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Julian's Locksmith

Automotive locksmith

2024 Nissan Kicks Key Replacement

Short answer: The 2024 Nissan Kicks belongs to the Kicks P15 (first generation) and uses a smart proximity key with push-button start. Its immobilizer chip: Hitag AES (4A). We can usually add spare keys on site; some situations, such as all keys lost on certain trims, need extra steps or a dealer-supplied part. Julian's Locksmith cuts and programs Kicks keys on site; call (951) 903-3193 with your VIN for a quote.

2024 Nissan Kicks Key Replacement: replacement car keys and smart fobs

Bought a used 2024 Nissan Kicks and got one key at signing? That's common, and it's worth fixing early. A single key leaves you one lost pocket away from an all-keys-lost job, and you have no idea how many other keys the previous owners had programmed to the car. Julian's Locksmith can meet you in Southern California, verify the registration in your name, cut and program a second key, and, where the system allows, clear old keys from the immobilizer so only the ones in your hand will start the engine. It's a simple step that protects both the car and your budget, and we walk you through exactly what was done before we pack up.

2024 Kicks key specs

GenerationP15 (first generation), 2018–2024
IgnitionPush-button start
Key typesSmart proximity key (push-to-start)
Transponder / chipHitag AES (4A)
Key bladeNSN14-profile emergency key
Key batteryCR2032
Locksmith supportSpares yes; some cases need extra steps

First-generation Kicks fobs come in two common versions: a three-button fob with lock, unlock and panic, and a four-button fob that adds remote engine start on cars equipped for it. Both hide a mechanical emergency key for the driver's door. Supplier catalogs list newer part numbers from 2022, so the label inside your fob decides which one fits. Walk up with the fob and the request switch on the door handle locks or opens the car; the engine starts with the push-button ignition. The 2025 Kicks Play carries over this generation's design.

What's specific to the 2024 Kicks

2024 was the final model year of the Kicks P15 (first generation), before the P16 (second generation) arrived for 2025. Late-run cars occasionally pick up running changes, so we check the VIN instead of assuming a 2024 Nissan Kicks matches a 2018. At 2 years old, a 2024 Nissan Kicks is usually still on its original keys and fob batteries. The most common call for a car this new is a second key, since many buyers leave the dealer with only one, or a replacement after a lost fob.

Smart-key cars like the 2024 Kicks can be targeted with relay attacks that extend the fob's signal from inside your home, so keep fobs away from exterior walls or in a signal-blocking pouch, and have any missing fob erased from the car.

Key options for the 2024 Nissan Kicks

  • Smart proximity key (push-to-start). Making a new smart key is mostly a programming job. The fob has to match the vehicle's FCC ID, frequency and chip, and then the keyless system must be told to accept it, normally through the OBD-II port. Depending on the platform, that can mean entering a PIN, waiting through a timed security procedure, or on some newer vehicles, using manufacturer online access. When every key is lost, certain models need a module removed and read on the bench. For your Nissan Kicks P15 (first generation), we'll tell you which of those applies, and if a step is dealer-only, you'll hear it before we drive out. The emergency blade hidden inside the fob is cut by code during the same visit.

How the Nissan immobilizer works on the Kicks

  • Catalogs list FCC ID KR5TXN1 for the three-button fob and KR5TXN3 for the remote-start version, both shared with Rogue models of the period.
  • When the fob battery is low, pressing the brake and touching the fob to the ignition button still starts the car.

Programming a 2024 Kicks key

We register Kicks fobs through the OBD-II port after reading the body control module's code and calculating the PIN. Every fob you want to keep has to be present. Supplier listings say these fobs can be reused only after being unlocked or re-flashed, so a new fob is usually simpler. Spare keys are handled on site, and all-keys-lost usually is too, with the emergency key cut by decoding the driver's door lock.

Spare fobs are routine on this generation. Later cars with newer fobs may need extra steps or a dealer for all-keys-lost, which we confirm by VIN.

Lost every key to your Kicks?

If every key is gone, we can usually solve it where the car is parked. First we confirm ownership with your ID and the registration or title. Nissan states in its owner's manuals that it does not keep a record of key numbers, so unless you saved the key number plate, we decode the driver's door lock to cut a mechanical key or emergency blade. Turn-key models then get a new transponder key programmed over OBD-II, and push-button models get new fobs registered with their emergency blades cut to match. Because registration erases the lost keys, a missing key can no longer start the car afterward. The newest platforms, and low-volume cars like the GT-R, can need extra hardware, a dealer-sourced PIN or a dealer visit, and we tell you which case applies before we start.

