key fob not working

Asked by GuruLWZ63 Mar 27, 2019 at 05:45 PM about the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the key fobs don't always work.
They won't unlock the Jeep or   start it. When I open the door with the key
the alarm always goes off and takes a few minutes for it to stop. I have
changed the batteries and have had it  in the shop two times and still does
not work all the time.  when I leave the car and the key fob is still  in vehicle it  
states that the key has left the vehicle..  Very aggravated to say the lease.  

17 Answers

380

Be sure to have the battery checked, as I had similar problems and did not know what was going on and kept driving the car dealing with the intermittent fob problems for some time. This action evidently was a warning sign that the battery was going dead. There is no warning light for low battery unless the cause is the alternator not charging it, thus the battery on my 2014 Jeep completely died when I parked it at the end of the day and unfortunately for me we were supposed to leave the next day on a car trip. Had to have it towed to Chrysler to get a battery installed- cost $495.00 OUCH!

19 people found this helpful.
260

Hi GuruLWZ63, I have exactly the same issue! My car battery and Key FOB battery replaced yet still having the same issue. Did you manage to solve your issue?

26 people found this helpful.
290

I had the oddest experience with my 2007 Grand Cherokee Laredo with 125,xxx miles. I drove from Minnesota to Colorado and back again...I was gone for a total of 8 days. My key fobs did not work at all during the entire trip. This began at my first fuel stop in Iowa on Day 1 of the trip, and lasted until I got home. I had both key fobs with me, and I replaced the batteries in both fobs but that didn't solve the problem. I had to manually lock and unlock the doors, and then start the engine ASAP when unlocking because it would trigger the alarm. When I made it back home, the problem stopped. I've locked and unlocked the Jeep a dozen times since I got back, and it's working normally. I never received any error lights, and the Jeep's battery is newer and has never been slow to crank the engine, so I'm doubting that could be the issue. Literally the only thing that was different before and after the trip (at least that I can think of) is my buddy had a 4 way USB charger plugged into the 12V plug so he could keep multiple devices fully charged (I normally just have a single USB charger for my phone). Next time I see him, I'm going to test this theory to see if that could have any effect. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

29 people found this helpful.
50

The same odd experience here with my Grand Cherokee Laredo 2007. Three weeks ago my motor management lights up. The OBDII code told me there is "cilinder 6 overload". An electric failure on a bobine, but the engine was still running fine so I reset this error. After 250 miles the error was back again. During the same three weeks, also that my key fob (lock and unlock system) wasn't working properly anymore. The key fob battery was okey. Searching the internet for this key fob lock/unlock problem, I read the experience of Aaron.... Three weeks ago I replaced a broken double-USB-charger for a new one (on the permanent 12V lighter plug). This new USB-charger was not exactly the same but a similar one. It was "only a replacement" so I wasn't triggered by that! Well, after unplugging this new USB charger my remote lock and unlock problem was solved instantly. After that I did also reset the motor management (OBDII) error again. Until now the error is still gone and the key fob is working well. Thank you Aaron for sharing your experience ! I suppose a heavier load or unstable charger in the (permanent) electric circuit of the car interfered or destabilised the motor management system.

5 people found this helpful.
200

Having a similar issue with my 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. My dash said remote key battery low so i replaced it and it stopped working altogether. I have checked my electronics in it and nothing is burnt out or anything, the remote unlock and lock just will not work. I am going to look up some more theories, but if i found out what the issue is I will keep you posted and maybe tell you how to fix it.

20 people found this helpful.
60

Thank you Aaron. I had the same problem going on with my 2007 Grand Cherokee. It started giving me problems when I started using a 2 way USB charger but I didn't see that as the problem till I read what you experienced. I pulled the charger and everything works great now.

6 people found this helpful.
220

I have the same problem with my 2017 Grand Cherokee summit. It is intermittent, but sometimes the car will not detect the key fob. The problem is with the metal contacts inside the key fob getting bent out of position. If you push in on the back of the key fob with your thumb, it will make contact with a battery and then the car will be able to detect it. I put some electro conductive gel on top of the battery when I replaced it and that helped for about a week, but eventually the key fob stopped. I'm going to try folding up a small piece of aluminum foil and putting it between the battery and the metal contact to see it that will fix the problem.

