Since taking ownership of the car this problem has occurred randomly every couple of days. I listen to my iPod outside of the car daily then get in the car for it to finish what ever song was playing, or two, then it would lock on the startup of the next song. I tried reloading the iPod from scratch or getting a software update to see if that was the issue but it still happened and I asked the dealership if they do firmware updates and they don't bother with that stuff, they just replace the entire unit service department tells me.
What's annoying is that now I loose all my data as far as car stats, phone numbers, etc.
Since getting the new unit it locked once briefly then started again. Hopefully this is done.
Update from Oct 17, 2014: Since having a second stereo put into the car I'm still experiencing issues between my iPod Classic locking up after a couple of songs are played from a day of listening to the iPod outside of the car. It happens randomly.
Either Toyota Stereo manufacturers OR Apple Inc. iTunes software has to be modified to resolve this problem. Since I don't get this issue listening to the iPod outside of the car I'm leaning toward the Car Stereo hardware as having a conflict.
Update from Oct 19, 2014: I use this same iPod in a work truck with a third party lighter powered radio transmitter daily for 6 hours and the iPod plays fine. It's one of the reasons why I'm leaning away from the iTunes software, but it doesn't mean there isn't a conflict in the software since the radio transmitter is like it being on a dock station for playback.
Update from Apr 24, 2015: Apr.22.2015 - Had my Camry into the dealer for the iPod locking up still, but this time they have replaced the USB Mini jack Part# 86190-0R010 to see if this stops the lockup issue. It's only been a day or two but we'll see if this final resolves it.
Update from Jun 16, 2015: 16June2015 - I received an e-mail today asking if this Stereo-iPod freezing issue has stopped and I have to say 'NO'! What I can tell you since they replaced the mini-USB jack the problem seems to be less frequent, but it still happens each week at least once!
I'm also getting some glitches with the iPod when I'm using another lighter radio wi-fi device in another vehicle that does not support iPod via USB. I can only wonder if the conflict is because of the iTunes switching between my Camry and work truck or just playing the iPod with a headset.
If the Camry stereo stops at a certain song and then you play the iPod elsewhere, then when you come back to the car the stereo sees you are at a new song then plays until it has a conflict and locks up. Then you have to reset the iPod to get it working again.
This is happening with my iPod Classic 80GB. I'm not sure if it's happening to all models of iPods and if so I would say for sure it's an APPLE FIRMWARE ISSUE!!!
Update from Nov 24, 2015: 24Nov.2015 - I was telling my friend about my iPod issue of freezing or locking during playback and said I believe it to be firmware related. He agreed and offered to let me borrow an old iPod touch with IOS 3 which is different from my iPod Classic firmware.
It's been 3 weeks now since I started using the iPod touch and I haven't had any problems!
Since Apple has dropped doing any upgrades for the iPod Classic I'm stuck...literally with problems if I use my iPod Classic. Outside of the car it's fine, but I can't justify buying a new iPod if this one still works for the most part.
I guess if I upgrade to an iPhone I will bypass the issue as well...but I can't see myself doing that any time soon.
So, unless you have the latest and greatest in iPods firmware, you can expect some issues.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Since taking ownership of the car this problem has occurred randomly every couple of days. I listen to my iPod outside of the car daily then get in the car for it to finish what ever song was playing, or two, then it would lock on the startup of the next song. I tried reloading the iPod from scratch or getting a software update to see if that was the issue but it still happened and I asked the dealership if they do firmware updates and they don't bother with that stuff, they just replace the entire unit service department tells me.
What's annoying is that now I loose all my data as far as car stats, phone numbers, etc.
Since getting the new unit it locked once briefly then started again. Hopefully this is done.
Update from Oct 17, 2014: Since having a second stereo put into the car I'm still experiencing issues between my iPod Classic locking up after a couple of songs are played from a day of listening to the iPod outside of the car. It happens randomly.
Either Toyota Stereo manufacturers OR Apple Inc. iTunes software has to be modified to resolve this problem. Since I don't get this issue listening to the iPod outside of the car I'm leaning toward the Car Stereo hardware as having a conflict.
Update from Oct 19, 2014: I use this same iPod in a work truck with a third party lighter powered radio transmitter daily for 6 hours and the iPod plays fine. It's one of the reasons why I'm leaning away from the iTunes software, but it doesn't mean there isn't a conflict in the software since the radio transmitter is like it being on a dock station for playback.
Update from Apr 24, 2015: Apr.22.2015 - Had my Camry into the dealer for the iPod locking up still, but this time they have replaced the USB Mini jack Part# 86190-0R010 to see if this stops the lockup issue. It's only been a day or two but we'll see if this final resolves it.
Update from Jun 16, 2015: 16June2015 - I received an e-mail today asking if this Stereo-iPod freezing issue has stopped and I have to say 'NO'! What I can tell you since they replaced the mini-USB jack the problem seems to be less frequent, but it still happens each week at least once!
I'm also getting some glitches with the iPod when I'm using another lighter radio wi-fi device in another vehicle that does not support iPod via USB. I can only wonder if the conflict is because of the iTunes switching between my Camry and work truck or just playing the iPod with a headset.
If the Camry stereo stops at a certain song and then you play the iPod elsewhere, then when you come back to the car the stereo sees you are at a new song then plays until it has a conflict and locks up. Then you have to reset the iPod to get it working again.
This is happening with my iPod Classic 80GB. I'm not sure if it's happening to all models of iPods and if so I would say for sure it's an APPLE FIRMWARE ISSUE!!!
Update from Nov 24, 2015: 24Nov.2015 - I was telling my friend about my iPod issue of freezing or locking during playback and said I believe it to be firmware related. He agreed and offered to let me borrow an old iPod touch with IOS 3 which is different from my iPod Classic firmware. It's been 3 weeks now since I started using the iPod touch and I haven't had any problems!
Since Apple has dropped doing any upgrades for the iPod Classic I'm stuck...literally with problems if I use my iPod Classic. Outside of the car it's fine, but I can't justify buying a new iPod if this one still works for the most part.
I guess if I upgrade to an iPhone I will bypass the issue as well...but I can't see myself doing that any time soon.
So, unless you have the latest and greatest in iPods firmware, you can expect some issues.
- azuraman, Waterdown, ON, Canada