Key Outside Car Message

Any time a door or the liftgate is opened and then closed with the ignition ON, the RFA module activates all 3 PATS antennas to search the inside of the vehicle for a passive key. The Key outside car message displays in the message center when a programmed passive key is no longer detected inside the vehicle.

This strategy deters the passive key from being separated from an already running vehicle. If a passive key is no longer in the vehicle, the ignition remains in ON and the vehicle continues to run. If the START/STOP button is pressed to turn the ignition OFF, the vehicle can be restarted without a passive key present inside the vehicle for approximately 10 seconds. After 10 seconds a programmed passive key must be present to start the vehicle or transition the ignition out of OFF. If the driver door is opened during the 10-second countdown, a programmed passive key is needed to restart the vehicle.