Future Ford Vehicles Could Get TCU Replacement Snitch Mode

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a TCU replacement snitch mode that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on January 10^th, 2024, published on July 10^th, 2025, and assigned serial number 0222897.

The Ford Authority Take

In recent years, Ford has published a few patents outlining ways that future vehicles may be able to detect the removal of certain items – introducing us to ideas for things like an active wheel theft prevention system, a wheel theft detection system, and a parts theft detection system. Now, this newly published patent keeps that trend going in a slightly different direction, this time, with an idea for a TCU (telematics control unit) replacement snitch mode that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.

The sole purpose of this new patent is to prevent thieves and hackers from gaining access to connected vehicles in a very specific way. These days, those unsavory types have been installing TCU removal shields on vehicles, which can result in all sorts of issues for owners. As such, Ford proposes this system, which alert owners when it detects a mismatched controller. These alerts could even be delivered via a mobile device such as a smartphone via the cloud, which could help owners alert the proper authorities and perhaps even catch these thieves in the act – making it seemingly viable for use in future Ford vehicles.

“Submitting patent applications is a normal part of any strong business as the process protects new ideas and helps us build a robust portfolio of intellectual property,” Ford said in a statement. “The ideas described within a patent application should not be viewed as an indication of our business or product plans. No matter what the patent application outlines, we will always put the customer first in the decision-making behind the development and marketing of new products and services.”