Remote stopped working

I wanted to pass along some information about remote start since this information was from a Toyota engineer who was very helpful and this worked just how he said it would.

This is not the Toyota remote connect subscription.
There is no cost or fee associated with this you just need to have the app active.

He said In 2020 Toyota decided that they wanted to test to see how many people would be signing up for the Toyota app. If you did you would have found out about the key fob trick which he called an Easter egg and also found that this will last for 10 years (2030). On some trucks this was already turned on and had a delay to turn off if the app is not activated within a certain time period. I bought my truck used so it may have been that the previous owner deleted the app when mine suddenly stopped working. I thought it was a dying fob battery, or truck battery and changed both and nothing, so when I talked with this engineer he explained to me about the app and as soon as I downloaded the app put my vin # in, turned on the remote setting and it started working again in about 15 min, and has been working for months now. I did later confirm this with a Toyota representative on the phone, but was told it only works on 2020 or newer Tacomas. This is the app (Toyota).

 

I have a 2021 that I could remotely start with only the key fob. When the fall temperatures arrived here in Massachusetts, I tried to start remotely like I previously did. It would not start the truck and I assumed the fob battery must have been weak so I replaced it, but same results. I did some research and was told I needed to purchase the Toyota App for $80.00 annually or monthly. Wow what a new source of revenue for Toyota.

Yesterday I thought I would try to remotely start the truck which my wife took to her work since she didn't have the app on her phone, and was surprised it worked. Having time on my hands I decided to poke around on the app. It told me exactly where the truck was parked, how many times I accelerated aggressively, took corners too fast ect. I was _issed that that information was gleaned and history on my phone. Hearing maybe 10 days ago Onstar was collecting info and selling it to insurance companies causing some people had their premiums triple was was sued from the supplied info.

I stopped into dealership this morning where sales people were ignorant regarding the issue suggesting I go to Toyota's web site. I believe Toyota is not collecting and selling info to 3rd parties, but ......

Has anyone looked into this issue and have concrete info?
Dan

 

I currently have the same issue but it started after I had to replace the batteries in my fob. Been searching interweb and says it needs to be programmed again.