Woman Fears Her Ford Bronco Got Stolen After Putting It on Turo. Then She Tracks It Down

Motor 1

3 days ago

For many car owners, Turo offers a way to turn a parked vehicle into passive income. But when a routine rental left one woman unable to track her brand-new Ford Bronco, the line between entrepreneurship and anxiety blurred fast.
A viral TikTok from Texas-based creator Christina Haley (
@mrs_tink
) reveals that loaning a vehicle on the popular app can lead to numerous worries and second-guessing.
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Routine Trip Turns into Radio Silence
Haley, who had recently listed her
Ford Bronco
on Turo, thought she had everything covered until she received an unexpected notification from FordPass. The app
enables owners
to remotely monitor their vehicle's diagnostics and location.
According to her TikTok, the message stated that her vehicle's onboard system had been manually reset.
'Someone manually reset my computer without my permission,' she says in the clip. 'I have not been able to track my car in three days.'
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The renter gave vague reasons for the reset, Haley says, claiming the radio wasn't working. But FordPass support purportedly said that the explanation didn't make much sense.
Compounding the anxiety, she says messages to the renter went unanswered for hours. When they finally replied, Haley says they suggested extending the trip. Instead, they dropped the vehicle off later that day.
For Ford owners using apps like Turo,
FordPass
is a critical link in the trust chain. The platform allows remote locking, unlocking, and GPS tracking.
When a renter performs a
master reset
on a Ford vehicle, all synced accounts, including FordPass, are disconnected. The car's location and status become invisible to the owner.
Ford's
support documentation
confirms this: A factory reset removes all personal data and cloud-connected accounts from the system, including navigation history, Bluetooth devices, and app access, such as FordPass or Alexa integrations.
A Turo spokesperson said that hosts have tools to use when these scenarios arise.
"There was no vehicle theft or malicious intent, as the guest was simply seeking to use the vehicle's audio system. For hosts' peace of mind, Turo recommends our partner vehicle tracking provider, PassTime, which offers tailored features to monitor and protect vehicles during trips, including detecting tampering and towing," a Turo spokesperson told
Motor1
via email. "The host has since learned about Turo's preferred tools, helping her choose the provider that makes her most comfortable with sharing her vehicle on the Turo platform."
Returned, But Not Reassured
In Haley's case, the Bronco came back intact, but not in the same condition it left. The soft top panels had been incorrectly reinstalled, she says, the interior was dirty, and signs of rushed or careless use were apparent. 'It's definitely dirty,' she says. 'Could I charge [them] a cleaning fee? Yes. I'm probably not, because it's not a big deal.'
Turo allows hosts to add a post-trip cleaning fee for excessive mess. Common
guidelines
cite issues such as stained upholstery, pet hair, or strong odors as justification for additional charges.
In this case, Haley chose not to escalate the situation.
Numbers Don't Always Add Up
After four days and 264 miles of driving, the trip paid Haley just $190. While that's not unusual for a standard Turo rental, it puts the cost-benefit tradeoff into sharp relief. Once you factor in potential wear, stress, and post-trip cleanup, the margins can feel thin.
According to Turo's
calculator
, a 2021 Ford Bronco in good condition can typically earn $50–$100/day, depending on location, trip length, and options.
However, that estimate doesn't include Turo's cut, which
reportedly
typically
ranges
from 7.5%–40% depending on the protection plan, plus maintenance, depreciation, and time spent managing communication and logistics.
For those with a second vehicle or limited driving needs, apps like Turo can unlock a source of extra income. But a potential user should do their homework about the tools out there to protect themselves and ask
hard questions
about whether it's worth it.
Motor1
reached out to Haley via TikTok direct message. We'll be sure to update this post if she responds.
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