They should cut a hand off every time somebody steals something. Thieves and rapists would have no mercy if I were to give out punishments!

HD trucks have been easier to steal because they did not have "smart key" technology.
Another reason is that trucks and vans are indeed stolen to be used to steal other stuff whether it is a place to load stolen loot from B&E's or to steal trailers and equipment.

On Star has been touted as an anti-theft feature but 5/10 vehicles on this list have it.

Many people don't want to pay for onstar after the first year.

@DB,

Onstar,I would never get they can spy on your conversations 24/7 !! Reason I will never own a GM ! It really sounds like Socialist Motors when they can spy on your every move,onstar is the end of freedom in a vehicle..!

@ Lou,
And let the exuses begin...
...and how will you explain twice as much damage sustained when broken into?

And dont tell me because they're harder to steal since super dooly is #2 on the list, I guess it wasn't hard enough

ShitHawk, you're full of HawkShit. OnStar listening to your conversations? Really? How old are you? 10? So they are going to pay reps to listen in on people's conversations? For what? Seriously dude, or gal, shut up.

On a more serious note, my sisters Suburban was stolen from her driveway. It had OnStar and even though they knew where the car was, the Police were too slow to get to it. The next day, OnStar was disabled and the Suburban was gone, never to be found. You would think that car manufacturers could come with some the technology that would prevent a car from being started without the key. Right? I think they like the fact that you'll be buying another one if it gets stolen, hence, the lack of effort in installing the technology. Pure greed, and meanwhile, we're all paying for it with higher premiums. Fu** the insurance companies and their lobbyists.

And Lou, Onstar isn't an anti-theft feature. I'm not gonna even waste my time trying to tell what it is. I'm not sure you would get it anyway.

@ ShitHawk
Do you really believe there are people out there that care what you have to say?

@Greg J.,

Yes Sir....I beat a guy nearly death ( he is no longer a normal person today) after I caught him trying to steal my 68 Charger R/T.

Car theives should be given the death penalty !

@MOPAR
I'm proud of you sir

@ Chris,

@ Greg J,

Guys educate yourselves,they can listen to your conversations at will !! Grow up,you sound childish yourself (dude) !

Greg,I have yet to here you say anything seriously relevant,interesting to talk about so, why do you think there are people out there that care what you have to say ? Obviously you drink the GM kool-aid !

Nobody wants to steal a Dodge...guess that's saying something

@ ShitHawk
Cold War is over, you can come out, it's ok!

I'm not here to educate anybody so I don't care if anybody else cares what I have to say that's why I'm not paranoid like you are.
I've had Onstar since '01 and look! I'm still here!

On star is like the little black box in your truck only better. They know how many times you speed and a lot more. That way insurance companies have ammo to use against you when they don't want to pay a claim. I was looking at a new 300 a while back and the sticker on the driver's side sun visored warned against brake torquing. It said a light would come on in the display that could only be shut off by the dealer. It would also load this data to the computer. If you bust the tranny, you get to pay for it instead of warranty.

Forgot something guys. It was a 300 srt.

@ Greg J.,

Thank-you,I did get lucky though,I snuck up on him,he was under the dash and the car was running already ,I pulled him out of my car by his legs,threw him to the ground his gun was laying on my cars floor ! Once I noticed the gun/same time as pulling him out total reaction just to beat him,he did stand up ,he was a quick bugger but was useless without his firearm.No charges we laid for myself,but the Police warned me not to do that again,they later informed me of how bad he was,cant say I am sorry of feel bad he deserved it.My buddy was so proud of me as his '72 Oldsmobile 442 was stolen and never found again a few years earlier,we are not rich people worked hard and slaved hours to restore our cars,and to have someone steel them really makes me mad ! I dont care if its a nice car/truck or a old beater 1988 Ranger people need their vehicles and most dont have the money to replace them,or wait weeks/months for insurance to rip you off by giving you a low ball figure.Especially people with newer cars that owe more than its worth,you get a check and you still owe the bank several thousands due to depreciation,that happened to our secretaries Toyota that was stolen she had to bus to work until she paid off the $8500 she still owed on her Camry.

if the chips in these vehicles keys were advanced enough you wouldnt see them on the list. This just means the aftermarket has ready available bypasses to defeat their transponders in the "chipped" keys. this is why you see the same manufacturers repeated................

