The OnStar Hands-Free Calling feature will be discontinued in February of the 2022 calendar year, GM Authority has confirmed. As such, vehicles equipped with the OnStar Hands-Free Calling feature will no longer have the ability to make calls using the OnStar Hands-Free Calling system.
Senior Manager, OnStar and Infotainment Communications, Stephanie Obendorfer, commented on the decision to discontinue the OnStar Hands-Free Calling feature, telling GM Authority:
“We routinely evaluate our services to provide the best experience for our members. In this spirit, we have decided to discontinue Hands-Free Calling starting in February 2022.”
Obendorfer added that vehicles equipped with Bluetooth pairing will continue to function as before, allowing customers with smartphones to use hands-free calling through their smartphone instead.
“Members can use Bluetooth pairing to make phone calls while keeping their hands on the wheel,” Obendorfer told GM Authority.
Back in June of 2020, GM Authority exclusively reported that General Motors was gearing up to sunset the OnStar Hands-Free Calling service in 2022. The report followed another GM Authority exclusive the year prior that General Motors was set to discontinue the OnStar Hands-Free Calling feature.
OnStar Hands-Free Calling was first offered to customers in the ‘90s. As the industry’s first built-in calling feature provided by an automaker, OnStar Hands-Free Calling preceded the proliferation of smartphones, and was available to customers who purchased minutes through OnStar. As such, the system was considered ahead of its time, and even now, the system is useful for those customers who prefer not to have a smartphone, but still wish to make phone calls from their vehicle.
However, as stated above, the discontinuation of the OnStar Hands-Free Calling feature does not preclude customers from using features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to connect their smartphone and make phone calls using the onboard Bluetooth system. Nevertheless, it seems inevitable that some customers will still be disappointed by the news that OnStar Hands-Free Calling is set for discontinuation early next year.
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Comments
I wonder if removing this opens up space to install new features on the cars. I also wonder if we still will be able to select our contacts in the vehicle and have it dial out of the phone like I do now.
Onstar’s ability to store phone numbers itself went away in the 2018 model year. At least it did and a Chevrolet Tahoe that I bought. It would not store numbers.
Still stores them in the phone app in the car. I have a 19
Hands-free calling had very little programming on the car side. All it did was phone into the OnStar system and tell it with beeps that you wanted hands-free calling. The rest was done on their side.
That was a dumb ass decision by you. I am sure by taking away this function has to do with money even if you were not charging for it. because It sure seems you don’t give a damn about what your customers like. And by doing away with this (was an awesome system) because if you forgot your phone you could still be contacted or make a call. So I will tell I am mad as hell about it. And I hope you sleep with a clear conscience about pissing a lot of people off!!
yes i agree with you also lost all of the minutes on all three cars that i paid for. approx. 1200 min. I asked customer service to have a supervisor call me back never happened. Looks like nobody cares take the money and run .I just canceled
I agree. Not only do they shut it off they effectively steal from you because they claim they will not issue a refund. Anyone up for a class action lawsuit? Bunch of damn thieves.
Yes Frank I do agree I think a class action lawsuit against them should be in the works they don’t seem to care they’ve never seem to care
Im with you on this. This has caused me so many problems without it. I dont understabd why when we paid extra money for these minutes ee used . So i dont understand it was a horrible decision. Im thinkingbog getting into another car or mfg does does have the capability.n. gm will losevmoney now due to this. I personally dont want a car that cannot give us this feature. Its very upsetting.
So OnStar is taking this away and still charging us the same. Hummmmm….
YES
Charging us the same if not more
ET Onstar is separate from the phone if you pay $200 a year it’s the same whether you have the phone or not. The phone was always a separate bill . If you buy minutes you get the phone no minutes no phone.
Well i’ve got to find out what I can drop form my onstar bill I have it so I won’t have to deal with that damn phone.
We use this as we are seniors and love being able to call from our car. Even if we have trouble or stuck in traffic
I canceled my membership after 12 years. I needed the turn-by-turn directions to find my way around. I have no sense of direction so I relied on OnStar. Being elderly and disabled, I can’t figure out this iPhone thing! I find myself being stuck at home when I’d like to make a trip. I have AAA and my phone so to hell with the rest of the features! If I crash, someone most likely will call 911 or myself. Goodbye OnStar!
Cindy
You can use your iPhone for directions. Get a usb cable that plugs into your phone and a usb port. Probably the same as you’re using now to charge your phone.
Plug into your car.
On the tv screen in your car pick CarPlay pick Maps on your iPhone type in where you want to go. And where you’re at. Select start on your car tv screen and directions start just drive.
Now take a few trips.
Good riddance!
So I just spoke to someone that tried to speak English and OnStar will not handle any phone calls coming in or out. They offer remote access which means you can start your car if you aren’t in it a safety plan which I really didn’t understand and Navigation. It’s basically a safety plan I guess that means if you have a wreck they’ll call the cops or whatever. So if they were losing money handling calls wait til they start losing money when folks like me cancel. I know I spend alot but no more.
