Quite a few times I've been driving along listening to my iPod when the radio goes dead and the "Auto Off" message displays. I always have to disconnect my iPod and reboot it, then plug it back in. Anyone else? This is a real annoyance.

 

Have you tried resetting your iPod (wiping it and restoring the factory specs)?

 

Just happened to me on a test drive of a 2013 LS460. I have 6th gen Classic with 160gb (I like to keep things in Apple Lossless, so I need the space). Locked up just as you say, only a reboot of the iPod "fixed" things. On subsequent drive of same car today, no problems. Smells like an intermittent problem with the 2013 Lexi. Never had a blip in my 2010 ES350. I'll have to try it in my wife's 2013 GS450h. If it locks up there, we'll know we have a 2013 problem.

 

sounds like a software issue with the car, we're driving computers with wheels. our cars definitely have a few glitches. everything in my car went off one day. nav screen, music, no back up camera.

 

Yeah I have had the same problem, I'm going to the dealer today to see if they have a fix, I to have a iPod classic and it will shut off and I have to restart it.

 

I don't have an iPod but I connected my iPhone 5 once (and this is the last time too) and noticed that the display's stuck at whichever song you start. It won't update song name as the phone moves to the next one. I unplugged and plugged back in, still same problem. So it does seem the car has some communication problem with Apple products through direct connect. BTW, if you guys use direct connect, you're definitely not getting all the juice from your Apple toys. Bluetooth media works amazing.

 

How so? With the direct connect, the iPod is recognized by the car as such. Search and selection by playlist, artist, album, etc. is enabled as are steering wheel controls for song skip/replay and volume. Best of all, the music coming off the iPod is transmitted in digital form which the ML then converts to analog and amplifies. I trust the ML electronics a helluva lot more than the D to A circuitry in an iPod which was designed for MP3 (low quality, compressed audio data) playback. How does BT help with these issues?

 

Via USB, every once and a while I have to remove and reinsert the USB plug in order for the car to recognize the IPod. I already tried numerouse cables, so it's not a cable issue. Anyone else experience this?

 

I've noticed this in multiple cars I've driven with the USB...it becomes loose or doesn't fit how the car wants and it starts acting up...

 

Have the same problem, it plays for a little and just stops.

 

I listen to songs on my iPhone via BT and I also have 160gb HDD with MP3's connected to USB port and have never experienced any problems so far...

 

If your MP3s are ripped from CDs, you can re-rip in Apple Lossless in iTunes, sync to iPod, and enjoy full fidelity sound from your ML via the USB direct connect. Surely you have adequate space with 160gb. Good luck and good listening!