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2016 Subaru Outback
Diagnosis
2016 Subaru Outback Bluetooth Audio Skipping Issue and Fix
February 18, 2026
V
Visitor Original question
I occasionally have an issue with the sound system when playing audio from my iPhone via bluetooth connection. Every few minutes it will skip almost like a broken record for a second or two then play normal. Once it starts happening it continues until the car is turned off and back on. This happens on maybe 1 of 20 drives.
Wizuto AI Response
Intermittent Bluetooth audio skipping on your 2016 Subaru Outback is most likely caused by a temporary glitch in the Bluetooth connection or interference. The problem usually lies in the car's Bluetooth module or the iPhone's Bluetooth software. Less commonly, the head unit itself may have a firmware issue.
Most likely culprits
- Bluetooth interference or weak signal: Other devices or radio interference can cause brief dropouts.
- Bluetooth module or head unit firmware glitch: Software bugs in the car's audio system can cause skipping until reset.
- iPhone Bluetooth software issue: iOS bugs or corrupted Bluetooth cache on the phone can cause intermittent skips.
How to narrow it down
- Restart your iPhone's Bluetooth: Turn Bluetooth off and on again on the phone during the skip. If audio clears up, issue is likely phone-side.
- Forget and re-pair the iPhone: Delete the car from your iPhone's Bluetooth devices and re-pair fresh. This clears any corrupted profiles.
- Check for Subaru head unit firmware updates: Visit a dealer or Subaru website to see if a software update is available for your infotainment system.
- Try playing audio from another Bluetooth device: If skipping stops, the problem is likely the iPhone.
- Test audio with a wired connection or USB: If skipping disappears, confirms Bluetooth link is the issue.
- Observe if skipping happens near certain locations or devices: Could indicate external interference.
Possible parts
- Bluetooth Control Module (if separate from head unit) — only if software updates and resets fail.
- Factory Head Unit — only if firmware updates don’t fix the problem.
A few questions
- Does the skipping happen with any other Bluetooth devices or only your iPhone?
- Have you installed any recent iOS updates or changes on your iPhone before the issue started?
- Does the skipping occur regardless of location, or only in certain areas (parking lots, near radio towers, etc.)?