January 29, 2010 by onstarconnectioncom
Teen Slides Down Hill and Out of Sight
Mark Walbolt’s 16-year-old daughter, Marie, was driving home when the weather suddenly turned and rain began pouring down. Marie was going up a hill when the car slid off the road, hit a tree and continued 60 feet down a steep hill so densely covered with brush and trees that it couldn’t be seen from the road … Watch the video to find out what happened next.
Driving a car-ANY Vehicle-without ONStar in not only illogical but can be very dangerous! I never realized how safe it is to drive a car without Onstar until I had a flat tire with my 02 Pontiac Grand Prix and how concerned I am when I ride with someone who doesn’t have Onstar. I would never want to be without it! I’ve been driving for 48 years and I realize even though you may be a safe driver, not only are there many people who aren’t, and road conditions can change rapidly, but also even good drivers can make mistakes! It’s like a cheap insurance policy- you may only use it once to have it pay for itself. It’s something that Toyota, Honda, Subaru,Volvo,and other foreign car manufactures don’t have! Even Ford doesn’t have it and GM is AMERCIAN!
Have Onstar on my 2006 Trailblazer. I have two young children. Gives me comfort knowing that if we get stranded somewhere or have an accident, I’ll have help right away. My car had some ignition problems recently and was stuck at a gas station. All we had to do was press the ONstar button, and they were able to contact tow company for us and brought the car to the dealership the next day. It paid for itself then. Gotta have it!
WE HAVE ON STAR IN OUR CADILLAC….WE FEEL VERY VERY SAFE WHEN WE GO OUT KNOWING ONSTAR IS OUR CO-PILOT… THANKS ON STAR….
I Was on my way on a hunting trip at 4am 100 miles away from home with my grandson, and my son was behind us when my truck just cut off like I had turned off the switch, we both were pulling trailers with ATV’S,I coasted to the side of the highway,with no cell phone service,I tried OnStar, and a nice voice came over my truck phone and took over and connected me with GMC road side service,within 20 min. a wrecker showed up and my truck was on the way to a dealer for repair,my ATV and trailer parked and locked at a young man’s house nearby who seen us in need and offered to help, I went on with my son in his truck to the hunting camp with peace of mind, thanks to ONSTAR.
Onstar is what every Insurance Company should require. Now adays with all the inexperience of most drivers, the rise in on with Teen Age accidents. My 19 year old daughter was in a car accident that rolled 5 times on a country road after the inexperienced 19 yr old driver lost control of the car. I wish they had OnStar then she would have had the help she needed at the time she needed it. I feel with OnStar on board every car in the United States, we can have Angel Wings with us. Those Angel Wings being the OnStar reps that help everyone through the crisis at hand. My expericences with OnStar, whether is be leaving the keys in the car, a flat tire and even a car accident ONSTAR .has always been the best. Thank GOD someone invented ONSTAR!
i want to thank On-Star for my recent trip 30 Mar – 3 Apr 10. a previous trip had me thinking of cancellation, however, i was in atlanta, ga this past week for a medical emergency for my daughter in the military and On-Star was there through ALL of my frustrations from finding the hotel, to finding the hospital, to the weather report on my way back home as i hit incliment weather. timely response and great directions. a previous trip taken in january was choatic, being with On-Star since 2006 (with exceptional service) my january trip was not so good incorrect directions, sending me back to my point of origination etc.i thought this was a waste of money. but this weekend proved me a satisfied customer again! thank you On-Star.
just remember on star will not work if the cables are sheard off in a accident or the car battery is dead. my car battery died and i had to use my cell, fortunetly i was in cell range. my husband was in a head on accident and the onstar did not engage, the cable were sheared off the battery and the onstar was disconnected. not good.
The newer cars, mine is an 09 Chevrolet have auxiliary batteries inside the car in case this happen. I think that addressed the serious problem you talked about.
While OnStar does work very hard to make systems safe, infrequently, accidents occur that may have caused the electrical system (including battery power) to become inoperable. That is an incident that is beyond our control and may prevent us from providing service at any particular time or place. We’re interested in talking with rox g to learn more about her family’s experience.
Regarding Onstar being inoperable due to crushed battery, sheared cables. There is new technology out there. Mini Fuel Cell Batteries made by Millenium and Horizon that could be incorporated into Future Onstar Systems that would keep the Emergency Signal operable for 24 Hrs. It’s time GM to Upgrade! It is such a Great System and Unique! Keep it that way always improving ahead of the Competition and GM will come out Ahead.
An Onstar Subscriber, User
Edward Contreras
It is about 5:00am in the morning and my husband and I were packing up to head south. We wanted to get an early start and beat all the work traffic. He pulls my Trailblazer around to the front of our townhouse to load up our belonging. Everything was fine until the truck would not start. No lights, and nothing worked. I called OnStar from my cellphone and within 45 minutes help was on the way. We discovered a dead battery. The truck was boosted and we headed to the dealership about 5 minutes away. Within a couple of hours we were headed south. Imagine if this had happened half through our travels. Thanks OnStar, you are the best. I don’t leave home wihtout you.
A Happy OnStar Subscriber
Mrs. LBaker
I had just purchased my Chevrolet Trailblazer when I had to work late and was coming home and I hit a deer. I could not find my blackberry and airbags deployed. Not even a minute after the crash onstar came on the line to see if i was ok. Onstar called 911 and handled my towing. I was so thankful for my advisor who kept me calm and stayed with my till my parents could get to the accident. In the end onstar was there when I had no one else. Thanks Onstar.
