Sorry to hear of your encounter. I would say 99% of the people who buy a Toyota are for its reliability and Not for its audio or navigation system. Yes, being the on-board audio system is sold to you as a whole, Toyota is not excused from having to solve the issue for you; unfortunately, your purchasing dealership (unless you have another Toyota dealership as an alternate source to help you) has to be the one involved to perform the work to resolve the issue for you. Another unfortunate fact is that an audio system does not immobilize your vehicle from other operations, therefore, the timing of your planned trip can still continue, just without the nice tune for the trip - yet, in the past, my local dealer did workout a partial reimbursement to a friend of mine (they offered my friend one of the sales person's demo vehicle, not the same model, but, included a 500 free mile - my friend pays per mile beyon the 500...), so that may be something you can build your case and check with your sales person.... Sincerely, Best Wish!

 

Sorry to hear of your encounter. I would say 99% of the people who buy a Toyota are for its reliability and Not for its audio or navigation system. Yes, being the on-board audio system is sold to you as a whole, Toyota is not excused from having to solve the issue for you; unfortunately, your purchasing dealership (unless you have another Toyota dealership as an alternate source to help you) has to be the one involved to perform the work to resolve the issue for you. Another unfortunate fact is that an audio system does not immobilize your vehicle from other operations, therefore, the timing of your planned trip can still continue, just without the nice tune for the trip - yet, in the past, my local dealer did workout a partial reimbursement to a friend of mine (they offered my friend one of the sales person's demo vehicle, not the same model, but, included a 500 free mile - my friend pays per mile beyon the 500...), so that may be something you can build your case and check with your sales person.... Sincerely, Best Wish!

I use my 2019 Highlander for work and have all the same issues. Going in this week for the 6th time. I use my car for work and I’m on the road 5 days a week. I rely on the Bluetooth function and cannot afford the constant shutting off and on issue. Sounds like a major recall issue.

 

OP, let us know how that "demand" of a new Highlander of yours works out. Hope you are prepared to prove that your job requires a functioning phone paired to the audio system in your personal vehicle so that you can get all that compensation out of Toyota.

Oh yeah, you haven't even gotten to the worst part yet. That is, there is no Apple CarPlay in your Highlander. Just sell it and get a Dodge.

 

I've got this vehicle a week ago and was prepared for the worst ,reading all the complains about Entune system.
So far no issues at all.
I used BT, usb cable to iphone and one cd just for test.
I have all line up to replaced the radio next week with aftermarket unit with carplay, but I am not in a hurry. this radio just works. I did not install the entune app on my phone.

 

I am having the exact same problems. I think I've narrowed it down to when my iphone is hooked up to my bluetooth it will shut down the entire navigation system. If I just use the aux cord it doesn't shut down but then I can't have phone calls or messages come in. I even got a new iphone and it still shuts the nav system down. I've restored and rebooted and erased and everything and still no solution.

 

I am having the exact same problems. I think I've narrowed it down to when my iphone is hooked up to my bluetooth it will shut down the entire navigation system. If I just use the aux cord it doesn't shut down but then I can't have phone calls or messages come in. I even got a new iphoneand it still shuts the nav system down. I've restored and rebooted and erased and everything and still no solution.

Here’s how you fix it:
Do an update to your Entune System. Delete phone from radio first.
remove all Bluetooth devices.
it’s not the phone exactly, it’s the amount of Bluetooth devices you have connected.
when radio is updated, reconnect phone and limit the amount of other Bluetooth devices on your phone.
toyota will try to sell you a new radio because they don’t know this fix.

 

Here was my post on another forum.

My Highlander is 9 months old. Until 2 months ago everything was fine then my navigation system (the whole system that's on the touch screen) would just turn off as I was driving and reboot. At first, this would happen a few times a week. Now it happens several times a day. I have determined that it is a bluetooth problem (at least that's what I think) I have an iphone 8. If I turn the bluetooth off on the phone the navigation system stays on. I have taken older model iphones in the car and added them to my system and there is no problem. I have turned off the bluetooth and re-added the phone. I've done a soft reboot of the nav system. I've taken it to Toyota. Today, I got a new iphone 11 and within 5 minutes of leaving AT&T and after I connected it to the vehicle the navigation system turned off. It's so frustrating and strange. I'm going to try another newer model phone tonight to see if it's just the newer technology. I have no clue. In addition, the messages are not being read AND I have notifications turned on on the iphone. I have watched so many youtube video tutorials about bluetooth problems..just don't know what else to do. Toyota did a system update and said they can't see anything wrong on their end. I think I need to go back in. Help please.

 

We own a 2019 Highlander SE, which we purchased in late October. This same issue started happening in our vehicle last night. It’s the first time this occurred, and the stereo/head Unit is shutting down and rebooting every 1 to 3 minutes. So, basically our audio is useless. I do own an iPhone 8+ and the operating system is updated. My wife owns a newer iPhone, but this occurred why my iPhone was paired to the vehicle’s Bluetooth. I do have the Entune app installed on my iPhone.

I appreciate the posts here. I’ll see if I can troubleshoot things by disabling Bluetooth on my iPhone and see if that makes a difference. Thanks and I’ll come back with another update.

if you have any recommendations or thoughts about whether I should just go straight to the dealership at this point, please advise. We bought this vehicle from a dealership that is a couple hours away, so we would need to go to the local (different) dealer here in our city. Thank you!

 

Sorry to hear about your stereo issues. Toyota did not do a very good job with their entertainment system, that’s for sure. I have a 2017 highlander without JBL and without navigation and had a few minor issues with the Bluetooth and amplifier. I just scrapped the factory unit and purchased a 9 inch Alpine with Apple CarPlay. I did have to make my own face plate but the system sounds so much better than the factory unit at a fraction of the cost. That’s my two cents for what they are worth.

 

Under warranty..... STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP

 

I believe

I believe there is an update for the headunit that fixes this issue

 

It’s not the iphone , it’s the app.
We did not install the app and between 3 iphones no issues so far.
If it matters we have connected iphone 7, iphone xs max and 11pro.

 

Thanks for feedback/information. Super helpful to know that. Much appreciated!

 

2019 limited same problem constant reboot. Then no sound at all. Dealer replaced head unit. Do not use entune junk. I plug I phone 10 into usb input. Works great. Miss not being able to voice access Spotify. Oh well what do you want for $35,000

 

It’s the Bluetooth on your phone. You have too many paired with your phone. Delete them and do a radio update. Repair your phone after update

 

I have a 2017 highlander platinum, have the same rebooting problem every 2 minutes head unit started to reboot luckily the dealer sold me a $2000 extended warranty in 2017 which covers the vehicle for total 6 years and they are responsible with me paying $100 deductible for any repares beyond the normal warranty period but the story continues…. They went ahead and replaced the head unit but it still keeps rebooting and now they are going to replace the amplifier I have to take it back to the dealer in few days hope this will fix the problem.