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Well found out Onstar isn’t all that great

10K views 27 replies 24 participants last post by  MIkey52 
#1 · (Edited)
We had a bad surprise today. So we went on a trip for vacation and left my new GMC SLT 2500 at the airport. Locked it up and thought all was good. Then 7 days later upon our return my GMC remote access app on my iPhone didn’t work. Called Onstar to unlock truck and was told they could only unlock if I had driven it in past few days. Apparently after just a few days (like 5-7) the truck goes into a sleep mode and Onstar no longer works. Im like what? This is about worthless. Now we are waiting on someone to arrive to unlock our truck. Onstar Let us down and doesn’t mention this anywhere in the literature that we could find. Be forewarned......

We have satellites that can travel through outer space with active batteries for 40 plus years but we can only get a few days in a 70k diesel truck. I mean really? That’s retarded.....


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#2 ·
I was let down by Onstar last year. I thought Onstar was like AAA. I got 2 flats on my trailer a long way from home and hit the button because I only had one spare. The said we only help if it is your truck. Didnt offer to help in any way and hung up. I would have been a life long customer if they would have helped me. Instead I disconnected it and will never look back. Lesson learned.
 
#5 ·
This is unfortunate to hear. I was looking forward to have this additional peace of mind with my new truck. Guess after the trial is over that will be it and I'll stick to our insurance provider's road side assistance. Thank you for the heads up.
 
#9 ·
I didn't know about that option.

Is that just newer models or will my 2007 classic be able to?
 
#12 ·
I like OnStar. I’ve had it for years and used it a few times to unlock or locate my vehicle. and I use the app daily to remote start my truck. Just last week they unlocked my wife’s loaner car after she locked the keys and her phone in it. It took 4 minutes from the time she called me until the car was unlocked. However I know everyone has their own experiences.
 
#13 ·
Saw a motorcycle get rear ended and the guy literally flew in the air past my truck and skid across the pavement. Pushed the Onstar emergency button....nothing because cell signal was weak.

Horrid bull sh*t

Never again was Onstar in my truck
 
#15 ·
i had a similar situation, called onstar and asked if they could unlock mine, they asked if there was a child or pet in the car, there wasn't so they couldn't do anything. they told me that i could pay for service that would allow me to unlock it no matter how long its been dormant. i laughed and told them off.
 
#17 ·
My truck locked us out at a fueling station on a sunday with the truck only one month old. We were 1300 miles from home with a camper behind it. Our cell phones and ipad were locked up in the truck and key was in the ignition. I had to tell this unbelievable story to two customers who had pulled up to fill up their cars trying to borrow their phones. First guys phone was a pay per minute thing and wouldn't do anything no internet and limited call out. 2nd guy had a iphone but looked at me as if I was a crook asking him to call the onstar number which the 911 operator had kindly gave to me when using 1st guys limited call out phone.

The 2nd guy reluctantly dialed the number and low and behold onstar rep was on the other end. He handed me the phone then and I explained my situation, rep asked was the truck under a canopy and I said yes, he said it may or may not work, tell everyone close by to stand clear of the truck, we did, best sound I have ever heard was all those 4 doors to my truck unlocking. After that I asked the onstar guy why did my truck lock us out with the key in the ignition, his reply was you are not suppose to exit the vehicle with the key left in the ignition. BS I said and told him thank you for unlocking my one month old truck with my camper attached to it 1300 miles from my house.

I took it to the dealer after the trip and they never could figure it out either or were basically to stupid and didn't care to find out. Fast forward 3 years later when my right rear door lock began to not work auto up or down. Had that fixed and then the little red alarm light started working on my dash which had never worked in 3 years and I didn't know any different. Basically that was the problem all along the truck could never confirm it was locked on all the doors and basically error'd out the alarm part due to what I suspected was a faulty right rear door lock all along. Which probably cause the truck to lock us out that one time.

I never trusted the truck after it locked us out. I would remove the key on every fillup or leave a window down just in case.
 
#27 ·
My truck locked us out at a fueling station on a sunday with the truck only one month old. We were 1300 miles from home with a camper behind it. Our cell phones and ipad were locked up in the truck and key was in the ignition. I had to tell this unbelievable story to two customers who had pulled up to fill up their cars trying to borrow their phones. First guys phone was a pay per minute thing and wouldn't do anything no internet and limited call out. 2nd guy had a iphone but looked at me as if I was a crook asking him to call the onstar number which the 911 operator had kindly gave to me when using 1st guys limited call out phone.