Paul-South Carolina
I was on an unimproved road in Florida following my GPS and got stuck 35 feet from pavement. OnStar would not pay to have me winched out. Cost $84.00 out of my pocket. Vendor stated that I was more than 10 feet from pavement and must have been “off roading”. 1st time I used this service (other than unlocking a vehicle). Thinking of cancelling. AAA is a whole lot less.
Grumpy in SW Florida
Interesting. So what happens in the very likely event that the battery gets destroyed in a frontal collision? Nothing. Because nobody planned for it. What happens when a thief disconnects the battery or removes the Onstar fuses? Nothing. What happens when the car breaks down because the battery died? Nothing. It might help in some situations. I put it at about 50/50, and that’s being generous.
Well at the frontal collision part, some of the GM cars have their batteries in the back, so that might not get wrecked head on.
On-Star:
I would like to thank you also. I made a trip to Alaska last June pulling a single axle camper and on the way back the camper lost a wheel. There was no cell phone service and it was just at dusk and I was in no-mans-land, (wilderness).
I pushed the On-Star button on my 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and that sweet voice that came on the phone was dearly welcomed. My wife was really afraid of the wild animals (bears) that may be near. The wrecker and policeman showed-up and all was taken care off. For the little cost of On-Star, I’ll probably always keep it, you never know when you’ll need them.
Jim – In North Carolina
I was in an accident about a year ago and ran into a concrete structure. My accident response did not come on nor my air bag deploy. I was told that I did not hit this object head on is the reason the air bag did not deploy, I disagree with them on this but that is beside the point. I drive a 2007 Avalanche. It did about 8,000.00 damage to the vehicle and I came out of it with just soreness and stiffness, but onstar could not give me a good answer why the bags or the response did not operate during this time. I am still with them, but I was not a very happy person.
I was driving from Michigan to New Hampshire via Canada. We were fine until we got to Montreal. Lots of construction and detours, and EVERYTHING was in French. I do not know French, got lost with the detours and was very frustrated. Then I remembered “Aha..Onstar” and I pushed the little blue button. A very nice young man got me back on the right road, going the right direction, and our vacation was a success. On the way home, we called OnStar BEFORE we got to Montreal, and we were given directions that would bypass the city and all that construction. I am a lifetime subscriber after that. Thanks.
I know that no matter what you do nothing can ever be 100 %. But I have a Cobalt with OnStar, broke down once, and would not have a car without it now. It’s amazing how well it works, and it’s like never being alone out there. Good Job GM !
A few years ago, I was in a car accident. I had no cell phone or Onstar to call for help. I had to ask someone to call the police. I am glad I have Onstar with my new 2009 Impala. If I every get into an accident again, I will have Onstar to rely on for help.
I also locked my keys in the car awhile back and I had to call the Locksmith. I had to wait for 25 minutes. Now that I have Onstar, I can call them for assistant and I heard that they can help me alot faster than calling the Locksmith.
I had onstar, emphasis on had. Everytime I needed them, they could never get to me.
I had gotten a flat tire in the dark and could not see what I was doing on the side of s 75 mph highway. They told me it would take 3 hours for someone to come help me with a flat tire outside of Sante Fe, NM. Took a police cruiser 5 minutes.
In winter of 2008, my car slid on ice and was hurt. Onstar said there was no one to get to me until the next morning! I called authorities myself and was towed out of the ditch.
I dropped them and got AAA instead. Much better service than onstar by being more reliable and faster.
Personally, I beleive onstar uses their commercials as a scare tactic to get people to suscribe. I do like the option of having it in my car but don’t feel it to be necessary when there are better options out there.
Hi Alex, Sorry to hear about your experience and would love to talk to you. I’m going to send an email to see if I can help, watch for that shortly.
OnStar has saved me a couple of times( keys inside,accidents & directions)….would never own a vehicle without it…I have had OnStar on every truck and car since 2001. Plus it lowers your Insurance. I am a GM Retiree and I endorse this message!!!!
In July of 2009 I went fishing at a lodge in northern Ontario midway between Gogama abd Timmins Ontario Canada.The lodge was 12 miles in from the highway on an old logging road, I blew a tire and needed assistance. I pushed my ONSTAR button and nothing happened,there was NO onstar service, Thank fully a truck came along after several hours wait,and came to my assistance, When I finally made it back to the main highway,and came in range of microwave and cell phone system, my ONSTAR system worked ,So don t go where your cell phone doesn t work ,because your Onstar won t work either P.S. the fishing was fantastic
I appreciate the last post.
Had On Star factory installed on my Audi in 2003. 2 years later On Star said it would not manufacturer or offer a digital converter for its analog system. I find this irritating and very troublesome. Sounds like Audi may have crossed paths with with On Star.
Bottom line ,if my Audi was a GM product the story would have been different. On Star knew long before 2003 that the Feds were mandating switching to digital.
I’ll never buy a GM product.
We regret that we can not provide OnStar service to vehicles with analog equipment after December 31, 2007. You can learn more here: http://www.onstar.com/web/portal/digitaltransition
The pour girl.. she was kind of lucky. I’m using Onstar no matter what.