Review Insights · Google Play
OnStar Guardian: Safety App
OnStar, LLC · 11,659 ratings · ★ 4.3
4.3
★★★★★
11,659 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 57 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"phone"
12 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "wifi keeps disconnecting. only works with a internet connected phone. there's nothing like vehicle wifi. very frustrating" - Nuh Mukiibi
2
"onstar"
9 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "I’m seriously questioning the reliability of this service. I’m considering subscribing to OnStar for safety and peace of mind, but the app itself won’t even open. I’ve tried multiple times, at least six, and it just sits there unresponsive.…" - Tiffany Carter
3
"family"
9 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "This use to be a great app I loved it. Now more often than not it doesn't show my family I'm not even listed, so why do I keep paying for something that's not working properly" - Teresa
4
"doesn"
8 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "I’m seriously questioning the reliability of this service. I’m considering subscribing to OnStar for safety and peace of mind, but the app itself won’t even open. I’ve tried multiple times, at least six, and it just sits there unresponsive.…" - Tiffany Carter
5
"work"
8 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "wifi keeps disconnecting. only works with a internet connected phone. there's nothing like vehicle wifi. very frustrating" - Nuh Mukiibi
6
"service"
7 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "I’m seriously questioning the reliability of this service. I’m considering subscribing to OnStar for safety and peace of mind, but the app itself won’t even open. I’ve tried multiple times, at least six, and it just sits there unresponsive.…" - Tiffany Carter
7
"works"
6 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "wifi keeps disconnecting. only works with a internet connected phone. there's nothing like vehicle wifi. very frustrating" - Nuh Mukiibi
8
"nothing"
6 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "wifi keeps disconnecting. only works with a internet connected phone. there's nothing like vehicle wifi. very frustrating" - Nuh Mukiibi
9
"times"
6 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "I’m seriously questioning the reliability of this service. I’m considering subscribing to OnStar for safety and peace of mind, but the app itself won’t even open. I’ve tried multiple times, at least six, and it just sits there unresponsive.…" - Tiffany Carter
10
"location"
6 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "The app is great when it works. The location of my family is ALWAYS hours behind... meaning it will show my husband in one spot for hours when he is not in that spot. One time, it did not refresh his location for 24 hours 🙄" - Racheal Woods
📋 All 57 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
this app was supposed to help me get into my car when I locked my keys in it. all it did was REFUSE to verify my info. I was on hold for a super long time just to talk to a person when my phone was about to die. completely useless for emergencies with car lock outs. thnx for responding but honestly I don't feel like fiddling around with the app anymore due to the stress I went through earlier. my insurance Root is incredible and makes the process of unlocking your car simple and easy
I’m seriously questioning the reliability of this service. I’m considering subscribing to OnStar for safety and peace of mind, but the app itself won’t even open. I’ve tried multiple times, at least six, and it just sits there unresponsive. This is supposed to be a safety tool I can rely on in real situations, yet I can’t even access it on the one device I would need in an emergency, my phone. That’s a major concern. If the app can’t perform at a basic level, it doesn’t inspire confidence.
does not work
does not open on Pixel 10Pro XL with Android 16. Splash screen opens, hangs for a few seconds and app closes
it's buggy and the log in is not working.
does not connect
Hard to delete.
Having multiple family members, at times, no one (on family members) will show. Othertimes it will be inaccurate at where they are and when they leave an area. Having updated the app and keeping my family updated on it also, at this point, seems a waste. Just keep the actual OnStar service with your vehicle...not this app currently.
draws too much battery
installed but couldn't get it to load after installing
Can't download App for Family Sharing. Says "Only available for the original device". Called the number on the App Support. They said my phone and software were compatible. Logged into Google Play with a different account. Same issue. Maybe have previous version available, as well.
I've paid for this app for over 6 months now, and i hate it. never right always freezing and the biggest waste of money.
I don't have account with
not able to add family showing wrong location
the app is not refreshing the location at all I tried everything so then I uninstall and re-download and now it won't let me put in my email address so I can log back in. whats going on with this app today????? 3/21/26
This app is pretty much worthless. There are free apps where I can track my phone and share my location with my family. Where is the function to be able to track my $90,000 truck at all times??? That's why I am paying an OnStar subscription in the first place!!
dont even work at all dont open
Out of the blue I found my wasnt(isn't) working. I cant use my handfree service ( talk-2-text, calling a phone). I push the OnStar button and nothing happens. I have not been notified that im delinquent. I cant even get in touch with a HUMAN to find out what's going on. This is unacceptable 😤
not capturing location
I won't pay for a product that I have never tested and I won't give you all my personal info just to subscribe for an unknown application.
the app wont even open
don't
cannot even open app. makes phone shut down upon clicking the app. completely useless.