The 2nd guy reluctantly dialed the number and low and behold onstar rep was on the other end. He handed me the phone then and I explained my situation, rep asked was the truck under a canopy and I said yes, he said it may or may not work, tell everyone close by to stand clear of the truck, we did, best sound I have ever heard was all those 4 doors to my truck unlocking. After that I asked the onstar guy why did my truck lock us out with the key in the ignition, his reply was you are not suppose to exit the vehicle with the key left in the ignition. BS I said and told him thank you for unlocking my one month old truck with my camper attached to it 1300 miles from my house.

I took it to the dealer after the trip and they never could figure it out either or were basically to stupid and didn't care to find out. Fast forward 3 years later when my right rear door lock began to not work auto up or down. Had that fixed and then the little red alarm light started working on my dash which had never worked in 3 years and I didn't know any different. Basically that was the problem all along the truck could never confirm it was locked on all the doors and basically error'd out the alarm part due to what I suspected was a faulty right rear door lock all along. Which probably cause the truck to lock us out that one time.

I never trusted the truck after it locked us out. I would remove the key on every fillup or leave a window down just in case.
Sorry for the old post but growing up at my dads repair shop. If the car has power locks either window down or remove the key from the cabin not matter what. I have seen normal power locks auto lock for no reason I have seen car freak out and lock/unlock/locks lock/lock. I have seen it happen way to many times. So if the key stays in the truck then window goes down no matter what. I use the ignition key with a semi quick connect to the rest of my keys with key fob. I can leave the key in the truck running or not and still control the locks with remote. Or try hiding a key somewhere outside just in case? Especially when there’s a camper on the back I try to have a truck copy in the trail in case someone traveling with me locks a set some where I can still get into the truck. My thought is plan on it happening even if it never does. That way if shit does go south you have a solution to it.
 
#18 ·
Supposedly.....if you leave the key in the ignition, then lock the door and close it (no key fob), it's supposed to immediately unlock the driver's door only.
Might make sure the window is down when you try it. marx

When I got locked out....once.....10hrs from home at a Casino / Fuel stop / Liquor store in LA on I-10 (we call those convenience stores in TX)....stepped out in shorts, in the cold, just to fill up.

As I'm standing there, I hear that Horrible Sound.....click clunk of all the power locks activated....I turn and look at the Driver's door, to see my dog standing on the armrest (foot on the power lock), wagging her tail and staring at me.

Everything is in the truck; no money, no phone, no key, no fob....just a T-shirt and gym shorts...out in the cold wind.
Two LEOs pulled up for something else, and one of 'em pulled out two wood wedges from the trunk, pulled back the top door jamb, inserted the wedges, unscrewed my antenna and used it to feed thru the door gasket opening and touch the unlock button.

I was a Happy Camper.
Dog was like, "what took ya so long? I missed ya!"

To this day, I carry TWO fobs, one in the left pocket, one in the right.
Trauma does that to ya.
Never been locked out since. :howdy
 
#19 ·
Luckily I haven't been locked out but a little prevention goes a long way. I have a unchipped door key hidden on my truck for this purpose.
 
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#20 ·
Your episode with Onstar has cleared up a couple of issues for me. I could never get Onstar to unlock my 2014 Duramax after it has setup for some time. There were times I had my phone and was too lazy to go back in the house and get the truck keys. Many time I have used my phone in an attempt to unlock the truck. No go. I finally drove it, I got a report from Onstar about maintenance needs. I tried to unlock the truck with the phone and it only works if the truck has been run in the last few days.
 
#21 ·
The one time I screwed up and locked myself out of my pickup at a fuel station.....I retrieved the extra key from my magnetic Hide-a-Key and the door opened right up! And no subscription fees! Which means more $$ for beer and rum!
 
#24 ·
On a trip from Fla. to N.C, there was a group of us running 80-85 mph. At the I-26 I-385 split the other vehicles split off. I called onstar to ask them how far up the road was my turnoff which was not on the map (pre GPS days for me)

The guy at onstar told me "at the rate you have been traveling, you should be there in 45 min". I asked him how he knew how fast I was going and he said quote: "we know the speed of every vehicle with onstar enabled and we can track your speed even if your onstar is not active".

When I got to the cabin, I pulled the overhead and disconnected every wire for onstar including the antenna.
Too much Big Brother for me.
 
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