Bluetooth Call Quality Sounds Muffled

[ARK]

I've been having an issue over the last several months with my phone in my car. Whenever I get a call and it is over the Mach-E's Bluetooth, the sound of the other person is muffled to the point of being incomprehensible. The moment I grab my phone and switch it to speaker mode (to be clear, meaning the sound is coming out of the phone directly), the sound becomes crisp.

I don't think it's a connection issue because the sound always goes from fully muffled where I can't understand anything being said at all to perfect sound quality.

When I reported it to the dealer in the summer, they switched out my microphone on the steering wheel, but the people I am speaking to never report an issue in hearing me. I think the cell connection is fine, I think something is happening in the Bluetooth link because I otherwise never have an issue with my radio sound quality.

It's also worth mentioning I have tested this with three different phones, they all do this on my Mach-E.

Does anyone know what might be causing this, or what I can tell the dealer to check, some sort of module that handles Bluetooth connections?

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[ReverendPete]

I don't have a good answer for you, but a bit more information might be helpful. Are you using CarPlay or AndroidAuto as part of this? Or is it simply a bluetooth operation?

I believe that with CarPlay, at least, you can have EQ settings on your phone as well as your MME's stereo. They might be conflicting with each other a bit. I have noticed that the settings I have in the car for music aren't all that great for phone calls (but I have never had it be so muffled that I can't understand a caller...)

 

[ARK]

I don't have a good answer for you, but a bit more information might be helpful. Are you using CarPlay or AndroidAuto as part of this? Or is it simply a bluetooth operation?

I believe that with CarPlay, at least, you can have EQ settings on your phone as well as your MME's stereo. They might be conflicting with each other a bit. I have noticed that the settings I have in the car for music aren't all that great for phone calls (but I have never had it be so muffled that I can't understand a caller...)

Thank you, I do not use CarPlay or Android Auto. This is the Mach-E’s built-in system.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I've been having an issue over the last several months with my phone in my car. Whenever I get a call and it is over the Mach-E's Bluetooth, the sound of the other person is muffled to the point of being incomprehensible. The moment I grab my phone and switch it to speaker mode (to be clear, meaning the sound is coming out of the phone directly), the sound becomes crisp.

I don't think it's a connection issue because the sound always goes from fully muffled where I can't understand anything being said at all to perfect sound quality.

When I reported it to the dealer in the summer, they switched out my microphone on the steering wheel, but the people I am speaking to never report an issue in hearing me. I think the cell connection is fine, I think something is happening in the Bluetooth link because I otherwise never have an issue with my radio sound quality.

It's also worth mentioning I have tested this with three different phones, they all do this on my Mach-E.

Does anyone know what might be causing this, or what I can tell the dealer to check, some sort of module that handles Bluetooth connections?

Hi there! If you send over a DM with your VIN and Ford dealer info, I can look into your audio concerns on my end.

 

[Runningslow]

Have you tried paring a different phone to the vehicle to compare? Do you have another vehicle to pair your phone to compare?

 

[ARK]

Have you tried paring a different phone to the vehicle to compare? Do you have another vehicle to pair your phone to compare?

Yes, I have tried with a few different iPhones, they all have been doing this unfortunately. In the past, I never had this issue occur. I have tried one of the phones on a different vehicle and this did not happen.

 

[MyLittlePony2022]

I am getting the same issue. At times, I connect my Apple phone via Carplay and make or receive a call, it sounds fine. Other times, it sounds as if the caller is distant and slightly muted. I have to turn the volume almost all the way up. I can switch to speaker mode on the phone or use my bluetooth earbud, and it is ok.

If others have had this issue and can provide a fix or troubleshooting tips, I too would be grateful. I have not had the time to sit and troubleshoot this issue.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I have had this same problem consistently since Spring 2023. Not before...

 

[ARK]

I have had this same problem consistently since Spring 2023. Not before...

That timeframe sounds about right to me as well. I wonder if it might be some issue caused by a software update either for the phone or the Mach-E? Do you happen to use iPhone or Android?

 

[21st Century Pony]

That timeframe sounds about right to me as well. I wonder if it might be some issue caused by a software update either for the phone or the Mach-E? Do you happen to use iPhone or Android?

I use an Android.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I use an Android.

A call comes in and then rapidly fades into static or silence. When I immediately call back, that call is clear.

 

[ARK]

I use an Android.

A call comes in and then rapidly fades into static or silence. When I immediately call back, that call is clear.

The experience with the call is the same as me except I use iPhone. If it is a software issue, that suggests the Mach-E is the source. I don’t know what possible hardware issue might cause this, if not a software bug, if anyone more knowledgable about bluetooth devices might be reading this.

 

[Reality Check]

We too have been having annoying intermittent call audio problems making or answering calls when our phones are connected to the MME via Bluetooth. One phone is Android, the other an iPhone. The solution is to end the call and try again. I think that always clears it up.

 

[ARK]

We too have been having annoying intermittent call audio problems making or answering calls when our phones are connected to the MME via Bluetooth. One phone is Android, the other an iPhone. The solution is to end the call and try again. I think that always clears it up.

How often would you say this occurs? It happens on all my calls at this point, I cannot use bluetooth at all.

 

[Psalm139]

Same exact thing over here.
The first call is always muffled and inaudible. When a call back is given, everything seems ok.
I use android auto.
It used to be fine. The issue seems to have started in the spring.

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