When a Key Fob Problem Is More Than an Annoyance
You walk out to your brand-new car and press the button. Nothing happens. Or the car locks itself randomly. Or the push-button ignition stops recognizing the fob and leaves you stranded in a parking lot.
Key fob and keyless entry problems might sound minor at first. But for many consumers, these defects cause real disruption. They can affect your ability to start the car, lock it securely, or even drive it at all. That is when a seemingly small electronics issue can become a serious legal matter under Florida's Lemon Law, Chapter 681 of the Florida Statutes.
What Vehicles Are Covered
Florida's Lemon Law covers new and demonstrator vehicles that were sold or leased in Florida. Used cars are not covered under this law.
The law applies during the Lemon Law rights period, which is 24 months from the date the vehicle was originally delivered to you. If your key fob or keyless entry system starts acting up within that window, the clock is already running. It is important to document problems and bring the vehicle in for repairs as soon as possible.
Does a Key Fob Defect "Count" Under the Law?
Not every inconvenience qualifies. Florida's Lemon Law requires that a defect be a nonconformity, meaning it must substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle.
Key fob and keyless entry defects can meet this standard in several ways:
- Use: If the vehicle cannot be started, unlocked, or driven reliably, that clearly affects how you use the car.
- Safety: A fob that randomly unlocks the car, or fails to lock it at all, raises security concerns. A push-button start failure that leaves you stranded raises safety concerns too.
- Value: Repeated, documented electrical problems can reduce what a vehicle is worth.
Whether a particular defect rises to the level of "substantially impairs" depends on the facts. A fob that occasionally needs a second press is different from one that causes repeated no-start events or lockouts. Keeping thorough records helps show the real-world impact of the problem.
The Repair Attempt Rule
The law gives the manufacturer a chance to fix the problem before stronger remedies kick in. Generally, after three repair attempts for the same defect, the consumer can send a written notice to the manufacturer. This is called a Motor Vehicle Defect Notification.
Once the manufacturer receives that notice, it gets one final opportunity to repair the vehicle. If that attempt also fails to fix the problem, the consumer may be entitled to a refund or a replacement vehicle.
With key fob and keyless entry defects, the challenge is often getting each visit documented clearly as the same defect. Dealers sometimes describe the problem differently on repair orders, or replace different parts each visit. Always review your repair orders carefully. Make sure the complaint you described is written down accurately.
The Days Out of Service Rule
There is another path if the repair attempts standard is hard to meet. If your vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days due to repair attempts, that can also qualify under the statute. For recreational vehicles, the threshold is 60 days.
Key fob and keyless entry repairs can sometimes involve waiting for backordered parts or software updates. Those days still count. Keep a record of every date you dropped the car off and every date you picked it up.
For a deeper look at how this calculation works, see our post on days out of service under Florida's Lemon Law.
What Happens After Written Notice
Once you send the Motor Vehicle Defect Notification and the final repair attempt fails, the process generally moves toward arbitration before going to court.
If the manufacturer runs a state-certified arbitration program, you would go through that program first. After that, consumers can bring their case before the Florida New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, which is run through the Florida Attorney General's office.
Arbitration may feel unfamiliar. Our post on what to expect at an arbitration hearing walks through how that process generally works.