As of January 1, 2008, anyone who doesn't have a digital-capable OnStar system in their GM vehicle is going to be out of luck. One customer who bought an OnStar-equipped Cadillac Eldorado in 2002 is so upset about it that he's filed a class-action suit against GM and OnStar for $5 million.
The cell phone companies that provide OnStar service will finish the switch from analog to digital service on the first day of next year. When Robert Weaver, the named plaintiff in the suit, bought his Eldorado, says GM and OnStar knew the analog service in his car would only work for six more years, and that there would be no way to upgrade to digital, but didn't tell him. And for that willful omission, they owe subscribers a whole lot of money.
OnStar says it's frustrating, but there's nothing they can do. GM and OnStar have been contacting subscribers to let them know, but have made no attempt to reimburse subscribers for the option or the subscription fees. Instead, GM is offering a year of free OnStar service if customers buy or lease another GM product. And even if you do have a digital-capable system, GM is going to charge you $15 to upgrade it.
[Source: Auto News, sub req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mike @ May 11th 2007 9:18AM
I'm going to sue Netfix because they don't carry Betamax, anyone else on board?
"Instead, GM is offering a year of free OnStar service if customers buy or lease another GM product. "
Well why didn't you say so to start with! This guy can just go out and pick up an '08 Eldorado or ETC. Wait... make that a STS or CTS coupe. Wait... XLR maybe? This guy is driving what can be equated to an antiquated car (I like them, but they are still fully discontinued, even in nameplate and no comperable vehicle in production) and is complaning about an old technology in a subscription based service. This guy is a retard.
scappy @ May 11th 2007 9:19AM
Cry me a river. Technology became outdated, oh no. This is really sad if the Plaintiff wins, cause that means i could go after Dell in a few years when my computer becomes obsolete. Its just ridiculous. I understand the guy likes his OnStar and just wants to keep it, but I think he probably got his six years worth.
mr friggles @ May 11th 2007 9:27AM
GM = GenerallyMalevolent
BC @ May 11th 2007 9:28AM
I'm going to sue Microsoft for not supporting my Windows 3.1 machine.
Mike @ May 11th 2007 9:46AM
They stopped using analog radio's when the FCC announced that the switch would happen, they didn't defraud anyone. This guy has no case.
geo.stewart @ May 11th 2007 9:51AM
US= lawsuit rich environment
while sad, i dont think GM or Onstar ever touted that the service would work forever. If Onstar had gone out of business, he would be in the same boat but with no lawsuit.
change the law so that if you lose, you have to pay the other side's legal bills automatically. tht will cut down on lawsuits.
bmoredlj @ May 11th 2007 9:51AM
I wouldn't call GM "malevolent", since its the "cell phone companies that provide OnStar service" that are switching. But listen, as cars have more and more onboard computer systems and bluetooth and all those other doo-dads, whoever buys the car has to be aware that technology is not static. Even a haughty future-owner of a new LS600hL like me knows this, and that for a time, that Lexus will be on the cutting edge, but when they roll out the LS720hLZ+ Q-Spec X in 2011, well, like Mr. ETC, I'll be out of luck too.
That aside, I find it hard to believe in this age of "pimping our rides" that the electronics in his car can't be upgraded to use the new digital onStar, and stick an LCD TV and TiVO under the hood while they're at it.
betterth @ May 11th 2007 10:14AM
I think it's lame for GM to not even offer an upgrade plan.
You don't buy a Cadillac unless you want luxury, and that's one of the features. The removal of his OnStar capability is also going to hurt the value of his car. Is it far that GM can arbitrarily decide (because of a third party, I know), to disable OnStar for a paying customer and lower the value of his vehicle and only offer one suggestion in reparation?
"Hey, if you, ya know, buy a new car, or even better, /lease/ a new car, we'll give you OnStar for a whole year!"
This is nothing like Dell's computers being Obsolete. Maybe, if your ISP decided to switch to a new kind of internet transmission and Dell knew about it years ago, and you bought a computer and two years later, there would be no way to get online, period. This new method was outside of the realm of upgrading.
