Onstar

jem233 · June 16, 2006

Noticed the red light on the rearview mirror and wanted to make a call but phone would not work, of course this happened right when my warranty was ready to expire and I was to far away from the dealer to take it in, Service rep said Onstar was very particular about warrantying the Onstar so when I got to the dealership I was 88 miles past the warranty so now I am SOL. So the question is has this happened to anyone and is this something that can be easily fixed or would this require a replacement onstar unit. I have a 2005 Chevy Silverado HD Duramax.

toyoman28 · June 20, 2006

The exact same thing happened w/ my 2005 Sierra 2 weeks ago. Red light and "phone unavailable". I took it in and they replaced some module called the VCIM under warranty. Well, the red light is green again but the system still doesn't work right. I can call onstar, but it won't upload any info about the truck, such as location or airbag status. So it's back to the dealer again! I swear all 4000 miles on this truck are from going back and forth to the dealer! I do hope you can talk them into fixing it under warranty or at least part of the cost since you are so close on mileage. Good Luck!

jem233 · June 26, 2006

The exact same thing happened w/ my 2005 Sierra 2 weeks ago. Red light and "phone unavailable". I took it in and they replaced some module called the VCIM under warranty. Well, the red light is green again but the system still doesn't work right. I can call onstar, but it won't upload any info about the truck, such as location or airbag status. So it's back to the dealer again! I swear all 4000 miles on this truck are from going back and forth to the dealer! I do hope you can talk them into fixing it under warranty or at least part of the cost since you are so close on mileage. Good Luck!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well mine was about 60 miles from being out of warranty and I called the dealership and told them that if I drove it there I would be over the mileage and they stated that onstar was very finnicky about warranty mileage so they said bring it on in but since I was 60 miles past I was SOL

toyoman28 · June 27, 2006

If they are actually serious about the mileage thing and you are still under the mileage, then have the truck towed to the dealership. If you happen to have AAA, just call them up, tell them it won't start and have them tow it in or spring for the tow yourself. I can almost guarantee you it will be cheaper than paying for this repair. Are you sure that you are looking at the closest chevy/gmc dealership?...could there be one closer for a cheaper tow fee?

5Alive · July 7, 2006

I would escalate this. It is 2006, and you have a 2005. You use the truck a lot, but it is doubtful that you've even used the Onstar equipment very much at all.

There is a reasonablness standard here. I would most definately persue this with every means available.

If, after exhausting the dispute resolution board, GM's customer satisfaction department, the state lemon laws, the media (Onstar's supposed Safe and Sound system isn't sound, therefore it isn't safe), you are still unable to get this repaired, I might suggest one other tactic to limit your costs:

Offer to sign up for Onstar's enhanced services. The Directions and Connections plan, for example. Or purchase some hands free phone minutes.

If they want your $400.00 a year subscription for the service, their going to have to facilitate you having the equipment to use it. Sign up for it on a monthly basis, and cancel it later at your earliest release opportunity.

In the meantime, at least you will be getting some potential services value out of the dollars spent , rather than paying for portions of your new truck twice.

I use the heck out of my Onstar phone and services. Inexplicably, I've found that the Onstar phone seems to work where no other cell phone service has signal.

And I find the convenience of having Onstar find the closest (insert whatever type of store, restaurant, business, or service) to where I happen to be at the moment very, very helpful. That extra $200.00 premium really buys a lot information for someone who like me who doesn't commute the same route daily, and more often travels to unfamiliar surroundings.

Anyway, kind of like the cable company... they've got to hook you up if they want your subscription dollars.

gave20 · July 7, 2006

My red light has come on a couple of times, pressed the Onstar button, as I was being connected to a rep the light changed back to green and everything was okay.