Toyota announces plans to start charging owners for remote start via fob

Edit: I butchered the title, it was suppose to be "Toyota charging monthly fee for you to use RF remote start - this is unacceptable". My bad cant change title now

Toyota is going to start charging owners of 2018 or newer models with Remote Connect functions a monthly fee to keep remote starting. I didn't understand why this was a big deal because I thought that this feature was utilizing servers to allow you to use it from anywhere.

But no, Toyota is charging people to use their RF remote fob to start their car. This system does not connect to a Toyota server to work, yet Toyota is trying to make you pay for something you bought.

Imagine having a 2001 4runner with power locks and having to pay Toyota to be able to lock and unlock the doors using the fob. This is basically what Toyota is trying to do with keyless start on their current vehicles.

Subscription business model is fucking cancer, its spreading from the online and digital world to automotive. Imagine not being able to buy something, instead you end up paying indefinitely for something that doesn't cost the company a dime to maintain.

You should only pay for subscriptions on services that offer new content (like netflix and spotify) or services that utilize infrastructure that require maintenance (Ex: paying for something that utilizes a server).

This paying for continued use of key fob does not meet either of those, Toyota is not maintaining anything to allow you to use your key fob nor are they adding functionality. This is just a lazy scam to make more money, don't buy it, don't let this practice become common place. Be diligent when buying anything that you aren't buying something that will eventually become a subscription.

 

I implore everyone not to buy into ANY of these subscriptions services, whether it's Toyota or GM Onstar or anyone else. All of it is stuff you can live without but if people keep paying they'll lock more and more features behind a paywall.

 

And while we're on the subject, cut the cord with your cable company and start streaming.

 

I just purchased my 4runner and I do not have remote start. I do have the remote that should do it and I see my lights flash like it should but it does not start. I wonder if this is from opting out of remote connect when I purchased? I also do not get my last parking location when I check for a recent jimmy buffett concert. How would I determine whether those options are available? I thought they gave us the first year free.

 

The TW guys discussing the same in their thread about it are of the opinion that the remote start continues to work even without the subscription. I have no experience / don't have it so I have no personal input to offer.

 

If you don't enable Remote Connect you won't get a Last Parked Location update as that's part of Remote Connect.

 

My wife's 2019 RAV4 would still start with the remote even though Remote Connect was expired. It also would still start through the app even though the subscription had been expired for over a year

I haven't tried the remote yet with my GX as I find remote start on Toyota's to be stupid with how it shuts the vehicle off so I never use it.

 

when we purchased our Rav4 it was all laid out that the remote connect had a 1 year subscription and I would have to pay if I wanted it past that point, I'm not sure why so many are being caught off guard about it.

 

Man I would, but I e had the NFL ticket for 20+ years. If Amazon wins the new contract through…directv is GoNe!!!!

 

I’m thinking and could be wrong but this thread is misleading/misguided to something completely different than using the remote. The subscription being referred to is about starting the truck with your phone through the remote connect app correct ?

 

I believe you are correct

 

I was just reading an article on Jalopnik that this is going to be an industry-wide thing. Looks like car makers are going to focus less on selling a lots of cars, and more on new ways to collect subscription fees. Basically free money for them.

Personally, I have no plans to ever buy a new Toyota, or really any new car. Looks like I'll be driving a beater is for the rest of my life, starting with my current 5th gen.

 

Yep, software in cars will be subscription service based. Radio, navigation, GPS will be this way and I'm sure other things. Big Brother owns your car if newer that 2020.

 

No, I'm referring to the fob.

Toyota (perhaps intentionally) made this more confusing then it had to. To use the fob to start your car you have to have Remote Connect. Remote connect is the app that Toyota is making you pay a monthly fee for. Since using the key fob to start your vehicle is contingent on you having the remote connect app, you basically have to subscribe to the app to use your fob.

Toyota doesn't have to bundle key fob start with the app.

People think that electric cars will save them money since they require less maintenance, but really they'll get money from you one way or another. I bet this is Toyota trying to be ahead of the curve and get people use to paying monthly for use of features that were previously purchased.

 

At some time Toyota will probably have to download a firmware update to the vehicle to implement this new scheme that would disable remote start w/o a subscription.

If your fob is communicating directly via RF to the car for remote starting, and it works right now, maybe it’s time to start experimenting with disconnecting the DCM unit. No DCM, no updates.
https://www.4runners.com/threads/ho...cking-telemetry-on-the-5th-gen-4runner.20628/

 

At the top of the page, click on "thread tools", then click on "edit title".

 

My Toyotas have keys.

 

Was the same case with my 4R. I knew when I purchased it that the cellphone control for the remote start would require a paid subscription after 1yr. Now that the 1yr has expired, I am fine with using the keyfob to remote start my 4R. I don't need all of the vehicle tracking and commentaries on my driving that came with the paid subscription anyways.

 

You will own nothing and be happy. Conditioning.

 

Happened across this. FWIW


"Toyota vehicles made prior to 11/12/2018 will have remote start functionality with the key fob for free.

Toyota vehicles built since then will have the following applied:

1. The smartphone app will work for free for 1 year. After that time you need to pay for it.

2. The key fob will still start the vehicle for free without the app for 3 years for the Audio Plus system and 10 years for the Premium Audio system, and these terms are from the day of delivery to the customer. After those terms, the fob will not start the vehicle remotely unless you pay the subscription.

3. The starting function of the key fob obviously has to be in close proximity to the vehicle, but the technology that actually starts the vehicle is based on the same technology used by the app, which is the cloud based, or cellular based technology, and this is the infrastructure that costs Toyota to maintain, hence the subscription fees. Starting with the fob sends the signal from the fob to the vehicle, then the vehicle sends a signal to the Remote Connect service which then sends a signal back to the vehicle to start the engine.

4. Remote starting from the fob is not connecting to a remote starter as we know it. A remote start system can be installed by Toyota or a 3rd party company, but any system other than Toyota’s May void the warranty."

 

Nah

https://www.thedrive.com/news/43636...tart-subscription-plan-after-massive-blowback

 

The remote start via the fob and app was still working on my wife's RAV4 for over a year after the subscription expired I have no idea how or why but it was. I could also lock/unlock the doors via the app even with the expired Remote Connect subscription.

I did decide to renew the Remote Connect subscription last month though as I like some of the features of the Toyota app.