  1. Gather your documents and the VIN. Find your registration or title and a government photo ID in the same name. Note the VIN, which is printed on the driver's side of the dashboard and usually on your insurance card. If the paperwork is locked in the car, tell us; we'll open the vehicle first and check it there.
  2. Get into the vehicle without damage. Entry comes before key-making because we need access to the ignition, the OBD-II port and sometimes the documents in the glove box. We take care with weather stripping, door frames and paint, and we confirm the dash VIN matches your registration before going any further.
  3. Originate a new key from the car. With no key to copy, the cuts come from the vehicle itself. We retrieve the key code through manufacturer channels where possible, or decode a door lock with a pick-decoder tool. Then we cut the blade on our code machine and confirm it turns the lock smoothly.
  4. Program the key to the immobilizer. Next, the new key is introduced to the car's security system. Many vehicles allow this through the OBD-II port with a PIN or security procedure. Some all-keys-lost cases require reading a module on the bench, and a few platforms only allow dealer programming, which we'll tell you up front.
  5. Erase missing keys and add a spare. Once the car starts, we remove the lost keys from memory wherever the system allows, so they can't start the engine if someone finds them. Making a second key during the same visit costs much less than a repeat all-keys-lost call down the road.

Why a spare key pays for itself

  • Electronics fail without warning. A fob dropped on concrete, run through the washing machine or soaked at the pool can quit for good. With a second programmed key, that's an annoyance you fix on your own schedule, not a stranded car that needs attention today.
  • A spare turns a future all-keys-lost emergency into a simple add-a-key job. With one working key in hand, programming is quicker, and the chip or fob can often be paired without decoding locks or reading modules, which keeps the cost of a lost key far lower.
  • Two drivers sharing one key is a daily negotiation. A second key lets a partner, teenager or coworker use the vehicle without handing keys back and forth in parking lots, and it means one person losing their key ring doesn't leave the whole household stuck.

Dealer or mobile locksmith?

Price and parts are the other half of the comparison. Dealers typically sell factory keys only and charge their posted service rates for programming. We offer factory keys where it matters and quality aftermarket alternatives where they perform well, and the quote covers cutting, programming and the trip, with nothing tacked on at the end. Timing differs too. Dealer service departments generally keep business hours, while we take automotive calls every day from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., which covers early commutes and late evenings. We're closed overnight, and we'll be upfront if your timing means the dealer or a next-day visit is the better plan. Neither option is wrong; the right one depends on your Kicks and your schedule.

Kicks key battery

Most fobs for a 2024 Nissan Kicks open along a small slot in the seam; a coin or a plastic pry tool works better than a screwdriver, which chews up the housing. If the fob hides a mechanical blade, slide it out first, since the case often opens from that gap. Note which side of the old cell faces up, swap in a fresh CR2032, and press the halves together until they click all the way around. Handle the new battery by its edges, because skin oil on the faces can hurt contact. In most cases the fob keeps its programming through a battery change, so test lock, unlock and start, and you're done.

How the job works

  1. Identify the exact key your Kicks uses. We ask a few quick questions on the phone: the year, whether the car starts with a turn key or a button, how many keys you have left, and whether the remote still works the doors. Then we check the VIN against our programming references so the van arrives with the correct blank or fob, not a close guess.
  2. Verify ownership before any work. California holds licensed locksmiths responsible for knowing whose car they're making keys for. We record your name, the VIN and the plate on a work order. If you aren't the registered owner, you'll need the owner's written authorization along with your own photo ID before we begin.
  3. Get the key code or decode the lock. If you still have a working key, we can read its cuts directly and check them against the factory depths for the Nissan keyway. A worn key gets corrected back to spec during this step, so the new key turns crisply instead of reproducing years of wear in a fresh piece of metal.
  4. Cut the blade on-site. Cutting happens right beside your car. For a smart key, that means the emergency blade hidden inside the fob; for a transponder or remote-head key, it's the main blade you'll use every day. We deburr the cuts and check the fit in each lock so nothing binds or sticks later on.
  5. Program the chip, remote or smart key. With the blade done, we connect to the OBD-II port and register the new key with the immobilizer. Depending on the Nissan system, this may involve a security PIN, a timed waiting period, or on-board button sequences for the remote. On some vehicles we clone a working key's chip instead, when that's the more reliable path.
  6. Test everything and clear out old keys. Before we leave, every function gets checked: doors, trunk or liftgate, panic button, remote range, engine start, and the emergency blade in the driver's door. If keys are missing, we delete them from the car's memory where the system allows, so a lost key can no longer start the engine.

What affects the price of a Kicks key

  • The type of key. The biggest factor is technology. A plain mechanical key is a cutting job only. A transponder key adds a chip and programming. Remote-head and flip keys add a circuit board, and a proximity fob for a push-button Nissan Kicks is the most involved of all, both in the part itself and in the programming.
  • Factory or aftermarket parts. Factory keys and fobs carry the manufacturer's part number and usually the highest parts cost. Quality aftermarket keys use compatible electronics at a lower price and work well on many vehicles. We tell you which options we trust for your car, and where an aftermarket version has known range or fit issues, we steer you to OEM.
  • All keys lost or adding a key. On some vehicles, losing the last key changes the programming entirely, from a quick add-key procedure to a full immobilizer reset or a module read on the bench. That extra labor shows up in the price, and it's the strongest argument for keeping a spare in the house.
  • Programming complexity and security access. Two cars with similar-looking keys can program very differently. Newer platforms often guard key programming behind encrypted access or paid credentials, while older systems allow straightforward OBD-II pairing. We check the exact procedure for your VIN before quoting, so the number reflects the real work involved.

Call (951) 903-3193 with your VIN and the keys you still have, and we'll quote the job before any work starts.

