[KingDustin007]

Problem: Bluetooth not pairing

Vehicle: 2015 Forester premium, non-nav

Troubleshooting: Tried several phones, mixed results below:
Droid Turbo, Android 4.4.4 - fails as soon as I tried connecting
LG G2, Android 4.4.2 - Asked for pin but failed each time
Samsung S5, Android 4.4.2 - Asked for pin but failed each time
HTC One M8, Android 4.4.4 - Failed first time, worked second time
This phone was rooted with a custom rom
Iphone 4 - worked no problem

I also tried changing the PIN to 0000 once we got one of the android phones paired. I then tried pairing my phone (turbo) and when it came to the pin, it defaulted back to 1234.

I have paired both the Samsung and my turbo to our other car, 2013 Impreza with no problems.

All of this information leads me to believe it's some sort of android problem, just wondering if anybody else has come across this and found a solution yet. I tried searching and I found a bunch on the bluetooth dropping connectivity but I can't even get it paired.

Any information is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[neall_v]

For some reason, pairing via the voice menus seems to be more reliable than using the controls on the head unit directly. Which method are you using?

 

[ckimmerle]

Paired my Samsung Galaxy 3 no problem in my 2015 2.5i base. Never had to enter a pin.

 

[Rukkian]

I have not had any pairing issues with the 2 phones I have owned since getting my car (Galaxy Nexus, LG G2), but I have the nav unit, so it is not a great comparison.

 

[KingDustin007]

I used the voice commands to try and get it paired. When I had my friends paired and tried changing the pin, I believe I used the stereo controls. I'll try with voice commands and see if that makes a difference.

 

[KingDustin007]

I finally got it working today. I ended using a friend's phone for the initial connection. Under the phone settings I changed the passkey to 0000, using the voice commands. (I was originally changing the pin under the security option) I was then able to pair my phone and delete my friends. I hope this helps anybody that runs into the same problem. I will let my local dealership know as they didn't have any ideas either.

Thanks!

 

[monkeyracer]

I finally got it working today. I ended using a friend's phone for the initial connection. Under the phone settings I changed the passkey to 0000, using the voice commands. (I was originally changing the pin under the security option) I was then able to pair my phone and delete my friends. I hope this helps anybody that runs into the same problem. I will let my local dealership know as they didn't have any ideas either.

Thanks!

Subaru knows about this and issued a TSB (which the dealership should know about, but we know how that goes)

Pairing Android Smartphones

Service Bulletin: 15-179-15

This Service Information bulletin contains a series of screen shots with instructions which provide a procedure for pairing Android smartphones to Bluetooth-equipped Clarion audio units. The procedure involves changing the audio unit’s default "PASSKEY" which must be entered into the smartphone during the pairing process. Once the PASSKEY is changed from "1234" to "0000", testing results have shown the remainder of the pairing process completes normally.

When I bought my car, the sales guy was showing me around the car and asked if I wanted help to pair my Galaxy S5, but since I was putting in my aftermarket system as soon as I got home, I didn't bother even trying.

 

[RangerRay]

A bit of a necropost here...

I have a 2015 Subaru Forester and have been having issues with pairing iPhones for a while. My work phone (SE2) pairs well with it. It automatically connects and works seamlessly.

The trouble comes when I try to connect my personal phone (13, but this has been a problem with other models too). Even if I delete my work phone and pair my Bluetooth to my personal phone, I always have to connect it manually through the phone settings, and many times it doesn't connect, or loses connectivity. It seems to be random. Sometimes my phone will say "Connected" and the head unit will read "Disconnected". Sometimes it will seem to connect, but a short time later will disconnect. An indicator that this will happen is the controls on my steering wheel will not work on my phone. I find when either if these things happen, I have to turn my car off, restart it, then connect the phone again. Then sometimes, it connects with one try.

Then when I delete my personal phone and reconnect my work phone, everything works seamlessly again.

Anyone have an inkling of what's going on here?

UPDATE:

This morning when I turned on my car, the Bluetooth automatically connected to my work phone even though it was deleted. WTH!?

 

[Crowlee]

A bit of a necropost here...

I have a 2015 Subaru Forester and have been having issues with pairing iPhones for a while. My work phone (SE2) pairs well with it. It automatically connects and works seamlessly.

The trouble comes when I try to connect my personal phone (13, but this has been a problem with other models too). Even if I delete my work phone and pair my Bluetooth to my personal phone, I always have to connect it manually through the phone settings, and many times it doesn't connect, or loses connectivity. It seems to be random. Sometimes my phone will say "Connected" and the head unit will read "Disconnected". Sometimes it will seem to connect, but a short time later will disconnect. An indicator that this will happen is the controls on my steering wheel will not work on my phone. I find when either if these things happen, I have to turn my car off, restart it, then connect the phone again. Then sometimes, it connects with one try.

Then when I delete my personal phone and reconnect my work phone, everything works seamlessly again.

Anyone have an inkling of what's going on here?

UPDATE:

This morning when I turned on my car, the Bluetooth automatically connected to my work phone even though it was deleted. WTH!?

My iphone 13pro JUST stopped pairing with my 2015 Forester and no matter what I do - I cannot get it to be recognized. I tried calling someone to see if the car would pick up thge bluetooth call, but nooooo. I erased everything to start from scratch and cannot get the phone to recognize the car or the car to recognize the phone. WHY???????

 

[FelineFreddie]

Is it the phone or the vehicle?

The simplest way to answer that question is to attempt pairing a different phone. That’s step #1.

Possibly an iOS update changed something…or maybe something failed in the head unit.