Purchasing a new car is an exciting experience, but the costs can quickly add up, sometimes unexpectedly. For owners of the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander, needing a replacement or additional key fob can be a surprisingly expensive endeavor. Dealers often quote hefty prices for key fobs and programming, leaving customers searching for more affordable alternatives. One resourceful 2023 Outlander owner decided to explore options beyond the dealership and discovered a significant cost-saving method for obtaining a third key fob. This is their story of navigating the complexities of aftermarket key fobs and successfully programming a new key for their Mitsubishi Outlander.
Initially seeking a third key fob for their new 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL Premium to accommodate multiple drivers, the owner was taken aback by the dealership’s quote of $600. Determined to find a more budget-friendly solution, they turned to eBay, a popular online marketplace. There, they located a blank key fob advertised as compatible with the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander. Crucially, this blank fob matched the FCC ID and chip ID of the original key and visually appeared identical. The price? Less than $40, including tax and shipping – a fraction of the dealer’s price.
With the blank key fob in hand, the next step was programming. The owner contacted several local automotive locksmiths. Many initially expressed confidence, quoting programming fees between $120 and $175. However, the optimism was short-lived. One by one, the locksmiths called back, retracting their initial offers. The reason? Mitsubishi vehicles, they explained, are considered “too exotic” in the US market, and they lacked the necessary software to program the key fobs. This highlights a common challenge: not all locksmiths have the capabilities to program keys for every car make and model, especially newer or less common brands.
Facing setbacks with locksmiths, the owner reluctantly returned to the Mitsubishi dealership. To their surprise, the service department was willing to attempt programming the aftermarket key fob. The service advisor estimated a 50% chance of success and quoted a programming fee of $95. During the process, the sales manager became interested in the situation, curious about the source and cost of the eBay key fob. Upon learning the details, the sales manager checked with the parts department to ascertain the dealer’s cost for a replacement key fob from Mitsubishi. The figure was around $350, reinforcing the significant markup to reach the $600 retail price. Intrigued and perhaps impressed by the owner’s resourcefulness, the sales manager offered to program the key fob for free, driven by his own curiosity to see if it would work.
The outcome was a resounding success. The dealership successfully programmed the blank eBay key fob, bringing the total number of functional key fobs to three. Even if the $95 programming fee had applied, the total cost would have been significantly under $140 (key fob + programming), representing substantial savings compared to the $600 dealer quote. This experience demonstrates that with some initiative and research, it is possible to find more affordable solutions for car key fob replacement and programming. While this particular owner did not require the emergency key to be cut, that would be an additional consideration for those needing a fully functional spare key, but the primary electronic key fob functionality was successfully and affordably achieved. This story serves as an encouraging example for 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander owners and potentially those with other car models to explore aftermarket options and challenge high dealer service costs.
