Hey all, I’m having a pretty rough week with my 2019 Chevy Cruze LT Sedan. It all started when I left my keys on top of the car while taking my kid to daycare. The key got run over by traffic and was completely smashed. I was still able to drive the car, but I couldn’t turn it off. I went to four different Chevy dealers, but none could get me a replacement key for a day or two, and I knew if I turned the car off, I’d be stuck.
So, I went to a locksmith. He programmed a new key, but it had the wrong MHz, and that put my car in anti-theft mode. Now, my windows won’t roll down, the car won’t lock, and it only starts if I put the key in the cupholder. I took it to a Chevy dealership, and after a whole day of trying to program a new key, they reset the entire BCM, and now the car won’t start at all.
They said they have to call an engineer from GM to fix it and that it’s going to cost an extra $150. The locksmith says the dealership is trying to scam me and that it’s not his fault. I’m kind of stuck and wondering if I should be shopping for a new car or if there’s any way to fix this mess. Any advice on what I should do?
On a 2019, there’s a decent chance only one key fob was provided. It’s a cost-saving measure that a lot of manufacturers do, and most people don’t push back on it.
It sounds like the wrong frequency key was definitely the issue, but it’s odd that resetting the BCM didn’t fix it. I’d ask for a detailed breakdown of what the dealership did and why they think GM needs to step in. The locksmith might be partially at fault for using the wrong key, but it doesn’t mean the dealership isn’t handling this correctly either.
You might not need a whole new car yet, but getting a second opinion from another dealership or mechanic might help. The fact that the locksmith says the dealership is scamming you is a red flag. It could just be poor communication on both ends.
If the locksmith programmed the wrong frequency, that’s definitely a problem. Unfortunately, these newer cars are super sensitive with their anti-theft systems, and it can cause a big headache. If GM’s getting involved, it might take some time, but it doesn’t sound like a total loss. Hang in there!
I had a similar issue with my key fob getting damaged, but it wasn’t as bad as this. I’d recommend filing a complaint with Chevy customer service if you think the dealership is dragging this out. Sometimes they can help speed things up.