Automotive locksmith
2022 Nissan Murano Key Replacement
Short answer: The 2022 Nissan Murano belongs to the Murano Z52 (third generation) and uses a smart proximity key with push-button start. Its immobilizer chip: Hitag AES (4A) on KR5TXN7-family fobs. 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 Murano keys on site; call (951) 903-3193 with your VIN for a quote.

Some vehicles are easy to make keys for. Others need special security access, a PIN code, or work that only a dealer can do. The Nissan Murano Z52 (third generation) has its own requirements, and we'd rather explain them on the phone than surprise you in your driveway. When you call Julian's Locksmith about a 2022 Murano, we ask for the VIN and which keys you still have, check the programming path for that platform, and give you a straight answer: we can do it on-site in Southern California, we can handle part of it, or the dealer is the right call. When it's a job we take, we bring everything needed to cut and program the key in one trip.
2022 Murano key specs
| Generation | Z52 (third generation), 2015–2024 |
|---|---|
| Ignition | Push-button start |
| Key types | Smart proximity key (push-to-start) |
| Transponder / chip | Hitag AES (4A) on KR5TXN7-family fobs |
| Key blade | NSN14-profile emergency key |
| Key battery | CR2032 |
| Locksmith support | Spares yes; some cases need extra steps |
Every third-generation Murano uses an Intelligent Key with push-button start. Fobs come with three, four or five buttons depending on equipment, the extras controlling the power liftgate and factory remote start. Supplier catalogs list FCC ID KR5S180144014 for early fobs and KR5TXN7 for later ones, starting around 2018, and the 2022-2023 four-button fob is the same 9BU5A part listed for the Titan. Each fob holds a mechanical key for the driver's door. With so many versions, the part number inside your current fob is the best guide.
What's specific to the 2022 Murano
The 2022 Nissan Murano is the eighth of 10 model years in the Murano Z52 (third generation) (2015–2024), so it shares its key system with the rest of that run, which makes replacement parts easy to source.
A 2022 Nissan Murano is about 4 years old now. Original fob batteries are near the end of their life at this age, so weak range or a "key not detected" message is often a battery before it is a failed fob. Cars this age are often on their second owner, which is when a single remaining key and a request for a spare tend to show up.
Key options for the 2022 Nissan Murano
- 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 Murano Z52 (third 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 Murano
Nissan's immobilizer is called NATS, short for Nissan Anti-Theft System, and nearly every Nissan sold in the US since 2000 has one; a few early pickups and SUVs were built with plain keys. A chip in the key or fob has to answer the car before the engine is allowed to run, and a small security light on the dash blinks while the system is armed. Around 2000, cars such as the Maxima and Altima used the Texas Crypto 4D60 transponder. From about 2003, the 350Z, Armada, Frontier and later Altimas and Maximas moved to the Philips ID46, which stayed inside Nissan's Intelligent Key fobs for about a decade. Intelligent Key proximity fobs arrived first with a twist-knob ignition on Pathfinders, Armadas and the 2007 Maxima, and the 2007 Altima made push-button start standard. Some 2013-era fobs switched to Hitag 3 (ID47), and Hitag AES (4A) took over from the 2016 Maxima, the 2018 Leaf and Kicks, and the 2019 Altima. The newest platforms, including the Ariya, the 2025 Kicks and the 2025 Armada, use current-generation fobs and add security layers that make lost-key work slower. Your model year and the part number inside your fob tell us which system you have.
- Catalogs list the five-button KR5TXN7 fob, parts 285E3-9UF7A and 9UF7B, for 2018-2023 Muranos and for 2018-2020 Pathfinders.
- A remote-start button only works on a Murano that left the factory with remote engine start, so match the button count to your old fob.
Programming a 2022 Murano key
We register Murano fobs through the OBD-II port. The car gives up a security code, and depending on the year our equipment converts it to a PIN directly or through an online calculation. All fobs you keep must be present, because registration erases the others. Later fobs in this family are often locked to the first car they learn, so we usually start with a new fob. All-keys-lost is often handled on site after we cut the emergency key from a decoded door lock, depending on the build.
Spare fobs are routine on this generation. Late-model Muranos with newer encrypted fobs can need extra steps or a dealer PIN for all-keys-lost, confirmed by VIN.
Lost every key to your Murano?
- Gather your documents and the VIN. Call with the year, make, model and VIN if you can read it through the windshield, plus where the car is parked. Those details let us confirm whether your Nissan Murano can be done on-site and bring the right key, so the first trip is the only trip.
- Get into the vehicle without damage. If the car is locked, we open it with non-destructive tools such as an inflatable wedge and a long-reach rod, or by picking the door lock. Some vehicles need a careful approach to avoid triggering the alarm, which can interfere with programming later.
- 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.
- Program the key to the immobilizer. All-keys-lost programming often takes longer than adding a key, because the car has no trusted key to authorize the change. We follow the procedure your Nissan Murano requires, then confirm the engine starts and keeps running and the remote or keyless functions respond.
