Car key fob fails Try these fixes
Drivers in a UK supermarket car park were locked out of their cars last week after key fobs suddenly stopped working. North Hertfordshire Police received multiple calls from shoppers unable to unlock their vehicles. A similar incident occurred in Kent where shoppers could not open their cars.
The signal failures often stem from everyday devices operating on the same low-frequency band as key fobs. Baby monitors and CCTV cameras can interfere with the signal. These disruptions happen more often in crowded areas where multiple electronic devices compete for the same airwaves.
Police and experts also point to a more deliberate cause: signal jamming. Criminals use portable jamming devices to block the radio frequency between a key fob and a car. This leaves drivers stranded and creates an opportunity for theft. Once the signal is jammed, thieves can use relay boxes to amplify the fob’s signal from inside a home or office.
A Ford security expert suggested a simple workaround for drivers who suspect jamming. Simon Hurr advised placing the key fob under the chin with a finger on the unlock button. “Tuck your chin down to shield the fob as much as possible, then walk slowly around the car while pressing the unlock button repeatedly. If the car unlocks, the interference source is likely behind you, blocked by your body.”
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Signal jamming is part of a broader rise in high-tech car theft. Keyless entry systems, which allow drivers to unlock and start their cars without removing the fob, have become a major target. Thieves use relay boxes to capture the fob’s signal from inside a house and transmit it to a second device near the car. If the vehicle has push-button start, thieves can drive away without touching the lock.
Ford introduced a countermeasure in some models, including the Puma and Mustang Mach-E. A motion sensor inside the key fob detects when the car has been stationary for more than 40 seconds and puts the fob into sleep mode. This prevents the signal from being hijacked. Hurr explained that the online availability of jamming devices has been a persistent issue. “We’ve responded with a simple but effective solution to help protect our customers.”
If a key fob stops working, drivers should not assume it’s a dead battery. Checking surroundings and trying Hurr’s method may help. If the problem continues, deliberate signal blocking could be the cause. Modern car security has moved beyond mechanical keys, but so have the methods thieves use to bypass it.
