2012 jeep grand cherokee key fob not detected

Saturday I cut the truck on via the auto start I loaded my packagaes and the I got in, pushed the start button wouldnt engage , fob wouldnt open the doors , engine still running for about 15mins with no change. Then I popped the hood looking for the battery ( only to find out it's under the front passenger seat) closed the hood the horn sounded . then the message center stated :"key fob not detected" . I finally got the truck to move after about 30mins of looking around went directly to a CVS to get batteries cr2032 replaced it and still acting a little goofy . Made it home and got my other fob and all was well ? Anyone else have this happen, Do I need to be concerned

My 2012 has been acting up lately.
Getting the Key FOB Not Detected message even when I'm pressing the FOB against the steering wheel.
It takes like 3 times pressing the Start button to get it to finally start.
Doesn't do it all the time, does it in the Garage overnight, outside, cold, or warmer.

Thanks, i called the dealer I will be in service dept Saturday I will post the findings

Thanks. Mine goes in Friday so I'll mention it as well.

Mine has done this, apparently it was a lose antenna cable in de front drivers door.
They connected it again, no problems since...

If your car doesn't detect the fob, unlock your doors with the remote buttons, and take out the pushbutton in the start knob. and use your fob as a key, that should get you running at all times...

Try simply replacing the battery in the fob. If that doesn't work, have the dealer replace the WIN module on the car. Make sure you have both keys with you for the dealer when they replace that module. That solved my problems. They fob "not detected" was corrected just by the battery replacement. I had intermittent starting issues which was solcved by changing out the WIN module. Both can cause the error message tho. Good luck.

My 2014 jeep not responding to key fob. I tried with both keyfob and changed battery. The car wont open. When i open the car with the small manual key attached to fob, and push button to start the car, it wont start nor show any response. I wait for 10 to 20 minutes or so in the car, suddenly without any action, the car goes to on mode. Then the car will start as normal on push of the button. Can anyone kindly tell me what could be the problem. The has happened thrice is last 2 days!!!

How old is your battery? Not in the fob but the car. Batteries going bad do some really strange things to these cars....

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^^^^

Was going to ask the same question as @OhareFred

My 2014 jeep not responding to key fob. I tried with both keyfob and changed battery. The car wont open. When i open the car with the small manual key attached to fob, and push button to start the car, it wont start nor show any response. I wait for 10 to 20 minutes or so in the car, suddenly without any action, the car goes to on mode. Then the car will start as normal on push of the button. Can anyone kindly tell me what could be the problem. The has happened thrice is last 2 days!!!

If you walk up to the Jeep without the fob on you, and you pull on the driver handle, does the cluster display “push button + brake pedal to start”? Also, when you get in after the fob not working, can you still start it by pushing the start button with the back end of the fob?

I was having trouble when the fob and my phone were in the same pocket. By law, the signals in the phone take precedent over your fob and if the two are in close proximity the fib doesn't work. Keep us posted when you find a solution.

My 2014 jeep not responding to key fob. I tried with both keyfob and changed battery. The car wont open. When i open the car with the small manual key attached to fob, and push button to start the car, it wont start nor show any response. I wait for 10 to 20 minutes or so in the car, suddenly without any action, the car goes to on mode. Then the car will start as normal on push of the button. Can anyone kindly tell me what could be the problem. The has happened thrice is last 2 days!!!

Hi Maneshdominic,
We understand why this may be frustrating. We suggest having your dealer look into this if it continues to happen. We're happy to assist with this process as well. Just send us a private message!
Lydia
Jeep Social Care Specialist

My 2014 jeep not responding to key fob. I tried with both keyfob and changed battery. The car wont open. When i open the car with the small manual key attached to fob, and push button to start the car, it wont start nor show any response. I wait for 10 to 20 minutes or so in the car, suddenly without any action, the car goes to on mode. Then the car will start as normal on push of the button. Can anyone kindly tell me what could be the problem. The has happened thrice is last 2 days!!!

Try the 2nd FOB you got with the vehicle or should have gotten.

