Forum Discussion
class action lawsuit OnStar module backorder
During a brief ride to the gym this mrning, I decided to update my Onstar, since it had a notice on my radio display screen. The nice lady explained all the options and I opted for the least expensive one ($14.99 per month beginning on 11-27) As soon as she entered the 3 digit CVC code from the back of my credit card to confirm my purchase, my vehicle SHUT OFF as I was driving. Long story short, it's been towed to my local GMC dealer and the service tech is ALREADY saying it's a coincidence.....which after a hot second of Google research, it's happening to many others...even the tow truck driver said he sees this 1-2 per week!!!
The telematics module when it began to malfunction drained my battery mid drive. I was on my way to work that morning. The AAA guy said something was severely draining my battery. The alternator tested good, he even suggested I shut the auto stop off. I got a jump and was good for two weeks then it happened again while I was at a stop light in NYC. Completely SHUT DOWN! I called AAA again. He tested my battery and said it was dead. My safety systems stopped working but my alternator was still good. He gave a jump, it started but the car idled funny. I made it home, bought a new top of the line battery, and took it to the dealership. They couldn’t tell me what was wrong. Two weeks after that visit my Onstar went out completely, safety features giving me all these crazy alerts, engine light on and off, I took it back to the dealership. It was the telematics module and hence my fight with Onstar, the dealership, and this nonsensical notion that I should pay over 1000$ to fix something that was failing for quite some time and never properly diagnosed. I’m out of warranty and was told it didn’t matter anyway because the module isn’t cover under warranty. My battery which I installed less than a year ago is beginning to drain again. This is a SAFETY issue and had I had been on the highway when this happened and probably will happen again then how am I safe? I can only pray other cars will be able to stop on time or get out of the way safely if it happens again. I have to drive. I live about 100 miles away from work and travel the highways daily. I reported my issue with the module to the NHTSA since I’m getting nowhere with Onstar, dealership or GM. I pray this doesn’t happen to you…
I’ve been closely following all posts and wondering why others are so much more impacted than I have been. The only symptom I was having was the CEL being on, or so I thought. That was until I read mscardona1’s post. I posted my story about a week ago; short version is I bought a used 2023 Buick Envision on 3/30/25, no warranty because it was a previous loaner with 49k miles, CEL came on 1-2 weeks after purchase, got the selling dealer to eat the cost of diagnosis even though no warranty, they said it was the battery and installed a new one free of charge, didn’t make sense to me because how could they have sold a car with a bad battery but ok. When I got home from that battery replacement (about 30 miles from dealer) CEL came right back on and same codes pulled. The dealer I bought it from was working with me but it became too much of a burden and cost to go back and forth 30 miles each way so I took it to my local dealer 4 miles away and they’re the ones who made the proper diagnosis of telematics module needed replacement. I paid for the replacement (total $1713.39) (just picked the car up on 8/23/25). What didn’t resonate until now is the bad module was why the battery was bad in the first place and it’s likely that I would have eventually run into the same problem as mscardona1.
Thanks Shaggy. I appreciate the fact that you read my posts. I’m glad you were able to fix your issue but look at the cost! That’s crazy for someone who is the sole breadwinner of a household. I make good money but not enough to squander away on ridiculous repairs like this. I work hard for what I earn. My 22 Buick Envision was less than 2 years old when this first happened to me. I bought the car NEW. At first I placed some blame on the dealership but after taking my car to a new dealership it’s still the same issue. I REFUSE to pay for this. It’s happening to soooo many people. Some cases are worse than others but imagine the fright one feels when you lose control of your cars functions unexpectedly and without warning, not ONCE BUT TWICE. I’m still driving this car. I have no choice. I have to work, I have to take my daughter to school, I have to live… unfortunately I’m living in constant fear and any little shake, any little change in idle, any little “ding” I hear in the car I start feeling my heart beat a little faster. The engine light goes on and off constantly, I get consistent alerts like “Lane Assist Unavailable” or “Service Driver Assist” or “Service Power Steering Soon, Assist Unavailable Soon”, all of these alerts are connected to the module. Now I’m told my battery is losing power at my new dealership. It’s been a nightmare that I’m dying to wake up from…
I'm an educator. This is part of the reason why being able to provide useful information is so important to me. The more I share my story and provide resources for ways for people to voice their concerns is how we are going to do something about it. GM is a BIG CORPORATION. So is OnStar because they are a product of GM. But if enough people complain, file reports, reach out to the media, and demand answers from GM and OnStar this can change for all of us. That’s why we need to keep record, share all of these stories, and contact the right people who are going to help us. I’m not going to stop. Even if I do wind up in a new and different car eventually (when I can afford it again), I’m still going to contribute and share information to this community and others.
this isn’t fair to those who work hard and are loyal customers to GM and rely on their vehicles for their livelihood. It isn’t FAIR and JUSTICE AND RESOLUTIONS are what we are seeking. That’s it. Resolve it by issuing a NATIONWIDE SAFETY RECALL GM…
Damn. I hope it doesn't;t happen to others or me! I also hope NHTSA answers us and can help.
Just so that you know I’m over a year into this saga. It started May 31st 2024… my OnStar went out completely December 12 2024. If Onstar contacts you and invites you to a private discussion and say they will help you they can’t and won’t be able to do ANYTHING for you. I even spoke with GM reps at We Are Listening @GM customer satisfaction program and they didn’t even do anything about it. GM needs to issue a RECALL of this module. It is a NATIONWIDE issue if you continue to read some of these posts…
legal action has been proposed but we have been encouraging many people like ourselves to file a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They can force safety recalls if the situation can cause injury and bodily harm, even death to self and others. Your drive to the gym could’ve been far worse if the car shutting off mid drive caused an accident. Luckily for you and people like me it hasn’t. But with this situation, it’s just a matter of time before something serious happens. What will GM say then? “Our condolences go out to the families…” they have the opportunity to do something about this now and they are obligated to manufacture vehicles that are SAFE to drive. When things like this happen to SO MANY PEOPLE then they need to fix it. Just keep reading some of these posts and you’ll see what I mean.
I totally hear you. I have been experiencing g the same issues with lack of help. I did file with NHTSA. I have now had to cancel two appointments at dealerships because these people can not even tell me if they provide a courtesy shuttle! They will not tell me if they can look at the car while I wait. They will not look at it on a weekend because it is electrical. Seriously? I am responsible for transporting children in my vehicle. I cannot be stranded at a dealership with no way home . As it is I would have to borrow a vehicle to be able to pick up the children on time. So thoroughly disgusted.