Some iPhone 15 Owners With GM Cars Experiencing Wireless Charging Issues

Apple’s recent flagship iPhone 15 models have encountered wireless charging issues in some General Motors (GM) vehicles, as reported by users on various platforms, including Reddit, Apple’s site, and Chevy forums. The problem predominantly affects iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models, particularly following the iOS 17.1 update. Users have experienced difficulties in charging their devices in a range of GM vehicles, such as Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick, with common complaints including charging for a few seconds before stopping or being unable to charge.

This issue is not the first charging-related problem for the iPhone 15 series. Previously, BMW owners faced a bug where wireless charging in their vehicles temporarily disabled the NFC chip in the iPhones, impacting Apple Pay and BMW’s digital key feature. Apple resolved this with the iOS 17.1.1 update. However, the new issue with GM vehicles seems to persist even after the iOS 17.2 update.

Various GM models are affected, including the 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV, the 2023 Chevy Traverse, the 2024 Buick Encore GX Avenir, and the Cadillac XT6. Interestingly, older iPhone models like the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15s without the iOS 17.1 update seem to charge without issues in these vehicles. Some users have noted that reverting to iOS version 17.0.3 restores the wireless charging functionality, suggesting that the problem is specifically linked to the iOS 17.1 update.

General Motors has acknowledged the issue, stating to The Verge that they are “aware of this concern and are investigating,” though no confirmation or solution has been provided yet. On the other hand, Apple has not responded immediately to inquiries about the issue.

The potential for a relatively straightforward fix exists, as the problem seems to be specifically tied to the latest version of Apple’s operating system. However, this issue highlights the ongoing challenges with in-car wireless charging, which can be unreliable due to alignment issues and the need to accommodate a range of smartphone sizes. The introduction of the Qi2 wireless charging standard, which includes magnetic alignment, may alleviate such issues in the future. Still, existing vehicles with older Qi chargers will not benefit immediately due to the typically slow adoption of new technology in the automotive industry.