NO
I found out I did not have this call feature when I tried to make a call last week! It stinks!!! As a senior, I forget my phone sometimes and knew I had a backup to call family if I needed to! No advance notice or nothing! When I called to renew my OnStar plan in December, you gladly took $19.99 from me and then $199.90. I asked about my minutes and they said changes were coming. NOTHING said about no phone service at all! Guess I will be canceling my OnStar – I have been done wrong!!
This has been known for ages… it has been talked about for ages.
2G and 3G networks are getting discontinued by the big Phone companies. Outside of GM’s control.
Yes I agree a lot of people knew about it but they didn’t know what operating system On star used and they should’ve reimbursed everybody for unused minutes they had a habit of taking minutes away at the end of the year and wanted to sell you more when you reinstated it
Ok so get on board with everyone else and get 4g and 5g compliant. Seems like the smart thing to do. I too had no notice of thiss til i went to make a call.
Yep, join the club. We have all been screwed.
The plans that have phone. Will it bring the cost down?
in essence, yes. If I understand correctly, in order to use the OnStar hands free calling you need to purchase minutes from OnStar. With this feature going away, there is nothing to buy so the cost comes down. 🙂
The cost for lost cell service was added to my Essential service. They gave me an additional month. so the cell service at $199.00 gave me an additional month which saved me $9.99. GM is really good at trading 200 hundred bucks for 10 busks
There are many places in MI that don’t have cell service, including our lake house. We used OnStar all the time. This is very bad since we are paying for the service.
How do you think OnStar works? Carrier pigeons in the trunk?
NO the rep said it would not reduce the subscription price even though they are deleting a function. This is a money move so let’s see if we can’t cancel enough subscriptions to get their attention
NO
What the article fails to mention is in vehicles older than 2015 will also be using the ability to call onstar from the mirror. You will be forced to use their app on your phone if you need them. Which is a problem while you’re driving. Accessing the button on the mirror is much safer. So needless to say, I’m discontinuing onstar on 3 vehicles.
That’s because they use 3G cellular. If you want to keep using Onstar on older vehicles GM offers a tech upgrade to move them to 4G.
They do not offer an up grade possibility for my 2011 Volt. Not at any price. NOT even not making the promised OBDII dongle to connect to a cell phone.
I was told that and when I called back now they claim they will still know if my Yukon is in a wreck and will call for help. I sure wish I could get a straight answer.
Right. But the rest of it is the same result. The button on the mirror is no longer functional and you need to use your cell phone. I never understood why the upgrade if the button still doesn’t work.
The phone button won’t work but the onstar and sos buttons will.
I am guessing that the three people that don’t have a smart phone and drive an OnStar equipped vehicle won’t even notice the change.
You’re missing the point on this. The minutes with onstar are an amazing emergency backup if your cell phone loses power or has no service in a particular area. That’s my problem. That’s the only reason to even have this minutes. To use in an emergency.
Does OnStar use a cellular connection? If so, if your phone has no service in a particular area, then it stands to reason that OnStar wouldn’t have service as well. Unless OnStar connects directly to satellite which I don’t think is the case, I could be wrong.
As for phone losing power AND there is an emergency with no one else around to make the 911 call are probably so rare that GM was willing to take the chance.
If the SOS button still works and you have an active OnStar subscription makes it a moot point as well.
Your cell phone is limited to 0.5 watt output while phone boosters and car phones like OnStar are limited to 3 watts output. The numbers may be off but the point is OnStar has a much bigger signal range and it was a big help while traveling and your phone can’t get or maintain a signal.
I often used OnStar to make phone calls while driving to the lake or other middle of no where destinations. When my phone lost signal and dropped the call, I was always able to call back on the OnStar line and was able to connect. I never experienced a dropped call with OnStar.
Now after 4G expansion and the wider range coverage of 5G, I have constant phone signal to the places I visit. I wonder how many people are less reliant on OnStar since cell service has expanded due to the increased range of 5G and/or the installation of new cell towers.
I’m sure OnStar phone service has reduced as cell coverage has increased.
Those numbers are from the analog days. LTE OnStar is 200 mW transmit power just like a handheld smartphone. You get gains in that the antenna is outside the metal body, and it is a more efficient antenna due to its size and nice metal ground plane. You lose out slightly in that there’s only 2 antennas for MIMO whereas modern smartphones have 4, and I believe it doesn’t fully cover all the AT&T LTE bands.
THATS NOT TRUE MY CELL PHONE WORKS IN AN AREA WHERE ONSTAR DOES NOT. TRYED TO HAVE MY DOOR OPENED WITH ONSTAR USELESS
I have been able to use ON STAR hands-free calling in areas where I had no cell service. Of course, now I cannot because it’s gone.
Connect your phone to in vehicle wifi and use wifi calling.
So, Onstar will give us free WIFI in our vehicles?