PS the comment about "thieves staying true to domestic-made vehicles" couldnt be FARTHER from the truth. Why make such a politically incorrect statement? is it a subliminal message? LOL just picking on you and your folks Mark, even if that statement really isnt true at all.

@MOPAR,
I'm glad that you're ok and you were able to kick his ass! I would do the same, no mercy! People work so hard to own something they always wanted or dreamed of and one day some piss of @#$% will show up and will try to steal it.
Once again I'm proud of you!

@Greg J - Ford SD trucks are one of the easiest trucks to steal.
Why did they have a higher insurance claim rate?
The statistics don't say much. When it comes to the F450 the story did say most of the non-commercial ones are King Ranch. A higher claim amount may be due to that very fact.
DVD and Nav systems are common in high end vehicles. A few years back, the local Chrysler dealer had DVD players stolen from most of the vehicles with them. They've also had cats stolen from all of their Cummins trucks. I see more Ford's with backup cameras and tailgate steps. That also has to be more expensive to replace. 4x4 trucks get joyrided and beat up pretty bad.

On Star - I did not say it was a theft deterent. I said it was touted as one. When ever I've looked at Chevy/GM trucks the salesman has gone out of his way to point out the features of OnStar. One of those features was a theft deterent and helping with recovery. One saleman went as far as saying insurance rates were lower with OnStar. They also pushed the GPS feature, and the crash feature. It may of been inovative when it first came out, but technology marches on. Any smart phone can do most of what OnStar does but better and cheeper.
What is the renewal rate on OnStar. Everyone I know with a Chevy/GM product lets it expire or gets a bluetooth device option instead.

@Chris, Greg J -
On Star could be used to evesdrop on conversations. It can also be used to track your location and speed. Government agencies like Homeland Security can get a supeona to use OnStar against you. Devices like OnStar have been considered by government agencies for traffic speed enforcement. The GPS says you are in a 30 zone and it reads 40 mph. A traffic violation shows up in the mail. It hasn't happened yet but the technology exists. It has been looked at by government.

@hemilol - I'd suspect that in the context of trucks the "domestics" (sic) are easier to steal (maybe) and because there are more of them out their - a bigger market for stolen parts.

@MOPAR - I have a separate insurance policy on my truck and my wife's van. It guarantees for 5 years full replacement cost if stolen, ensures that only new parts are used in repairs, and pays the glass deduticble on my standard insurance. Sound's like you had a close call when you beat the crap out of the guy. I've known a few guys that have done the same thing.

"The Chrysler 300 V-6 is a popular car to steal because of its fuel saving technology, oddly enough. Perhaps even thieves want to save money on gas."

You're kidding, right Mark?

Vehicles are stolen for one of two reasons: joyriding (by amateurs) and parts (by professionals). A pro doesn't care which engine a Chrysler 300 has; he wants it to chop and sell - the average new car or truck is worth 4 times its MSRP if you completely disassemble it and sell the parts. And the more popular the vehicle, the greater a need for its parts as collision/repair swaps. What do the 5 GM trucks on the list (Yukon, Avalanche, Sierra Crew, Silverado Crew, Escalade) have in common? The doors! All 5 use the exact same doors and windows... somebody dents your right rear door? The right rear door of any of those 5 trucks will fit the bill. Same with the Ford Super Duty trucks... the parts interchangeability has more to do with theft rate than anything else, and the fact that the doors of a Super Duty are essentially unchanged since the body was introduced in January 1998 is a financial score if you can steal one and break it down.

@ Lou,
OnStar was never touted as theft deterent. It was always marketed more of a safety feature. Yes, it might deter somebody from stealing your car if they know they can be tracked or in case of persuit the engine can be disabled. But there is nothing physically Onstar can do to stop somebody from stealing your truck!
Here is what you get with safe and sound plan:
Automatic Crash Response
Emergency Services
Crisis Assist
Stolen Vehicle Assistance
Remote Door Unlock
Remote Horn and Lights
Roadside Assistance
Vehicle diagnostics monthly email reports

As far as insurance rates being lower, yes it's true.

