Ford Offers Wi-Fi, Connected Services on Older Vehicles

Ford is enabling owners of 2010 to 2017 model-year vehicles to add a Wi-Fi hotspot and telematics features through FordPass SmartLink, an OBD-II dongle available from dealers.

by Staff

March 21, 2018

Ford Offers Wi-Fi, Connected Services on Older Vehicles — *Photo of dealer technician installing FordPass SmartLink OBD-II device courtesy of Ford.*

1 min to read

*Photo of dealer technician installing FordPass SmartLink OBD-II device courtesy of Ford.*

Ford is enabling owners of 2010 to 2017 model-year vehicles to add a Wi-Fi hotspot and telematics features through FordPass SmartLink, an OBD-II dongle available from dealers.

By using the dongle, owners of the older models can use additional smartphone-enabled features and get more information about vehicle health, security, and location through alerts.

Ford is allowing owners to enroll in the program now, before making it available in the summer. The initiative is part of Ford's connected-vehicle plan. By 2019, all new Ford vehicles will offer connectivity.

FordPass SmarkLink customers pay $16.99 per month plus installation for a 24-month plan. Customers purchase the OBD-II device and receive a complimentary trial of a Verizon 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with 1 gigabyte or 30 days of data, whichever comes first. Users can add the device to their existing wireless plan.

Topics:4G LTE 2017-MY Wi-Fi Ford OBD-II Device Operations Vehicle Research Telematics

More Telematics

A manual, traditional logistics dispatch center versus a futuristic AI-driven illustrative diagram of a future logistics operation.

Remarketing•May 1, 2026

The Predictive Pivot: How AI and Data Are Redefining Auto Logistics in 2026

AI is no longer a luxury but the baseline for profitability in 2026. Auto haulers that adopt these tools now will quickly outpace those that use manual workflows or take a wait-and-see approach.

Telematics•by Chris Brown•March 18, 2026

How 5-Second Telematics Data Is Changing Fleet Safety

More detailed telematics data is giving fleets a clearer picture of what happens before a crash. Here’s why 5-second data matters.

Telematics•by News/Media Release•March 16, 2026

Mobilisights Rebrands as Mobilisights Connect

Stellantis is rebranding and expanding its B2B offerings, now offering software solutions for fleets through Mobilisights Connect.

Telematics•by Chris Brown•March 4, 2026

Can AI Really Make Fleet Drivers Safer?

Wheels’ David Glines explains how AI-powered coaching, connected vehicle data, and video telematics are helping fleets improve driver behavior.

Report: How AI Is Reshaping Fleet and Field Service Operations

AI is rapidly transforming fleet and field service operations, from predictive maintenance and intelligent scheduling to customer self-service and real-time diagnostics. But while organizations are seeing measurable gains in uptime, productivity, and efficiency, many are still navigating workforce adoption, cybersecurity concerns, and data readiness challenges. Explore the latest trends, investment priorities, and emerging AI use cases shaping the future of fleet operations.