Just like hands free calling, it’s a paid service.
are they going to give me a phone? I don’t own one
OnStar uses AT&T 4G cellular service while your personal cell phone must be using another carrier. That was the real plus OnStar handsfree calling offered while on the road. Many times I was unable to use my Verizon personal phone since I had no signal so it was nice to have AT&T for a backup.
GM really dropped the ball here for the consumer.
The onstar rep just told me that the emergency button on my mirror & the road side assistance will still work. I do not have blue tooth in my 2011 GMC Pickup Truck and I do not have a cell phone. I am pissed to say the least. The onstar rep also put the blame on “The three phone company’s” that are going to no longer allow onstar hands free mins, In the email they sent me it says that hands free calling w blue tooth is much safer.That is B.S. because I already have hands free calling. I push one button on my mirror and say “call home” So now I will need a blue tooth smart phone plus onstar?
If the cell phone doesn’t work and Onstar does it’s because the Onstar antenna is a heck of a lot better than the cell phone antenna
1: Carry a USB cable so you can plug your phone into the car. Power problem solved.
2: Hook your phone up to vehicle Wi-Fi hot spot and use Wi-Fi calling. That’s almost identical to using vehicle calling on LTE, since LTE itself actually doesn’t have the capability to do phone calls.
and if you do not have as cell phone
time to get one.
and if you do not have a phone to connect? and do not want one, given the cost and no use for it other than an emergency in the car.
There are 290 Million Cellphone users in the US.
Many people no longer have landline phones and exclusively use their cellphones.
I agree i guess we are going to blue or red button when we need to reach some one in an emergency directly even its not really. I still say the reason is the fact they lost so many customers because their cars can no longer use onstar because end of the end 3G the new link they are giving us cannot make calls.
It just doesn’t make sense press the button get the number dial talk no fooling around with something else to get a call thru much safer. This sucks.
Of course they will they depend on ONSTAR to make the calls they need while in their vehicle
1- More than 3 people do choose NOT to use a so-called ‘smartfone’; 2- Cells do not work in some areas, the OnStar phone did; 3- It was hands-free – req'[d by law in some states inc. mine (Iowa) & 4, as others mentioned, what if you forgot your phone, it was broken, dead, etc?
Your comment was WAAAY off base.
1. The number of people who do not have smart phones is decreasing by the day,
2. Although Cellphones may not work in some areas, you can still use the “network” calling feature in the phones that uses the Wifi network to connect (so using your antenna on the car) (Also Emergency services still work on OnStar)
3. It’s still hands free as your phone is connected via bluetooth in the vehicle. (just press the call button in the car for 2 seconds, and ask Siri or google to dial)
4. If your phone is dead then charge it with the available USB ports in the vehicle.
It too Bad that GM has discontinued this valued service for us Seniors who havent upgraded to any newer phones.. will be dependent on the other features in case of accidents or directions an wonder just how damn long will that last???
It just doesn’t make sense press the button get the number dial talk no fooling around with something else to get a call thru much safer. This sucks.
Let’s raise hell see what happens
How do I cancel the wholeOnStar thing? I have no intention of buying a cell phone which I do not need or want just to be able to make emergency calls from my car. I will just wait for the police to appear I guess.
the OnStar Safety and Security plan still lets you use the SOS button in the car to make Emergency Calls, it also lets them monitor for Accidents and contact you in case of Emergency.
How to cancel: mash on the blue button and – once you are told your call is very important and someone will be with you within two hours – tell the semi-literate, doen’t-give-a-damn drone that eventually answers that you want to cancel. If they argue, be persistent. If they still won’t do anything, call your credit card company and stop payment on further charges. If you are paying by draft from your checking account, same thing.
As for your choice to have a cell phone or not: that is up to you. Service with a pay as you go can be unbelievably cheap, and 911 goes right to a local emergency center, not someone else first. Also, virtually every cable company in the USA is now offering cell service for $14 to $15 a month when bundled with cable or internet. Again, the choice is yours.
Meantime, drivers of cars from other manufacturers are – somehow – able to get emergency services if needed, either with their own phones, or through Good Samaritans seeing an issue and placing the call.
According to two separate reps I talked to, all the controls on the mirror will be disconnected.
When they retire 3G but with 4G upgrade it will restore functionality for turn by turn and emergency communication.
That’s definitely not what reps are saying about it.
Nope, Robert was correct. The original plan in the US was that they would send 3G users a standalone telemetry dongle called OnStar Link that plugged into your OBD port. (Canada got a modem replacement) In fact, this was a third-party product sold as Verizon HUM. The only interface was via your smartphone and it has no inbuilt calling ability.
I say was because the whole plan was put on hold due to the semiconductor shortage and future steps have not been announced.
I see them dropping the service because with the amount of cellphones an smartphones people aren’t buying the service,let’s face it the minutes are expensive an the data is also expensive OnStar it’s self is expensive
problem solved…discontinue GM..
I’m in that Senior Citizen category, drove Chevy all my Life, never owned anything else. My next New Vehicle most likely will NOT be a gm product.
