Found GPS tracker - is this normal?

[ipca204]

Is it possibly part of the Ford Security Stolen vehicle recovery system ? I would thing the regular Ford electronics would contain all the GPS tracking needed to support that application.

it's not. and they do...

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[ipca204]

Maybe have been put there as a condition of the lease which would give the leasing company (the actual owner of the car) the ability to track it.

ummmm, no..

 

[chillyWilly]

Take it and stick it on a random friends car. (With their permission) and see what the tracker owner does. ??

 

[ipca204]

It may have been a clandestine install used to track the whereabouts of a spouse or significant other.

You and Chillywilly have issues... OP already stated he bought it BRAND NEW!

 

[Wallie]

dealer installed no doubt.

They did a bad job..

 

[Tomatoboy]

Let’s for a moment assume you aren’t in the middle of a messy divorce or the subject of a criminal investigation by some sloppy cops…

This vehicle was purchased new. Chances are almost 100% it was installed by the dealer. Now, it may have been installed “temporarily,” some dealers have claimed their insurance company mandated install of a tracking device, even in vehicles that have tracking built in like FordPass, while vehicles are on their lot. I’ve mostly seen posts about that regarding high demand vehicles in high theft areas. I still don’t entirely believe an insurance company would mandate some of these devices, some require tapping a wire, but that’s what dealers have said when confronted. It is also possible a dealer installed it surreptitiously as a collections mechanism if payments on a loan or lease fell behind…this is more common on used vehicles at by here pay here lots, but some crappier dealers have done it with new cars. It’s also very remotely possible you paid for some “enhanced“ theft package in the fine print of your deal, but that’s the least likely scenario.

This is not part of your car. Ford didn’t install it at the factory. If it were me, I’d call the dealer and inquire if it is theirs, and if so do they want it back. If any wires were spliced installing it, I’d be insisting those harnesses get replaced by the dealer as I didn’t authorize modification of my new vehicle, but that’s just me.

 

[Mach-Lee]

You should remove it unless you have bad credit and have subprime loan that requires it (unlikely if you can buy a new car).

Dealers install these things for asset protection or as a potential add-on to sell to you (“Lo-Jack”). They are supposed to remove them if you buy the car and don’t want it, but they often don’t get around to removing them.

 

[JamesStew71]

That is definitely from your finance company, used car lots use them. Some if installed to donso van inhibit the ignition.

 

[dimaj]

Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate it.

My mind was racing thinking what could have caused this. Seeing so many replies stating that it is dealer-installed, calmed me down a bit.

To shed some light on my situation..
I did buy it new (not leased). I financed it and never missed a payment or was late on one.
It was not installed by my wife (and certainly not me).
I do not believe I bought anything lo-jack related. If I'm not mistaken, LoJack is not that easily accessible and is difficult to detect (at least that's what I recall from back in the day)
I am not under any investigation (at least not that i am aware of) as i am mostly a Law Abiding Citizen (pun intended).

Also, given how it was "installed" (more like plugged in and tucked away), I am getting even more certain that it was installed by the dealership.

Thanks again for helping me out with this!

 

[ipca204]

Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate it.

My mind was racing thinking what could have caused this. Seeing so many replies stating that it is dealer-installed, calmed me down a bit.

To shed some light on my situation..
I did buy it new (not leased). I financed it and never missed a payment or was late on one.
It was not installed by my wife (and certainly not me).
I do not believe I bought anything lo-jack related. If I'm not mistaken, LoJack is not that easily accessible and is difficult to detect (at least that's what I recall from back in the day)
I am not under any investigation (at least not that i am aware of) as i am mostly a Law Abiding Citizen (pun intended).

Also, given how it was "installed" (more like plugged in and tucked away), I am getting even more certain that it was installed by the dealership.

Thanks again for helping me out with this!

are you 100% SURE it was not installed by your wife? just sayin'..

 

[Space_Pony]

are you 100% SURE it was not installed by your wife? just sayin'..

She wouldn't need that if she has Fordpass on her phone. Just sayin'

 

[mrrobert2u]

Could this be one of those devices insurance companies use (with authorization) to monitor driving habits for a reduced insurance rate? I’ve heard of this but I don’t have it so I have no idea how that works.

 

[Mike G]

Could this be one of those devices insurance companies use (with authorization) to monitor driving habits for a reduced insurance rate? I’ve heard of this but I don’t have it so I have no idea how that works.

Check the link in the original post:

..."designed for wide ranging light duty applications, including asset protection, stolen vehicle recovery and simple fleet management."

And while it does say it could be used for "Driving Behavior Monitoring and Incident Notification." that's probably not why this dealer installed it in the first place.

 

[Nikos]

I bought it, but it is financed.


ChatGPT is saying that dealer could've installed it, when the car was on the lot, to track it for theft... I am hesitant calling them asking questions.


It was plugged into my ODBII connector. It essentially served as a pass-through ODBII. I did not take any photos of that thing being plugged in.

I discovered it by pure accident. It was raining and my car slipped on the turn. I ended up hitting a small center divide with my wheel (on surface street). The abrupt jolt was enough to dislodge the tracker from behind a panel next to the ODBII port.

I'll post a few photos in a few mins of where it was (without plugging it back in)

This is your dilemma. Now that you have removed it from the vehicle, it is your to keep. If you worry that it had broadcasted its last position of the vehicle and you don’t want to reveal its last position, your home, then take your vehicle some place to broadcast your last known location before you yank it off.
But……remember, the dealer knows your VIN and can chase your vehicle down anytime if they want to give you notifications about services to attend to. Ford knows also your VIN for the OTA updates. Once they have or know your VIN, the location is presented to them.
Ford Pass use to give me real time location of my vehicles that can be tracked thru the app. Now you can only find the location of the vehicle after it has stopped and parked.
The question is who installed it in your vehicle and by whose request.
Ford can track your vehicle, your dealer can also. That leaves the financing company. You may want to read the fine print of the contract. All of it. There you may find the answer to your question. If it is not spelled out, about a tracking device, then it is put there illegally.
You have options, pick one.

 

[_PTE_]

I purchased My Mach-e 2024 last October , I was trying to find a spot a place for The car insurance company ( PROGRESSIVE) To install there Monitoring Module device. Well looking under the Dash & side kick panel , I found a Small Trans monitor & wiring , behind the Kick Panel !! I removed it and took it back to the dealer. Heard all the excuses on why is should have one. I did pay for it unknowingly , It was buried 3 pages deep for the price of $699.00 . I had to raise my voice and insult their integrity ! . NEXT . Then I spent several days working with the Car insurance PROGRESSIVE. Trying to get there Monitor to work . with the Ford Mach=E It wouldn't , PERIOD !! So they ask if I would mind installing it on my Cell phone would put it on my cell phone . I said sure / OK. guest what ! It still has Issues !. Now I,m thinking , what if I'm riding in my buddies mad dog Chevy. I'll I get hooked for his driving Habits. LOL _PTE_

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