Kahu

[mbergthold]

Kahu is advertised as several things, incl a vehicle locator using a dumbphone app. Courtesy Ford in Portland OR insisted on installing it in my 2019 Ranger Lariat upon delivery. At 5k miles, the nav system started displaying error messages. At 10k, the nav began showing me 5 to 10 miles off where I actually was, occasionally locked up, and did really strange things. Yesterday I finally learned why - KAHU, which plugs into the OBD. Removed it, and all the issues vanished.

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[Rick - Saber]

Not sure I would appreciate my dealer insisting on installing anything on my vehicle that was not on the truck from the factory if I had not requested it. Looked at the KAHU website and a bunch of the 'benefits' it claims to offer the vehicle buyer are already available via Ford Pass app. Things like vehicle location, recall notification, schedule service appointments.

Seems more like an avenue for the dealer to push it's sales agenda onto the customer afterwards. Plus this Kahu company probably has access to your vehicle location and travels. Yet another company wanting to collect data on us to profit by selling to others. To it's credit it does appear to help the dealer with vehicle lot management stuff.

I would do as you did and remove it. Then hand it back to the dealer during your next visit and tell them not to put anything like it in my vehicle again. If it has app software installed on the truck or your phone I would want that uninstalled as well.

 

[thewhiteranger]

Kahu is advertised as several things, incl a vehicle locator using a dumbphone app. Courtesy Ford in Portland OR insisted on installing it in my 2019 Ranger Lariat upon delivery. At 5k miles, the nav system started displaying error messages. At 10k, the nav began showing me 5 to 10 miles off where I actually was, occasionally locked up, and did really strange things. Yesterday I finally learned why - KAHU, which plugs into the OBD. Removed it, and all the issues vanished.

Hi, new member here and I ran into this with one dealer out here in Texas, they put it on all vehicles and charge for it, I did some research and this Is primarily a dealer inventory control system that they use to locate and track vehicles on their lot (they get an insurance discount as well) they represent as a consumer antitheft device. That is not its real purpose and if you google it - there are many examples of very sloppy installation leading to problems - taped connections loose wires etc. I did not purchase the truck as the dealer would not remove it or tell me where it is located in the truck (from online research usually under the dash near the OBD port but I did not look) I purchased the identical truck at a different dealership without this add-on. I'd find it and remove it or take it back and make them do it- its not helping you. good luck

 

[mbergthold]

I neglected to mention that the Kahu can be triggered to disable your vehicle - they cut a wire.

Slightly off topic - I installed a Ford tailgate damper strut, works nice!

 

[GTGallop]

If you listen to this guy's pod casts about privacy, safety, and security you'll realize what a huge dildo in the @$$ Kaihu really is. But you'll also come to realize that it's just one of a hundred that are going in there on a regular basis and you don't even know....

https://inteltechniques.com/

Personally, I don't like it and wouldn't have asked for it. It is HUGELY incompatible with steps I've taken in my personal life to remove my digital footprint. It's like having a Parole Officer live with you an you haven't even comitted a crime. But I didn't find out about it until AFTER I bought the car so the Genie was already out of the lamp.

Next car is a 1986 Bronco wit a Carbureted Engine and NO NANNIES!

 

[Rick - Saber]

That is more invasive an install than I thought at first. I read the original post as a mere dongle inserted into the OBD II port, not a hard wired setup.

 

[thewhiteranger]

That is more invasive an install than I thought at first. I read the original post as a mere dongle inserted into the OBD II port, not a hard wired setup.

wow, that makes me even more happy that I did not buy the truck that had that piece of garbage installed in it -- I thought it was something simple that was just spliced in but if they are letting some clown at the dealership cut factory wiring to put this garbage in --- can't imagine what kind of problems that might lead to down the road and you know ford would deny a warranty claim because this isn't a ford accessory and you'd be down to fighting with whatever crooked dealer installed it ---- good luck with that. sorry for anyone who has this thing installed hopefully you won't have any issues.

 

[DHMag]

I could see this being used at smaller multi manufacturer dealers where they get all kinds of shady persons, but when buying a new vehicle, pfft, pound salt.

 

[mbergthold]

Update - Courtesy Ford sent a tech to our home, totally removed it (apparently I had only found the dummy unit). Interesting that ours was not the first to cause problems.

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