I just renewed mine and it was about $13 a month.

*"evesdrop on conversations", REALLY?!
*"track your location and speed", both it can be done with your smart phone you mentioned. So people should stop carrying sell phones now?
What if you crash and you can't find your cellphone or it's broken? Or worse yet you're unconscious and there is nobody around to help you? Will your smart phone come to the rescue then?
Onstar is a very nice feature. It's not for everybody obviously. For some it's too expansive for others it's too scary to be around.

@Greg J - I'll say it again, I've had salemen tell me onstar was a theft deterent and push it as such.
touted : 1.Attempt to sell (something), typically by pestering people in an aggressive or bold manner: "Jim was touting his wares".
2.Attempt to persuade people of the merits of (someone or something).

I'm not telling anyone to avoid cell phones either. Just pointing out in defence of some other bloggers that OnStar can be used for tracking, speed enforcement, and evesdropping on the occupants of the vehicle.
I can shut off my phone - you can't shut off OnStar.
I'm not paranoid. Just pointing out that governments have studied various ways of monitoring us.

"What if you crash and you can't find your cellphone or it's broken?
What if OnStar is broken or not renewed? It can fail like a cell, and OnStar is guilty of patchy coverage just like cell phones.
Sync - for free has a 911 crash feature. It autodials 911 in a crash. As you pointed out - cells have GPS, Synch does also.
No fee for Sync, and why duplicate the features of my cell.
If you are unconscious in an MCV - heaven help you regardless of the phone system in your vehicle. I've found that when there is a serious MVC in an urban centre - emergency services are inundated with calls. That one I know first hand as a paramedic.
In a rural setting OnStar and cells don't work or is very patchy. That one I know first hand as a paramedic.
You have to rely on Sat phones, VHF, Ham, CB, going with a buddy or making sure some one knows where you have gone.
Automatic Crash Response - Sync as mentioned.
Emergency Services - well I guess that is me. I can look after myself or family or I can call through Sync.
Crisis Assist - same
Stolen Vehicle Assistance - I have replacement insurance for around the same monthly cost as OnStar.
Remote Door Unlock - I have a keypad, and keyfob. A rock works well in a pinch.
Remote Horn and Lights - really? key fob for that one. Keypad as well.
Roadside Assistance - cell and sync
Vehicle diagnostics monthly email reports - I don't get email reports but a push of a button gives me a vehicle self diagnostic.

Any system is not without strong points and weak points. OnStar has rapidly been upstaged by smart phones. Sync isn't without its weak spots. Sync is only as good as the electronic devices that patch into it.

Your name describes you perfectly Shithawk. And you are really full of it!

@ Lou,
You just don't get one thing. OnStar uses SATELLITE connection, your Sync uses your PHONE'S connection!!

"In a rural setting OnStar and cells don't work or is very patchy"
"You have to rely on Sat phones, VHF, Ham, CB"
Onstar IS A Sat phone! So "patchy" applies to your Sync ONLY!

"What if OnStar is broken or not renewed? It can fail like a cell, and OnStar is guilty of patchy coverage just like cell phones"
If it's not renewed then you don't have stolen vehicle assistance and such but Onstar still works!!! It doesn't mean it's dead and unusable. It can still be used in case of emergancy. And if it breaks you'll receive a message on dashboard that Onstar connections was lost.
OMG people!! Please learn the topic before you start going smart ass about it!
We're talking about two different systems here.
OnStar - safe and sound
Sync - entertainment
Once your cell breaks or you have no coverage you can shove your Sync up you know where!

So I need to install my own kill switch to keep my GM from getting stolen despite OnStar? Seems like OnStar wants my GM to get stolen. Onstar looks like the hero by finding it or helping apprehend its thief. Then there's the 10s of 1000s that will need to be spent at the dealer after it's recovered.

