Potential Buyer Concerned about Reliability

[OffRoad4Me]

Originally Posted by H2 BULLY

You can always push the little blue onstar button.
I love my 06 sut

But what if your in a rural area with no cell service? This is often the case for me, and thats highway use!

[LoLo]

Originally Posted by OffRoad4Me

But what if your in a rural area with no cell service? This is often the case for me, and thats highway use!

...it runs through satellite, so shouldn't leave you stranded (unless you situated in the exact wrong spot in the grand canyon).

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by OffRoad4Me

But what if your in a rural area with no cell service? This is often the case for me, and thats highway use!

Could happen, but I believe the H2, until next model year, will have the Onstar Version 6.1 box which is digital with an analog backup, which means if Onstar cannot connect via digital service, it will jump to analog. For 2006 and earlier, it is definately a 6.1 version.

Originally Posted by LoLo

...it runs through satellite, so shouldn't leave you stranded (unless you situated in the exact wrong spot in the grand canyon).

The phone system runs through Verizon, or one of their contractual partners; it is not a satellite phone. The satellite part of Onstar is the GPS system that is used for position location only.

[LoLo]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

The phone system runs through Verizon, or one of their contractual partners; it is not a satellite phone. The satellite part of Onstar is the GPS system that is used for position location only.

Well, damn... guess I have been feeling overly "safe" for no reason! Thanks for the info... news to me! (Maybe that was in one of those little booklets or manuals that I have YET to read???)

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by OffRoad4Me

But what if your in a rural area with no cell service? This is often the case for me, and thats highway use!

Are you kidding me? The "reliablity" rating isn't geared toward the percentage of "break downs" in strange places where there is no cell service. I think every vehicle has similar odds that a breakdown will occur in an unhappy place. Sure, you can extrapolate the fact that if a vehicle breaks down more, it also has a greater probability of doing so everywhere, including a place w/o cell service. But The idea of buying/not buying based on your criteria is ridiculous. If you were deciding between a 1979 Pinto and a 2006 vette, then your criteria would come into play.

[Vettster]

Originally Posted by OffRoad4Me

But what if your in a rural area with no cell service? This is often the case for me, and thats highway use!

Onstar?
We don't need no frik'in Onstar!
I bought my H2 in Houston last July and went straight to Mexico with it.
Other than oil changes, no dealer service has been needed.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Vettster

Onstar?
We don't need no frik'in Onstar!
I bought my H2 in Houston last July and went straight to Mexico with it.
Other than oil changes, no dealer service has been needed.

I agree, I don't have Onstar turned On. I cancelled last month. With the current Verizon cell service (or their partners), it might be hard to find a location, on any of the highways in the USA, where the system does not work.

[OrangeCrush]

I have to agree with the rest of the guys. I've got over 70K miles on my '03 and the only problems I've had have been self induced. Incorrect settings when installing gears resulting in new diff unit, balance problem on drive shaft...blah, blah, blah.... all because of difficulties because of the lift kit (which was a freak and should have never happened)

Nonetheless, the only other issue is the sunroof, it still works, it's quirky and though I have an extended warranty, I haven't gotten around to fixing it yet.

Mechanically it's on the same level of any Yukon, Escalade, etc, etc. I sold my 1999 Yukon with 155K miles and other than the normal alternator, waterpump and suspension parts (also had a lift on it) it never left me stranded. I drove that thing everywhere.

Today I leave to Florida to visit family, this will be the 6th trip in the last year and a half and I've never had any issues.

I'm honestly not sure why the JD powers survey comes back so low because many of my friends drive H2's and they also are incident free.

I'm sure you'll have to get things fixed "while at the dealer" but my H2 has never left me on the side of the road to the point when I replace this vehicle, it will probably be with another H2.

I commend you for doing your homework but I honestly think you'll be terrificly pleased with your purchase.

Good luck with whatever vehicle you choose.

Mark

[89vette]

My 05 SUV left me stranded in the parking lot at Lowes when my wife was running the heater blower, both DVD's and the headlights for about 30 minutes while I was inside. When I came back out, the battery was dead. I'm pretty sure a Toyota would not have done that.

All kidding aside, my wife drives a Lexus GX470 and other than a better interior, I don't see much of a quality difference. Her car has 20K and mine 30k. She needs new tires and brake rotors and I don't. Hers has been in the shop for twice and so has mine. Minor items for me and a TSB and broken NAV on hers.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by 89vette

My 05 SUV left me stranded in the parking lot at Lowes when my wife was running the heater blower, both DVD's and the headlights for about 30 minutes while I was inside. When I came back out, the battery was dead. I'm pretty sure a Toyota would not have done that.

If the engine was not running, I would not bet the Toyota would not have a dead battery too; especially if the blower was on high.
Number one or two (depending on month) assistance call on the Lexus Cust. Assist. help line is no start due to dead battery!

[devilsfan]

I would get the truck.

I know where you're coming from - my H2 is my daily driver. I can't afford the hassle of trying to get it to the dealer, wait for a loaner, go back to the dealer, etc, etc. I have had to do that on RARE occassion with my truck - and all for problems that were known with the 2003 model year (which I have) and have since been corrected.

From what I've seen on this board, which is a VERY representative sampling of H2 owners (and these guys abuse the trucks more than any soccer mom will), there isn't a reoccuring H2 issue that will leave you stranded. It's all minor issues that are easy to live with, and just have the dealer fix them when you take it in for an oil change.

The ones I've encountered - and keep in mind this is for the FIRST model year of the truck, and tech bulletins were issued and the problems corrected in later years:

Windshield moulding coming loose (no leaks - just wind noise)
AC blowing hot air (not a big deal, it was spring)
Pinging in the muffler (spot weld, no exhaust issues, just noise)
Onstar module replacement (still can't figure this out, won't work in my driveway next to another Onstar that works, but will work everywhere else!)

Like I said, no big deal.

I have always purchased vehicles based on CR and their reliability reports. The H2 was the first time I broke the mold on that one, and I have not regretted it. I LOVE this truck.

Stacy