Is there a DOWNSIDE to ONSTAR??

[DawnCt1]

I am picking up my new car tomorrow and I will have OnStar for a year. I told DS 28 and he said that its like "Big Brother watching you". Is it "that bad"? I can certainly see the advantage of it, particularly since its free (not really, I am paying for the car) but is there a reason NOT to have it??

 

[diznygirl]

We have had OnStar for a year and I like the feeling of security it gives me. The price is the downside, when you have to start paying for it - our year is over this month. But it's much better than AAA. Example: I lock keys in the car with my DD inside - AAA says that it will take them an hour to get there. ! If it was the same situation with OnStar, they pop the lock for me within minutes.

Maybe if I still lived in L.A. where AAA could get to me from any corner in 5 minutes, but the experience here hasn't been so good, so we will be sticking with OnStar.

 

[monkeyboy]

Horn and lights alert doesn't work if car has been idle for over 48 hours

 

[chamonix]

Horn and lights alert doesn't work if car has been idle for over 48 hours

Really?! I didn't know this. Interesting, I wonder why...

I have had Onstar since 1999 (when it first came out). I LOVE it, and will never buy another car without it. If you aren't a drug dealer or other criminal, who cares if your car can be tracked by GPS? I gladly pay for the peace of mind and services that Onstar gives me. I hope I never need some of those services though!

 

[ChrisFL]

I think there could be a few potential issues, but these are merely speculation.

I've heard that GM's technology may allow for the capability of determining speed of the car, and other similar factors, which could potentially be used by insurance companies. I have NO evidence that has happened, but it may be possible with the technology on-board.

I also recall a different but similar type of service for BMW, I saw a commercial where a guy is called in his car that he needs an oil change and to bring it in. To me, as a car enthusiast, that is a bit overbearing and especially when I prefer to do things like that myself. If you don't bring it in immediately and it goes slightly over the reccomended oil change period, they could cause problems with warranty service. Again that is all SPECULATION and not fact.

That's the reason why I don't like certain things about all of this new tracking technology

 

[tandrjohn]

Only speculation...

In addition to airbag deployment and impact severity, the Vehicle Comm and Interface Module can also record whether you're wearing your seatbelt or how fast you're driving.

It could also be used to:

Clear auto manufacturers of wrongdoing
Deny warranty repairs
Find you at fault in an accident
Increase your car insurance premiums or change your coverage

According to OnStar's Privacy Policy, it will share personal information to "comply with legal requirements, valid court orders and exigent circumstances". It also shares information with subsidiaries, including GMAC, which provides vehicle insurance.

Although it did not mention OnStar by name, a United States Appeals Court ruled in 2003 that the government may be able to use the on-board cell phone to eavesdrop on drivers.

 

[DawnCt1]

Only speculation...

In addition to airbag deployment and impact severity, the Vehicle Comm and Interface Module can also record whether you're wearing your seatbelt or how fast you're driving.

It could also be used to:

Clear auto manufacturers of wrongdoing
Deny warranty repairs
Find you at fault in an accident
Increase your car insurance premiums or change your coverage

According to OnStar's Privacy Policy, it will share personal information to "comply with legal requirements, valid court orders and exigent circumstances". It also shares information with subsidiaries, including GMAC, which provides vehicle insurance.

Although it did not mention OnStar by name, a United States Appeals Court ruled in 2003 that the government may be able to use the on-board cell phone to eavesdrop on drivers.

If you unsubscribe, or fail to renew your OnStar subscription, is the technology still able to record those things that you mentioned?

 

[Pop Daddy]

yes if you become a criminal they know where you are

 

[lclark0621]

I LOVE my Onstar. I will never buy another car without it!

I have used it many times when I was lost, needed a hotel, etc.

The best time came when my friends then 4 year old locked herself & my then 11 month old DS in the car. It was a HOT June day in TX. I called Onstar on my cell phone & with in 2 minutes the doors were open & all was well! Had I not had Onstar I would have been in a panic.

The incident is also why I never let anyone put kids in my car anymore (she just dropped the keys on the front seat) & I always have my keys in my pocket when I am not driving.

 

[DawnCt1]

I LOVE my Onstar. I will never buy another car without it!

I have used it many times when I was lost, needed a hotel, etc.

The best time came when my friends then 4 year old locked herself & my then 11 month old DS in the car. It was a HOT June day in TX. I called Onstar on my cell phone & with in 2 minutes the doors were open & all was well! Had I not had Onstar I would have been in a panic.

The incident is also why I never let anyone put kids in my car anymore (she just dropped the keys on the front seat) & I always have my keys in my pocket when I am not driving.

I know that now you can link Verizon cell phones with it so you have total hands free calling and it goes on your Verizon family plan. Have you tried that? I will have a navigational system with my car so I think I can program it for restaurants, atms, etc.

 

[lclark0621]

I know that now you can link Verizon cell phones with it so you have total hands free calling and it goes on your Verizon family plan. Have you tried that? I will have a navigational system with my car so I think I can program it for restaurants, atms, etc.

