[pointman]

This isn't for "tinfoil hat" wearers. This is for everyone. Toyota is actively selling your information, including but not limited to your name, address, phone number, driving habits, location, where you are parked, speed. They use it internally, with their dealerships, and with third parties. They use it to sell you products, and to profit. This is an invasion of your privacy and you should not condone it.

For those using the Toyota application, you can scroll down to the "Data Consent & Terms" and opt out of Service Connect Communication as well as the Auto Insurance Designed for You. Neither will in anyway change anything on your end, but it will secure some of your personal information.

Secondly, contact 855-226-4048 and request three things; i. a copy of your personal data collected, ii. removal of your personal data, iii. you revocation of your personal data being sold. Toyota will email or physical mail you their receipt of your requests, then they will take their sweet time in addressing them. They will usually require verification and then take even longer. Its normal process, a pain in your butt to waste the precious 10 minutes.. but in the end, it secures some of your personal information moving forward.

These steps also do not in any negative way impact you or your enjoyment of your vehicle. You can continue to use all the same features as before.

If you have any questions, write them. I'll address what I can. Godspeed.

[JoshDub]

When new there is a data privacy warning sticker up near the SOS button that tells you the data they collect and how to opt out.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by JoshDub

When new there is a data privacy warning sticker up near the SOS button that tells you the data they collect and how to opt out.

That is removed by many dealers, like mine. That also will stop your Toyota Connect services. The steps that I outlined will NOT stop the Connect services, like remote start, and the ability to lock your doors.

[Teamoatmealpie]

100% Agree - Absolutely frightening.

Here read this/pages of fine print - written in legalese / foreign language, bullshit.

My parents bought a new rig this year and the sale peeps brushed over this, signed them up for everything. They were shocked to receive texts on their phones that said "harsh breaking" or something like that had occurred on the 12 mile drive home from the dealer. Once they fully investigated what they had been enrolled in they shit canned it immediately.

[apc9199]

What models/years/"feature sets" is this relevant to? Is this only on vehicles with "Safety Connect"?

[bootown]

2020 Toyota owner here. After I bought my car I contacted Toyota to disable connected services and data collection once realizing they might be doing that. I was told those services were never activated and Toyota was not collecting any data.

Fast forward after about a year of ownership and the dealer emails and calls telling me the first service is due. This happened the week I hit 5,000 miles. I contacted the dealer and told them to immediately stop collecting my data. This was the reply I received:


"I want to apologize for any misconception or interpretation of this email alert of your complimentary Toyota Care service. Our intentions are to make sure you are aware of your complimentary services and have your car serviced according to the Toyota recommendations. We are not tracking your vehicle with any sort of device or service on your vehicle. As your Toyota dealership and designated service department, we review your service records based off estimated mileage and timeframe from your date of first use to determine if service is due. From that determination solely based on Toyota’s records of completion or not, we alert our customers when their complimentary services are potentially due. Since your vehicle was purchased/leased at our Toyota dealership on 11/2019, we determined based on timeframe that you are due for your first complimentary service based on Toyota’s recommendations. We want to make sure you are taking advantage of your complimentary services that Toyota provides which includes 5 free services within the first two years of taking ownership of the vehicle. It is our suggestion to come in every 4-5 months so you can complete all 5 free services within the 2 year timeframe. Your vehicle is due for its first oil change and tire rotation based on time of when you took possession last November..."


In other words, apparently the average driver puts 5k on their car a year So suggestion is to come in every 4-5 months but the first time they contacted me was almost a year later, when the odometer just happened to hit 5,000 miles. Not collecting data? BS. I then spoke with this person who said they have no way to know what my odometer is it, yeah right. She told me it took longer than usual because of COVID. Sure.

Meanwhile, after contacting Toyota 1-2 months after purchase to have them not give my personal info to any third party (salesperson whipped right through the opt-out page on his ipad I was signing documents on...lesson learned) I am still getting those robot extended warranty phone calls. I never get marketing calls because I never give out my # unless absolutely necessary.

Toyota is pretty amazing at invasion of your privacy.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Teamoatmealpie

100% Agree - Absolutely frightening.

Here read this/pages of fine print - written in legalese / foreign language, bullshit.

My parents bought a new rig this year and the sale peeps brushed over this, signed them up for everything. They were shocked to receive texts on their phones that said "harsh breaking" or something like that had occurred on the 12 mile drive home from the dealer. Once they fully investigated what they had been enrolled in they shit canned it immediately.

I received and went over every letter that they have on this. Funny enough, almost none of it was ever presented to me during the purchase process nor during my ownership. Everything is a blanket "approved" unless you specify otherwise. Make sure your parents do the steps I outlined and they are the best protected they can be while maintaining some privacy. They can go further, but then they lose out on some features. I deal with legal documents for a profession. Take solace in these steps.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by apc9199

What models/years/"feature sets" is this relevant to? Is this only on vehicles with "Safety Connect"?

Good question, but hard to say. I don't know what your car is optioned with. There was chatter on this very forum of a fuse that "phoned home" and provided dealers with intel. I owned a 19 without safety connect and it was still somehow giving my current mileage and such to the dealership as well as to Carfax which I am not a member of. All of these precautions are worth you doing. At the very least, Toyota is selling your data that they have on file from your purchase and/or service.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by bootown

2020 Toyota owner here. After I bought my car I contacted Toyota to disable connected services and data collection once realizing they might be doing that. I was told those services were never activated and Toyota was not collecting any data.

