Tracking Devices & Dealers

I came across a video on YouTube recently showing how a GPS tracker was discovered by a Corolla owner. As normal, the discussion in the comment section was more entertaining than the actual video. Which made me think… does my 2021 SR have a tracker? I recently had the lower dash apart, and didn’t see one - but I will take another look. Has anyone found one other Tacoma? Here’s the link to the video: https://youtu.be/7UkBD_BrpRk

 

I often wondered how Toyota knew how many miles I had on my vehicle and it was due for service. I also get emails from Toyota about being a safe driver, so somehow my Tacoma is communicating with someone somewhere. Maybe this has nothing to due with the tracker you found, but it makes more sense than not.

 

this is where I comfortably get back up on my “this is why i own an old vehicle” soapbox

 

Might want to check out this story about apps that track your driving behavior. After reading it I deleted Gas Buddy and adjusted location sharing for MyRadar and a few other apps. I'm about ready to go back to a flip phone.

 

Did your truck come with a dealer installed “alarm?” Because all of those are tracking devices. KARR is one of the bigger ones we have here in California, but they come under different brands. Is there some type of switch or light or something on your dash that’s obviously not factory?

 

I hear you. I have a 02 Subaru (The Hopper) that I drive more than my new Tacoma, truly all weather.

 

Aren’t these types of vehicle trackers only installed at those by here pay here dealers?

Does anyone have any solid info on one of these types of trackers being installed at a Toyota dealership?

 

you probably do have one if you have to make weekly car payments....
do you have a monitor on your ankle too?

 

The Karr alarms are installed at dealer by a 3rd party company. They are installed on all new cars (maybe used too). They can track your location if you fail to make payments or for any other reason they want to. Also- the dealer can lock & unlock all the cars on the lot at same time. The dealer then tries to tell you of all the benefits of the Karr alarm & will try to charge you for it - they wanted $998 for it on my 2023. I told them to remove it, I wasn't paying for it. They said they de-activated & disconnected wiring to it but left it in truck. I know a guy who used to install them who now owns a stereo shop that also does custom wiring. The problem with this POS device, it can drain your battery & disable starter- a known issue. Dealer will deny this all day long. After several trips to dealer for starter & battery issues on a truck with 100 miles on it, I took it to my friend & had it removed. He told me the dealer lied, it was still powered up.

 

I've never seen one, but I was thinking the same thing.

The news did a report on one of our local lots a few years ago. They had a good racket where they would finance a $5000 car with no down and 30% adjustable interest. At the first missed payment they would ping that tracker and send the tow truck to pick it up, and lo and behold, that car would get a wash and be turned out on the lot the next day. The reporter followed an old Buick LeSabre and calculated that it had been purchased nearly 20 times and netted the dealer close to 40 grand or something.


Made me think. Thats a wild business to be in.

 

Ya can’t fix stupid……..

 

I don’t believe every utuber video … some of these people plant stuff and make a video about it .

 

look at it the other way. how many vehicles are actually paid off? probably a fraction to those that finance it, and replace it while rolling the financing and/or value into something else every couple years.

the tracker isn't for your benefit, it's for the titleholders benefit. until it's paid off, it's not your truck!

 

Unless you fall into a high risk loan category, you don’t have a gps on the vehicle.

 

If you have Toyota Connect, your vehicle can be tracked. I can use the app to find my 2024.

You can look at your model/year here to see if yours have it.
Canada: Connected Services - Toyota Canada
US: Connected Services (toyota.com)