No key detected issue? Anyone else?

[Hopeless Diamond]

Starting to get this intermittently. '22 Badlands, high package. It will do it right after I get in and start it, so keyfob not going to sleep. Has done it with keyfob in console and in my pocket. Has done it as I shut it off and got a message to restart or get my keyfob which makes no sense.

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[Ozbronco]

Had this today on my Feb '23 build Badlands (most discussions on this are from '21 and '22).

Pulled up to the Arbys drive up window. Put it in park. While waiting for food heard a chime and saw the "no key detected" warning. WTH? Got food. Went to leave and it would not shift into drive. Kept flashing "no key detected". Killed the engine to try a "reboot". It would not start and again warned "NKD". Called the dealer. Said I needed a fob battery (after 4 months?).

After fiddling with it for 20 minutes (all the while blocking the take out window) it started and would shift to drive. I pulled into a stall, left it running, and ran inside to apologise to store manager. When I came out it would not shift out of park again. Shut it off, hoofed over to a grocery store for a new battery. Made no difference. I could start it using Fordpass but it wll not drive until you also hit the start button which, again, earned me a NKD badge and it would not shift.

Called a friend to give me a ride to my other fob. While waiting, once again it miraculously fired up so I bolted for home and my other fob.

Have read every thread here on the issue. Most likely causes are (1) possible RF interference (2) loose antenna wiring or (3) maybe the battery was bad and it takes a while for the fob to relearn when you change the battery (my own theory).

I dunno. Thought this issue would be fixed by now since it first appeared in '21. Just glad I'm home. I'll see what service has to say after the 4th.

 

[jkelley0021]

I was running into this over the last week as well. This morning I even got the double honk a few moments after starting (at 6AM). Then I got smart and took off the aluminum key FOB cover that I put on, and...problem solved. Yikes. One more thing that it can be caused by, and I would have never even guessed that something so innocuous could be the culprit.

 

[KirchTX]

I got that error message multiple times yesterday during a trail run, so it may be a bug?

Remember, you always have a fallback plan in the owner’s manual if you cannot get your engine to start normally with the key fob inside the vehicle (i.e., “Accessing the Passive Key Backup Position”)…

This saved my bacon tonight thank you.

My 2023 showed no key detected but the lock and unlock worked. Used the console slot, got it started and picked the key up and tossed it in the tray under the radio like I normally do… wouldn’t let me put it in gear. Had to dig out my console again and put it back in the slot and Bronco allowed me to put it in gear.

Next time I stopped I had no issues. Very strange.

 

[Bored]

I've just started having this issue in my '23 badlands (standard options - no mid/high/lux). I usually just set the fob in a cup holder (instead of my hand or my pocket) and it starts next press (5 times so far). Not helpful.. but I'm going to have to check the antenna wire I guess. I have messed with the side panels in rear.

 

[Mscdman]

I've just started having this issue in my '23 badlands (standard options - no mid/high/lux). I usually just set the fob in a cup holder (instead of my hand or my pocket) and it starts next press (5 times so far). Not helpful.. but I'm going to have to check the antenna wire I guess. I have messed with the side panels in rear.

Did you solve the issue. My key not detected started right after my sub/amp install but I’m certain I plugged in and heard the clip of the antenna and the antenna is working because I get clear reception. Thoughts?

 

[Bored]

I didn't solve the issue in either of my '23 broncos.

 

[Mscdman]

I didn't solve the issue in either of my '23 broncos.

So it still happens? Did BOTH 23s have rear panel off?

 

[Bored]

Yeah both broncos had rear seat deletes so had the side panels out at least a few times each. It doesn't happen frequently but does happen occasionally.

 

[Mscdman]

Yeah both broncos had rear seat deletes so had the side panels out at least a few times each. It doesn't happen frequently but does happen occasionally.

This is very concerning. It’s seems it’s related to the rear panel antenna clip. However if that’s the case does it mean this clip can never be unclipped. Ugh.

Not a happy camper.

Has anyone experienced this “key not detected” that has NOT done anything to the rear panel????

 

[Mscdman]

This is very concerning. It’s seems it’s related to the rear panel antenna clip. However if that’s the case does it mean this clip can never be unclipped. Ugh.

Not a happy camper.

