Petition Launched For GM To Upgrade 2G Vehicles With OnStar
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With the sunset of 2G cellular network technology, older GM vehicles will no longer be compatible with OnStar Connected Services. Now, a new online petition has been created demanding that 2G-equipped GM vehicles be upgraded with the hardware needed to continue using OnStar.
The petition was launched at change.org, and currently has 1,918 signatures as of this writing (1/2/23). “Many of us have been loyal GM and OnStar customers for many years and have faithfully paid monthly fees to OnStar,” the petition reads. “GM should offer a free hardware upgrade to all of our vehicles. This is a matter of respecting loyal GM customers and, more importantly, a matter of public safety.”
As GM Authority covered last November, GM subsidiary OnStar previously announced that 2014-model-year and older GM vehicles, plus certain 2015-model-year GM vehicles, will lose access to OnStar following the deactivation of Verizon’s 2G network. Verizon is sunsetting the 2G network in order to focus on expanding coverage and access for its more-advanced 4G and 5G networks.
Affected GM models cover all four of The General’s U.S. brands (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC), as well as vehicles previously sold under now-discontinued brands (Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Saab, Hummer).
OnStar member impacted by 2G deactivation will receive a reduced cost for their monthly subscription. Billing changes are in effect as of January 1st, 2023. Affected vehicle owners will also continue to have access to OnStar Advisors by calling 1-800-4ONSTAR, and users can contact the company using the OnStar Guardian app as well.
Affected owners are encouraged to download the OnStar Guardian app, which still enables users to connect with a variety of OnStar services, such as Mobile Crash Response, Roadside Assistance, Emergency Services, Stolen Vehicle Assistance, and Location Services. It’s also worth pointing out that the OnStar Guardian app is included as part of the OnStar Safety & Security, Essentials and Premium plans.
Nevertheless, some OnStar users will no doubt want to continue to have access to in-vehicle features in their older GM models.
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It should not be free. Verizon does not give you a free phone if the service goes away, they give a discount same with cellular service on alarm systems. It’s possible it could be a simple plug in to updated.
When the carriers dropped analog service, OnStar was deactivated in the early model years without any chance to upgrade.
Most AMPS OnStar modules actually did have a digital CDMA upgrade. Also in Canada, there were UMTS upgrade modules made available for CDMA OnStar vehicles.
GM is very familiar with VCIM upgrading, they just have made the business decision to stop doing it.
“Verizon does not give you a free phone if the service goes away”
They did. All 3 carriers gave the stragglers free phones.
I know AT&T did like-for-like replacements: if you had an incompatible iPhone, they automatically sent you a brand-new iPhone SE for free with no commitment. Android users got an Android phone, and flip phone users got a flip phone.
T-mobile did the same, but you had to go to a store and hand over your old one. Verizon apparently sent crappy flip phones to everybody regardless.
In Canada, GM swapped the modem for free if the car was in warranty when they shut down (2017) or if you committed for a year of service.
Will GM be upgrading my 2020 Malibu Premier to 5G anytime soon.
Regardless if it’s “Free” or not, I think GM/OnStar should at least offer an upgrade to the most current system as an option. Let the customers decide if they want to continue to subscribe to their telemetric service that’s built-into their vehicle(s).
I agree.
Hey All. OnStar sux. My cell phone does the exact same thing that OnStar does. And I have cell service. OnStar customer service sux too. I understand why they are forcing this down our throats, but I disagree. They monitor/track you more than your cell phone does. At least I have options with my cell phone.
Note: when you buy the vehicle you are already enrolled for 5 years included in the price of the car. I deleted my 5 year tethered the day I purchased the truck and car.
False, false, and false.
OnStar (at least on vehicles made in the last decade) does things your phone can’t.
Vehicles now include 3 years of coverage, not 5.
Anyone who has ever gone through the process of legally requisitioning OnStar data for a vehicle knows that there is precious little there to be had. OnStar only has record of your vehicle when there is a reason for the vehicle to communicate with their servers: Airbags deployed, OnStar turn-by-turn navigation, using the phone app to pull data (location, status, diagnostics, etc.) from the vehicle. That sort of thing. People who believe they are tracking everything haven’t spent any time considering the infrastructure required to do so, or the abysmal return on investment that would bring GM. There is no financial incentive for them to track you the way you believe. Like this upgrade matter, they don’t do things that aren’t in their financial interest.
Okay. I’m confused. I purchased my 2020 Trax in May 2020. On the My GM Account app under Plans & Services OnStar & Connected Services it says Connected Access is included with your vehicle purchase and active through May 25, 2030. That would be 10 years.
What exactly goes away after 5 years?
5 years was only on 2015-2018 model year vehicles. For cars purchased starting May 2018, the Basic plan was renamed Connected Access and upped to 10 years, like you see on yours.
Thank you for clarifying. That’s good news.