Fast forward after about a year of ownership and the dealer emails and calls telling me the first service is due. This happened the week I hit 5,000 miles. I contacted the dealer and told them to immediately stop collecting my data. This was the reply I received:


"I want to apologize for any misconception or interpretation of this email alert of your complimentary Toyota Care service. Our intentions are to make sure you are aware of your complimentary services and have your car serviced according to the Toyota recommendations. We are not tracking your vehicle with any sort of device or service on your vehicle. As your Toyota dealership and designated service department, we review your service records based off estimated mileage and timeframe from your date of first use to determine if service is due. From that determination solely based on Toyota’s records of completion or not, we alert our customers when their complimentary services are potentially due. Since your vehicle was purchased/leased at our Toyota dealership on 11/2019, we determined based on timeframe that you are due for your first complimentary service based on Toyota’s recommendations. We want to make sure you are taking advantage of your complimentary services that Toyota provides which includes 5 free services within the first two years of taking ownership of the vehicle. It is our suggestion to come in every 4-5 months so you can complete all 5 free services within the 2 year timeframe. Your vehicle is due for its first oil change and tire rotation based on time of when you took possession last November..."


In other words, apparently the average driver puts 5k on their car a year So suggestion is to come in every 4-5 months but the first time they contacted me was almost a year later, when the odometer just happened to hit 5,000 miles. Not collecting data? BS. I then spoke with this person who said they have no way to know what my odometer is it, yeah right. She told me it took longer than usual because of COVID. Sure.

Meanwhile, after contacting Toyota 1-2 months after purchase to have them not give my personal info to any third party (salesperson whipped right through the opt-out page on his ipad I was signing documents on...lesson learned) I am still getting those robot extended warranty phone calls. I never get marketing calls because I never give out my # unless absolutely necessary.

Toyota is pretty amazing at invasion of your privacy.

Unfortunately people at Toyota are misinformed, or just plain out lying to save themselves the headache. Most people I spoke with at Toyota did not know anything about it, nor how to access the settings. You have to go through the settings that I outlined in my initial post so that it is remedied. They take your opt out serious, as by law when you inquire they must document it or face legal ramifications. Once you do the steps outlined you will be surprised at the amount of documentation you are inundated with. If you own a 2020, I assure you that your vehicle is in fact being tracked in many ways.

[bootown]

Originally Posted by pointman

You have to go through the settings that I outlined in my initial post so that it is remedied. They take your opt out serious

Clearly they don't. I called that number months ago and specifically requested that they not collect any data. They said they had not been and would not. I'll call back and and go through your three points from your first post but I doubt it will change anything.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by bootown

Clearly they don't. I called that number months ago and specifically requested that they not collect any data. They said they had not been and would not. I'll call back and and go through your three points from your first post but I doubt it will change anything.

If you called that specific number then they should have immediately provided you with confirmation via your choice of email or physical mail. If I were you, I would log who I spoke with, their identification number, call number and when you spoke with them and let them know you are doing so. If they do not provide you with the confirmation or documents then you have a lawsuit on your hands. In this day and age for them to brush you off is ill advised and surprising.

[DallasTRDPro]

Originally Posted by pointman

This isn't for "tinfoil hat" wearers. This is for everyone. Toyota is actively selling your information, including but not limited to your name, address, phone number, driving habits, location, where you are parked, speed. They use it internally, with their dealerships, and with third parties. They use it to sell you products, and to profit. This is an invasion of your privacy and you should not condone it.

For those using the Toyota application, you can scroll down to the "Data Consent & Terms" and opt out of Service Connect Communication as well as the Auto Insurance Designed for You. Neither will in anyway change anything on your end, but it will secure some of your personal information.

Secondly, contact 855-226-4048 and request three things; i. a copy of your personal data collected, ii. removal of your personal data, iii. you revocation of your personal data being sold. Toyota will email or physical mail you their receipt of your requests, then they will take their sweet time in addressing them. They will usually require verification and then take even longer. Its normal process, a pain in your butt to waste the precious 10 minutes.. but in the end, it secures some of your personal information moving forward.

These steps also do not in any negative way impact you or your enjoyment of your vehicle. You can continue to use all the same features as before.

If you have any questions, write them. I'll address what I can. Godspeed.

Just disabled the Service Connect Communication as well as the Auto Insurance Designed for You.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by DallasTRDPro

Just disabled the Service Connect Communication as well as the Auto Insurance Designed for You.

Outstanding. At least now they aren't sharing your driving habits with leaching insurance companies.

[DallasTRDPro]

Originally Posted by pointman

Outstanding. At least now they aren't sharing your driving habits with leaching insurance companies.

Oh yeah I have been receiving all kinds of insurance inquiries. I recently deleted all of my social media as well.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by DallasTRDPro

Oh yeah I have been receiving all kinds of insurance inquiries. I recently deleted all of my social media as well.

Toyota is really impressive in how badly they are going about sharing personal details in such a laissez-faire attitude.