Has anyone experienced this “key not detected” that has NOT done anything to the rear panel????

What is the rear PATS antenna?

 

[Wildtrak715]

About a couple days ago I started getting an odd message saying "no key detected" I grab my key from my pocket hold near button then it works. After i turn off the bronco I get "restart now or key is required" I did a quick search and found a yt video of someone talking about a software glitch that's causing this (fix in August) I searched here (cuz B6G is 100x better than BN) to my surprise I found no posts about it. Anyone else shed some light on this?

I had the same Issue . Am having . I told my dealer today and they tried to make me pay 200 to figure out the issue. I told them absolutely not the vehicle is under warranty and I am understanding it's software. Idk for sure and will update. What I do know is don't let these dealerships be charging you before even knowing or doing anything. I'm so sick of my dealership I definitely need to find a new one. bronco needs it's own maintenance team with enthusiasts not just these bottom barrel average techs. I'm annoyed.

 

[Brokenparts]

I'll update here... I just went through this morning. Literally had adult meltdown / tantrum when I could unlock, lock, even remote start my POS Bronco but could not put it into drive. ABSOLUTELY, TERRRIBLE thought process, Ford. Why not just let the driver use the physical key into a traditional ignition switch. Had I not been able to access the internet, I would have been up sh*t creek trying to figure that out while on the trail. I went from absolutely loving my Badlands/SAS/LUX ---to wanting to start a dumpster fire with it.... Baffles me that a vehicle that Ford prides as an "adventure rig" overcomplicated the ignition. In many vehicles, I like push button start, but in this application a physical key would have been a better solution.

Anyway, I did find a "fix" that worked for me to detect the key again. It's super complicated.... I pulled the battery out of the FOB waited 5 mins or so to let any residual power to drain, re-inserted the battery, and voila... it works again. Something to try anyway. Hope this helps someone.

Now to find some matches...

 

[adam1991]

Why not just let the driver use the physical key into a traditional ignition switch.

They do have the slot in the console.

My VW and my Ford C-Max (and my previous Chrysler van) each let you simply hold the key up to the steering column where a physical key would normally go, then you press the start button. Yeah, it's aggravating that the Bronco team put it in the center console--but every car like this has a way to start the car via physical proximity of the key.

Now, if it starts and runs you're supposed to be able to use the vehicle normally. Put it in gear and drive away. If THAT doesn't happen, something's wrong.

 

[Brokenparts]

They do have the slot in the console.

My VW and my Ford C-Max (and my previous Chrysler van) each let you simply hold the key up to the steering column where a physical key would normally go, then you press the start button. Yeah, it's aggravating that the Bronco team put it in the center console--but every car like this has a way to start the car via physical proximity of the key.

Now, if it starts and runs you're supposed to be able to use the vehicle normally. Put it in gear and drive away. If THAT doesn't happen, something's wrong.

I understand that there is no port for the physical key (the "door key"). That was somewhat my point, I just did poor job explaining it (I was still raging while I made that post. ). To me, the proximity FOB should be a "convivence" or "feature" that Bronco should have for day-to-day use but not the sole or primary source for operation---- given the demographic or category of vehicle likely to be in remote destinations ("off road, Overlanding, Exploring, etc"). If you were in a remote location and somehow smashed the FOB/microprocessor/chip/Thing-a-ma-bob making the FOB unreadable to the center console location... you would be up sh*t creek to self-recover the vehicle even though it can sit there and idle. Even if you could somehow contact a dealership, I doubt they would be racing out to you with a new FOB.

Long story short, the FOB already has a physical key to access the doors, so why not provide a matching ignition tumbler in a "worst-case" FOB scenario? The physical key is more likely to remain functional in a "blunt force injury"... I don't care where that ignition tumbler is located... dash, center console, glovebox, on the roof... I just don't like the idea of a malfunctioning FOB be the reason I can't get off the trail, especially if the vehicle is fully functional otherwise. I didnt think about what a huge oversight Ford made on this until this scenario happened. I'm just glad it happened in my driveway, with internet access, and safe place I could hurl heavy objects while I completed my adult tantrum/meltdown.

Thank you to all that have contributed to this thread... I was able to make it to work on time because of this thread.


Rant complete.

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