2020 Remote start

Exactly... That applies after the Key fob functionality (first two paragraphs) expires depending on your audio system (Audio Plus=3 years, Premium=10 years).
The dealer just confirmed that, however, they cannot activate it themselves. This is something that, being it is attached to the same module, Toyota must do.

 

All of them suck. One said that 2020 Camry doesnt come with heated steering wheel. Another one told me that 4L in a 2020 4runner stands for differential lock... he recommended me to always use 4H. Yikes.

 

Question is, is remote start worth $80 a year to me?

 

For me yes. Plus I like the app. Can lock if I forget (from far away) which for me is worth it as I travel a lot for work. So I don’t have to come down from my hotel room to lock.

I like being able to start stop from my Apple Watch. I just saw the google assistant availability too. Need to figure that out. Also like being able to limit my 16 year old if he is driving to a certain speed limit.

 

Forgot about the Valet options, no one else drives my truck so there's that. I'm in the south, warming up the truck generally just takes driving up to the stop sign at the end of my street. The remote lock option is nice but I generally tap the door handle once i'm out.
I might end up doing it but I'm not thrilled about it.

 

$80 for convenience seems like a nothingburger to me. I too am in the south. Tennessee. But so far since having it I use it all the time and not my remote start on the fob. The fob is kinda tricky. Have to make sire it’s a 1,2, 3 and hold and I’m never sure if the signal hit and my bedroom is on opposite of house from driveway. Nice just to see if it’s on or not from my phone or watch. I can’t hear the beeps from my room from fob. And again I stay about 70 nights on the road. That’s worth it for me there alone.

 

For me it's halfway between a nothingburger and a...uh, somethingburger. (LOL) I don't need/want remote start via cell; just need it via fob. Mine works as of right now; hopefully it remains that way.

 

OK People.... another update.

Just came back home from spending a good 4 hours in the dealership. They did a lot of troubleshooting but nothing worked. They then called Remote Connect support at the number I was given and the customer service there forwarded the call to a technical person. After going back and forth with the car, VIN number, services required, overall problem, and what the dealer already did, the Toyota Remote Connect technical representative acknowledged that there is what he referred to as a "glitch" that is impeding the keyfob to operate as described when the "remote-connect" service expires or is canceled and acknowledged that it is supposed to allow the keyfob remote start capability to work for 3 or 10 years depending on your option.

The dealer reported a total of 4 new cases in the last three weeks (including mine). Both repair tickets (with Toyota Remote Connect support and the Toyota Dealer) will stay open until resolved.

Will keep you all posted.

 

But basically unless you pay, you only get 3 or 10 years to use the remote start in your truck? That sounds like a rip off.

 

Even though I found different other plug-and-play options to get the capability back without the need for a Toyota Remote Connect subscription, and being none of those options are manufacturer's equipment (Toyota OEM), the dealer told me installing them may invalidate my warranty. This is primarily why I'm requiring them to fix the problem.

Either they fix it or they install the other option but, like they already confirmed, my truck is supposed to have it.

After the 10 years? Well, who knows... I may not have the truck then... , but definitely will suggest everyone considering buying a Toyota with this service to get this straightened out if they like and want to keep the feature.

 

I have the same issue. I purchased in December 2019 and the key fob remote start stopped working in December 2020. I called Toyota Corporate last night and have a case#. Corporate agreed it should still be working, however, they're saying I need to take it to the dealer (Ourismann Chantilly Toyota).

 

What's funny is that when I bought the truck, part of the deal was having an aftermarket remote start installed on the truck. I came home and within a day or two found out (thanks to someone's post on this site) that the truck comes with remote start. So I cancelled the appointment to have it installed.

Just got a text from my service advisor, who I've dealt with for 9 years now and I must say that she has been awesome throughout this entire ordeal. She said that another Tundra owner just came in to diagnose the same concern with his remote start. Apparently while in the service lane the customer had called Toyota customer service and was pitching a fit. Eventually they told the customer that Toyota is aware of the issue and is currently under investigation. At least Toyota now acknowledges the problem.