Common Nissan key problems

  • Nissan does not keep key numbers on file. The small metal key number plate that came with your keys is the only record, so photograph it and store it outside the car; without it, an all-keys-lost job starts with decoding a lock.
  • When a fob battery runs low on a push-button Nissan, the owner's manual procedure is to press the brake and touch the ignition button with the Intelligent Key. The car reads the chip at close range and starts even with weak remote range.
  • A security light that stays lit after you switch the ignition on, with the engine refusing to start, means NATS doesn't recognize the key: a cracked transponder, a key registered to another car, or an aftermarket remote starter interfering.
  • Nissan manuals warn against leaving the Intelligent Key anywhere above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. A fob left on the dash of a parked car during an Inland Empire summer can get that hot, which shortens battery life and can damage the circuit board.

Tips from a mobile locksmith

  • Learn your car's dead-fob start method now, in the driveway, rather than in a dark parking lot later. Depending on the make, you hold the fob against the start button or place it in a marked pocket in the console. Also find the hidden keyhole on the driver's door handle and practice using the emergency blade.
  • When a key's head cracks or its blade bends, replace it before it fails. A transponder chip can slip out of a split head, and a bent blade can break off inside the ignition or door lock, turning a simple key replacement into an extraction and repair job. Small symptoms are the inexpensive time to act.
  • Every so often, use the mechanical blade in the driver's door lock. Cylinders that go years without a key can seize from dust and dried grease, and you won't find out until the day the fob dies and the blade is your only way in. A small shot of dry lubricant keeps the lock ready.

Proof of ownership

Before we cut or program a key for any vehicle, we verify that you have the right to it. Please have two things ready: the current registration or the title, and a government-issued photo ID with a matching name. We also check that the VIN on those documents matches the VIN plate on the dashboard. If the registration is locked inside the car, that's fine; we open the vehicle first, check the paperwork in the glove box, and only then make the key. If something doesn't line up, we stop and sort it out before any key is made.

Need a 2024 Nissan Kicks key?

Need a key for your 2024 Nissan Kicks? Call Julian's Locksmith at (951) 903-3193 with your VIN and tell us which keys you still have. We'll confirm what the job involves, give you a quote before any work starts, and come to you in Southern California with everything needed to cut and program the key on the spot.

Frequently asked questions

Can a locksmith make a key for a 2024 Nissan Kicks?

We can usually add spare keys on site; some situations, such as all keys lost on certain trims, need extra steps or a dealer-supplied part. Spare fobs are routine on this generation. Later cars with newer fobs may need extra steps or a dealer for all-keys-lost, which we confirm by VIN. The 2024 Kicks uses a smart proximity key with push-button start.

Can you make a key for my Kicks if I've lost every key?

In most cases, yes. We verify ownership, open the car without damage if needed, originate a key from the key code or by decoding a door lock, and program it to the immobilizer on-site. A few platforms restrict all-keys-lost programming to the dealer, and some need a module read on the bench before a new key is accepted. We'll tell you which applies to your 2024 Nissan Kicks when you call.

Is an aftermarket key as good as a factory key for a Nissan Kicks?

For many vehicles, a quality aftermarket key works just like the original: it starts the car, operates the locks and fits the keyways. Differences tend to show up in housing durability, button feel and sometimes remote range. For certain smart keys, a factory fob is the more reliable choice. We'll tell you honestly which options we'd put on our own car for your Kicks and let you make the call.

Do you come to Southern California to make car keys, or do I bring the car to you?

We come to you. Julian's Locksmith is a mobile-only service, so the van drives to wherever the car is parked in Southern California: your driveway, an apartment lot, a workplace or a shopping center. That matters most when every key is lost, because it saves you a tow. Just make sure we'll have room to work beside the driver's door and that the vehicle is accessible when we arrive.

What happens to the key I lost? Can it still start my Nissan?

When we program new keys, we can usually erase lost keys from the immobilizer, which stops them from starting the engine. On some systems the car only remembers the keys present during programming, so the lost one drops off automatically. Keep in mind that a lost key's metal blade can still open the doors, so if it went missing with something that shows your address, ask about rekeying the door locks.

Can you program a key fob I bought online for my 2024 Kicks?

Sometimes. The fob has to match your vehicle's FCC ID, frequency and chip type, and it can't already be locked to another car, which is common with used smart keys. Send us a photo of the fob, the listing and your VIN before the appointment. If it's compatible, we'll cut and program it. If it isn't, we'll tell you before charging for an attempt, and we can supply a part we know will work.

Is the 2024 Nissan Kicks push-to-start?

Yes. The 2024 Kicks uses push-button start with a smart proximity key, so a replacement has to be a programmed smart fob, not just a cut blade. The fob also hides a mechanical emergency blade for the doors.

What battery does a 2024 Nissan Kicks key use?

Fobs for the 2024 Kicks use a CR2032 coin cell. Replace it when range drops or the car shows a key-battery warning. If the fob still fails with a fresh battery, the board, buttons or programming may be the problem, which we can test on site.

Other Kicks years

Call now(951) 903-3193

Daily 6:30am–11:30pm