I Agree 100 % Driven G.M. ONLY Since the 60’s Looks like it’ll Be Dodge or Ford(Kills Me to say that) but These G.M. Fools need to Lose their Job, House, Marriage and Become homeless. I’m that Pissed off !
Treating Loyal G.M. Customers like this is Disgraceful. Many of us Seniors can’t Operate a Ham Radio out of our car. These People need to be Fired !
i tried to get help with a lock problem on my chevy impala and was greeted by a person who not only could not speak understandable English, but they were incompetent. i was switched from one to another who had the same problems as the first anti service person who was replaced. I was told I had to pay in advance for someone to come out and fix my problem. I not only paid for the OnStar that I had, but they tried to rip me off for a $76.00 dollar bill that could be solved by a good mechanic, who knew what to do. The fix was actually not hard and took 15 seconds to fix by myself after my local mechanic told me how to solve the problem for nothing.
Onstar has changed its focus to safety related issues. I recall when Onstar reps would make restaurant and hotel reservations for you and they always seemed to have priority capability to get them. Many restaurants would welcome you specifically mentioning that Onstar had arranged your reservation.
The masses haven’t purchased minutes or utilized the in car phone in probably the past 5-10 years, most won’t notice its gone and it shouldn’t be much of an issue…as for the senior crowd if you don’t at least have a free government phone by now communication must not be a priority for you.
Nice speech. Witty. Good job.
Wow! Some of the people with expensive phones are nasty! My flip phone meets my needs quite well, thank you. I have been thinking about canceling OnStar for some time, as features have been dropped. We kept it because my wife has a smart phone, but now canceling OnStar is an easier choice. Our monthly service cost never decreased.
Make sure your fliphone is 4G. The phone companies are shutting down 3G and a lot of old devices (like GM’s before 2015…) will stop working. Not a GM thing, it’s AT&T doing it. Check your phone so you don’t get stuck with no service.
Most but not all carriers will offer a free new phone if yours is 3G. That, or they are relatively cheap to buy in the first place.
Free phone??? All seniors don’t HAVE FREE PHONES. I don’t know anybody that has a free phone. Frankly the worst thing to happen was the onslaught of those damn phones just look around people walk around or drive with the thing stuck to their face…ALL AGES
The TV show 60 Minutes had a feature several years ago showing “poor people” who were given free I-Phones by our government. One guy they interviewed had received 12 free I-Phones. Imagine that …..
Free phones, yes. iPhones? Seriously?
This is a huge blow to the three people still using this feature.
Well, the “let them eat cake” idea of using bluetooth sucks! The OnStar systems in my cars do not have bluetooth connectivity. So what now?? Typical of GM marketing people. A bunch of under 30 know-it-alls that have no concern for anything or anyone!
If your car is old enough to no have bluetooth it likely has the 3G (or older) onstar tech in it. That will stop working because the phone companies are shutting off all the 3G towers. Nothing GM can do about it. I had a bluetooth dongle that allowed my phone to work through the radio many years ago. Little sketchy but it worked
They can do something. The original OnStar was analog. When cell phones went digital, GM came out with an upgrade kit for those earlier vehicles. Why can’t they do the same for this change by the phone companies??? Because they don’t care, that’s why! It can be done but they just gave all of us the “finger”!
Exactly !
We got your $50,000.+ for your Vehicle.We don’t give a crap what you want… shut up everybody over 30
Your Opinions don’t matter to us. Keep paying $15.00 + for crappy Bluetooth and like it.
Bluetooth is part of the vehicle, you don’t pay to use bluetooth….
What now? You go to a car radio shop and have bluetooth added, or order a kit online or pick one up at virtually ay big-box retailer.
I Had instar for about 3 months never cared for it. Never used it only wanted it for turn by turn navigation. Never paid for a month of it. Kinda see why there getting rid of it though it doesn’t do anything, that anyone else does for free. So truthfully ditch it for all I care.
You’ll care about Onstar when you crash and you’re off the road, injured, trapped in your car on fire.
@James, this is where reading fundamentals kick in….Hands free calling and Emergency Crash Response are two different things… Emergency Crash Response isn’t going anywhere.
I understand, my reading fundamentals are graduate school level, obviously yours are not. You need to read what I replied to. I am replying to Amaster that thinks Onstar is useless.
So folks with a phone can drive on the interstate 75-80 or faster and the phone comes on and they just pick it up and start talking while moving on down the road? Isn’t that distracted driving which is illegal in most states and dangerous to others?
No, because they aren’t physically picking up their phones.
We’ve had the same experience as Shawn. When our two bluetoothed smart phones wouldn’t work in the hills of southern Ohio and in West Virginia, we could always get the built in hands free phone to work. More power and a better antenna. Minutes too expensive but they worked. Not happy with GM.
You people actually used this feature????? Lol
Yes Will. Thank you for asking’
what about all the minutes I purchased that I planned to use this coming year when traveling???? was always forced to buy more minutes to keep from losing existing number of accumulated minutes!!!! now being told by ONSTAR basically “too bad, so sad”. I guess it equates to buying a prepaid phone and all the minutes only to have the phone stolen. 🙁 is anybody else upset that all the minutes they paid for are not refundable???? then to top it off ONSTAR “graciously” gave me one month free for the Security feature ($26.99) as a consolation for dropping HFC and then in an email telling me this Security feature will be canceled after the “free” month unless I renew.