 

I think they want you to take it to the dealer just to get a ticket opened on it and get a case started. Maybe Ourisman will get some different info. I've been to my dealership (Rosner of Stafford) 3 times now since Christmas Eve to try everything that TechLine was telling them to do. Nothing has worked.

 

I think you're right. I'll have to find some time to head over there. I'll report back once I get over there and have a ticket opened.

 

I don't get it. Is it a glitch or by design as stated in the above attached document?

 

My initial take on this is it's by design and geared toward them increasing their subscriber base. $80/year is really cheap, but it's also money that should be in my pocket. I wonder if other models are having the same by-design problem or glitch.

 

This is absolute utter BS. I have lost a lot of respect for Toyota. Sure its on me for not reading the fine print...but for FU** sake its a tangible feature within the thruck! Whats next!? you gotta pay a subscription fee to use TOW/Haul mode!? The connected services is a nice novelty feature - but really its a market research tool for them. All it does is track and collect data about you so they can sell the data to other parties.

I dont like my truck anymore.

 

What I gather from all of this is. The design is that the key fob works for 3 years with audio plus vehicles. 10 years with premium audio. Without continuing the initial trial. The glitch is that after the initial one year trial the key fob stopped working. It should work for another 2 or 9 years depending on audio plus or premium.

 

Looked up my specs. It's pretty clear here.

Premium Audio - 8" Touch Screen, Dynamic Navigation, HandsFree Bluetooth Phone/Music, USB Media Port, USB Charge-Ports, SiriusXM w/3-Month All Access Trial, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay Compatible Connected Services Safety Connect with 1-year trial, Service Connect with 10-year trial, Remote Connect with 1-year trial, Destination Assist with 1-year trial, Wi-Fi Connect with up to 2 GB within 3-month trial​

 

Yes, you have the premium audio. That means you get one year free trial of remote connect. Smart phone remote start + key fob remote start. After the trial your cell phone service will stop but the key fob start should continue for 9 more years. Mine is still working. Toyota extended my free trial. I got an email. I forget when it expires. It seems that most if not all key fobs are deactivating after the trial. Toyota is aware of the problem and is working on a solution. Hopefully they find one soon. . And I think if they can extend to 10 years then they should extend to the life of the vehicle.

 

What was the full URL on this document please?

 

Trying to find it again. Of course having no luck. Hold on.

 

Found it!

https://www.toyota.com/content/connectedservices/marketing/PDF/Remote_Connect_CFA.pdf

 

You da man

Here's the money shot.

The logic has been enhanced to no longer require an active Remote Connect subscription for the key fob to perform remote start functionality.​

 

Some of y’all may need to take that to the dealer

 

The dealer is the one who gave me that print out.

After my first trip there, starting a ticket and contacting Toyota Techline and trying some procedures that Techline suggested. While there, the tech working on the truck comes out and said that the answer he got in regards to my keyfob remote start not working was because "I let the trial period run out and never renewed". I called BS on that but wanted to give the dealership time to get to the bottom of it. 3 days later my service advisor calls me and says that Toyota sent some info and some new troubleshooting procedures. Go back down and the info that corporate sent to them was this print out and she says that according to that paper, I should have the remote start for 10 years without a subscription. So in a 3 day period, corporate gave the dealership completely opposite information.

She told me (after my 3rd visit to the dealer) that she feels that Toyota knows there is a problem but they have no idea how to fix it.

She texted me earlier today saying that they now have 5 cases open on this exact problem.

 

Expect a revision of the terms of service soon....

 

Stafford VA?

If so, we are very close but I'm going to Sheehy in Stafford. So far I have the ticket open with all (dealer and Toyota Remote Connect Support Services) and will be following up this week.

 

and probably a recall on affected vehicles for a firmware update....!!!

 

Quick update. It seems that Toyota has acknowledged the problem. The local Toyota Technical Representative assigned to my dealer sent this note to the service manager of my local dealer: (cleared names and numbers for privacy purposes)