Apparently Mazda is collecting data on connected cars…

[dumkid]

And using the data on people’s driving habits to deny warranty coverage.

Link the the Reddit post.

The Mazda Privacy Policy does allow for them to collect all sorts of data, and you have to contact them to disable the TCU if you don’t want them to do so. I’m sure they’re not the only automaker that does this, but it is a discussion. Automakers have used ECU data for a while now in order to deny warranty coverage. Is this much different? I’m not sure I care too much, but what about if Mazda sells the data? It’s not collecting any more info than your phone is already collecting, but do we draw the line somewhere?

I’m attaching a screenshot of the story, in case some folks don’t want to visit Reddit.

View attachment 140561

them saying driving at high rpms caused it is bull crap. i drive my crappy old cars around and on the highway they never drop below 2500 rpm. in the city I hit 4000 pulling away from every light. i drive an underpowered brick though so I don't think It can hurt itself.

 

[2010Civic]

I'll stick with my dumb unconnected cars.

 

[dumkid]

me too

 

[alarmguy]

...

It's only a matter of time before this information is used in a lawsuit or criminal case. DA's already subpoena security cam footage from private property.

They already do this by seizing the vehicle recorder in accident situations and I would agree, public out to lunch on privacy in the USA.

 

[Elkins45]

Our CX-5 is exactly 2500rpm at 62mph in 6th gear. Doing 75MPH will push it well above 3000rpm and it will do that all day long. Something is wrong here.

it’s Reddit. There’s a significant chance it’s completely made up and an almost 100% chance that at the very least we’re not hearing a major part of the story.

 

[miden851]

so the question is, what do you buy out there that does not break the bank?

not many options left, i'd say, we are all screwed!

case in point, a coworker of mine bought '23 CRV Sport HY; I was like how much, she said guess; now, because I work in loan department, and i am a BITOG person I was like $35K OTD, she said $37K OTD

I was talking to myself, good luck once it passes 60K mark, I would not own Honda Hybrid past 60K miles

Meanwhile, she traded in '17 CRV EXL to the dealer with 72K miles on it and they gave her $19K as a trade in amount
The dealer has the car listed for $24.5K right now

 

[stormgol]

mazda canada are very easy to deal with. they authorized my 2018 mazda 6 to be repainted entirely. i had paint chips. i showed my dealer the car and voila. the entire car repainted. they will repaint also my 201 mazda 3 turbo as the paint has same chipping problem. in canada mazda service is very good. i have reached 150 mph top speed with that 2018 mazda 6 turbo and nobody has never bothered me with this at my mazda dealer and they are aware i went that fast. it was done on a racetrack. i also reached top speed with my 2021 mazda 3 turbo, but the darn thing will not go over 140 mph. it seems the newer mazdas are limited to 225kph or 140 mph. i have no idea how is the service with mazda in the US, but in quebec, canada, it is very good and they d'ont bother me because i go fast sometimes. but i have heard stories that mazda services in the Us is not terrible.

 

[admzn]

L word?

Out of this entire thread this is what I want to know lol. Lunacy, lubrication, laser?

The heck with Mazda. I loved the one my parents had in the early 90s (89 929 v6) but wouldn't buy one of their newer ones. At least you can still get some of their cars with a stickshift.

There must be some way to disconnect this kind of thing although I suspect it would void your warranty... I'll stick with my non-smart cars that barely talk to me when something is wrong.

 

[bullwinkle]

Makes you wonder if many manufacturers are (or will) start doing this crap-just think how many warranty repairs Ford could get out of if they did it! Time to add yet ANOTHER reason to never buy another new(er) car to the list!

 

[bullwinkle]

Out of this entire thread this is what I want to know lol. Lunacy, lubrication, laser?

I would imagine it’s the one that rhymes with “Sawyer”…

 

[PimTac]

I have to believe that pretty much all the vehicles sold today transmit data back to the manufacturer as well as third party companies. This should not be a surprise.

If you use a app that shows traffic on a map how do you think they get that data?

 

[Elkins45]

I have to believe that pretty much all the vehicles sold today transmit data back to the manufacturer as well as third party companies. This should not be a surprise.

If you use an app that shows traffic on a map how do you think they get that data?

I always assumed a whole bunch of it came from street cameras and urban traffic network centers, but mostly from people’s phones pinging off the towers.

I know every modern car has a cell transmitter for the Bluetooth hands-free, but Mazda doesn’t have their own cellular or satellite network, so ostensibly that means they are making monthly payments to someone who does own those things in order to carry the data traffic. If there actually is a cell transmission from the cars to Mazda surely they stop paying the bill for it as soon as the warranty expires. Or maybe Mazda just buys a ton of TracFone cards every month LOL.

I don’t have any trouble believing they store a ton of data, but I am slightly wondering about the logistics of transmitting it. Maybe a burst transmitter that is activated when you’re within range of a dealer? No cell data needed for that.

 

[JGmazda]

I always assumed a whole bunch of it came from street cameras and urban traffic network centers.