Actually I skipped the OnStar altogether and installed a generic (key fob) remote accessory-controller (like for custom lighting) but made my fuel relay an accessory and then accessorized (factory switched circuit) the controller itself so that it resets itself automatically when I exit the truck.

@Greg J - You accused the wrong guy of not knowing the topic.
OnStar does not work everywhere. It doesn't work in many remote areas, and as this map shows, coverage sucks in Northern Canada. there are areas where it does not work at all. I can get similar coverage out of a cell phone. If you live in continental USA - a cell phone with bluetooth and GPS will give similar coverage.
http://onstar.cellmaps.com/viewer_us_english.html
When it comes to OnStar - according to the map : I do live in the great white north.

My brother's company has a fleet of Chevy's. Guess what? OnStar doesn't work in remote areas. All of the bush trucks have Sat phones, and VHF radios. The company has its own repeater system.
ONStar is a placebo.

onStar does pose a risk for invasion of privacy.
http://www.wheels.ca/article/800060
Exerpt:
The data collected may be shared with or sold to third parties for any purpose after identifying tags are removed, the OnStar policy states. Such uses might include research into public safety or traffic services, according to the policy

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/onstar4.htm
Exerpt:
According to OnStar's Privacy Policy, it will share personal information to "comply with legal requirements, valid court orders and exigent circumstances" [ref]. It also shares information with subsidiaries, including GMAC, which provides vehicle insurance. Although it did not mention OnStar by name, a United States Appeals Court ruled in 2003 that the government may be able to use the on-board cell phone to eavesdrop on drivers.

What is it you said?

OnStar - safe and sound

Placebo...........

Looks like the US government, insurance companies etc. can find you "safe and sound" any time they want.

@shithawk

How does the tin foil hat feel? I posted this on behalf of the aliens monitoring your thoughts. They wanted me to tell you that the foil doesn't work, they can still read your mind.

@Greg J, lol while I still think the LED bedlight is useful, I completely agree with you here. Anyone attempting to make my property theirs gets some wonderful benelli action square in the chest.

@Roadtrip you forgot about crackhead druggie d-bags who steal cars cause they are desperate and have no morals, they fall right in between joyriders and pros.

Only on pickuptrucks.com can a thread about stolen vehicles completely ignore the facts that crimes were committed and proceed to bashing GM for having OnStar.

Joe, I know! Isn't it amazing?!

@ Lou,
You said it yourself that sync has GPS! That means someone can track you using sync GPS as well! Same goes for your cell phone!!!
And if they need to track you down, they will do it with or w/out Onstar.
On the other hand, if your WANTED, I WANT THEM TO TRACK YOU DOWN!!!
Look at the map again, WHITE DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS NO COVERAGE!
As far as reliability goes in emergency situations, I'll take Onstar over sync any day of the week.

"The data collected may be shared with or sold to third parties for any purpose after identifying tags are removed, the OnStar policy states. Such uses might include research into public safety or traffic services, according to the policy"
*AFTER IDENTIFYING TAGS ARE REMOVED - says right up there!

"According to OnStar's Privacy Policy, it will share personal information to "comply with legal requirements, valid court orders and exigent circumstances" [ref]. It also shares information with subsidiaries, including GMAC, which provides vehicle insurance. Although it did not mention OnStar by name, a United States Appeals Court ruled in 2003 that the government may be able to use the on-board cell phone to eavesdrop on drivers"
*Look at your cell phone privacy policy and tell me how is it any different?!

"Any smart phone can do most of what OnStar does but better and cheeper"
* you NEED a smart phone and (LIMITED) DATA PACKAGE at at least $15 a month to be able to use any of the features. Either way you're paying for something.

Lou, I see that you're one of those people that think that whatever Ford touches turns into gold, don't you?. Even if there was a steaming pile of shiit on top of the hood you would argue that it's there to improve aerodynamics!!

OnStar is NOT satellite based. It is cellular based. The only difference being OnStar can use a higher powered transmitter/receiver than hand-held cellphones, which are limited for exposure reasons.

