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Onstar sent me a letter dated March 2, 2007 to let me know they are dumping all Onstar customers with analog devices. Onstar suggests I purchase new 2006 or 2007 GM vehicle as a remedy. Onstar knew when they put the analog system in the vehicles that the system would be going digital, they started putting in digital compatible systems in 2002 for 2003 vehicles. This will lower the value of the vehicle for resale not to mention no more service for cell phone or Onstar. Onstar and GM offer $500.00 off a purchase of a new 2007 vehicle, big deal. Why would anyone buy another GM product after being treated this way. I am sure I am not the only unhappy Onstar customer.
I am the owner of a mint condition 2002 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI with 12k original miles on it. The car was purchased new from Bob Jeannotte Pontiac in Michigan in May of 2002, by my mother, a long time customer of Bob Jeannotte and of General Motors. The car is fully equipped, and features include the OnStar system, to which my mother subscribed, and I currently subscribe. When my mother died in 2006, the car was left to me.
General Motor’s decision to not even offer an upgrade for the analog OnStar system for this vehicle is extremely distressing. It has not only substantially reduced the value of my vehicle; it has taken away the peace of mind that OnStar provided. General Motor’s offer to me of the OnStar free subscription for a year if I buy a newer car is, at best, insulting. Not only was OnStar standard equipment on this model, and the car priced accordingly, the paid subscription to it has never lapsed since purchase.
Would General Motors come out after 5 years and tell its customers that the air conditioning on their vehicle would cease to function and there is nothing the customer can do about it? Or the airbags were going to be turned off and would not work anymore? These systems are also standard equipment.
I have no desire, nor intention to purchase another newer General Motors vehicle to retain the OnStar system. At 12k miles, this car has most of its life left, and no new car will be the car my mother left me, so it would not mean anything to me.
General Motors has a responsibility to its customers to provide service and parts for the systems that are factory installed on their cars. By choosing not to offer an upgrade from the analog OnStar system installed in my car, General Motors is committing a grave disservice against me and against the hundreds of thousands of other customers with analog systems. General Motors should be held accountable to provide an affordable upgrade path to digital OnStar for those with analog systems. It should be the customer’s decision whether or not to upgrade to digital OnStar.
My complaint is when I received the letter about the digital upgrade there was only a "see your G.M. dealer". I live in Franklin North Carolina and Harry's Cadillac is in Asheville N.C. which is 72 miles from here. I drove to the GM DEALER, Smoky Mountain Chevrolet in Franklin. I was told only a Caddi dealer could do the job.
On the huge sign in Franklin it shows GM DEALER. Your letter said a GM dealer. I was "MIFFED" to say it nicely that I drove the 150 miles when your *5@!)# letter only specified the "GM DEALER." I DO NOT LIKE TO SAY I FELT "i had been had' FOR THE TIME, EXPENSE AND AGGRAVATION YOUR LETTER CAUSED BY NOT BEING TRUE AND SPECIFIC.
I, too, am disappointed to be losing my OnStar service because of the transition. If, in fact, our cars CANNOT be converted to the digital network, I believe at least a partial refund of the price of the OnStar hardware - as an admission of bad planning - to be an action of concession. If OnStar (or in my case Volkswagen) seems unresponsive, perhaps class-action lawsuit is an appropriate endeavor to collectively voice our disappointment and recoup something.
I find it hard to believe OnStar isn't trying to subsidize our transition to a new network. It's the subscription service where they make their money. I believe it a big mistake for the company to 1) give up such a large number of customers and 2) by alienating and upsetting current subscribers, lose them and buy very negative word of mouth. Bad for business.
Any lawyers interested in this?
I am also on the "Cancellation List" of OnStar by GM. I contacted the FCC, OnStar and GM by email. Initially, I thought the FCC had a ruling to no longer support the analog system. I was wrong, they allowed GM to "MAKE THE DECISION" to no longer offer the service. OnStar only said "Sorry" as well as GM. I explained the depreciation value of my car. I also stated that this is a ploy to raise car sales for GM. I "was" happy with my 2002 Tahoe, which is paid off. I was hoping to keep it another 5 years. I am in the process of contacting some type of legal assistance to continue with this issue. Does anyone know or have legal advise? Let's stick together and not let them rape us! Thanks and good luck to all!
I also received that notice. I have written to GM asking them to find a way to replace the "outdated" OnStar system in my 2002 Buick. The reply was "sorry, but there's nothing they can do"! I still do not understand why the old electronics cannot just be replaced!