22 people found this helpful.
20

This has been my major complaint on my 2005 Grand Cherokee. When the battery dies on my key fob and I use the key to open the door, the alarm goes off. When I try to start the car, engine dies after a few seconds. I am lucky that so far that the key fob battery has never failed out in the middle of nowhere. I keep a back up key fob battery in glove box along with the two screw drivers that I need to open the key fob. Nice job designers!

2 people found this helpful.
380

Let it be known your fob problem may be warning you that your TIPM and Powertrain are about to fail. Please note my continued experience below-this all happened after replacing the key fob then the battery. December 2014 had a Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland built for me. December 2019 vehicle stopped functioning operating all together. Dealer has had the vehicle and working in tandem with the manufacturers' master mechanics to figure out the problem(s). They replaced the TIPM and hub parts. After doing my research I see that Chrysler has an ongoing lawsuit concerning these parts. I have been without a vehicle now for two months (still without) and was told that they would not provide me with a loaner car to get back and forth. The manufacturer's customer service person tells me that they don't technically have to do anything about the problem with my auto because where it was built is not included with the recall as of yet. After replacing the parts they thought were the problem, the dealer called me to say they along with the Chrysler manufacturers mechanics still cannot figure out their own manufacturing problem. I am still with out a car since December 19th. Below is information I found on line: (November 22, 2019 — A Chrysler TIPM recall has been issued for more than 698,000 Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees that were previously recalled for TIPM (totally integrated power module) problems. The 2011-2013 Dodge and Jeep SUVs are equipped with 3.6-liter, 5.7-liter or 6.4-liter engines, and the recall is needed because the fuel pump relays inside the TIPMs may fail and cause the vehicles to stall. In addition, the SUVs may not start at all or the fuel pumps may keep running while the vehicles are shut down. A Chrysler TIPM recall was ordered for the SUVs in 2014 following a federal petition filed by the Center for Auto Safety which asked the government to investigate 7 million Chrysler vehicles. Another Chrysler TIPM recall was issued in 2015 for the same SUVs, but dealers reported the replacement parts used for recall repairs were failing. Chrysler had six dealerships return failed relays and relay harnesses to the automaker in November 2018, and tests showed the relay coils and contacts appeared to be normal. FCA then sent the parts to the supplier for additional testing and found silicon on the relay contact surfaces that prevented electrical flow through the contacts. More tests confirmed the weather protection seals for the relays were made of silicone. As of October 31, 2019, Chrysler was aware of 170 complaints about the TIPMs, but no crashes or injuries were reported. There are 528,594 recalled SUVs in the U.S., about 35,000 in Canada, another 18,150 in Mexico and about 116,500 recalled SUVs outside North America. Because previous recall repairs failed, Chrysler doesn't know how the SUVs will be repaired this time. Owners will receive interim recall notices in January 2020 and interim repairs will be performed if the fuel pumps have failed. Second TIPM recall notices will be mailed when final repairs are available. Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee customers with questions about the Chrysler TIPM recall should call 800-853-1403 and ask about recall number V62. CarComplaints.com has owner-reported complaints about Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees.) Chrysler knows it has this problem and is yet still selling defective vehicles that they know are going to stop functioning outside of the 2 yr/18k mile lemon law at least here in Maryland. I purchased this vehicle brand new thinking it would provide me with dependable transportation for a long road trips for a long time. Now I am without a car that I am paying 50K for that the manufacturer who built these cannot repair so it becomes a very expensive driveway ornament! This is unacceptable that an auto manufacturer can get away with selling cars that they know have a flaw in the manufacturing. They tell me I have no recourse because they only warrant their cars for 3 years 36k miles - but they knowingly building and selling cars they know have such a flaw that will renders the auto useless! Consider yourself being put on notice that Chrysler Fiat knows your Jeep is going to fail after the warranty is expired and they don't care that they know they are building and selling autos they know are not going to last beyond the 3 years/36k miles I am still after 3 months without my Jeep. And they the manufacturers do not know how to fix it or anyone elses. I wish I knew how to do a blog to warn everyone not to by a Chrysler Jeep. Note: the FCA (Fiat Chrysler) has treated me and others with the same problems very, very poorly as if we built the vehicle.

17 people found this helpful.
120

so what's the answer to the first person question???, it's Sunday and I just went out to go down the shops and the key fob would not work so I went and got the other fob and this also does not work, I have a 2015 Grand Cherokee Overland turbo Diesel and have had no issues with the Fobs, it has done 170,000 Klms and have had the engine replaced due to throwing a bearing at 26000k's it also shut off on the freeway doing 110 kmph.how can I fix this problem with the key fobs? does anyone know?