(1) If its a 2014 and still with the original battery then replace the battery with a new AGM type.
Batteries when starting to fail can not deal with the voltage drop they get when amp draw happens.
Actually with the draw 24/7 on these batteries even 4 years is asking a lot out of them.

(2) Change the FOB battery with a "fresh" battery of the exact battery # as the OEM. Some batteries out there look identical and will fit BUT the voltage/ amps are different. That is huge!

* On my 2014 I changed out my Auto battery at 4 years. I did change to an AGM type.
* On my FOB I changed out my FOB battery 2 years ago. It all depends on how much you use it as how fast it will wear down.
The issue at that time was my range was going down on my FOB for remote start and door locks.

If none of those work then the dealer will likely have to diagnose the problem. Likely the FOB will have to be replaced.
I know on my Grand Cherokee at 8 years I had to replace it because it failed. Probably one to many trips through the washing machine.:surprise:

@Maneshdominic
I experienced similar problem with by brand new 2019 Trailhawk elite today. Jeep just unlocked normally when i touched the back of door handle with keyfob in my pocket, drove for a while and then i reached to my destination and tried to lock, SURPRISE!!!! key fob doesn't work at all. tried for a while and no luck. then i drove for a while and parked it some parking lot. tried the remote key fob to lock/unlock few times. and my be out of doing this 10 time once it failed to work. It doesn't make sense to think this would be from the keyfob battery or jeep auto battery being weak since this is literally 2 weeks old Jeep.

i didn't want to start a new thread since this is similar thread. any ideas what this could be, really appreciated.
I'll be visiting dealer in about a week with this and couple other minor issues.

@Maneshdominic
I experienced similar problem with by brand new 2019 Trailhawk elite today. Jeep just unlocked normally when i touched the back of door handle with keyfob in my pocket, drove for a while and then i reached to my destination and tried to lock, SURPRISE!!!! key fob doesn't work at all. tried for a while and no luck. then i drove for a while and parked it some parking lot. tried the remote key fob to lock/unlock few times. and my be out of doing this 10 time once it failed to work. It doesn't make sense to think this would be from the keyfob battery or jeep auto battery being weak since this is literally 2 weeks old Jeep.

i didn't want to start a new thread since this is similar thread. any ideas what this could be, really appreciated.
I'll be visiting dealer in about a week with this and couple other minor issues.

Do both of your keys do this? Try to see if it's the same with both keys.

Does this only happen with your driver's door? Try the tailgate and passenger door too.

Do the buttons on your remotes work?

If not any of those, it could be the battery in the vehicle. See if you can check how charged (%) your battery is. I had an intermittent issue with my driver's door handle like this (never the passenger door or tailgate, and my remote buttons always worked) that has gone away since they replaced my one year old battery.

@Maneshdominic
I experienced similar problem with by brand new 2019 Trailhawk elite today. Jeep just unlocked normally when i touched the back of door handle with keyfob in my pocket, drove for a while and then i reached to my destination and tried to lock, SURPRISE!!!! key fob doesn't work at all. tried for a while and no luck. then i drove for a while and parked it some parking lot. tried the remote key fob to lock/unlock few times. and my be out of doing this 10 time once it failed to work. It doesn't make sense to think this would be from the keyfob battery or jeep auto battery being weak since this is literally 2 weeks old Jeep.

i didn't want to start a new thread since this is similar thread. any ideas what this could be, really appreciated.
I'll be visiting dealer in about a week with this and couple other minor issues.

Hi Krishna,
We regret to hear that you are experiencing this concern with your new Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. If you would like some additional assistance, please send us a private message!
Alex
Jeep Social Care Specialist

update: i figured my keyfob sometimes doesn't respond when the Jeep has been sitting in rain for a while/when it's raining. this is strange. Ilive in western Canada (Vancouver) where it rains most of the time.
i have an appointment with the dealer to debug this issue. I asked if this is going to be covered under warranty (given that it has been just about a month since i got this brand new). I was given per hour diagnostic rates. (just to give me an idea of how much it'd cost, i guess). and he told me that if this is something with electrical, they may have to charge me.
Anyway, i am not going to pay single penny more to resolve this if they could find this issue.