Doesn't even start up on Android 16. Just sits at the initial screen. What more details could you possibly need?
pain to cancel. you're better off calling in to do it.
OnStar is a complete and total failure in delivering any type of functioning tech, service, or value. They only waste your time and keep billing your account. In comparison, you would get better help from the DMV. That's how bad OnStar is.
onstar is the worst, most selfish company on the planet. Sucks no alternative in my chevy. I truly with all my heart dislike them
After downloading the app, I cant do anything in it without the app crashing. Reinstalling the app changed nothing, I can't even zoom in on the map before the app completely crashes.
doesn't even open
my app will not open. as soon as I enter password it closes.
I can't get rid of it.
app has a glitch cahce bug. my phone willNot* allow app to open. I am looking for my sons car on backroad and this $50/ app doesn't work.
App only opens to blank page- no menu, nothing. Trying to login using the website is also not working. A call to Onstar led to NO resolution. I was told to give them 2 hours. Since I realized the problem, it has been 2 days. Considering canceling my subscription.
will not work on my new Samsung Galaxy S25 phone. Works well with S22.
unreliable, does not work properly or most of the time, freezes, unresponsive even when all permissions are allowed and phone has been rebooted. And this goes for both of our phones.
the app would not open on my android phone
I don't use it...and I'm getting charged even though I didn't want it
terrible. I don't remember my password so reset the password through the prompt to email me a code. I update and put in a new password and then it will not accept my new password. then go to reset my password again and all the sudden they have technical difficulties and I cannot use the app. frustrated enough with it I'll never use it again.
Terrible service and support. Paid for it for 2 years then found out that I actually had no coverage since I didn't have the app and it wasn't set up. They don't tell you anything, just want you to pay and then not use it.
app keeps freezing - update
IT'S REALLY SLOW 🐌 TO UPDATE THE LOCATION.. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS APP IT WORKED FINE BEFORE A LITTLE SLOW BUT NOW EVERY TIME I TRY TO OPEN IT. IT JUST SHOW'S ME THE MAP AND FREEZES. I UNINSTALLED IT AND REINSTALLED IT MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL NOTHING CAN'T ZOOM IN OR TOUCH ANY BUTTONS DOESN'T TAKE ME TO MY LOCATION OR MY KIDS LOCATION. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH ONSTAR GUARDIAN.. I CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY GIVE ME THE RUNAROUND..
After a recent update me and my family have all had the app crash on start. The lack of attention to this critical SAFETY app is dangerous. None of us have been able to reliably use the app since late December 2025. Multiple phones. All broken by an update. My partner has had two accidents while using this app and neither time did it notify me. The primary function of this app has failed both times. The only functionality we use it for now is map tracking, and even that is broken in this update
fake
App won't open, immediately crashes. Before that it constantly said rides detected when I was just sitting in my house. Quality has severely degraded over the past couple years.
as many here have stated, the app crashes immediately after singing in. even though I disagree with some of the permissions, i gave it every permission it asked for. I have cleared cache, deleted app data, uninstall and reinstall and restarted my phone to no avail. Samsung S24 Ultra. after multiple attempts over weeks the app still crashes after setup and sign in. Uninstalled.
Since my comment keeps getting deleted, I will keep posting it untill your glitches are fixed. This app has not worked in weeks, nothing works I have tried everything was told to troubleshoot, we are being charged for a non working app. Was told we would get a call to trouble shoot...that was 2 wks ago, I GIVE UP!!!! Terrible app.
No sirve, jamás manda el código de verificación.
I can't get in the app without creating a family
this app doesn't work more than it works, it constantly wants to update, and you know this bc it drops tracking on everyone in your family it updates more than it works which is odd considering the ridiculous amount of updates, not worth the money.sad garbage can app with tech the way it is there is no excuse for it
wifi keeps disconnecting. only works with a internet connected phone. there's nothing like vehicle wifi. very frustrating
+ 7 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
82%
Positive (4-5★)
4%
Neutral (3★)
13%
Negative (1-2★)