@pamy the unused minutes can be refunded if you call support, they can’t just run off with money on a shut down service or in your case they offer a comparable product for equal value. Also having a cell phone in 2022 isn’t abnormal….
Yes,
I’m VERY PISSED OFF
I LOST 187 minutes saved for a Later time
G.M. Says (F you) very much for being a customer.
Now Shut up and Pay more !
Because we said so.
Ditto THAT, Todd!! Have had this service since 2004. Was a major selling point for me to buy GMC. I’m gonna lose minutes AND my back-up for times I leave my phone at home…by accident OR on purpose. I’m REALLLLY pissed off. The only silver lining is that I will no longer have to annually wrangle with On Star to carry over my unused minute, not to mention that they never could figure out how to sync the expiration dates of the service package and the phone minutes. Was such a PIA to keep up with!
Not kidding, my spouse was about to shopping for a new heavy duty pick up. This bad idea is one less reason to buy GMC.
Did you call support and ask for a refund?
TODD DONT FEEL BAD I LOST CLOSE TO 1200 MIN. EVERY YEAR I WOULD LOSE MIN. AND HAVE TO CALL THEM.IF THEY CHOOSE TO STOP THE PROGRAM THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE FOR ALL UNUSED MIN.
Sounds like GM screwed this up!!
On my 2007 Avalanche this was a useful but expensive feature. My vehicle pre-dates bluetooth so it doesnt have that built-in but I could buy minutes through OnStar and direct dial calls as if the vehicle had a phone. Problem is as cellphones became cheaper Onstar minutes remained prohibitively expensive for anything other than emergencies so I stopped paying for it. So now I have an aftermarket bluetooth adapter and just keep my phone with me at all times.
We have paid for On-Star Service for over 20 years for two cars. My wife does not have a cell phone. Now we have to get her a cell phone and find other services to replace the other services offered by On-Star in GM Products. We are going to cancel On-Star.
I’m in the rual america and cell phone don’t work out so I use onstar it’s the best now what big mistake
You probably won’t have to cancel OnStar.
I don’t think you need to waste your time to do so.
OnStar has already cancelled it for you !
. . . . and they ran with your money that prepaid for service that are no longer available.
. . . . and they didn’t have the decency to send out Letters of Intent. Oh . . . what is this here:
Did anyone ever see this ?
“OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology. Currently available on more than 40 MY 2011 GM models, OnStar soon will be available for installation on most other vehicles already on the road through local electronics retailers, including Best Buy.” and the damn thing was posted in 2011 ????? (that’s 11 years ago). BUT WHO KNEW? . . . . . Not many, I am willing to bet.
They never said a word to GMs plan to “sunset”, hmmm . . . . . cute word for cut ‘n run conspiracy isn’t it?) OnStar,
*note: OnStar is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motorsvalue – it was an added mobility service and advanced information technology. OnStar was a feature on GM vehicles that helped to sell an awful lot of new vehicles.
Of course owners of new Cadillacs can be just as pissed about this skip-out plan, as well as all owners of other GM makes.
and definitely will not buy GM car again
I am Canadian with a smart phone but I have relied on On Star Hands free back up to make calls in the Canadian Rockies in wilderness settings and when travelling to remote locations.
Is anyone able or interested in continuing this service to Canadians at this time?
I’m looking for solutions for a truck phone and open to suggestions from anyone out there.
Satelite phones are expensive and I don’t have a cost yet on a telephone in my truck.
well on star for my 2012 GMC is a no go~!
loved the safety feature, it had to end sometime.
Bye On Star
I have accrued 800 Hands-free minutes, that I purchased. Will I be compensated for losing them?
The Rep I talked to today told me:
1) HandsFree Calling will be discontinued in February.
2) They’ve stopped selling HFC minutes.
3) My credit-card will be credited for the 800 minutes I’ve accrued over the past 10 years. He didn’t know how much.
We’ll see!
Who told you your unused minutes would be credited back to you?
I have called and been told just the opposite.
Oh NOOOOOOOOO. . . . . . . . .said the folks on the road that wanted to tell Dad they were headed home and expect to arrive in the next hour. Was going to stop at roadside vegetable markets so add another 30 minutes delay.
Be there soon, depending on traffic, as usual !
LOVE YA.
Well, . . . . . . . . MR. HANKY is exasperated as all getout.
I think it’s pretty low to just remove the feature. We had it for doomsday scenario (crash where your phone goes flying / damaged or you’re unconscious). Think of all the $$ spent on hands free minutes that will go unused, that $$ just “becomes GM’s???”. Feels like legal theft. Further, OnStar wants you to pay $300+ a year, for the privilege to use the GM app (remote lock / unlock, etc.). Ford give you FordPass, with all that functionality and more, for FREE. I really think GM should refund folks unused minutes as well as offer a “lite” package, to use the App ($20 or $30 a year is a stretch to be worth it, not $350 a year). I get technology moves on, but this is really not being handled well in my opinion.