I'll update once i get it looked into.

Shouldn't these things be covered under warranty ? even to diagnose !

update: i figured my keyfob sometimes doesn't respond when the Jeep has been sitting in rain for a while/when it's raining. this is strange. Ilive in western Canada (Vancouver) where it rains most of the time.
i have an appointment with the dealer to debug this issue. I asked if this is going to be covered under warranty (given that it has been just about a month since i got this brand new). I was given per hour diagnostic rates. (just to give me an idea of how much it'd cost, i guess). and he told me that if this is something with electrical, they may have to charge me.
Anyway, i am not going to pay single penny more to resolve this if they could find this issue.

I'll update once i get it looked into.

Shouldn't these things be covered under warranty ? even to diagnose !

Yeah they should. Try another dealer.

EVERYTHING except damage is covered under your 3/36 warranty. That’s why it’s known as a bumper to bumper. If they charge you 2 cents don’t pay and file a complaint with FCA. I’d let jeepcares know what you were told right now. Your dealer is trying to rip you off.

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I've experienced a similar thing. It turns out that there are constraints on the age of the battery

update: i figured my keyfob sometimes doesn't respond when the Jeep has been sitting in rain for a while/when it's raining. this is strange. Ilive in western Canada (Vancouver) where it rains most of the time.

i have an appointment with the dealer to debug this issue. I asked if this is going to be covered under warranty (given that it has been just about a month since i got this brand new). I was given per hour diagnostic rates.

(just to give me an idea of how much it'd cost, i guess). and he told me that if this is something with electrical, they may have to charge me.
Anyway, i am not going to pay single penny more to resolve this if they could find this issue.

I'll update once i get it looked into.

Shouldn't these things be covered under warranty ? even to diagnose !

Uhmm...
Excuse me!?
The vehicle is Brand New!
The Only diagnostic rate for anything that's Not working properly should be ZERO$$$.

I'd say your service adviser is trying to 'plant a seed in your mind' that he's going to give you a bill/"make his commission for the day."

*******************************

If you think it's the rain that's somehow causing the non-function, then it could be the receiver-antenna for the fob on the driver side... You can test to see if you can open/unlock the door on the passenger or back hatch. If they work and not the driver side, then it confirms there's a problem only at the driver's antenna unit.

Key fob detection problems can be a few things:

Easiest, is a dead battery.
Second, could be a dead or dying FOB. (I had this one).
Third, would be a dying battery.
(probably more).

In my case, the FOB wasn't transmitting. However, the Cherokees CAN start with a dying / dead FOB if you hold the FOB up to the start button when you press it. I don't know how it works (Maybe some kind of NFC tech), but it did (had to call someone that works at a dealer for that little trick).

My FOB was replaced under warranty.

update: I took my jeep into dealership and they couldn't replicate the issue. meanwhile I have been testing this issue out where I first encountered. This (key fob not working) happens to me every single time, only in particular parking lot near my home. it happened to me once again in one other shopping mall parking lot on highway side.

I have checked my jeep battery - turned out good
key fob battery - good
second key fob battery - good
all other electronics - no issues.
issue doesn't happen anywhere else.
as I mentioned in my previous post about rain being a problem - turns out it is not rain or jeep being wet but the parking lot itself is culprit.

Did this ever happen to anyone? has anyone ever complained about this? I tried looking for this particular kind of issue and always found some work around as solution where people entered car with manual key and alarm went off and then started jeep using keyfob up against the push start/stop button.

to me it seems like the signal interference. as this happens only in one parking lot(so far)
what kind of signals could possibly be hacking a key fob signals?

any insights on this are highly appreciated.

now when ever I park in this parking lot during grocery runs, I leave my jeep unlocked - no workaround to lock it (using key fob)

Why leave it unlocked? Can't you lock it with the physical key?

Crash486 - Jeep Cherokee Limited diesel

Yes. I could. Just meant it as an exaggeration. Instead i was using uconnect app to lock it whenever i an in this parking lot.

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Look for a Radio/TV tower. That might be causing the interference.