What are the reasons for OnStar's failure to obtain vehicle location?
3 Answers
There are several reasons why OnStar fails to obtain the vehicle's location, including network issues, expiration of the basic service package, and the vehicle being parked in an area with no signal. Detailed explanations are as follows: 1. Network: In this case, you need to move to an area with good network coverage and then try querying the vehicle's location again. 2. Expiration of the basic service package: You need to purchase the basic service package through the OnStar official website or platforms like Taobao to resolve this issue. 3. The vehicle is parked in an area with no signal: This may occur when the vehicle is parked in places such as parking lots or mountainous areas, causing the OnStar platform to fail in reading the vehicle's location and thus unable to provide the location to your phone for viewing.
I've encountered OnStar positioning failures several times, mostly due to signal issues. I remember once parking in a three-level underground garage where the reinforced concrete structure completely blocked the signal; also under overpasses or between skyscrapers, satellite signals get obstructed. Additionally, poor contact in the vehicle's OnStar module or metal-containing explosion-proof film on the windshield can affect signal reception. Recently I discovered low battery voltage can also cause this - last time when my car battery was nearly dead, the positioning suddenly failed. Actually, OnStar service status itself needs attention too - if the subscription expires or the account has issues, no matter what you try, positioning won't work.
OnStar positioning failure is usually caused by three main factors. Environmentally, check if the vehicle is parked in a signal blind spot, such as a tunnel or a heavily shielded underground garage. For hardware issues, inspect whether the shark fin antenna on the roof is loose or damaged, and ensure the module's power supply circuit is functioning properly. On the service side, confirm if the account is active and whether there are any unpaid service fees. Once, my car suddenly couldn't be located, and it turned out to be due to OnStar's backend system maintenance and upgrade. Additionally, long-term parking leading to a depleted battery may trigger the system's protective shutdown of the positioning function. It's recommended to first check the external environment and then attempt to remotely refresh the vehicle status via the OnStar App.