Someone else pointed out previously how expensive Onstar is. I pay close to $400 per vehicle. The quality of the customer reps has digressed. They can’t even speak English. They used to address you by name when they answered. I got directions the other day and had to call back three times to get to my destination. It WAS a premium service years ago. It may be time to abandon this and save $400/year/vehicle. I’ll take my chances alone crashed into a ditch.
That’s dangerous I contacted my lawyer already if I get hurt and can’t use this service we have a issue this isn’t only phone now what
Now what’s don’t bring a phone with I’m not joined at hip this sevice is great and cheap to use shame on you
Sunsetting Onstar phone service is pulling the plug on millions of people who depend upon this hands free service. You did not send out letters to owners You did not send out letters to anyone-I have already talked to 4 dealerships who have been blindsided. I have talked to 10 GM owners You did NOT notify dealerships. I buy GM products (currently 3) for Onstar safety and the ability to call anyone at anytime. This is just wrong to think that you ought to get rid of this service. What were you thinking? What was corporate thinking???? Was anyone thinking?
Do NOT send me back a form letter and pat me on the head. I intend to send out letters to the editors to every big Michigan newspaper.
How do I cancel the whole On Star thing? It is useless if the only thing I ever used is gone, and I have no intention of buying a cell phone I do not want or need otherwise since I could not use it while driving anyway – it is illegal here in Ontario to do that. In addition to having to stop anyway to get my reading glasses out…… Why was there no warning? I am paying more than I want to afford monthly for the “service” I am no longer getting -are they going to refund me my minutes – not according to the customer service rep I raisedon OnStar yesterday, but she could not really speak English anyway so I am not sure.
it isn’t illegal to use a phone while driving in Ontario. it is illegal to have one on your hands. Any GM 2015 or so or newer will have the ability to do everything onstar voice did using a cell phone.
But, again, this is no GM’s fault. It is Bell’s fault. Bell is turning off the towers onstar uses. There is no way for GM to keep them on
Onstar communications with customers is awful. We had an unlimited callimg.package that they discontinued in spring of 2021, they never notified us. When I called to questions why my husband could use his phone they told.me they discontinued the calling plans and u had to purchase minutes. I received a call from them offering 1month free of navigation services in November. They never mention phone capability was going away. My husband doesn’t carry a cellphone. He has had Onstar phone service since December 2010, since he only uses phone in car to let me know he is on way home. This means we have to go out and purchase a.phime he can connect via Bluetooth to his car.
It’s been interesting following y’all’s comments over the past few weeks. Some are as angry as I am, some give instructions on how to buy and use a smart phone and some agree with GM. — I just know that it seems whenever I find something that works and that I like, for example, Direct TV, some corporate assholes come along and screw it up. AT&T took over Direct TV & made a mess out of it. And now this. — You, who say just get a smart phone/blue tooth aren’t hearing us. We either don’t WANT a “smart” phone, want the convenience of hitting the OnStar button and/or…and this is me, want a quick, easy and dependable back-up. I forgot my cell phone when grocery shopping last week and had a question about something my spouse wanted. I would have gone to my car to phone but wasn’t sure if my service still worked. Why are we going backwards technologically!!!?? Bring back pay phones then, dammit! Soooooo sick of corporate greed. — Is there a “there” there for a class-action? At a minimum I want a refund of my many unused minutes. Why no announcement? Cowards!!! Ohhh and we’re now looking at new Ford pick-ups instead of GMCs. Fool me once….
I have a 2011 Buick, have Onstar and until today had hands free calling. I paid for minutes for this service. I do a lot of long distance traveling extensively and have relied on being able to use Hands free to communicate while driving. This is really a blow to me. I hope I can get another service, I really need and depend on being able to call without the danger of using a cell phone while driving. I don’t know what to do.
You do no all Gm vehicle’s older then 2015 are losing onstar all together not just hands free calling. They dropped plain for the device that would give us some features but hands free calling but do to chip shortage have canceled.
Point to where this is stated, only the 3G towers are being shut down. There are several 2014 Model year vehicles that have 4G connectivity.
certainly will not be buying another GM car they are not that great to begin with and without the On Star certainly not worth the expense.
LOL OnStar isn’t going away, it still has plenty of features including Wireless Access points for mobile devices while on the go. The only thing going away is their Phone system. It’s not going to be missed by my generation.
I am not your generation, so I am better educated and more law abiding and do not want a cell phone I am not supposed to use in my car – there are far too many kids using cell phones while driving (or walking across roads I notice)
Oh boo hoo.
Proper use of a cellphone in the car is using bluetooth, not hand holding it. It’s the same as if you were using Hands Free calling from Onstar, you press a button on your steering wheel, state the name of who you want to call or answer and that’s it.
Also….
