GM Extended Parking Feature Shuts Off Engine: Feature Spotlight
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With nearly every automaker under the sun now offering active safety and advanced driver features, there are a few more common sense features that get left out of the spotlight. GM Extended Parking is one good example of that.
Born out of necessity in the age of the keyless electronic ignition, this General Motors safety feature will automatically shut off a vehicle’s engine after a certain amount of time while the vehicle is parked, reducing emissions and preventing potential carbon monoxide poisoning in the process.
Interestingly, the purpose of this feature was never explicitly stated by GM, but its purpose remains clear all the same. The risks of a keyless ignition include accidentally leaving the engine running in an enclosed space, which could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, not to mention unintentionally burning through a tank of gas, though that’s a much smaller risk than the former. The GM Extended Parking feature helps to alleviate those issues.
The GM Extended Parking feature automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle is parked for 20 minutes without the key fob present, or after an hour when the key fob is present.
GM Extended Parking was first made available in 2013 on select 2014 model year GM vehicles. As of this writing, the feature is standard on 2019 model year and newer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models with keyless ignition, also known as push-button start.
Some manufacturers are moving towards the implementation of their own systems similar to the GM Extended Park feature, but regulation on the issue is still murky, as it’s difficult to determine a specific standard time period to switch off the engine.
What’s more, the implementation of a system standard comes with its own unique risks. For example, some drivers will leave pets in the car with the A/C running on a hot day while attending to some errands (something we don’t recommend doing), while other drivers will leave the engine running while they sleep to keep the climate control active.
Nevertheless, current model year GM vehicles will now shut off after a certain period of time when left in park with the engine on. GM’s cross-town rival, Ford, also implemented its own safety feature similar to GM Extended Parking in 2013, while Toyota has announced that 2020 model year vehicles will feature automatic engine shutoff as well.
All told, we think this is a safety feature that makes a lot of sense, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see some kind of industry-wide standardization in the next few years – regardless if those drivers are catching a few z’s in the parking lot.
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If I pay $75,000 for a truck and I want to fill the fuel tank full and leave the damn thing running until it runs out of fuel That’s my prerogative and I should be able to do so! This is absolutely the stupidest feature I’ve ever heard of I hope nobody loses a pet or God forbid a child due to this!!!
Coworker has the Ford equivalent and a plug is made to stop this feature. Contacted the maker and unfortunately they do not make a Chevy version.
I worked for GM and retired out with 32.4 years. I recently traded in a 2018 pickup that would run as long as I needed it too. I travel very little but when I do I LOVE to take my dog. However, now if I take my dog with me and am delayed for any reason, like long checkout lines, my engine shuts off, I run the risk of a cop knocking the windows out of my truck and charging me with animal abuse which is now a felony in Alabama.
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HOOOOORRRRIBLE FEATURE. I guarantee you someone will lose a pet or a child over this. You people who say there is no reason to leave an engine idle obviously live inside a vacuum and think your life style is the only life style in existence. You haven’t the slightest clue all the professions that require the need for excessive idle times. Law enforcement and first responders being one. Emergency scenes are often in excess of 1 hour and the emergency lights are set to run while vehicle is on. I will NEVER purchase another vehicle with this feature.
Just bought my dream truck 2020 Chevy 2500 High Country. I pulled over in -10 degrees conditions to take a nap and get off the dangerous road. The darn truck turned off every 20 minutes. I about froze to death in my sleep.
Is there a way to turn this off?
How ironic.GM doesn’t allow Truck Drivers to have a pet on their Truck when delivering their products that help pets in cars.All about the money.
i do not like this feature and would love to know if it can be turned off. I leave my vehicle running for longer periods only to find it shutdown. If anyone knows how to turn this off or change the software/firmware please advise.
Just went from Ram to Chev – wrong choice and we would never have bought this truck if we were made aware of this feature!! My husband works in -30 to often -45 *C or colder and let me assure the people who implemented this feature that those temperatures are EXTREMELY COLD. Many people are out in extreme heat and/or cold working to keep people at home safe orb with electricity, oil, gas ect and their vehicles are a safety measure. Fix this problem!!!