Chevy / GMC / Buick / Cadillac
OnStar Vehicle Communication Interface Module (VCIM)
What the VCIM does
The VCIM is the OnStar hardware itself — cellular modem, GPS receiver, and the module that talks to the rest of the vehicle over the CAN bus for crash notification, remote start/lock, stolen vehicle tracking, and (on newer vehicles) the driving-behavior data that was at the center of the 2024–2025 FTC action against GM. It’s a separate box from the infotainment head unit.
Where it lives
Location has moved around a lot across generations: commonly behind the glovebox or in the passenger footwell above the fuse box on 2000s-2010s trucks/SUVs, under the dash near the steering column on many 2010s+ cars, and under the dash forward of the brake pedal on several 2016+ platforms. The PDF has generation-specific photos rather than one description that won’t match your dash.
The reversible method: fuse or connector, not cutting
- Locate the correct VCIM fuse — on some platforms it’s in the interior fuse box; on others (e.g. several mid-size SUV/truck platforms) it’s an inline fuse spliced into the positive battery cable itself, separate from the main interior fuse block. The PDF identifies which pattern your generation uses.
- Pull the fuse. This is the cleanest, fully reversible method — it kills power to the VCIM without touching any wiring, and Bluetooth/SiriusXM/infotainment keep working because they run through the radio module, not the VCIM.
- Or unplug the module directly if you’d rather not hunt for a fuse — the VCIM harness connector is a simple locking connector once you have the module exposed.
What you lose
- Automatic crash response and stolen-vehicle location assistance
- Remote start/lock, vehicle locate, and diagnostics via the myGMC/myChevrolet/myBuick/myCadillac app
- OnStar-based Wi-Fi hotspot, if equipped
- Any driving-data collection tied to connected-services programs
What stays working
Radio, Bluetooth phone pairing, backup camera, and all safety-critical systems (airbags, ABS, stability control) are unaffected — they don’t route through the VCIM.
Worth checking first
Under the FTC’s 2025 consent order, GM is required to offer an account-level opt-out of data collection and geolocation tracking even if you keep OnStar active — see our What They Track page. If your only goal is stopping the data sale, that setting may be enough without touching the hardware at all.
Model-specific help
Get the full step-by-step PDF
Model-year-specific fuse/module locations, photos, and the full reversal procedure. Emailed automatically once payment confirms on-chain.
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Common questions
+How do I disable OnStar tracking?
Remove power from the OnStar VCIM module, either by pulling its fuse or unplugging the module's harness connector. Both are fully reversible. Some platforms use an inline fuse on the battery cable instead of a slot in the interior fuse box, so confirm which pattern your generation uses.
+Where is the OnStar module located?
It depends on the generation: behind the glovebox or above the passenger-side fuse box on many 2000s–2010s trucks and SUVs, under the dash near the steering column on many 2010s cars, and forward of the brake pedal on several 2016+ platforms.
+Does canceling my OnStar subscription stop tracking?
Canceling ends the paid services, but the VCIM stays installed, powered, and able to connect to the cellular network. GM's account-level data opt-out limits what GM collects. Disabling the hardware is the only way to be sure the module isn't transmitting.
+Will disabling OnStar affect my radio or Bluetooth?
No. Radio, Bluetooth phone pairing, SiriusXM, and the backup camera run through the radio/infotainment module, not the VCIM, so they keep working.