Losing or damaging your car key fob can be a major headache. For Jeep Renegade owners, the prospect of key fob replacement might seem daunting and expensive. Like many, I found myself needing a second key fob for my 2017 Jeep Renegade Latitude and decided to explore a potentially more affordable route: buying an OEM key fob online and getting it programmed at the dealership. Here’s my detailed experience, what I learned, and what you should consider if you’re facing a Jeep Renegade Key Fob Replacement.
My journey started on Amazon, where I found an OEM Jeep Renegade key fob for around $70. This included an uncut emergency key, which was the laser-cut, squared-off type compatible with my model. I knew that edge-cut key fobs were cheaper, but crucial research confirmed they wouldn’t work with my 2017 Renegade. Ensuring compatibility is the first key step in this process.
With the new fob in hand, the next hurdle was programming. Dealership programming is often perceived as expensive, but it seemed like the necessary route for an OEM fob. I called my local Jeep dealership to inquire about their programming service and scheduled an appointment. Upon arrival, I was met with a mix of caution and reassurance. One service technician, noticing I had brought my own fob, immediately warned me about the potential risks. “Chances are high it won’t work,” she stated, “and we’ll still have to charge you the $145 programming fee.” This initial warning was concerning, but another technician offered a more balanced perspective. He mentioned seeing many customer-purchased fobs programmed successfully and reassured me not to be overly worried, while still confirming the non-refundable programming fee. It’s essential to be prepared for this cost, regardless of whether the programming succeeds.
Then came another curveball. As the technician processed my vehicle details – a 2017 Renegade – a slight hesitation arose. “Oh…Renegade,” he remarked, hinting at potential complications. He explained that while earlier Renegade models (2015-16) were relatively straightforward to reprogram, the 2017 and 2018 models were known to be “finicky.” This was attributed to changes in the security system, making key programming more challenging. Despite the uncertainty, they were willing to proceed.
The waiting game began. While the technicians worked on programming my new Jeep Renegade key fob, a service technician approached me with news from the shop foreman. The foreman raised a significant concern: attempting to program my “unknown history” key fob could potentially cause the system to dump my original, working key as well, leaving me with no functional keys at all! The proposed solution was to purchase a new key fob directly from them, at full price, which would essentially leave me in the same situation I started in – with only one working key, but significantly poorer.
This information was alarming and frankly, didn’t seem logical. My reasoning was that the original key was already recognized by the vehicle, and adding a second shouldn’t erase the first unless a serious error occurred. When I voiced this, the technician acknowledged my point and, after reiterating the foreman’s warning, asked if I still wished to proceed. Just then, the programming specialist came to retrieve my Jeep. My service technician relayed the foreman’s double-key-loss warning. The programmer’s reaction was dismissive, making a face and stating he had never encountered such an issue, having programmed numerous Renegades. However, he did concede that the security changes in the 2017 and 2018 models made programming more complex, designed to deter theft. He added a somewhat unsettling disclaimer: “But yours may be the first I’ve done to take out 2 fobs.” Despite the lingering apprehension, I decided to go ahead.
After what felt like an eternity (and quite a bit of vaping!), the programmer emerged with a smile and a thumbs up. He drove my Jeep back and apologized for the wait. Relief washed over me as he confirmed there were no problems programming the new key fob. The process took a little longer because the fob I had purchased online had a remote start feature, which my original fob lacked. He had attempted to enable it, although he knew it was unlikely to work without additional hardware. I appreciated the extra effort nonetheless (remote start would have been a fantastic bonus!). They also performed a complimentary 27-point inspection of my vehicle. Most importantly, we tested both key fobs, and they both worked perfectly.
In conclusion, my gamble paid off. The OEM key fob I bought online from Amazon was successfully programmed at the dealership. While they couldn’t laser cut the emergency key in-house, requiring it to be sent out, I opted to skip that for now. The result? I now have two fully functional key fobs for my Jeep Renegade! This experience highlights that Jeep Renegade key fob replacement doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank. Purchasing an OEM fob online and getting it programmed at a dealership can be a viable, more budget-friendly option. However, be prepared for potential dealership skepticism, programming fees, and the slight uncertainties associated with newer Renegade models. Having a spare key fob provides significant peace of mind, and I am now contemplating getting a third!