Lou, I see that you're one of those people that think that whatever Ford touches turns into gold, don't you?. Even if there was a steaming pile of shiit on top of the hood you would argue that it's there to improve aerodynamics!!
Posted by: Greg J | Feb 15, 2012 11:09:07 AM

is that how you look at a GM, it sounds to me like a winded fan boy

Greg J is cool

No Dan, that's how I look at you and others like you

@Greg J - This is the first time you've ever gone to any lenghts to explain your point of view. All you have ever done in the past is slag Ford. I'm not like some of the Chevy guys on this site that think 1 brand is king sh-t of t-rd island like you. IF you have a valid point about your brand or another, all you need to do is post your comment with an explanation. (An explanation that isn't based on emotions or vague claims).Pure and simple. I can respect your opinion and explanation of OnStar but the other 99% of your posts are a waste of bandwidth.
This sort of exchange of information is what this site should be used for. You explain how your vehicle or system works, you explain its strengths and weaknesses. We both learn.
Reliability in an Emergency situation? if paying a subscription to OnStar makes you feel safer and more secure, then go for it.
Sync only works if you activate some of the settings ie. Traffic, directions, or vehicle diagnostics. Some of those features, like OnStar don't work or don't work well in remote areas. As far as I'm aware - it doesn't track my every move, if I don't use it. It also doesn't have the ability to listen to what I'm saying inside my vehicle.
If you want to talk about cell phones, GPS and other electronics in relation to vehicles, I'm game.

You've provided some good information and comments. Keep it up.

Onstar uses both SATELLITE and CELLULAR signals.
So is Sync, so is your cellphone, smartphone and other such devices. They all can be exploited with bad and good intentions, but for some reason Onstar is evil and Sync is a well polished turd that makes the world go around and makes everybody happy!
Joe said it best:
"Only on pickuptrucks.com can a thread about stolen vehicles completely ignore the facts that crimes were committed and proceed to bashing GM for having OnStar"

I forgot to add - Sync is only as good as the devices attached to it. I can buy a new smart phone or Sat phone and get a better system without changing my vehicle and I'm not duplicating fees as most of us already have cell phones.
People more savvy with electronic devices and/or keep up to date with their devices prefer Sync over OnStar. Those on the other end of the spectrum, and those who want the "security" prefer OnStar.
I don't think that there are people that would chose a Ford over a Chevy because of Sync or vise versa a Chevy over a Ford because of OnStar.
OnStar is now available as a stand alone system that can be installed in any vehicle.
The first Sync system was more of a "command centre" approach. It just co-ordinated all of the devices connected to it. The newer Sync systems and OnStar systems have gotten more similar.
The older systems are different in many ways.
Apples and oranges really.

@Greg J - in relation to your "Joe" comment. I had said "On Star has been touted as an anti-theft feature but 5/10 vehicles on this list have it." I stand by the remark, and it is relevant to the conversation. Like I said earlier, GM/Chev salesman have pushed OnStar as an anti-theft deterent.

This is what you said even before I had made any comments at all :@ Lou,
And let the exuses begin...
...and how will you explain twice as much damage sustained when broken into?
And dont tell me because they're harder to steal since super dooly is #2 on the list, I guess it wasn't hard enough

Troll - One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.

Don't cry foul about an OnStar debate on a theft thread. It is relevant. I haven't used any derogatory words to describe Chevy or OnStar - why have you done so in relation to Ford or me?

Hey Lou, you're walking in circles.
I'll say it again,
"They all can be exploited with bad and good intentions, but for some reason Onstar is evil and Sync is a well polished turd that makes the world go around and makes everybody happy!"
And for some idiotic reason you still insist on sync's supremacy over Onstar.
I said it once already and I'll say it again, you're comparing to different systems! One designed for occupants security other for occupants entertainment!
Last time, Onstar was never designed to be an anti-theft feature!!!
So your comment:
"On Star has been touted as an anti-theft feature but 5/10 vehicles on this list have it" IS NOT RELEVANT to the article above.
But since you're taking SALESMAN word so deep into your heart, LET IT BE, just remember he tried to SELL you a car!
But I guess you've been to Ford dealership also and they told you how flowless Sync system is and you believed them also.

