OnStar turns 30: The technology and people behind every emergency response
2026-09-25
Thirty years ago, OnStar set out to answer a life-changing question: What if a vehicle could detect a collision and call for help when its occupants couldn’t?
OnStar helped pioneer Automatic Crash Response technology. Today, it continues to shape the next generation of connected vehicle experiences, from hands-free driving with Super Cruise to in-vehicle AI assistance.
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of hearing from customers whose lives were changed by OnStar — personal stories of crashes survived, critical help received, and loved ones brought home.
GM is the only automaker with its own dedicated emergency call center. In 2025, OnStar Advisors responded to over a half a million emergency calls. Nearly 49,000 of those calls required emergency dispatch triage for medical, police or fire assistance.
Here are some of the moments that underscore the lasting impact of OnStar technology and advisors.
Help reaches an injured child after a serious collision
For Kari and her daughter Molly, a trip in their Chevrolet Equinox changed in an instant when they became involved in a devastating multi-vehicle crash. On Interstate 69 in Indiana, their SUV was rear ended by another vehicle before it collided with a semi-truck. The crash crushed the Equinox and left Kari unconscious.
Molly was injured and frightened in the passenger seat when she heard a voice. “I could hear somebody talking to me,” Molly recalled. “I looked around and saw OnStar on the screen.”
An OnStar Emergency Advisor had connected through the vehicle’s Automatic Crash Response system. She already had a clear picture of how serious the crash was through OnStar’s Injury Severity Prediction technology and was able to relay critical information that helped first responders better prepare before arriving on scene.
The Advisor stayed on the line with Molly until emergency crews arrived. During emergencies, Advisors rely on a technique they call “repetitive persistence,” giving clear instructions in a calm, steady, commanding voice. This approach helps callers stay focused when fear makes it difficult to process information. With younger callers, Advisors simplify things even further, breaking directions into small steps they can follow.
“We are the first first responders,” the Advisor said. “An experience like [the accident on I-69] makes me incredibly proud of my team, of our training, and of the vital role we play in public safety. It motivates me to keep showing up at my best for the next person who calls.”
Help after a Texas rollover crash
A rainy drive home from Florida turned into a terrifying rollover crash for Elvia and her family when their Cadillac Escalade hydroplaned on Highway 287 in Texas, left the roadway and rolled multiple times. As the vehicle came to rest on its side, an OnStar Emergency Advisor connected through the speakers, contacted first responders, checked on the family’s condition and stayed on the line until help arrived. Everyone walked away from the crash. Read Elvia’s full story.
A vacation turned emergency
A family getaway turned into an emergency when fifth-grader Alaysia suffered a severe allergic reaction after dinner. As her symptoms worsened and she struggled to breathe, her parents got into their Chevrolet Traverse and rushed to find medical help but didn’t know where the nearest hospital was. Her mom hit the red emergency button. An OnStar Emergency Advisor guided Alaysia’s mother through administering an EpiPen for the first time. Moments later, Alaysia was able to breathe again and was later treated at a local hospital before returning to enjoy the rest of her vacation. Read the full story.
Locating lost parents with dementia and Alzheimer’s
Thanksgiving dinner was waiting, but Jeana’s parents never arrived. They were hours late and not answering their phones. The police asked if Jeana’s parents had OnStar in their Chevrolet Silverado, and luckily, they did. An OnStar Advisor was able to locate the vehicle and help direct police to their location. The incident would happen again months later, before Jeana’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and her father with dementia. Both of her parents passed away in 2021, but Jeana reflects on the good times they shared together. Read Jeana's full story.
Parents facing the unthinkable
Late one night at a cottage in northern Michigan, Ashlee and Brock’s 3-year-old son, MJ, developed serious breathing difficulties. As family members rushed him to the hospital, MJ suddenly stopped breathing. On a dark road in an unfamiliar area, they pulled over in their GMC Acadia to begin emergency care but had no way to describe their location. After contacting an OnStar Emergency Advisor, emergency services were dispatched to their exact location. Moments later, MJ began breathing again, and an ambulance arrived shortly afterward. He recovered fully following treatment at the hospital. Read the full story.
Keeping a small business moving
OnStar services for GM Fleet help businesses of all sizes keep vehicles on the road and operations running.
When thieves stole a vehicle loaded with specialized cleaning equipment, more than $150,000 in assets disappeared in minutes. For the local franchisee, it was more than a vehicle. It was his livelihood. Within 27 minutes, OnStar Advisors helped law enforcement locate the vehicle and recover the equipment, allowing the business owner to resume operations later that same morning.
Building on 30 years
The stories in this series reflect OnStar’s first 30 years, but they also point to its future. As vehicles become more connected and intelligent, OnStar will continue evolving, helping customers in new ways while staying true to the role it has played for three decades: being there when it matters most.
