2016 Yukon Denali XL: CarPlay CRASHES - replace unit?

[leecoursey]

I've decided to keep my Yukon for another 2 years before moving on to the next model or the Escalade.  I'm doing some upgrades and things because I can.  I've had the truck since brand new, off the lot.  My major issue with the infotainment is that CarPlay crashes constantly, sometimes taking the whole factory radio unit down to black screen until the car stops, but frequently just crashing and "rebooting" from black screen.  If the phone stays plugged in it will start the process over.

 

There is a noticeable difference in audio quality between Bluetooth and cabled experiences, plus Siri is more consistent when cabled, so I really want to get this fixed.  CarPlay worked with next-to-no issues for the first 2-3 years, then I started experiencing intermediate, unpredictable crashes.  I chalked it up to "doing too much" like running Google Maps, listening to an Audiobook on audible, and then taking a phone call.  Now, it's 90% of the time I plug the phone in I can expect it to crash.

 

I have had the iPhone 7, iPhoneX and now the iPhone 12 Pro with this truck.  All kept up to date with latest version because I'm a geek.  I didn't really start seeing major issues until the advent of iOS12 and the iPhoneX, but it has been steady downhill performance since then.

 

I have spoken with Infotainment support at GMC, and while they were helpful all they could do was a "remote reset" that didn't really seem to do anything.

 

Is it possible to purchase a replacement control unit (sorry, don't know the terminology) for the radio (and maybe accomplish wireless CarPlay upgrade in the process)?  I can spend the money to get it right so if someone knows the best outcome here I'm all ears.