Directed SmartStart Reviews

First of all, don’t count on it! I made the mistake of leaving my keys in my car one time because I was planning on getting back in using DirectedSmartStart . I was at the gym and I thought it would be convenient to not have to put a lock on my locker. Big mistake, because DirectedSmartStart decided not to connect to my car at that time, I was stranded for hours until my mom was able to go to my house and get my spare keys. Fast forward 3 years - I brought my car into the shop after DirectedSmartStart stopped working. I renewed my 3 year subscription and it connected to my car but wouldn’t start it (good thing I didn’t hold my breath waiting for a refund - as it’s been a year and I’m still covered for a system that they know will never work). Hundreds of dollars and 6 frustrating phone calls later with the guy working at the shop standing by at $80 an hour I found out that what they originally recommended that they do would not work. I needed to replace the old system with an updated one, a software update wouldn’t cut it. Why the first 5 people I spoke with wouldn’t know that baffles me. I would have been begrudgingly ok with going into the shop and replacing it if they told me that to begin with, but I had already taken time off work and had wasted hundreds of dollars. Bad customer service, and bad product for the long term.

I have had Directed Smart Start for a few years and it hasn’t worked for well over a year now. I took it to the installer where I first got it. They couldn’t fix it. They said that Directed changed systems where the module on the vehicle needs to be replaced. I never got any notification from Directed that they were changing systems or that I needed a new module. I called Directed and the lady couldn’t fix it on their end. So she said she was referring it to someone else in the company and I would get a call back in a couple of days. Well, it has been a few months and no call.

DirectedSmartStart does not work. Ever. I have the remote start that you put on your key ring which works, but if you want to use DirectedSmartStart on your phone, you are out of luck. Don’t bother downloading it. And don’t expect them to help with DirectedSmartStart when it never works. They will just tell you you don’t have good cell service... in any part of Boise, ID. Makes a lot of sense.

App hasn’t worked properly from the beginning. Customer service says they will call back and never do. Constant error message even though I’m logged in. Battery low message after battery is dead, and constant low battery alarm notifications even though that feature is now turned off. Wish I never got it. Device keeps draining battery even though I run my car every other day. Don’t buy!!

Such a failure for years and years and years. I can’t believe I’ve put up with this product. Don’t make the same mistake as I did in buying a SmartStart. Barely works. Intermittent and unreliable. Nothing to do with cell coverage or Verizon coverage of the cell network that smartstart uses. I see the antenna strength on my phone and also in the directed viper app representing the strength of the signal that the smartstart sees. Even when both are full strength the starting and door locking or unlocking are completely unreliable. It is such junk.

I have been using this product for nearly 2 years. My thoughts? I suggest going with something different because what I have noticed it only works when it wants to. I specifically bought this for winter so I can start my vehicle in the cold and most of the time it can’t connect.

I’m fairly disappointed with DirectedSmartStart and the SmartStart system. I park my truck in the same place at home and work every day. If I’m lucky, DirectedSmartStart will start my truck 50% of the time on the first try. Very often I get an error message saying my truck has poor cellular coverage. If I try again, it will eventually start. Then DirectedSmartStart will show my truck having good cell coverage.

I’ve emailed the company several times to get assistance. That too is a frustrating experience. I get automated responses saying someone will contact me in a few business days, but nothing happens.

Now I’m coming up on the renewal period. Trying to decide whether the renew and hope they improve the system, or just walk away from it and write off the cost I have already invested.

DirectedSmartStart is great when it works, but I can't count on it working. Oftentimes, it takes several tries to get the car started. And sometimes, it says it was successful, but the car didn't actually start. When I walk out to my car after work, it's a pleasant surprise to see it running, because at least 1/4 of the time, it's not.

Phone does exactly what it's supposed. Works pretty well. The watch app is terrible. Most of the time I get a "Please connect the watch to your iPhone" on the watch. Watch is connected, I've tried restarting and uninstalling the apps with no change. The watch app has probably only worked twice the whole time I've had it.

I’ve had this for over a year now and it works for the most part but when it doesn’t Boy will you feel inconvenienced! Not only can you not access you vehicle which could leave you stuck outside, like me one night at 4am coming from the gym, but your upset because it’s a feature that you’ve PAID FOR IN ADVANCE! One time I couldn’t use it at all for like 4 days straight and now it’s going on 24hrs where DirectedSmartStart won’t even open....

Remote start run time is not working would like to see it back and working as well as the lock and unlike time be added back to DirectedSmartStart .

What can I say, I knew what I was getting myself into. The alarm I got was a viper and I added this directed smart start to it and it does what it said it had to do in the box. Like all things that have to be connected over a network it has its minor lag moments but over all its great happy with it just giving it 4 starts cuz of the lag everything else is perfect.

I had the alarm installed with the key fob, however, it was difficult to start my car unless I’m in direct sight to the car. I then got DirectedSmartStart and service for the year. DirectedSmartStart is great and convenient especially for the winter. My only problem is, it’s draining the heck out of my battery. I had to replace the car battery already this past July and now, I’m getting low battery notification again. I’m not sure what’s wrong. Is anyone else having similar problems?
Other than that, I love the convenience. With Kia’s theft on the rise, I have some peace of mind with the tracking system and the lockdown feature if necessary.
I don’t want to get rid of it, so I need some solutions to my battery issue, please.

Hi guys, can you guys add a Siri shortcut to turn on car or lock doors etc. super please. Everyone has it bust DirectedSmartStart. It’s not that hard. I created some, but it has a problem clicking the button to turn on car. That’s where DirectedSmartStart can come in. Let’s do this! Super please!

Overall I'm really happy with it. My only complaint so far is that there's no facial recognition or fingerprint. These options should come standard with any login for iPhone apps. This is the only reason I didn't give 5 stars.

Installed about a year ago ! Wanted to put through real world everyday test before review ( summer , winter ) . AWESOME! Get professional install & no problems ! Installed in Hummer H2 ! Integrated into truck , if heat or air is set to on before exiting vehicle, automatically turns back on when remote started ! If temp drops low in this truck , checks with car system and turns on heated seats in the winter ! Make sure cell service is good , but have not had system fail once since install ! Worth every penny ! Cold PA nights & warm truck ! Hot summers & cool A/C truck to get into ! AWESOME ! No longer distance problem & failed key fobs ! Phone charged & you are good to go ! Thank you Directed ! Keep up excellent job !!

I just recently installed the smart start equipment in my vehicle. DirectedSmartStart works smoothly. There is a bit of lag in communication but that is to be expected based on how the system works. I really like the ability to track the vehicle on gps

I got to admit, DirectedSmartStart and service have worked well for us for the past two years. I do not think we ever had a problem accessing DirectedSmartStart or remote features. I also think it’s priced competitively with other apps.

I really like DirectedSmartStart I just think that its time for a major update in design and functionality. I have friends that have Drone mobile devices installed in their cars. I really like the way that DirectedSmartStart has been made. Also, my parents have the My Chevrolet app installed as well. I like it as well. One big thing I wish I could do in DirectedSmartStart is to have A way to manually update DirectedSmartStart . To know whether the car is running doors are locked in real-time. I would also like to have A button added to turn off the ignition. One last thing I would like to have added is a way to extend and decrease the run time on my car.

I have it since 2014 and most the time had worked very good I would say just a couple times had problems with it just a few minutes.I think because it had poor signal.
I recommend it a 💯 %