@Greg J - "They all can be exploited with bad and good intentions". I agree.
I never said OnStar was evil. There has been a considerable amount of stories about its exploitability.
It costs more than Sync and I agree that it is better in some areas, especially for technically less astute people.
I'd rather not pay double for a cell and one built into a truck.I don't know of anyone paying an OnStar fee except for you.
I do agree that they are separate systems, but as I said - Sync is only as good as what is plugged into it.
Even if you look at OnStar's web site they go on "all feel good" about the piece of mind one gets because they might be able to find your vehicle if it is stolen.
My inital comment still stands. Salesmen tout it as an antitheft feature. OnStar makes it sound like they will save the day. It is no different than selling insurance. Most don't need it but it makes you feel better.
I don't believe salesman.
The Ford saleman I talked to didn't have much to say about Sync. He admitted he had just came over to Ford from Chevy because Ford was sellling better.

Back on topic - don't you find it interesting that Ford HD's are the prefered target of thieves, and Chevy LD's are also the prefered targets?
That fits with sales figures. There are more Ford HD's out their so there is a greater demand for parts. There are more Chevy LD's out their so therefore a greater demand for parts.

The only thing Onstar uses a satellite for is location information via a GPS receiver. All communication between your vehicle and OnStar is cellular based.

"I'd rather not pay double for a cell and one built into a truck.I don't know of anyone paying an OnStar fee except for you."
*myself and 4 million other users. Onstar has a feature to work as phone but only if you buy minutes separetly. When you use your cell in a truck it does not in any way use onstar services. Your cell and onstar are two different animals. They don't work together. Bluetooth works with your phone. Bluetooth and onstar also have nothing to do with eachother. onstar costs me about $13 a month, in no way it is another phone bill. You piss off $13 at mcdonalds on one visit these days! Like I said, you have to pay at least $15 a month for data plan on your smart phone in order to have one and then be able to use it with sync.

@Greg J -
I don't need a data plan to use Sync.
I do have data on my phone but I would regardless of whether or not I'd be using it with Sync.

I'm curious about your plan:
Remote Door Unlock - how do you get OnStar to unlock the doors?
Remote Horn and Lights - what is the point of that one? and how do you access it?

Only 4 million users? OnStar came out in 1996.
How many vehicles has General Motors sold in that time?
I'm guessing 75 million. Even if 1/2 of those sold had OnStar as standard - that would yield a retention rate of 11%.

Onstar has been around since '96, but only vehicles '06 and newer can still subscribe to onstar. That's when signal was switched to digital and older vehicles that were equipped with analog only devices could no longer use onstar services.
So since '06 GM has sold about 17 million cars between US and Canada.
Lets use your formula, divide that by half =8.5 mil, acutally in 2010 onstar had 5.1 million subscribers (and on the rise) but let's use that number, that would yield a retention rate of 60%. Not bad if you ask me.

Lou,
Here is another interesting fact I found:
"In its document of privacy practices, OnStar states that it is not possible for them to listen to or monitor conversations in your car without you knowing it. The hardware is designed so that when an advisor calls into your car, a light flashes, a ring tone is heard, and the radio will mute."
That should answer your question about someone eavesdropping on your conversation.

No Toyota's, Honda's or Nissan's!

and all full size.

Be interesting to know what percent were driven off vs. towed?

What percent are in Mexico and other parts South of our border?

P.S...and good going Mopar! But you should have stolen his balls, before the cops showed up!

Forget Low Jack.

I'd need to be able to hunt down my truck immediately, without involving the police. Then I own his balls and his house goes up in smoke.

GPS tracking is the only way.

There are already cases of Onstar listening to people without their knowledge. Google "Onstar freerepublic" to see the cases. Onstar can also listen to you even after you cancel the service. GM OnStar cars will upload all data unless owners opt out. Even if you don't sign up you can be tracked. Tye will know everything from oil levels to mileage, and details of any accident in which the vehicle is involved – including direction of impact, seatbelt use and the location/speed of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

@Lou & Dave - GM can't listen to your conversations with Onstar without a court order!