Millennials will represent 75% of the global workforce by 2025.
We are just as educated or more so than previous generations.
Millennials: 43% of woman have completed college, 36% of Men.
Gen X: 31% of woman have completed college, 28% of Men.
Late Boomer: 24% of woman have completed college, 26% of Men.
Early Boomer: 21% of woman have completed college, 27% of Men.
The plural of woman is women. The word men is a noun, not a name, and therefore is not capitalized.
Looks like MEH isn’t one of the Millennials included in these statistics.
Oh look I guess copying something didn’t work out for me… Oh well… Didn’t care or bother to proof read it.
The statistics are still true though.
Not trying to fight with you, or anyone. Details matter though. You SHOULD care about them.
Going to miss not having the opportunity to hit the OnStar button when I forget my phone, or…when it falls outta my back pocket and drowns it in the toilet, or…when I forget to recharge it, or..when I’m just sick of dragging it along, or…when someone steals it…..etc.
Boomers are not the new village idiots, I assure you. We survived this long without seatbelts, bicycle helmets, “Wayz” ( I can read a paper map, ha ha!), computers, cell phones and a lot of other things you think you can’t live without.
Peace, MEH. I’ll bet you’d find it a lotta fun to have an adult (?) beverage with me.
“All things must pass.” What musician’s album title is that? You should listen to him.
all this proves is that postsecondary education has been dumbed down a lot in the last few decades
omg how to i unsubscribe??????
I just got off the phone with GM CAC department after renewing my OnStar plan. They are dropping the plans to make the OBD2 dongle that tehy told us would be provided. They have tried to get an extension from the phone company to June before the service is cut off.
No new plan to connect the car to the system through the OBD2 port or allow for any kind of upgrade to the cars cell system to the newer 4g like the did in Canada.
GM has totally let us down. AT least they said I can get a refund for the money I paid for my years of Onstar…..
There’s a large number of seniors who did not want to get a cell phone and were happy being able to use the Onstar when they were out and about when needed. My Mom was one of them. I think this is short sighted on GM’s part in a very large way. Someone who is 91 yrs old and still has their mobility should not have to learn how to use a cell phone at this point if they do not want to. Glad the emergency button is still functional. Other than that, not impressed.
don’t talk about this opinion too “loudly”. the current disrespecting millennial population that has been commenting on this forum doesn’t seem to understand how us boomers or older just doesn’t use our cell phones connected to BT. what’s the BFD? they can’t comprehend anything beyond their noses.
Okay what’s the BFD about hands free calling sunsetting? why make a deal out of it if you say ignoring BT is not a BFD?
GM would love to continue to use these services but the backbone it relies on is being sunset by the telephone companies.
We give you options to work around issues and you blindly ignore us…
You just proved a point that old dogs can’t learn new tricks….
It’s quite simple and anyone can learn to do it, takes 3 seconds of your time.
Listen a-hole, the last time this happened, OnStar came up with a retrofit package to the vehicle’s hardware. Why not this time?
They are just a bunch of spoiled brats with participation trophies that are thinking of no one but themselves.
Thanks for leaving us stranded without a phone . I will for sure cancel everything because be rest assured we know you won’t adjust prices for this crap stunt you pulled!!!
Since the connection with Onstar was via a phone that no longer works. How will the Car tell them that I have crashed so they can call the proper authorities? Will I have to have a cell phone with blue tooth linked and in the car when this happens to get help? And the other question I have not been able to find an answer to is = When no in a accident will I be able to call Onstar on my cell phone and have them get the codes of any errors by running a diagnostic like I can now via the blue button?
The only thing that won’t work is hands free calling. Everything else is the same. Crash response etc. providing you have the right Onstar plan.
There are 4 plans so make sure what you want is in the right plan.
Forgot to mention if your car is 2015 or older Onstar is gone completely. According to one of the other posts above. Better call Onstar and double check that to make sure it’s true.
I don’t think that’s true. Both my 2015 ATS and 2015 Volt use 4g and are working just fine–although hands free calls are discontinued.
ONSTAR PLATINUM IS 49.95 BUCKS A MONTH THAT’S $600 A year no hands free calling not worth it.
What do they give you for that kind of money?
Weather, Traffic conditions, lock out, crash notification, navigation I really don’t know what else I was paying $30 and asked about the weather notification and they guy said I could get it for $24.95 but would have to get platinum which is 49.95 a rounded off to $600 a year I told him to stuff it
i’m just speechless. I had 3 cars with onstar for 5 years. I’m glad i got rid of it.
Our 2019 Buick Lacrosse has On-Star, that as all you have pointed out no longer offers hands-free calling. I learned that one day when it fool thing didn’t work, but upon pressing On-Star, I got the message that if push the blue On-Star button, On-Star customer service answers. I tell cust-svc I cannot make a call because – because – because. They explain to me why that is. I tell ’em the number I want, and they make the call it for me, @ no-charge. It is a pain in the butt, but I get to make a call even when my personal phone is out of range of a tower or satellite, or what ever. I expect that this fine alternative service will end one day soon, though.
