If you hear an “incessant and unpleasant” sound coming from your Ford, you might be overdue on a car payment.

According to Bloomberg, Ford Motor Co. has filed for a patent on technology that could remotely shut down your radio or air conditioning. It could also potentially lock you out of your vehicle, or prompt it to beep constantly if you miss car payments.

In addition, per the Ford patent application for repossession-linked technology, cruise control and automated windows could be disabled if a consumer doesn’t acknowledge a notice of an overdue car payment. Ford could also shut down key fobs, door locks. It could also lock the accelerator or the engine itself.

“Disabling such components may cause an additional level of discomfort to a driver and occupants of the vehicle,” the patent application states.

A Ford spokesman said there is “no plan to deploy this.”

Original Artile By Mark Heim Appeared on Al.com: https://www.al.com/news/2023/03/miss-car-payment-and-fords-patent-could-shut-off-your-vehicles-ac-lock-you-out.html