Mazda doesn’t have their own cellular or satellite network, so ostensibly that means they are making monthly payments to someone who does own those things. If there actually is a cell transmitter in the cars surely they stop paying the bill for it as soon as the warranty expires. Or maybe Mazda just buys a ton of TracFone cards every month LOL.

I don’t have any trouble believing they store a ton of date, but I am slightly wondering about the logistics of transmitting it. Maybe a burst transmitter that is activated when you’re within range of a dealer? No cell data needed for that.

I suppose if your phone is constantly communicating with the local towers, (Apple uses WIFI networking to form a Mesh-type network for example.) then Mazda can store data and upload anytime a network is found. I really believe they can do this and it's not cost prohibitive.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I know my Toyota records and transmits. I get an email monthly telling me there are no problems and I should pay a monthly fee so I can talk to my car via my phone.

On the forum for said car someone has figured out how to disable the DRM so it can't communicate back to the dealer. You basically disconnect the equivalent of a cellphone that it uses. It has its own battery which eventually goes dead and voila- no more DRM. I guess I should do that. I assume the data is still stored. I didn't sign anything in the purchase agreement saying they could collect the info. When I picked up the car all the nannies and online stuff was already enabled. I suppose Toyota would say by accepting the car I agreed to their tracking me, but since the dealer did it I think they would be on pretty thin footing, but they have more lawyers than I do so I presume that means they would win.

 

[JGmazda]

Out of this entire thread this is what I want to know lol. Lunacy, lubrication, laser?

The heck with Mazda. I loved the one my parents had in the early 90s (89 929 v6) but wouldn't buy one of their newer ones. At least you can still get some of their cars with a stickshift.

There must be some way to disconnect this kind of thing although I suspect it would void your warranty... I'll stick with my non-smart cars that barely talk to me when something is wrong.

I disconnected my OnStar hardware after I found it trying to connect relentlessly to the old 2-3G networking systems. It was actually draining my battery! Now? No more draining and gee... imagine that? That system (on my car) is 20-yrs old! Imagine what they have now? Yup.... they KNOW Everything.

 

[Elkins45]

I know my Toyota records and transmits. I get an email monthly telling me there are no problems and I should pay a monthly fee so I can talk to my car via my phone.

On the forum for said car someone has figured out how to disable the DRM so it can't communicate back to the dealer. You basically disconnect the equivalent of a cellphone that it uses. It has its own battery which eventually goes dead and voila- no more DRM. I guess I should do that. I assume the data is still stored. I didn't sign anything in the purchase agreement saying they could collect the info. When I picked up the car all the nannies and online stuff was already enabled. I suppose Toyota would say by accepting the car I agreed to their tracking me, but since the dealer did it I think they would be on pretty thin footing, but they have more lawyers than I do so I presume that means they would win.

I wonder how much Toyota pays the cell provider every month for carrying their data? I also wonder if they have to assign a cell number to each car? I know my cellular iPad has a number even though I can’t use it to make calls.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I wonder how much Toyota pays the cell provider every month for carrying their data? I also wonder if they have to assign a cell number to each car? I know my cellular iPad has a number even though I can’t use it to make calls.

Pennies. I used to work for a company that had a division that made monitoring equipment for commercial use - not cars - but they embedded cell phone technology in it and bought thousands of seats or licenses or whatever from one of the major carriers. They paid very little per device because its a pretty small amount of data and it gets transmitted in a non priority manner somehow, so it doesn't add to their network traffic in peak times.

 

[HemiBenny]

Well, there’s one side of the story. I wonder if it’s the heavily edited “my version” side of it?
As for data collecting? This shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point in time.

 

[supton]

it’s Reddit. There’s a significant chance it’s completely made up and an almost 100% chance that at the very least we’re not hearing a major part of the story.

Didn’t read more than the OP. My first thought too. That, or… could a service manager (or whoever at a dealership) be lying? so as to avoid doing warranty work?

 

[RedSpider]

it’s Reddit. There’s a significant chance it’s completely made up and an almost 100% chance that at the very least we’re not hearing a major part of the story.

Reddit is fine for entertainment purposes but blindly believing anything you see on that dumpster fire of a site is pure stupid.

My wife runs a company that has a subreddit, and there was a guy complaining about a problem he had with her company, and he went on to describe the conversations he had with various people, including her (which never happened) in the company and saying all sorts of nonsense. All of their incoming calls are recorded. When you call in there its one of the first things you hear, that your call will be recorded.....my wife was in charge of the recordings... I heard the recording of the call with my own ears, and the way he described the call on reddit was so far detached from the actual conversation that occurred it was ridiculous. Didnt stop the morons on Reddit from eating it up unquestioned and believing everything the guy said. She deals with this kind of internet nonsense ALL.THE.TIME.

I take these kinds of reddit and car forum stories with heavy skepticism, as anyone should. We are probably hearing 50% of the actual story, if that.

As far as Mazda data logging, I dont doubt it. I also doubt they're the only ones doing it. I'm friends with a Mazda service manager locally here, I'll ask him about it when I'm in there later this month.