report today on iOS 27.2 (IIRC) suggests the problem may be resolved, though asks his viewers to confirm this.