I have a 2016 Lexus ES, and I am having a LOT of trouble getting my mp3 files to play correctly on USB. What happens is that they will play for a while, and then the file allocation table disappears, and the player goes back to the first song.

According the manual, these are specifications for the memory chips (this is a direct copy/paste out of a PDF of the owner's manual).

The following device format can be used:
• USB communication format: USB2.0 FS (480 Mbps)
• File system format: FAT16/32 (Windows)
• Correspondence class: Mass storage class

MP3, WMA and AAC files written to a device with any format other than those listed above may not play correctly, and their file names and folder names may not be displayed correctly.

Items related to standards and limitations are as follows:
• Maximum directory hierarchy: 8 levels
• Maximum number of folders in a device: 3000 (including the root)
• Maximum number of files in a device: 9999
• Maximum number of files per folder: 255

I have tried several USB memory sticks. The one that lasts the longest in terms of not messing up is 32 GB. I am loading about 4,500 songs. I have tried putting them all in the root directory - No joy. The longest the chip played without messing up was around 255 songs (and that was after I pointed to song 101 on a recycle after song 100).

Then, I split the songs into 18 folders with 255 songs each. It played 100 songs in the first folder and then recycled. I navigated to a different folder. It played about 30 songs and recycle to the first folder, song 1. I then navigated to the third folder. It played about 15 songs, then recycled to folder 1, song 1.

Clearly, the file allocation table is messing up.

I need advice on how to set up the USB memory stick so it work. Our car has only a single CD player, and streaming from my phone is no go when my husband is riding with me because our musical tastes are very different.

Help!

 

I had a similar problem as you are experiencing. Things I learned or did to get it to work:
1) Absolutely NO files other than MP3, this might not be necessary given statements about WMA but I didn't have any with that extension anyway. As soon as I put a track on one of the drives with AAC or WAV the system starts to act weird, take far too long to load up, and freezes when it gets to a non-recognized file.
2) Only put 250 songs in each folder...why push the limits?
3) FAT 32 and I have 17 folders on a 32G drive and 10 on a 16G drive. When plugged in they load up in less than one minute (if I leave a drive plugged in the music starts playing from where it last stopped immediately upon system boot up) and I play them in total random order (tracks and folders) with no problems.
4) I did not label the 'root folder' but just started creating/naming folders before copying songs over.
5) If I want to listen to stuff that's not MP3, I have an old Sony Walkman that I power from the console rear 12V outlet and plug the output into the Aux input inside the console. I can't control it from the car but I play it in random order also and just get it started before I start driving; I can then switch the Audio input from USB to Radio to Aux and since the car is now powering it I don't worry about having to start and stop the Walkman...just let it run. Of course I don't have your issue with music "favourites" so there is always the Bluetooth from the iPhone as well.

All told I'm probably carrying around 10,000 recorded tunes with me...great for those long drives in the mountains with lousy radio reception (I don't use Satellite).