Does a ranger raptor track my driving?

[momike]

I read somewhere that some modern vehicles will report to the mothership about your driving location, habits, etc.
Does Ford do this with its software? Is there an opt-out or a way to disable? What data about me are shared with Ford or any other party?
Thanks for any thoughts or pointers to references.

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[nappy]

I read somewhere that some modern vehicles will report to the mothership about your driving location, habits, etc.
Does Ford do this with its software? Is there an opt-out or a way to disable? What data about me are shared with Ford or any other party?
Thanks for any thoughts or pointers to references.

https://www.fordpass.com/content/ford_com/fp_app/en_us/termsprivacy.html#two

https://www.ford.com/help/privacy/#categoriesandsources

Information From Your Vehicle
Ford and Lincoln vehicles have systems that record data about how the vehicle is performing, how it is driven, where it is located, and the environment where it is operated. This data may be associated with a vehicle's unique identification number (“VIN”) or other identifiers, and VIN or the other identifiers may be linked to you.

If your vehicle is equipped with Connected Services or has factory-installed connectivity technology capable of electronically transmitting vehicle-originated data to Ford, we may collect the following categories of information from your vehicle:

• Vehicle Data
• Driving Data
• Vehicle Location (which may be collected through location-based features and functions in the vehicle or in our mobile apps and which may be derived from other information such as your mobile device’s location)
• Audio/Visual
• Media Analytics
• Vehicle Analytics

 

[momike]

Dang. That's opaque.
Has anyone parsed out the best way to stop all data sharing with Ford and third parties?

 

[av8r]

Dang. That's opaque.
Has anyone parsed out the best way to stop all data sharing with Ford and third parties?

Disconnect or shield the antenna from the cellular modem, and wifi equipment in the truck. Of course, that will also cause all kinds of other issues. Nearly all modern vehicles (built in the last 20 years) can/do report to someone other than you.

 

[Onceaneagle]

GM got in trouble and several States but not all have passed laws about data collection without the owner's permission. But it is still collected because of the disclaimers you agree to (most people never read them) at purchase or vehicle setup. Driving habits are collected and can even be sent to your insurance company, although some manufacturers claim no third parties are given your data. Acceleration, speeding, hard braking, hard cornering etc. can be collected and affect insurance rates. You might recall a commercial about an insurance company good driver discount and a plug in device so you could lower rates? Well, that tech has long been surpassed by vehicle software monitoring everything you do when operating. You can try to opt out possibly in writing by checking your State laws but that does not mean other vehicle functions will not be affected. Fordpass and cell phone connections are key collectors.

 

[TurboRanger]

The part I like is if your truck gets stolen you can track it

 

[av8r]

The part I like is if your truck gets stolen you can track it

Thieves know how easy it is to prevent that.

 

[JDCV67]

If you look above your head in the truck, you will see the trucks microphone. You are being tracked 24X7X365, by your phone, financial transactions, satellite radio, street cameras, smart watch, & vehicle.

 

[av8r]

If you look above your head in the truck, you will see the trucks microphone. You are being tracked 24X7X365, by your phone, financial transactions, satellite radio, street cameras, smart watch, & vehicle.

Don't forget your watch, smart ring, TV, wifi equipment inside your home, cameras on/in your home, virtually every "smart" device you place in, on or around yourself.

 

[Onceaneagle]

Don't forget your watch, smart ring, TV, wifi equipment inside your home, cameras on/in your home, virtually every "smart" device you place in, on or around yourself.

Big Brother has become Big Family.

 

[DaStockRR]

You can ask your Ford Technician to turn it off, if I’m not mistaken

 

[momike]

Don't forget your watch, smart ring, TV, wifi equipment inside your home, cameras on/in your home, virtually every "smart" device you place in, on or around yourself.

Yes to all of these replies. And if you saw that movie Minority Report, it's happening now.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/travel/facial-recoginition-flights-airports-orlando.html

That said, I'd like to know what I can, and opt out of what I can. Somehow having my own car report on my misbehavior strikes me as pernicious and I want to stop what I can. Especially since it's not impossible I'll drive the shit out of this thing. The insurance based on self-reported driving habits - fine if it's op-in... I would choose not to as long as I can.

 

[Dingus83]

think some of you can use this.

 

[Hoss]

Don’t forget the ring in your nose.

 

[They Call Me Bruce]

In my 2023 f350 it is easily disabled by disconnecting 4 quick disconnects from the modem located behind the felt backline behind the passenger seat. I don't know where they are located in the ranger as I have not gotten mine yet(on order) but I will be disconnecting it immediately.
This disconnection of the modem did NOT bring up any codes or lights of any sort, the only thing you will lose is all connected services to include OTA updates and any kind of ford pass garbage they try to tell you is useful.

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