Key Fob Not Always Working

[Paul Neubauer]

Lately along with the other electrical gremlins my truck has, the key fob randomly quits working. None of the buttons on either fob will do anything including locking, unlocking or remote starting. The fob is still recognized when I walk up to the truck and allows the door handle sensors to work to unlock it though. Several times now even though the fob worked to get in the truck, it is not recognized and the truck won’t start. I assumed it was a low key fob battery and replaced it but the same issues are occurring and the truck even said once that the brand new battery was low. I also just replaced the truck battery since it always had a low state of charge but the issue still exists. Has this been an issue anyone has experienced and solved?

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[krg0709]

Same thing happened to me. My fob on my ‘21 would occasionally not do anything (lock/unlock, start the truck, etc). I changed the fob battery and it didn’t help. I think the fob is just faulty. Luckily I had a spare, and just started using that one. Haven’t had any issues since I switched.

 

[Paul Neubauer]

Same thing happened to me. My fob on my ‘21 would occasionally not do anything (lock/unlock, start the truck, etc). I changed the fob battery and it didn’t help. I think the fob is just faulty. Luckily I had a spare, and just started using that one. Haven’t had any issues since I switched.

I grabbed my spare one first assuming the battery was dead but it wouldn’t work either.

 

[Kanuck]

Have you added anything to the truck or reached around under the dash lately? If so, might have unplugged something. I know the antenna for the fobs on my 2011 was above the glove box and plugged in behind the glove box. I THINK in the 21's+ , the antenna is in the headliner on the passenger side and still plugs in behind the glove box. Could the plug have come loose?

 

[Paul Neubauer]

The dealership tore that side of the truck dash apart recently to replace the damper motor on the HVAC so maybe that is what’s going on. Maybe they didn’t get it plugged all the way in or damaged the cable. Now I need to figure out what I am even looking for back there.​

 

[Kanuck]

First place I would go looking. Take out the glove box, I think the module is the same one you install the ASS defeater into.

 

[My 2ND Ford]

Lately along with the other electrical gremlins my truck has, the key fob randomly quits working. None of the buttons on either fob will do anything including locking, unlocking or remote starting. The fob is still recognized when I walk up to the truck and allows the door handle sensors to work to unlock it though. Several times now even though the fob worked to get in the truck, it is not recognized and the truck won’t start. I assumed it was a low key fob battery and replaced it but the same issues are occurring and the truck even said once that the brand new battery was low. I also just replaced the truck battery since it always had a low state of charge but the issue still exists. Has this been an issue anyone has experienced and solved?

2021 job 1 , my key fob has never had an issue with lock/unlock or being recognized by the truck to start, but it constantly fails at remote start or activating the power tailgate. Changing the remote battery had no affect and both remotes act the same way.

 

[Paul Neubauer]

First place I would go looking. Take out the glove box, I think the module is the same one you install the ASS defeater into.

Ford parts shows the junction box labeled 15604 as a part of the keyless entry system. I will have to check the connections there once it warms up outside in a couple days.

 

[Kanuck]

2021 job 1 , my key fob has never had an issue with lock/unlock or being recognized by the truck to start, but it constantly fails at remote start or activating the power tailgate. Changing the remote battery had no affect and both remotes act the same way.

Sometimes I find the angle of me to the truck and/or distance stops the fob from working.

 

[DNazzy’s2025]

Lately along with the other electrical gremlins my truck has, the key fob randomly quits working. None of the buttons on either fob will do anything including locking, unlocking or remote starting. The fob is still recognized when I walk up to the truck and allows the door handle sensors to work to unlock it though. Several times now even though the fob worked to get in the truck, it is not recognized and the truck won’t start. I assumed it was a low key fob battery and replaced it but the same issues are occurring and the truck even said once that the brand new battery was low. I also just replaced the truck battery since it always had a low state of charge but the issue still exists. Has this been an issue anyone has experienced and solved?

I have a 2025 Powerboost, bought April this year. This exact same thing just happened to me. Truck wouldn’t remote start, lock/unlock. I manually unlocked the door at the handle and the truck finally recognized the fob. My truck also randomly won’t lock the first time I press lock button when I’m standing in my house, 20’ away from the truck.

 

[bigwyo]

I had that happen at the gas station. I was told it was electrical interference from the pumps communicating with the store. I put the fob in the little slot under the cup holder and it started right up. I have a 2021 Lariat and it hasn’t happened since.

 

[bigwyo]

 

[Paul Neubauer]

I had that happen at the gas station. I was told it was electrical interference from the pumps communicating with the store. I put the fob in the little slot under the cup holder and it started right up. I have a 2021 Lariat and it hasn’t happened since.

Mine happens pretty consistently at multiple locations so I am now assuming it is either a wiring connection issue, antenna problem or failing module in the truck.

 

[DNazzy’s2025]

I had that happen at the gas station. I was told it was electrical interference from the pumps communicating with the store. I put the fob in the little slot under the cup holder and it started right up. I have a 2021 Lariat and it hasn’t happened since.

Who told you that? The stealership? Sounds like a crock of crap. Mine happened at my house… I have never had it happen with my wife’s Explorer or any of my previous trucks. Makes me think something is malfunctioning. Only happened once so far, so we shall see.

 

[bigwyo]

Who told you that? The stealership? Sounds like a crock of crap. Mine happened at my house… I have never had it happen with my wife’s Explorer or any of my previous trucks. Makes me think something is malfunctioning. Only happened once so far, so we shall see.

Dealership said that they had a few customers that had experienced the same problem.
It could be a load of crap but at least I was able to access the internet and found out about the fob slot. I had no idea that was there.

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