Toyota Now Charging Subscription for Key Fob Remote Start

I was recently been called several times from the dealer asking me to come to service for a check. My vehicle doesn't have nay light on the dash board, it has 3'000km on it and only several month old, but somehow Toyota wants me to come over.
I called in and check what exactly they want me to do and was surprised they told me that I need TPMS system checked. I'm on the winter tires and my OEM tires with sensors are in garage, so my TPMS screen on the car shows "--" instead of the numbers. How did they knew???
The answer is simple. What I have found that is that 2020+ vehicles (could of be even earlier, not sure) are equipped with radio headunit with APPS. There are Remote Connect functionality. But the most interesting thing is that it works via built-in DCM (I'm assuming sort of GSM SIM card hidden somewhere) and sends vehicle information to Toyota.
I have not activated this Remote Connect service, so I thought its not working, but surprisingly it does work one-way - vehicle to Toyota, activation just establishing the other-way communication - Owner to Vehicle.
Toyota knows my current mileage and fuel level as well as any notifications on the on-board ECU and when it was showed up without even you knowing it. And it constantly updating this information. This why they wanted me to come and check the TPMS.
But the biggest concern is that Toyota watches you want you it or not.

Question. How to disable this communication link from Vehicle sending this information to Toyota?

 

Uhhhh....no likey

 

This what showed up this morning in Toyota system (as you see my Remote Connect has not been activated as of yet, and I'm questioning if I even should activate it...):

And an hour later when I check it knew I made a few km today, so its constantly receiving info from the vehicle. This image also shows that my TPMS has notification as of December:

My Headunit still showing Remote Connect as Non-Activated:

 

I don't have tpms sensors in my 2020, light is on, no call from Toy. Dunno

 

You are lucky...
TPMS is not a big of a problem. On another hand if you have a dash light and fix the issue, and turn the light off, Toyota would still know and it may be ended somewhere in database along with other info they collect. The main question is that now Toyota monitors your driving and collects Mileage, Fuel Level and Error Codes with Notifications at a very list. I understand it goes through DCM function of the Entune Headunit.
Is there a way to disable that communication link from the Vehicle to Toyota?

 

I don’t think you can disable it. If you’re really worried about it your best option is to buy an older model vehicle. I’m pretty sure all manufacturers do this to some extent now.

 

A couple of things...
Among all the papers you signed at the dealership was at least one that explained that the system operated this way and that you were agreeing to it. Yes, there are thousands of words on those agreements, but they are legal documents that you signed.

And, when you set up the Toyota app and entered the truck info, you also had to agree to terms and conditions that included consent to being tracked. Just like when you activate your phone. Or use a piece of software - those terms are written such that “by using this service, you expressly agree to...” whatever else they put in those terms.

I work for a construction company - in our purchase orders and subcontracts are the same kind of language. The minute you deliver me a fitting or perform labor on my jobsite, you have agreed to being bound by our terms UNLESS you have previously negotiated and signed something with our company that establishes different terms.

Most people don’t read the whole contract, and depending on the financial person at the dealer or bank, they may or may not “highlight” those clauses. But the truth is, you need to review and understand what you’re signing...

There is a specific way to have the dealer deactivate and kill all remote services in the vehicle. But you have to go in and request it, and it may physically deactivate to where you must replace certain modules to reactivate. And it may kill other things like navigation updates, traffic, weather, etc.

Similarly, you can actually have the radar system deactivated, but it is permanent unless you replace the radar unit itself.

Mean while, Alexa, Siri, Cortana, and whatever Google’s AI is called all know everything about you anyway...

 

There is no privacy any more, that’s just the way it is. You can either accept that and live with it or drive yourself crazy worrying about it.

 

That’s the new oem HU? You can telescope it out from the dash?

 

We also gps tag all of our fleet trucks, and have a scoring system. If your score is below 90 (out of 100) for more than three weeks, you are at risk of losing your company truck. Do one of a few major offenses (15mph over for more than two miles, no seat belt over 15mph), and you will have it pulled immediately. For us, it ties to our insurance costs and liability in the event of a lawsuit. With 200 vehicles on the road, every little bit helps to drive that cost down.

I do have the option right in the Toyota app to opt out of the driver score tracking - but I also have the same tracking from my insurance company because they give me a 20% discount for doing so (and that makes them quite a bit cheaper than other quotes I’ve gotten).

