First modification to the truck: Pull F11 fuse - phantom drain

[ice445]

The only annoying thing about doing this is that the TCU not communicating will set a code. It isn't one that turns on the check engine light, but it can be seen with more advanced scanners. Doesn't really matter in practice, but certainly bothers my OCD, lol. Went through this same game on the Mustang I had. Ended up just disabling every form of connectivity I could find in the Sync menus and leaving it at that.

Also, I remember seeing somewhere that the car can still use your connected phone as a portal to transmit data even with the TCU disabled, but that may have only been if you have FordPass still installed?

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[24hrsun]

The only annoying thing about doing this is that the TCU not communicating will set a code. It isn't one that turns on the check engine light, but it can be seen with more advanced scanners. Doesn't really matter in practice, but certainly bothers my OCD, lol. Went through this same game on the Mustang I had. Ended up just disabling every form of connectivity I could find in the Sync menus and leaving it at that.

Also, I remember seeing somewhere that the car can still use your connected phone as a portal to transmit data even with the TCU disabled, but that may have only been if you have FordPass still installed?

It's my understanding any internet connection the car can get will be used. If you have the car connected via wifi it will use that. If you have it paired to your phone and have that set as a mobile hotspot it can use that if you don't have it locked down.

 

[Tbone289]

You can google the articles that have been done and even some youtube videos pointing out the pretty outrageous behavior of these companies and what they are collecting and selling. Your telecommunications provider has rules, regulations, and laws regarding your data, and information. Apparently the OEM's have no such handcuffs. Insurance providers are a big buyer of this data.

Another option is to opt out.

 

[24hrsun]

Another option is to opt out.

I should be required to opt-in. LOL People have to decide if they trust this to resolve their concerns. It is still the wild west in the automotive space when it comes to data and privacy.

 

[Tbone289]

People have to decide if they trust this to resolve their concerns.

True, and I believe the default is "opt out" until you accept the terms of FordPass, at which time you have to opt out again.

Here is transcription of an interview with Ford's communication team from an F150Lightning forum:

Ford hasn’t sold or shared any connected vehicle data to LexisNexis (or Verisk). While Ford announced exploratory partnerships with them, we haven't launch anything.
It’s up to you whether to share vehicle data with your insurer if you decide to seek a usage-based insurance policy. To become enrolled, you must both opt-in with your own insurance company, and AGAIN through a separate consent screen on your vehicle’s interface. Here is a sample of what that in-vehicle consent screen would look like:

When your Ford vehicle setting for “Insurance-Related Data” is greyed out or displays a lock sign, it means that the setting is in its default position ‘off’ and Ford is not sharing your vehicle data with an insurance company. That setting will ONLY get turned ‘on’ if you enroll in a usage-based insurance program and with your explicit consent.
If an insurance company or data exchange service has data about your driving behavior without your explicit consent, it did not come from Ford. There are several other ways, such as through phone apps unrelated to Ford, where information about your driving behavior (especially hard accelerations and hard braking that can be calculated through a cell phone’s GPS data) can be made available to insurers.

I still have a few questions, as I'm sure some of you will, and I've passed some of them back to Ford, already, but I appreciate Ford reaching out to give all of us more information on this important topic.

________________________________________



[Updated March 22, 2024]

As noted originally, I asked a few more questions to help clarify some of the concerns I see most often. You can find my questions and Ford's responses below. Make sure to read to the end because I think the final follow-up question is the most clear/concise information, yet, regarding the most common concern: the "Share Driving Data" toggle. This is a word-for-word copy of my questions (bold) and responses from Ford so, again, you can read exactly what they've said.

If this LexisNexis partnership DOES come to fruition, will we know in advance?
If the LexisNexis partnership were to come to fruition to support usage-based insurance products, the same double opt-in consent process would be in place for the customer (i.e., customers opt-in with their own insurance company and again through a separate consent screen on the vehicle’s interface).
If Ford does start sharing personally-identifiable driving info, which toggles would need to be off to avoid that? Just the "insurance-related" toggle? Or "Share Driving Data"?
Ford provides customers with a choice as to whether or not they wish to share connected vehicle data with us. Using in-vehicle settings, customers may turn vehicle connectivity off entirely (resulting in a disconnection from the cellular network) and may exercise granular settings that control sharing vehicle data (e.g., odometer), driving data (e.g., acceleration, braking), and/or location data with Ford. The easiest way for customers to stop sharing driving data would be to make sure that setting is in the ‘off’ position. The ‘Insurance-Related Data’ setting is only operable if the customer signed up for usage-based insurance; otherwise, it is always in an off and locked position.
Speaking of "Share Driving Data", the associated "info" button says that Ford will receive that data as well as "service partners". Who would these "service partners" be?
The ‘info’ button explains that driving data is shared with Ford and our service providers. Service providers are third parties that help Ford provide connected (or other) services and that cannot use the data for their own unrelated purposes. As one example, we use a service provider to operate a call center as part of our Roadside Assistance program that can help guide certain customers who have been in an accident (e.g., help find a Ford Certified Collision Center, arrange a rental car, etc).
Can they safely leave "Share Driving Data" toggled ON (with "Insurance-Related Data OFF), so they don't lose some app functionality, without concern that Ford will share their information with insurance companies or data exchange services?
Unless a customer goes through the in-vehicle consent experience for usage-based insurance, customers can leave the “Share Driving Data” toggled ON and have confidence that Ford will not share that data with insurance companies or data exchange services.[\quote]

 

[Ranko Kohime]

For those asking about Wi-Fi, in my 2025 XLT the Wi-Fi option doesn't work after pulling fuse 11, so mine is, in theory, totally disconnected. To my knowledge Bluetooth still works, though I prefer a wired connection for Carplay regardless, which doesn’t provide Internet access to the truck.

As for, does pulling the Telematics fuse actually disable the whole shebang? Well, if Ford is being sneaky about it, probably not. But the hidden (to the average driver) error messages about the network being inaccessible are either true, or a level of intelligent deviousness I am unwilling to ascribe to a vehicle manufacturer at this time. The "opt-out" controls shouldn't be taken seriously, as they probably sell the data regardless.

Bluetooth working

Wi-Fi off.

When attempting to enable Wi-Fi, it redirects to Connected Vehicle Services, which never gets past this screen, and eventually kicks you back to the settings menu.

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