Thirty years ago, OnStar set out to answer a life-changing question: What if a vehicle could detect a collision and call for help when its occupants couldn’t?
OnStar helped pioneer Automatic Crash Response technology. Today, it continues to shape the next generation of connected vehicle experiences, from hands-free driving with Super Cruise to in-vehicle AI assistance.
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of hearing from customers whose lives were changed by OnStar — personal stories of crashes survived, critical help received, and loved ones brought home.
GM is the only automaker with its own dedicated emergency call center. In 2025, OnStar Advisors responded to over a half a million emergency calls. Nearly 49,000 of those calls required emergency dispatch triage for medical, police or fire assistance.
Here are some of the moments that underscore the lasting impact of OnStar technology and advisors.
Help reaches an injured child after a serious collision
Kari and Molly reunited with local officers who responded to the emergency.
For Kari and her daughter Molly, a trip in their Chevrolet Equinox changed in an instant when they became involved in a devastating multi-vehicle crash. On Interstate 69 in Indiana, their SUV was rear ended by another vehicle before it collided with a semi-truck. The crash crushed the Equinox and left Kari unconscious.
Molly was injured and frightened in the passenger seat when she heard a voice. “I could hear somebody talking to me,” Molly recalled. “I looked around and saw OnStar on the screen.”
An OnStar Emergency Advisor had connected through the vehicle’s Automatic Crash Response system. She already had a clear picture of how serious the crash was through OnStar’s Injury Severity Prediction technology and was able to relay critical information that helped first responders better prepare before arriving on scene.
The Advisor stayed on the line with Molly until emergency crews arrived. During emergencies, Advisors rely on a technique they call “repetitive persistence,” giving clear instructions in a calm, steady, commanding voice. This approach helps callers stay focused when fear makes it difficult to process information. With younger callers, Advisors simplify things even further, breaking directions into small steps they can follow.
“We are the first first responders,” the Advisor said. “An experience like [the accident on I-69] makes me incredibly proud of my team, of our training, and of the vital role we play in public safety. It motivates me to keep showing up at my best for the next person who calls.”
Help after a Texas rollover crash
A rainy drive home from Florida turned into a terrifying rollover crash for Elvia and her family when their Cadillac Escalade hydroplaned on Highway 287 in Texas, left the roadway and rolled multiple times. As the vehicle came to rest on its side, an OnStar Emergency Advisor connected through the speakers, contacted first responders, checked on the family’s condition and stayed on the line until help arrived. Everyone walked away from the crash. Read Elvia’s full story.
Elivia holds photos of the crash scene.
A vacation turned emergency
A family getaway turned into an emergency when fifth-grader Alaysia suffered a severe allergic reaction after dinner. As her symptoms worsened and she struggled to breathe, her parents got into their Chevrolet Traverse and rushed to find medical help but didn’t know where the nearest hospital was. Her mom hit the red emergency button. An OnStar Emergency Advisor guided Alaysia’s mother through administering an EpiPen for the first time. Moments later, Alaysia was able to breathe again and was later treated at a local hospital before returning to enjoy the rest of her vacation. Read the full story.
Locating lost parents with dementia and Alzheimer’s
Thanksgiving dinner was waiting, but Jeana’s parents never arrived. They were hours late and not answering their phones. The police asked if Jeana’s parents had OnStar in their Chevrolet Silverado, and luckily, they did. An OnStar Advisor was able to locate the vehicle and help direct police to their location. The incident would happen again months later, before Jeana’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and her father with dementia. Both of her parents passed away in 2021, but Jeana reflects on the good times they shared together. Read Jeana's full story.
Jeana holds a cherished photo of her parents.
Parents facing the unthinkable
Late one night at a cottage in northern Michigan, Ashlee and Brock’s 3-year-old son, MJ, developed serious breathing difficulties. As family members rushed him to the hospital, MJ suddenly stopped breathing. On a dark road in an unfamiliar area, they pulled over in their GMC Acadia to begin emergency care but had no way to describe their location. After contacting an OnStar Emergency Advisor, emergency services were dispatched to their exact location. Moments later, MJ began breathing again, and an ambulance arrived shortly afterward. He recovered fully following treatment at the hospital. Read the full story.
Ashlee pictured with her GMC Acadia
Keeping teams connected during disaster response
Following hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters, catastrophe teams at Erie Insurance are deployed to communities where power and communications infrastructure have been disrupted. Tiffany, a fleet manager at Erie Insurance, shared that in those situations, their vehicles become more than transportation. They serve as mobile workspaces, helping teams stay connected, operate critical equipment, and continue assisting customers while recovery efforts are still underway.
Building on 30 years
The stories in this series reflect OnStar’s first 30 years, but they also point to its future. As vehicles become more connected and intelligent, OnStar will continue evolving, helping customers in new ways while staying true to the role it has played for three decades: being there when it matters most.