I dont have a Verizon cell phone. We use Cingular, but we like them.

 

[luvthatduke]

Just an FYI: Someone in my family that is knowledgable
about such things said as of 2 years ago most if not all
car manufacturers were beginning to put hidden GPS into all of their cars,
not just the ones with Onstar.
He was quite serious when he said the buyer will not be aware it's there!

So in theory if anyone buys a new car it is likely they can
be tracked by the government anyway, Onstar or not.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Just an FYI: Someone in my family that is knowledgable
about such things said as of 2 years ago most if not all
car manufacturers were beginning to put hidden GPS into all of their cars,
not just the ones with Onstar.
He was quite serious when he said the buyer will not be aware it's there!

So in theory if anyone buys a new car it is likely they can
be tracked by the government anyway, Onstar or not.

I think he might be talking about the "black boxes" that are in all new cars. It records speed, seatbelt use etc the previous few minutes before a crash. The car "black boxes" are just like the "black boxes" used in aircraft.

 

[Charade]

Only speculation...

In addition to airbag deployment and impact severity, the Vehicle Comm and Interface Module can also record whether you're wearing your seatbelt or how fast you're driving.

It could also be used to:

Clear auto manufacturers of wrongdoing
Deny warranty repairs
Find you at fault in an accident
Increase your car insurance premiums or change your coverage

According to OnStar's Privacy Policy, it will share personal information to "comply with legal requirements, valid court orders and exigent circumstances". It also shares information with subsidiaries, including GMAC, which provides vehicle insurance.

Although it did not mention OnStar by name, a United States Appeals Court ruled in 2003 that the government may be able to use the on-board cell phone to eavesdrop on drivers.

Wouldn't they be within their rights to do so?

 

[tandrjohn]

If you unsubscribe, or fail to renew your OnStar subscription, is the technology still able to record those things that you mentioned?

Sorry for the delay...

Yes. OnStar never really gets turned off when you unsubscribe...you just don't get the perks.

 

[tandrjohn]

Wouldn't they be within their rights to do so?

Yes, within limits of course.

Examples:

I wouldn't want my insurance premiums to increase because OnStar reported that I was speeding 5 MPH over the limit for a few miles 2 weeks ago.

I wouldn't want to be at fault in an accident because I didn't immediately follow up on OnStar alert that my tire pressure was 1 lb. too low.

 

[cgcw]

OnStar does not work if the battery is dead on the vehicle.

Our experience was they were very slow to respond when we needed a locksmith to come and open our vehicle as the keys were locked inside in the on position, which drained the battery. I kept calling OnStar -- they kept sendng the signal, but because the battery was dead, the signal didn't connect. They were suppose to call us back to make sure we found some assistance, but didn't because they were in the middle of maintenance. It took us a good hour of calling to go through this --- the advisor didn't mention that the signal wouldn't take if the battery was dead.

We ended up calling a locksmith on our own, got a jump from some good citizens in the parking lot. Once we were on our way, OnStar called us almost immediately to make sure we were on the road and to cancel the locksmith they had coming to help us.

OnStar did cover the cost of the locksmith -- as well as give us a credit towards our service, but I have to say, we were rather bummed by the entire process. I always thought OnStar worked, no matter what, but it doesn't in this case.

 

[njzieglers]

I know that now you can link Verizon cell phones with it so you have total hands free calling and it goes on your Verizon family plan. Have you tried that? I will have a navigational system with my car so I think I can program it for restaurants, atms, etc.

We linked our Onstar handsfree phone with our Verizon plan and it allows you to share your minutes. You can also use your regular cell handset thru the stereo as a blue-tooth device. The POI feature of the nav system locates atms, gas stations, colleges, everything.
I've not experienced any downside to the service, and have signed up for the e-mail reminders for maintenance etc based on the mileage and vehicle diagnostics.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I do not use the phone. But when we got hit by a semi 2 years ago and my cellphone was on the floor of the passenger side covered in glass, I was pretty darn happy to have onstar. They called the police and rescue and even called DH.
The other upside is if you have a dash light go on you can call and they will diagnose it for you over the phone--no trip to the dealer for a loose gas cap (which is what mine has been the last two times). I have also used the unlock feature.
I don't see a downside. I am not one of those people who freak out over getting a Kroger discount card and having to give them a bank account # or some of those other "privacy" issues some people get their panties in a bunch about. If someone steals my car you're darn right I want onstar to find it for me. I would love to get a Honda, but not until they have a comparable service. I'll stick with GM.
Robin M.

 

[salmoneous]

Just want to point out there is a big privacy difference between OnStar and the black boxes found in most cars nowadays. With the black box, somebody would have to physically access the black box to get the data out of it about your driving habits. OnStar users can have their information tracked remotely without the owner's knowledge. Also, OnStar has a GPS associated with it, so it has a lot more information than typical black boxes. And yes, any car with OnStar - whether or not you subscribe to the service - can not only be tracked, but can have the microphone turned on and your conversations monitored.

These probably aren't good reasons for most people to avoid OnStar. But if you are especially paranoid, or just a privacy nut, it is something to think about.