12 people found this helpful.
380

So, it has been six months since my 2014 began having the problems I mentioned previously. I just recieved my JGC Overland back for the fifth time. After replacing the TIPM and some other components as well as the battery 3 times, it still stalled. However, several of the mechanics came to my home the last time it stalled so that they could see if they could find and duplicate the problem at the same time it had stalled. They did find a loose wire up under the dash somewhere that communicates with the alarm and engine, thus they were able to duplicate the stall and start function. Upon getting it started they were able to drive it to the dealership shop and repair it. Now I have it back and we are hoping that this is the fix. Every two weeks after the other repairs it would stall out. So we are hoping it will go past three weeks this time and if it does then we know it is now 100% fixed. The dealership mechanics that worked on my Jeep were relentless in trying to find out what was going on. I do think that the loose wire was the problem and will know after the next two weeks if it doesn't stall. Perhaps, in some of the other Jeeps the machine or however it is put together, just perhaps the same wire is coming loose on other jeeps due to a manufacturing machine problem. (forgive my lay terminology) I will update this after the next two weeks if it does not stall any more.

2 people found this helpful.
10

Hi. My 2017 Grand Cherokee at first seems with low power main general battery, but then the main display write that key is not recognised. The engine turn off after 2 or 3 seconds every times. Now not start more. Then in the jeep authorise mechanic external computer, similar, it write that may be wrong in electronic inside the car or in the key. The jeep man told me he wants order a new electronic for the car and a new key. By the way he tryed to connect key with pin code without any results. Someone can advise me what to do? I am block in South Italy. Thanks a lot in advance Alessandro

1 people found this helpful.
30

When I opened mine, I had a couple drops of some kind of fluid on the gold pads the connect the 2 halves of the opened keyfob. Took a piece of paper towel and soaked it up and it worked like a charm after that. Not sure what it was... condensation, leaked battery acid... uncertain.

3 people found this helpful.
70

Thank you Aarron and Mac snout my wife couldn’t get 2007 SRT8 Cherokee key fobs to work. I checked fuses replaced fob batteries. Then started the google searches. Hour and half later I run across you guys stories. 2 days ago wife was pissed teenage boys had taken her usb charger. I asked her if she had bought new one. She said yesterday and I then asked when did fob start giving issues she says yesterday too and asked why. I went to garage unplugged charger told her push lock button and honk honk. Working fine. I am clueless as to why but it is fixed. Thank you so very much.

7 people found this helpful.
50

I have recently bought a 2017 JGC Trail Hawk. Yesterday I noticed that my key fob didn't remote start the vehicle nor would it lock the doors. This morning my wife told me that her key fob didn't remote start the vehicle and it wouldn't lock. Otherwise the vehicle was working just fine. I jumped on Google looking for a diagnosis as it was strange that BOTH key fobs were not working properly. I found this thread about the USB chargers interfering with the key fob's functionality. I thought it was a remote possibility that my wife, or one of my kids, had put a USB plug into one of the power sources. So I texted her and asked her to check. As it turns out my daughter had put a USB cable into the factory USB port in the dash. My wife removed it and low-and-behold the key fobs functionality returned; everything - locking, unlocking, remote start etc. Whilst relieved that I was able to diagnose and fix the problem, I am a little pissed that I have spent $$,$$$.$$ on a car and something as simple as a USB cable in the FACTORY port causes gremlins to appear!! :-( Thanks to everyone ^^^ for creating and sharing on this thread.

5 people found this helpful.
20

OJEEp14MW10 Your Grand Cherokee does not have a TIPM! Your Jeep is built on a diffrent Powernet platform that utilizes RF Hub (by the Sharkfin antenna) to relay and verify keyfob signal to the Body Controller (BCM).

2 people found this helpful.
10

I had the same problem .. replaced the battery but the key fob wouldn't do anything. I opened my 2012 Jeep Gr. Ch. Overland Summit with the hide-a-key and the alarm went off. I used the second key fob to start the car and silence the alarm. I used You Tube to look around, and it's possible that the contacts weren't touching the battery (on either fob) and I used some rubbing alcohol (Goof Off is better, probably) and a Q-tip to remove a lot of grime from the contact pads and discs. Snapped it back together and we're good to go.

1 people found this helpful.

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