Why I don't recommend or believe in any Connected Services

[maxx075]

Your Car is Reporting You to Insurance

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[LincolnSixAlpha]

Good point, your daily habits are a gold mine and can/will be sold. That said, within the Toyota app, I declined all services. The article does state that it's not known what, if any is collected when you decline. Any thoughts? Toyota still mining that gold?

 

[ixo]

Good point, your daily habits are a gold mine and can/will be sold. That said, within the Toyota app, I declined all services. The article does state that it's not known what, if any is collected when you decline. Any thoughts? Toyota still mining that gold?

Just declining all services doesn't fully eliminate the data harvest. You need to explicitly file a request to NOT be tracked.

There's an extra step to be like "no, seriously, fuck off". I'm pretty sure you need to call support. I did this immediately when I bought my Tacoma, one year free trial that turns into a subscription is gross. Paying for services, and they STILL sell your info is abhorrent.

Doing the full turn off takes a day or two to process, since even if you don't use connected services, you still need to request they actually disable the SIM card buried wherever they put it in the vehicle (or I guess just find it and kill it physically).

 

[maxx075]

Just declining all services doesn't fully eliminate the data harvest. You need to explicitly file a request to NOT be tracked.

There's an extra step to be like "no, seriously, fuck off". I'm pretty sure you need to call support. I did this immediately when I bought my Tacoma, one year free trial that turns into a subscription is gross. Paying for services, and they STILL sell your info is abhorrent.

Doing the full turn off takes a day or two to process, since even if you don't use connected services, you still need to request they actually disable the SIM card buried wherever they put it in the vehicle (or I guess just find it and kill it physically).

Or if you want to go the fully eliminate the hardware option: Disabling DCM/Telematics in 2025 Taco

 

[jcgeorge]

PSA TIME
Attention Toyota owners, future Toyota owners, and anyone who has ever squinted at a sticker printed in font size “good luck.”

If you’ve recently discovered a tiny gray label under your screen telling you to call a 1‑800 number to disable vehicle tracking… please enjoy this next part.

Because when you call that number, Toyota will politely inform you that they cannot disable tracking. No, no — that would be too easy. Instead, you must download the Toyota app and decline every permission like you’re fighting for custody of your own data.

And here’s the fun twist: before you do that, Toyota can see info about your truck. On day two of owning a Taco SR5, they were able to tell me my GPS location and mileage while I was literally on the phone with them. Very casual. Very normal. Very “your truck is reporting back to the mothership.”

But once you install the app and decline all the “free features,” suddenly the mileage becomes “n/a” like the truck forgot how to count. The rep even confirmed, “Yep, we’re not getting any data anymore.” Amazing. Springtime comes, that Cell/LoRan radio under the wireless charger is getting evicted.

Now, a reminder from your friendly neighborhood networking and security professional: Every “smart” device you own is basically a data vacuum with snitching on you. And the best part? It’s your data. You paid for the truck. You paid for the phone. You paid for the service. And somehow you’re still the product. Some folks even pay for the app and then donate their data like it’s a charity drive.

This has been your PSA. Stay safe, stay sarcastic, and read the fine print — preferably with a magnifying glass.

 

[maxx075]

It's really eye-opening when you request your data from a data broker and see how much and what all data/insights that they have on you (that you put out). If you've ever watched any shows where they build a psychological profile on a killer or something, this is basically the data that can build those profiles.

Data Brokers lists 750 databases that are potentially full of your information (that by agreeing to use Connected Services, you're willing giving out).

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

Couldn't have said it better

 

[Sagebrush]

First off, the guy's a dipshit because he uses Progressive as his insurance. But I suppose that's irrelevant.

In this court document, Toyota explains the system, and you can figure out how to opt out of the data issue. It's easy.

Me? I've got nothing to hide.

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/texas/txedce/4:2025cv00406/237432/71/

 

[maxx075]

First off, the guy's a dipshit because he uses Progressive as his insurance. But I suppose that's irrelevant.

In this court document, Toyota explains the system, and you can figure out how to opt out of the data issue. It's easy.

Me? I've got nothing to hide.

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/texas/txedce/4:2025cv00406/237432/71/

I love the "I've got nothing to hide" mindset....

 

[Sagebrush]

I love the "I've got nothing to hide" mindset....

Whatever.

 

[tacorancher]

Your Car is Reporting You to Insurance

Data privacy lawyer here — I approve of all the comments in this thread questioning the use of these technologies.

 

[trailhunger]

PSA TIME
Attention Toyota owners, future Toyota owners, and anyone who has ever squinted at a sticker printed in font size “good luck.”

If you’ve recently discovered a tiny gray label under your screen telling you to call a 1‑800 number to disable vehicle tracking… please enjoy this next part.

Because when you call that number, Toyota will politely inform you that they cannot disable tracking. No, no — that would be too easy. Instead, you must download the Toyota app and decline every permission like you’re fighting for custody of your own data.

And here’s the fun twist: before you do that, Toyota can see info about your truck. On day two of owning a Taco SR5, they were able to tell me my GPS location and mileage while I was literally on the phone with them. Very casual. Very normal. Very “your truck is reporting back to the mothership.”

But once you install the app and decline all the “free features,” suddenly the mileage becomes “n/a” like the truck forgot how to count. The rep even confirmed, “Yep, we’re not getting any data anymore.” Amazing. Springtime comes, that Cell/LoRan radio under the wireless charger is getting evicted.

Now, a reminder from your friendly neighborhood networking and security professional: Every “smart” device you own is basically a data vacuum with snitching on you. And the best part? It’s your data. You paid for the truck. You paid for the phone. You paid for the service. And somehow you’re still the product. Some folks even pay for the app and then donate their data like it’s a charity drive.

This has been your PSA. Stay safe, stay sarcastic, and read the fine print — preferably with a magnifying glass.

I mean at the end of the day…nobody really cares about my data or yours.

You got constructive ideas on how we can sell our own data? My shit isn’t precious, put it to work is what I say. But nobody fcking cares. I die tomorrow or 30 yrs from now all that garbage ones and zeros out in the ether no one cares

 

[jcgeorge]

As we have all seen with the GR Corral folks, 85 MPH and warranty claims denied.
GRC Denied Warranty

Anything to screw the little guy, so no need to blindly handover my vehicle's data to pull crap like this. I too am as interesting as a broken clock, right two times a day - but with all the quality issues that have lately surfaced, I am happy to be selfish and not participate in this data collection game.

At the end of the day, do whatever makes you sleep easier at night.
All the best!

 

[Crazy Mary’s Husband]

If you drive like an A-Hole, you should be paying more for insurance. These are the same ones that think they are the best drivers.

 

[izzy]

As we have all seen with the GR Corral folks, 85 MPH and warranty claims denied.
GRC Denied Warranty

Anything to screw the little guy, so no need to blindly handover my vehicle's data to pull crap like this. I too am as interesting as a broken clock, right two times a day - but with all the quality issues that have lately surfaced, I am happy to be selfish and not participate in this data collection game.

At the end of the day, do whatever makes you sleep easier at night.
All the best!

To be fair, I guarantee this guy lugged the shit out of the G16E at 85mph and sent a rod out of the block and the oil spilling out caught fire.

Not really related to the speed, well aside from being in the wrong gear.

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