First introduced by Ford Motor Company for the European car market, the automaker's Stolen Vehicle Services (SVS) system for the FordPass mobile app is now arriving in the United States for the 2024 model year. This technology helps owners protect their vehicles from theft and provides 24-hour support if a car is stolen.
Ford Stolen Vehicle Services is a fully integrated recovery service aimed at preventing and reducing the impact of vehicle theft. The system operates through the FordPass mobile app with SecuriAlert functionality. It sends alerts to the owner via smartphone if there is an attempted or perceived theft of their vehicle.
The owner will receive an alert if someone bumps the vehicle with any significant force, reaches through an open window to unlock a door, triggers a diagnostic code, or engages the car through the infotainment system to attempt a factory master reset. Vehicle sensors detect a potential theft event.
When a vehicle sensor is triggered, the FordPass app will send a push notification that shows the vehicle status to the owner to help them determine if the vehicle has moved without their knowledge. It also gives the option to cancel an alert in the event of a false alarm, such as when a friend or family member has engaged the vehicle. The system also provides information about inconsistent location, which occurs when the ignition is turned on and the vehicle's location coordinates differ from when the driver last turned it off.
Once alerted, the FordPass app with SecuriAlert functionality guides the owner through the police reporting process and provides 24-hour on-call support. This technology enables the police to track the vehicle once reported, thereby increasing the odds of recovery.
Ford initially developed the SVS system in response to over half a million vehicle thefts throughout Europe between 2009 and 2018. It was first available in 2021 in the United Kingdom and Ireland and then became more widely available across Europe in 2022. The technology has now come to the U.S., where vehicle theft also runs rampant. The first models to offer the system in the U.S. are the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT all-electric crossover and the Ford F-150 pickup truck.
A single tap on the FordPass app allows the owner to begin the police reporting process. From there, the FordPass app connects with the local police based on the owner's current location. This initial contact generates an official police report and a crime reference number. The app saves this information and allows the owner to add any other notes or relevant information regarding the incident.
Using the FordPass app, the owner will then contact the Ford Stolen Vehicle Services call center and provide the crime reference number. The call center will remotely enable 'theft mode,' which turns off certain vehicle features to make tracking and recovery more efficient for the police. All ongoing updates and information are accessible to the owner through the Ford Stolen Vehicle Services call center.
Stolen Vehicle Services is a component of Ford's next-generation suite of connected services that offer greater functionality through the FordPass mobile app. Two new features for the U.S. market include:
Further enhancement will arrive over time through over-the-air software updates that aim to make Ford SVS even more proficient at aiding the police in vehicle recovery.
Ford Stolen Vehicle Services provides an elevated level of detection to prevent theft and on-call support to assist the police in tracking and locating a stolen vehicle. The result is less financial and emotional stress and more overall peace of mind for vehicle owners.
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Jessica Shea Choksey is an experienced writer in the automotive field. In addition to JDPower.com, she was a correspondent for PBS's MotorWeek. Her work has also appeared in AutoTrader.
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