It’s a common scenario: you need an extra key fob for your car, especially when multiple drivers share a vehicle. For owners of the Mitsubishi Outlander, getting a replacement key fob from the dealership can be surprisingly expensive. One new Mitsubishi Outlander owner, facing a hefty $600 quote for an additional key fob, decided to explore a more budget-friendly approach. This is their story of successfully obtaining a third key fob for significantly less, offering a potentially valuable lesson for other Outlander owners.
Initially seeking a cheaper alternative, the owner purchased a blank key fob online from eBay. Crucially, they ensured it matched the FCC and chip IDs of their original key, and visually it was identical. The cost? Under $40, including tax and shipping – a fraction of the dealer’s price.
The next step was programming the new fob. Contacting local automotive locksmiths seemed like a promising route. Many initially quoted between $120 and $175 and said “No Problem”. However, a series of callbacks brought disappointing news: “sorry, can’t do – Mitsubishi is too exotic in the US, we don’t have the software.” It appeared that programming Mitsubishi keys wasn’t as straightforward as with more common domestic brands for these locksmiths.
With limited options, the owner turned to the dealership, expecting a high programming fee on top of their already purchased blank fob. Surprisingly, the service department was willing to attempt the programming. The initial quote was a reasonable $95, with only a “50% chance” of success mentioned. Adding to the unexpected turn of events, the sales manager became intrigued by the situation. Upon learning about the eBay purchase and its low cost, he investigated the dealership’s cost for a replacement fob – $350. Driven by curiosity, the sales manager offered to program the owner’s eBay key fob for free.
The outcome was a complete success! The blank key fob programmed perfectly, resulting in a third fully functional key fob for the Mitsubishi Outlander. Even factoring in the initial $95 programming quote, the total cost would have been significantly less than the original $600 dealer quote. In reality, for under $40 (the cost of the blank fob), the owner secured a third key, proving that Mitsubishi Outlander Key Fob Replacement doesn’t have to break the bank. While the emergency key cutting wasn’t necessary in this case, the primary goal of having a functional remote key was achieved with remarkable savings. This experience highlights the potential to save money by sourcing blank key fobs online and, surprisingly, the willingness of some dealerships to assist with programming even third-party components.