 

No, it is set into the dash. That angle makes the bezels look reversed

 

Yes, I know all those things. I was just surprised to see this actually happening this way. I'm OK with most of the things, what I don't like is tracking mileage and error codes. I don't know how often does the system send info out, but if I can limit on what info it sends, it will be great. There should be a settings somewhere in the software to do it, may be at the dealership, may be at cost. Did anyone did it?
I'm not exactly sure what you are referring to by meaning that if unit is deactivated, to reactivate it needs to be replaced. If it's a software, it should be easy, if it's pulling the plug off, easy as well, unless the unit gets damaged, it's the only way I see it needs to be replaced.

 

I'd be more concerned about them tracking my location than error codes...

 

Limiting the info is not an option that I’ve seen in Techstream.
I have seen a Service Bulletin with instructions for disabling the TSS “short wave radar” system, and those instructions specifically state that the unit will be permanently disabled and must be replaced with a new one for the system to be reactivated.

 

Agreed, both mileage (basically location and distances traveled within period of time) and vehicle notifications are certain concerns.

 

Mods, please delete if I'm repeating here, but a quick search didn't show any written proof from Toyota regarding this.

I received two emails from Toyota over the last day (approaching 1 year ownership):

1) Offering each connected service for 9.95cad/mo.
2) sharing a link to the new privacy portal in the Toyota App

When reading in the app, noticed the following:

 

I've got a 2020 that I just bought that was first put into service May 26, 2020 so I believe all the connect trials are complete, and I can remote start with the smart key fob (I have push start). If I log into the Toyota app on my phone it shows I have zero active subscriptions. So maybe it doesn't always disconnect the remote start capability?

 

If you contact Toyota and tell them that you want to opt out of them monitoring your driving habits and data tracking it will disable your remote start. “Master data consent”

Connected Services subscription is different then data tracking. Pretty sure you get remote start for a period of time depending on what head unit you have. Sub’d or not.

 

I have a 2020 1794, still subscribed to the connected services, but I did call in immediately and opt out of driving habit monitoring and my key fob remote start still works. My app shows: Connected Services Master Data Consent -Accepted, Drive Pulse -Declined, Insure Connect -Declined, Service Connect Communication -Declined, just fyi. If they disabled any key fob functionality for declining some app data bullsh**, I would pursue it with great aggression.

 

Remote start with the key FOB and remote start via the Toyota App are 2 different things. If you’re “Connected Services” have been discontinued, you won’t be able to use the app to perform specific remote functions from your phone. You SHOULD still be able to use your key FOB for remote start however as it’s not a service based function.

 

look at the screenshot in the original post though, it specifically mentions the fob. That seems ridiculous to me.

 

We have a 2020 4Runner TRD O/R -- Canadian model mind you -- and our one year + a couple bonus months expired long ago and our key fob still works to remote start the vehicle.
Just no app function and the fob is short range.

 

Fairly recently, with both Lexus and Toyota, if you didn't subscribe to the app, your fob remote start would stop working. I know this recently changed (past two years maybe? I think model year 2019) so I am guessing that this is merely outdated verbiage that they didn't fix. I can't confirm 100%, though.

 

This would be great. My truck doubles as a family hauler so the remote start in winter (park outside) is key to my kid fitting in their carseat. Are you in Canada?

I'd appreciate maintaining the functionality going forward without the subscriptions. Maybe it's actually tied to the telematics and not the service itself?

Hoping this is the case for me as well (also Canadian, but one MY newer). Will report back on Nov. 6 when service(s) will be cut.

 

Godspeed haha

 

I'm in FL and since it is moderate this time of year I have only ever used it one time for testing. I hope it still works next summer when it heats up!

 

Noting you're from Southern Ontario, whereabouts? I have some family in the London area. Drove about 650km to see them two weeks ago. Probably better for another thread, but averaged 12.1l/100km (19.9mpg) @110km/h (~70mph) -hand calculated, on that trip! I think I could kiss 1000km on a tank if going on a big cross-country trip!

Where I live, there's only about 2 weeks of extreme heat in the summer. Otherwise just roll down the windows and the cab is cool within a block or two!

 

I'm in the K/W area, so roughly an hour north of the London area.
We did a trip to N.S. back in August and averaged roughly 13/L --- loved seeing every minute of that lol

 

Following up. Key remote start works.
Called Toyota and asked about the message in-app. Apparently it’s linked to the data master consent.

 

I didn't get the push button instead favoring the key instead. I had the Toyota app on my phone with what I thought all notifications turned off. Then I kept getting notifications that my truck was trying to be located. It's in the locked garage. App deleted. Now, this SOS button. If I want big brother to mind their own business I press the SOS button. Every time I start the truck? Only once and done or do I need to make a phone call to end all snooping in on my whereabouts?