Do Ford Vehicles Have Tracking Devices? (Solved!)

Can you track Ford vehicles if they get stolen?

Today, car theft has become more widespread, especially with advances in technological tools such as master keys.

Do Ford vehicles have tracking devices?

Ford does have tracking devices like FordPass to prevent car theft. However, not all Ford vehicles have inbuilt tracking devices as standard features. You find tracking devices on the Fiesta, Fusion, and Mustang models.

Which Ford Vehicles Have GPS Built-In?

These Ford vehicles have GPS installed:

1. 2019 Fiesta
2. 2020 Fusion
3. 2020 Mustang

All these cars have GPS (Global Positioning System) in their Navigation System.

The system has a voice activation technology and a responsive touchscreen so that drivers can direct the GPS to take action. Such actions include making hands-free calls or locating unfamiliar areas.

Ford vehicles also have a tracking app called FordPass that allows drivers to pair their cars with their phones and control them from afar.

From the FordPass app, they can unlock and lock their cars or even make appointments for car repair and maintenance.

How Are Ford Cars Protected Against Theft?

Ford vehicles are protected against theft through motion sensors with keyless entry cars.

Car thieves now use technological equipment like a ‘relay box’ to steal cars. Rather than use key buttons for unlocking their cars, some vehicles use fobs.

These fobs unlock the car once they are within a 2-mile radius.

To unlock cars like this, car thieves use a relay box to hack these fobs. They capture the signal from the key fob and trick the car into the opening. You can forestall such occurrences with motion sensors that put the fobs to sleep after 40 seconds of inactivity.

The fobs can only be reactivated when the driver moves toward his car with the fobs. Cars that use button keys are not prone to this attack.

Ford also has a lock mechanism called the Trade Vehicle Locks that reduce car thefts.

How Do You Track a Stolen Ford?

The following are ways you can track a stolen Ford vehicle:

FordPass App

You can track your stolen vehicle through the FordPass app.

This app lets you pair your phone with your car. As long as both devices are paired, FordPass will locate your car easily. When a car is stolen, Ford advises that you give your paired phone to the police to do the tracking.

The FordPass is activated in cars like 2018 and 2019 Ford Explorer, 2018 and 2019 Ford Mustang, and 2017-2019 Ford Fusion.

SmartAlert

As an alternative, you can use the Smart Alert service to track your stolen vehicle.

This service uses a car’s GPS to find its location, and transmit the information to cellular networks. To use this service, you have to subscribe to the SmartAlert service on your phone. Your car’s location will be sent to you through email or text.

The SmartAlert service also gives drivers the ability to lock and unlock car doors from remote locations. You can access this by inputting a personal code that would be given to you online.

There are several other aftermarket tracking devices you can install in your Ford vehicle to prevent theft and recover your car if it gets stolen.

However, the two we mentioned here are some of the most reliable and user-friendly car tracking systems for Ford.

When Did Ford Start Location Tracking?

Ford started location tracking in July 1999.

This was when AutoNation, a major car retail service, announced that it would begin putting tracking devices in the vehicles it sells.

Location tracking in cars in the US started in 1995 when Oldsmobile installed GPS in its cars.

The Oldsmobile GPS system was called the Guide Star. It generated positive feedback and dominated the US car market in a short while.

Before then, only military vehicles were tracked.

Japan was the first country to start location tracking in cars. The Mazda car company installed the first car GPS in the Eunos Cosmos in 1990.

In 1991, Mitsubishi and Toyota joined Mazda and created models with tracking devices.

How Do You Enable Location Tracking on Ford?

Cars are more prone to theft.

So, you need to set up the FordPass app on your phone to track your car’s location in case it gets stolen.

You can activate the app by enabling location settings on your Android and IOS phones.

1. Android Devices

Follow these steps to track your car via your Android device:

1. Go to the Settings icon
2. Then select Location
3. You’ll see a button, switch the location button on
4. You will receive a message asking that you Accept the settings
5. Doing so will activate FordPass on your phone. These settings will activate only if you install FordPass.

2. iOS Devices

Follow these steps to track your car via your iOS device:

1. Go to the Settings icon
2. Select the Privacy button
3. Scroll to Location and select it
4. Switch on the Toggle button
5. Go back to your menu and select the FordPass app to add extra location settings

How to Disable Location Tracking on Your Phone

While location tracking is essential to track your car in the event of theft, it also means anyone can easily find you.

So, you might want to disable the location tracking.

On your Android device, take the following steps:

1. Go to the Settings icon
2. Select location
3. Switch the location off

How to Find if Your Car Has a Tracker on It

There is a chance someone is spying on you and has put a tracker on your car.

Trackers are minuscule devices that use GPS to track a car’s location. Most are tiny, susceptible to abuse, and can seem invisible to the layman’s eye.

That’s why you need help to find them.

These devices do not just track location, they also register and store information on a host’s location. So, if someone tracks you, he’ll know your route, your previous and present locations, and even your average driving speed.

For your security and privacy, you’ll want to get them out.

There are some tools you’ll need if you have any suspicions that someone is tracking your car.

These tools include:

• A flashlight to locate the tracking device easily in dark spaces
• Mechanic’s mirror
• A mat so you have something to lie on when you check under your car. If you still don’t find the tracker using these tools, try bug detectors.

There are almost unlimited places to hide trackers in a car.

However, they are often placed in these parts:

• In the trunk
• Inside the wheels
• Under the car
• Some trackers only function when a car is moving, so bug detectors won’t work for such trackers.

How to Prevent Your Car from Theft:

Here are tips to protect your car from car thieves:

1. Always lock your car, even while you are on the road.
2. Ensure you take your car keys along when getting out of the car.
3. Don’t forget to close your windows and roofs as you leave your vehicle.
4. If you put valuables in your car, keep them out of the view of passersby.
5. Never take unfamiliar routes.
6. If you are going to a place for the first time, ensure that it is a secure area.
7. Never leave your driver’s particulars in the car.
8. Invest in an anti-theft system so it can alert you when your car is at risk of being stolen.
9. Park your car in an open area.

Anti-Theft Systems:

The Ford Motor Company often equips its cars with an anti-theft system called SecuriLock.

Every key shares an identification code with the car’s computer.

When anyone tries to start the car, the code on the ignition key is sent to the vehicle’s computer. If it doesn’t match the identification code, the car will resist starting.

The anti-theft system is installed in the following cars:

• 2013 Ford Escape
• 2010 Ford Figo
• All editions of Ford Fusion
• All editions of Ford Freestar

To disable the SecuriLock, insert the appropriate key in the ignition and switch to the ‘off’ position.

Then switch the ignition on. Your SecuriLock will be disabled.

Another anti-theft system Ford offers is the alarm system. This system alerts you when someone tries to break into your car.

To disable this alarm, insert your key in the ignition and press the loudspeaker icon to switch it on. Then switch off the loudspeaker icon. Your personal alarm system will now be disabled.

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