So any class action suits or effort by GM to reimburse us??
Drop B ack and Punt.
Hope the f*%*$#(^* had a good nap during the first half . . . . . . this time get his leg screwed on straight.
P U N T
I loved this service, even though I only used it two or three times a year, like this morning when I tried to use it when I forgot my cell phone and needed to make a call!! It may have been a superfulous service to most, so don’t pay for the feature or the minutes, BUT it is an EXTRA security to feature and this is in fact a security package. This is complete BS, now lower the price. The consierge service has gone to sh*t, the navigation service has gone to sh*t, so what I am paying for is insurance discount I get for lojack in the car, and a devistating crash…?yeah I think I am done! 21 year customer. You people are just greedy and stupid. Will never recommend, and you should stop advertising this as a service to GM Cars. The service aspect like in so many other areas of life has gone to hell.
I think there needs to be a class action lawsuit over the bullsh!t of shutting off on star on older cars with 2g service I have a 13 Malibu that my wife uses for work drives like 90 miles a day so after December your telling me that her on star won’t be worth of sh!t if she is in a wreck it won’t even work know that’s messed up I think I will talk to a lawyer over this will be the last GM vehicle I ever own great for looking out for people’s health and safety good job
Amen ! =1
I’m not worried about there call they shouldn’t have sold out to China I’m worried about my wife on the side of the road or in a wreck and the damn on star don’t work as of December 2022 but they will take that payment every month until then they need to go suck on a popsicle or something because there not getting another penny from me on star or gm
I now understand from GM they will send refund checks AND is looking to stary it up again once satellites etc are set-up to handle the calls.
They better reimburse me for roughly 1000 hours that I lost on three cars Or they can keep it
I’ll believe it when I see it!
Gerald Edgar
Where did you hear that from gotta link?
It was a shameful business decision
Good Loyal Customer base that was left hanging in the breeze.
Damage to the brand because they could not figure out how to handle it.
This feature was a bit of a life line to many folks and backed up their existing cell phones. I for one relied on it to communicate while working on the Trans Mountain Pipeline. I used it as an Emergency back up to my cell phone that did not always work well in the Rocky Mountains. I did get a blue tooth connection for my cell phone to cover this problem.
Hs anyone gotten their refund checks from GM for their unused purchased minutes? As of today, we have not (for our 2 Chevys). Also I understand GM might bring back the feature?
What are you kidding me they took that money and ran with it
Gerald Edgar
Who told you they’re giving refund checks?
Got a link to this information?
Turns our we did get our checks (1 for ea car) 2 months ago – I forgot as came when I was gone so wife cashed. So my error & apologies to GM. As for Musk development, we’ll see as the On-Star set-up was great.
well I am still waiting for any refund on the minutes I had paid for. and as I do not have a cell phone of any sort, I am out of luck if I want to use curbside pick-up or anything like that which requires you to call on arrival at the store to avoid getting exposure to Covid. Will NOT be buying GM again.
A new Satellite system is coming to the world soon.
Elon Musk is launching it. It will turn the traditional systems upside down and the high cost will disappear. No more high monthly fees etc. Hopefully this will enhance your cell coverage and make onstar an expensive past experience. Hang in there until Year end or January 2023.
Bullsh!t promises.
I’m still waiting for my Refund.
I had OVER 800+ Minutes.
Management Sucks at G.M.
Fire Mary and The Morons who decided to screw over all of their Paying customers.
Some, (like Myself) for OVER 40 Yrs. !
All: it’s been so long since I commented on this topic months ago that I cannot even remember what name I used at the time. However, I do get email updates when there are new comments.
First, I want to address the many comments I’ve seen that essentially say, and I am paraphrasing, suck it up and get modern. The topic here is not cell phones versus On Star phone minutes, it is about losing the function of the latter. It is important in certain situations, specifically, if you do not own a cell phone or cannot afford one, you forget it, the battery is dead, whatever… You just don’t have one handy for whatever reason. Also, the peace of mind of having a back up.
I’m seeing that some people have gotten refunds on their minutes but I have not. Was I supposed to submit some kind of claim form? Guess I’m screwed out of that money.
Some people have pitched a class action lawsuit. Not sure if that will get any traction but just count me in if that goes any place.
Oh I am still livid about this. Bait and switch. Just like my health insurance company and so many other companies. How did they get away with keeping our money and giving us nothing in return? That was rhetorical in case you didn’t know. Where is Elizabeth Warren?!
My husband needs a new truck. He has a GM but we are looking at Fords. Not that Fords have what GM screwed us out of, just because GM has let us down and lost our trust over this. It would’ve been a small thing to proactively send a check to reimburse us for our many unused minutes and given a sincere apology that they are technologically behind the times, but they did not and I am not going to spend hours searching and calling to try and get some money back. It isn’t about the money. It is about the way this was handled and most of all, about losing an important safety feature that was a huge selling point for the 3 vehicles I currently own.
All for now but I am still in the game and watching how this plays out.