You'd be a little miffed too, because a huge function of your computer was now disabled unfairly.
srivendel @ May 11th 2007 10:16AM
"The removal of his OnStar capability is also going to hurt the value of his car."
Trust me. There's not much you can do to hurt the value of a 7 year old Eldorado.
Big Mike Wood @ May 11th 2007 10:34AM
How hard can it be for GM to upgrade those older cars with digital technology? Do they not want to or do they not know how? It's just a button on the dashboard for chrissakes.
Mike @ May 11th 2007 10:46AM
Big Mike, lets have you swap a dvd player into your VCR while maintaining all funtionality of all buttons and not making it look like a hack job.
He might as well be complaining about the front drum brakes on his 1948 chevy pickup... technologies change, and older vehicles just can't keep up, nor should the manufacturer be responsible for keeping them up. It was the best it could be at the time it was sold, that is all that GM is responsible for.
Toyota, please recall all prius's once per year to install the latest battery packs, computer systems, braking systems, etc. My 2004 should have the same technology as the 2008!
Sick\\\'O\\\'Crap @ May 11th 2007 10:47AM
I have a 2001 Silverado with On Star, mine cannot be upgraded. I am stuck with an option I paid for and subscribed to for 6 years, that doesn't work and cannot be upgraded. But that is not what is so frustrating, I have a hole in the roof of my truck, with an antenna that is of no use. Am I mad, hell yes.
shrique @ May 11th 2007 10:50AM
Just as a devils advocate here. Isn't OnStar integrated into the ECU on the car? Hence calling the operator if your airbag goes off?
Phil L. @ May 11th 2007 11:12AM
When I first heard about this, I was surprised GM didn't offer an upgrade path. As I understand it (from reading about some common OnStar hacks), the OnStar system is a separate box, integrated into the rest of the car's electronics. If they wanted to offer an upgrade, it'd be possible to do it. Yes, it'd mean creating some specialized electronics that would be different than newer systems.
But they probably couldn't justify the expense based purely on installation and subscription fees. And GM has rarely considered customer satisfaction when making such decisions - so old OnStar customers are left out in the cold.
Gardiner Westbound @ May 11th 2007 11:19AM
GM knew analog cellular telephone systems would soon be obsolete years ago. If it gave a damn about its customers, the same people it is beseeching to buy its current models, it would have provided economic upgrade capabilities.
Watch for something similar to happen a few years down the road with in-dash navigation systems.
why not the LS2LS7? @ May 11th 2007 11:22AM
The problem isn't just the analog versus digital.
The problem is also that the old AMPS system used only 850MHz. But with the new digital systems, there is no operator which is 850MHz only. Most of the operators use dual-mode 850/1900MHz, while I believe Sprint and T-Mobile are essentially all 1900MHz.
Changing frequencies means changing the antenna and antenna amplifier section.
It would cost a lot of money to switch these vehicles over.
I think I'm going to sue GM because the AM Stereo radio in my 1985 Pontiac doesn't do anthing useful anymore.
Snix @ May 11th 2007 11:37AM
I should sue Garmin because my handheld GPS unit that I bought in 2001 does not acquire signals as quickly as the new ones, and it does not have color graphics with maps on a chip?
I should sue HP because my old PC wont run Vista?
I should sue Comcast because my analog box does not have a DVR and On Demand in it and wont get HD channels?
I should sue TiVo because my old unit can only record one program at a time and the new ones can do two?
I should sue Sony because my TV is not HD ready?
I should sue Sprint because an analog cell phone wont work anymore?
This idiot needs to get a new Caddy or a cell phone if it's that big of a deal. Wait! The new car has XM radio! What if they make a change? Oh my goodness! The horror!
sirAQUAMAN64 @ May 11th 2007 12:25PM
How someone could want reimbursement on something they've used for 6 years is beyond me.
I'd be too embarrassed to even be named in this suit. Crazy.
JC3 @ May 11th 2007 12:52PM
He was inconvienenced to the tune of $15 million by an onstar subscription? Tort reform anyone?
jason @ May 11th 2007 12:57PM
More planned obsolescence. Thank you GM.