Dealing with car key fobs can be a headache, especially when you need a replacement. Like many Mitsubishi owners, I discovered that getting a replacement key fob from the dealership can be surprisingly expensive. Needing an extra key for my new 2023 SEL Premium and facing a $600 quote from the dealer, I decided to explore alternative options for a Replacement Mitsubishi Key Fob. Here’s my experience and how you might save a significant amount of money.
Initially, I turned to eBay and found a blank key fob that looked identical to my original, with matching FCC and chip IDs. The price was incredibly reasonable, less than $40 including tax and shipping. Feeling optimistic, I contacted several local automotive locksmiths. Many initially quoted between $120 and $175 for programming, confident they could handle it. However, one by one, they called back with disappointing news: “Mitsubishi is too exotic,” “we don’t have the software,” were common refrains. It seemed programming a replacement Mitsubishi key fob was proving more difficult than anticipated for independent locksmiths.
Reluctantly, I went back to the dealership, expecting to pay their hefty price. To my surprise, the service advisor was willing to attempt programming the eBay key fob, estimating a 50% chance of success and quoting a reasonable $95 programming fee. Then, the sales manager got involved. Intrigued by my approach, he checked the dealer’s cost for a replacement fob – around $350! Driven by curiosity, he offered to program my eBay key fob for free.
And it worked! Now I have three functioning key fobs for my Mitsubishi. Even if I had paid the $95 programming fee, the total cost would have been significantly less than the dealer’s initial quote. Considering I spent under $40 for the blank fob and avoided the emergency key cutting (which I didn’t need), this replacement Mitsubishi key fob solution was a real bargain. If you’re looking for a replacement Mitsubishi key fob, exploring online options and dealer programming might be a cost-effective route worth considering.
