Onstar Story

D&SYukonDenali · November 22, 2008

I found out last night my youngest brother was in an accident on Thursday night. He was driving a Chevy full size when he hit a patch of black ice, spun off the road, through a ditch, and head on into a tree (he fine, a little banged up though).

Since he lives in the north woods of WI, where you can sit on the side of a road and not have someone drive by for hours and cell reception is not very good, my parents decided to keep the safe and sound package with Onstar. So after he came to his stop, he hit the emergency button on the unit and OnStar picked up (I guess they did not detect there was an accident because the airbags did not go off due to the brush guard, or deer catcher as it's referred to up there). During their conversation, the connection was lost because during the collision with the tree the battery was damaged.

So here is the part that gets me. The OnStar unit does not have a small back-up battery in case of a front and collision, which results in battery damage? Also, since they knew he was in an accident prior to losing communication, I would think they would have called the emergency contact people on the account, which in this case were my parents. They never receied a phone call.

I told my dad I were him, I'd call OnStar and demand his money back for the package for both the reasons above.

GARB55 · November 22, 2008

Glad to hear he is OK. I have only had Onstar for a little over a month and do not know much about it.

dietz4ibanez · November 22, 2008

I am glad that he is ok! But I agree 100% I would be fussin with Onstar!

The Chosen One · November 22, 2008

great to hear he is ok,and yea Onstar should have contacted emergency services.

on the other hand, how is it that the battery was damaged??? did he replace it and not secure it, especially since having a brush guard and not deploying airbags? im guessing frame took brunt of the hit, just wierd that the battery would died like that.

fbachman · November 22, 2008

Glad he got out of it without serious injury. Sounds like it coulda been close.

I am glad that he is ok! But I agree 100% I would be fussin with Onstar!

no kidding... that's BS. As the call connected, they musta had a GPS fix on the call. I'd give 'em a call and ...

Ask them if they would make THAT event into one of their commercials.....

D&SYukonDenali · November 22, 2008

great to hear he is ok,and yea Onstar should have contacted emergency services.
on the other hand, how is it that the battery was damaged??? did he replace it and not secure it, especially since having a brush guard and not deploying airbags? im guessing frame took brunt of the hit, just wierd that the battery would died like that.

Not exactly sure; have not seen the vehicle yet. But the truck was in brand new condition, so everything was secured down the way it should have been.

dayday · November 22, 2008

I've always wondered about Onstar and if it would still work with a dead or damaged battery. Thanks for answering my question. Glad he's OK.

Paul58 · November 22, 2008

I cancelled OnStar, couldn't see the value in it. This is my first GM product since they started including OnStar as pretty much standard equipment, We don't have it on our other two (non-GM) vehicles and don't miss it there either!

Personally, I'd like to find a BlueTooth product that could be wired in to the existing OnStar button and mic and have real Bluetooth hands free phone capability in the truck, that I would find much more useful!

Glad to hear you're brother is okay! That had to be pretty scarry knowing your stuck along-side a desolute highway with no communication! Will be curious to hear what OnStar has to say about how their operators handled his situation!

superjim · November 22, 2008

If that happened to MY SON..... I wouldn't just be FUSSING at OnStar.

I would be throwing a walleyed, ringtailed FIT.

With a supervisor... as high up the food chain as I could get.

There is NO EXCUSE for that to have happened like it did.

That is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE behavior on the part of OnStar.

They already have a GPS fix on you when they answer the phone.

I use OnStar quite a bit for directions and information. (I have the Directions and Connections plan)

They ALWAYS know EXACTLY where I am.

They should be able to go back to the tape of the OnStar call and find out EXACTLY WHO answered that call and take appropriate action against that person.

I would INSIST on that... at the very LEAST, along with probably a free year or two of service.

Zembonez · November 22, 2008

If that happened to MY SON..... I wouldn't just be FUSSING at OnStar.

I would be throwing a walleyed, ringtailed FIT.

With a supervisor... as high up the food chain as I could get.

There is NO EXCUSE for that to have happened like it did.

That is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE behavior on the part of OnStar.

They already have a GPS fix on you when they answer the phone.

I use OnStar quite a bit for directions and information. (I have the Directions and Connections plan)

They ALWAYS know EXACTLY where I am.

They should be able to go back to the tape of the OnStar call and find out EXACTLY WHO answered that call and take appropriate action against that person.

I would INSIST on that... at the very LEAST, along with probably a free year or two of service.

+1

I'd say that about sums it up.

rvsahs · November 22, 2008

If that happened to MY SON..... I wouldn't just be FUSSING at OnStar.

I would be throwing a walleyed, ringtailed FIT.

With a supervisor... as high up the food chain as I could get.

There is NO EXCUSE for that to have happened like it did.

That is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE behavior on the part of OnStar.

They already have a GPS fix on you when they answer the phone.

I use OnStar quite a bit for directions and information. (I have the Directions and Connections plan)

They ALWAYS know EXACTLY where I am.

They should be able to go back to the tape of the OnStar call and find out EXACTLY WHO answered that call and take appropriate action against that person.

I would INSIST on that... at the very LEAST, along with probably a free year or two of service.

+1

I'd say that about sums it up.

+25 billion!!

VMax2007 · November 22, 2008

If that happened to MY SON..... I wouldn't just be FUSSING at OnStar.

I would be throwing a walleyed, ringtailed FIT.

With a supervisor... as high up the food chain as I could get.

There is NO EXCUSE for that to have happened like it did.

That is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE behavior on the part of OnStar.

They already have a GPS fix on you when they answer the phone.

I use OnStar quite a bit for directions and information. (I have the Directions and Connections plan)

They ALWAYS know EXACTLY where I am.

They should be able to go back to the tape of the OnStar call and find out EXACTLY WHO answered that call and take appropriate action against that person.

I would INSIST on that... at the very LEAST, along with probably a free year or two of service.

I COMPLETELY agree 100% with YOU about THIS.

VMax2007 · November 22, 2008

I found out last night my youngest brother was in an accident on Thursday night. He was driving a Chevy full size when he hit a patch of black ice, spun off the road, through a ditch, and head on into a tree (he fine, a little banged up though).

Since he lives in the north woods of WI, where you can sit on the side of a road and not have someone drive by for hours and cell reception is not very good, my parents decided to keep the safe and sound package with Onstar. So after he came to his stop, he hit the emergency button on the unit and OnStar picked up (I guess they did not detect there was an accident because the airbags did not go off due to the brush guard, or deer catcher as it's referred to up there). During their conversation, the connection was lost because during the collision with the tree the battery was damaged.

So here is the part that gets me. The OnStar unit does not have a small back-up battery in case of a front and collision, which results in battery damage? Also, since they knew he was in an accident prior to losing communication, I would think they would have called the emergency contact people on the account, which in this case were my parents. They never receied a phone call.

I told my dad I were him, I'd call OnStar and demand his money back for the package for both the reasons above.

Dan, I agree that the onstar should have some sort of back-up battery.

I am NOT excusing or defending Onstar here, as I agree that some sort of follow-up should have been made to assure he was taken care of. But I also wonder what transpired in the conversation prior to him being disconnected? Did he say he was "OK" and uninjured? Even though that wouldn't mean he still didn't assistance (tow truck or whatever). But it would be interesting to know what was siad prior to the disconnection. Did he say?

I would still file a complaint and make sure they know about this "flaw" in their procedures.