Hands-Free Calls Are Unusable Due to Echo Defect

Toyota's hands-free calling feature is virtually unusable in most 2019 and older models because of an annoying echo. Owners say the problem is consistent, severe, and happens regardless if they make or receive calls.

The automaker has suggested owners turn the volume on their phone all the way up after a call is started, which sort of takes away from the whole hands-free safety thing. Meanwhile complaints about the problem have virtually disappeared in some 2019 and all 2020+ head units with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features. Suggesting that the problem is Toyota's own software and Bluetooth implementation.

Toyota Says to Adjust the Volume ∞

Toyota has bee referencing echoing issues in owners manuals dating back to 2010, but complaints have spiked in the 2016-2018 model years. It suggests that owners rightfully expect their cars to handle basic tech tasks like hands-free calls in 2021.

In March 2018 Toyota released a "tech tip" titled Bluetooth Hands-Free Call Echo. They told owners that after initiating a call they should turn the volume on their phone all the way up and turn the volume on the head unit down below 45.

Because nothing says "hand-free" safety quite like fiddling with your phone and volume nob while driving.

The tip applied to the following vehicles:

• 2016-2018 Toyota Highlander
• 2017-2018 Toyota Avalon
• 2016-2018 Toyota Sienna
• 2016-2018 Toyota Prius v
• 2016-2018 Toyota Tacoma
• 2016-2018 Toyota Sequoia
• 2016-2018 Toyota Prius
• 2016-2018 Toyota Tundra
• 2017-2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
• 2018 Toyota Yaris
• 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner
• 2016-2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The list was later expanded in tech tip T-TT-0600-20 to add the 2019 model years of the 4Runner, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Tundra, Sienna, and Sequoia.

Toyota also notes that these settings may need to be reapplied any time the phone is paired to a new head unit, a phone update is applied, or the phone is unpaired and re-paired.

Lawsuits Say the Echo Is Unsafe ∞

Following years of complaints and less-than-amazing "tech tips", lawsuits were filed that have accurately pointed out that:

1. Toyota's suggestions mean the system isn't really "hands-free" at all because the driver would therefore have to find the phone, pick it up and adjust the volume while driving, resulting in a dangerous distraction.
2. Toyota's tech tips also don't do anything to fix the underlying problem.
3. Newer units that give users the option to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto don't have this problem, even though the head unit is the same.

Service bulletin offered some users new head units ∞

In fact a 2017 service bulletin #T-SB-0322-17 appears to be the only time Toyota actually tried to fix the issue.

For 2018 Camry and Camry Hybrid owners, Toyota offered to replace the head units in cars where the user experienced Bluetooth echo in the Panasonic head units equipped with JBL and that updated head units are available through the exchange program to address this condition.