- Erase missing keys and add a spare. A lost key's metal blade can still open your doors even after its chip is erased. If the keys disappeared along with something showing where you live or park, consider rekeying the car's door lock cylinders too. We'll also recommend leaving with two working keys, not one.
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.
- Some vehicles make it hard to add a key once you're down to one. Certain immobilizer systems let an owner program an extra key on-board only when two working keys are present, so a second key preserves the easy options for later and avoids a full reset.
- 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 Murano and your schedule.
Murano key battery
If a new CR2032 doesn't bring the fob back, the battery wasn't the problem. Common culprits include a battery holder whose solder joints have cracked from drops, contacts corroded by moisture, worn rubber button pads that no longer reach the circuit, or a board damaged by water. We can test whether the fob is transmitting at all and inspect the board closely. Sometimes a new shell or a resoldered holder solves it; sometimes the fob has to be replaced and programmed. Meanwhile, the car can usually still be started with the fob held at the backup spot described in the owner's manual.
How the job works
- Identify the exact key your Murano uses. Every job starts with the VIN, the trim and a look at any key you still have. From those we confirm the keyway, the transponder or smart-key chip, the remote frequency, the FCC ID and the button layout. Two Nissan Murano keys that look identical can carry different electronics, so this step keeps the wrong part from ever reaching the car.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Program the chip, remote or smart key. Programming tells the car's computers that the new key belongs to the vehicle. Transponder chips are added to the immobilizer, remote buttons to the body control module, and proximity fobs to the keyless system. If a step requires dealer-only access on your Murano, you'll have heard that before we arrived, not halfway through the job.
- Test everything and clear out old keys. The last step is a short walkthrough. We show you how many keys the car now recognizes, point out the dead-fob start method for your vehicle, and hand you an itemized receipt. If a spare makes sense, it's simplest to add it during this same visit while the equipment is already connected.
What affects the price of a Murano 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 Murano 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. Some immobilizers accept a new key with a few on-board steps. Others need a PIN code, a timed security wait, manufacturer online access, or removing a module to read its data. Every extra layer of security on the Nissan system adds equipment time and labor to the job.
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
- High-mileage Altimas, Maximas and Frontiers from the 2000s often have worn ignition wafers and keys worn smooth. A key cut to factory code, rather than copied from the worn original, usually turns the ignition far more smoothly.
- 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.
- 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.
Tips from a mobile locksmith
- 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.
- Be careful with discount fobs from online marketplaces. A listing may match your remote's shape while using a different frequency, chip or FCC ID, and many used smart keys are locked to their original vehicle. If you already bought one, send us the listing or a photo before the visit so nobody pays for a programming attempt that can't work.
- Southern California heat is hard on keys. Fob batteries drain faster, plastic housings turn brittle, and rubber button pads crack when a key spends summer afternoons on a dashboard or in a sunny cup holder. Carry the fob with you or keep it shaded, and replace batteries before summer rather than after they fail.
Proof of ownership
Not every situation fits the simple case, so here's how we handle the common exceptions. For a leased or financed vehicle, a registration that lists you as the registered owner or lessee works with your ID. If you just bought the car, bring the signed title or bill of sale along with your ID. For a company or fleet vehicle, we need written authorization from the business plus the driver's ID. If the car belongs to a family member, the registered owner should be present or provide signed permission and a copy of their ID. Rental vehicles go through the rental company.
Need a 2022 Nissan Murano key?
The quickest route to a working key for a 2022 Nissan Murano starts with a short phone call. Dial (951) 903-3193, share the VIN and where the car is parked in Southern California, and we'll tell you whether it's an on-site job, a dealer job, or a mix of both. No pressure and no surprise charges, just a straight plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can a locksmith make a key for a 2022 Nissan Murano?
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. Late-model Muranos with newer encrypted fobs can need extra steps or a dealer PIN for all-keys-lost, confirmed by VIN. The 2022 Murano uses a smart proximity key with push-button start.
Is an aftermarket key as good as a factory key for a Nissan Murano?
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 Murano and let you make the call.
Why does my Murano crank but not start with a newly cut key?
That pattern points to the immobilizer, not the engine. The blade is cut correctly, so the ignition turns, but the car doesn't recognize the chip and blocks fuel or spark. A flashing security light usually confirms it. The key either wasn't programmed, carries the wrong chip type, or is an unprogrammed copy from a hardware store. Programming a correct key to your 2022 Nissan Murano resolves it.
Can you make a key for my Murano 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 2022 Nissan Murano when you call.
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.
How much does a replacement key for a 2022 Nissan Murano cost?
It depends on the key type, whether you choose a factory or aftermarket part, whether any working key is left, and how the Nissan security system handles programming. A spare for a car with a working key costs less than an all-keys-lost job that needs lock decoding or module work. Call with the VIN and we'll give you a specific quote before we drive out, and nothing changes once we arrive unless you approve additional work.
Is the 2022 Nissan Murano push-to-start?
Yes. The 2022 Murano 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 2022 Nissan Murano key use?
Fobs for the 2022 Murano 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.
