Your Nissan Qashqai with the keyless entry and push button starts seems to be a great purchase. Until it starts throwing error codes and warning messages that simply frustrate you. One of the common messages you can see in your Qashqai is “Key ID Incorrect” and the car won’t start when you see this. What does it mean and how do you fix it?
If your Qashqai says “Key ID Incorrect”, it means the car can’t recognize the key fob. It may have a low battery, damaged chip, corroded connections, or it may be damaged. There are several ways to solve the problem: starting with the battery replacement and finishing with the key fob replacement in the dealership.
In this article, I will cover the following:
- Keyless system in your Qashqai and the key fob battery question
- How to start the Nissan Qashqai if it says “Key ID Incorrect”?
- What are the common reasons for this error message?
- How to fix the problem and keep driving the Nissan SUV with no warnings?
What do you need to know about the keyless system in the Qashqai?
I won’t go too deep into the technical side of how it works, but for using this system correctly, you still need to know several basic things.
The keyless system has its own antenna in the car that communicates with the key fob way before you get into the vehicle. This helps you unlock the doors just by pressing that little button on the door handle and without even touching your key fob.
So, when you are in the car, your Qashqai already knows that you are the owner because you have the proper key in your pocket or in the bag. It’s enough for you to press the start button to start the engine.
Here are several things to consider:
- your key fob needs to constantly send signals using its cheap, so it will be using the battery charge very intensively;
- usually, a key fob in a car with the keyless entry function lives about 9-12 months and then requires battery replacement;
- the antenna in your Qashqai uses 12V battery power, so if it’s dead or has a glitch, the system just won’t get the needed power to work properly;
- in your old car that didn’t have all these keyless features, the battery in the fob could live for a decade without replacement.
Also, you should know that your spare fob which is probably having a rest in one of the drawers in your house, will also lose the battery charge pretty quickly. Even though it’s not used, it still keeps sending the signal all the time hoping that sooner or later you will take it and use it for what it was made.
So, this brings in a certain problem. You get into your Qashqai in the morning, see the “Key ID Incorrect” message, go home, and take the spare key and it also shows the “Key ID Incorrect”. You may start panicking but actually, this may just mean that the batteries on both fobs need to be replaced.
What are the reasons for the “Key ID Incorrect” message?
This message is very common for Qashqai models but it may also appear in any other Nissan that has the keyless entry and engine start feature. If you experience this, please, don’t panic and keep reading. There is an easy trick that will help you bypass the system and drive your car even if things are very bad.
So, here are the most common reasons for this message to pop up in your Qashqai:
1. Low battery in the key fob
This reason will likely be the culprit of the error message in about 90% of cases. If the battery is low, it can’t power the chip and the chip won’t be able to send the needed signals to register in the car’s keyless system.
Fortunately, replacing the battery in the key fob in your Qashqai is just a piece of cake, so anyone can do it without going to the dealership or garage. Get the CR2032 battery and install it – you may watch a 1-minute-long tutorial video to avoid any possible mistakes.
Usually, you will need to replace the battery in this fob at least once a year.
2. Damaged chip or connections
Inside your key fob, you have the chip that is crucial for using all the needed functions of the keyless system. If this chip has been in contact with water or the fob fell onto the hard floor, it’s quite possible that the chip will not work correctly and the vehicle will not see it.
If the battery replacement didn’t help you, just get the spare key. If there is no spare key that you can easily reach, you may call the dealership and ask them if they can help with this. Maybe, you can get the fob to the dealership by taxi or public transport and they will repair it.
3. Low battery in your car
The 12V battery backs up all the features in your car, including the keyless system. If nothing works and you can’t start the vehicle, one of the possible culprits is the glitch in the system that may have developed because of the low battery. Your Qashqai may throw different error messages, in this case.
Before you ask for professional help, it may be worth it to charge the battery or even try installing another car battery that is certainly OK. If this doesn’t fix the problem, then, all other possible reasons for this problem are not easily detectable.
4. Other more complicated issues
It’s possible that your Qashqai has developed some software problem or there is an issue with the programming. This may lead to different unpleasant things like random error messages, some systems going crazy, car not starting, etc.
If you can’t figure out what the problem is on your own, it’s important to contact a trusted garage or dealership and have the car inspected and fixed by a professional. They may reprogram your key, check wiring and connections in the car, and use the scanner to find other possible issues.
How can you start the Qashqai if it says “Key ID Incorrect”?
So, whenever you see this error message in your Nissa, you will not be able to start the vehicle just by pressing the engine start button. Even the accessory mode will not turn on. If the problem is with the antenna or water-damaged key, there is no easy way to start your Qashqai. But if the battery in the fob is low, you can bypass this.
Here’s what you should do:
- you may need to open the door with the metal key hidden inside your fob – just watch a video tutorial that shows you how to do it;
- after that, take your key fob and hold it right near the engine start button – you need to touch the button with the fob but not press it;
- after the error message “Key ID Incorrect” disappears from the screen, press the start button with the fob or with your finger;
- the engine will start and you will be able to drive it, but still, you shouldn’t ignore the problem.
It’s important to not ignore the problem and replace the battery in your key fob. This method will work even if the fob doesn’t have any battery at all. So, it’s important for any Qashqai owner to know about this method that can save them from getting stuck on the roadside.
If this method doesn’t work, then the problem is not in the key fob battery. Otherwise, the computer would still recognize the chip and allow you to start the engine without any problems. If this doesn’t happen, the fob battery may be OK, but there is another, sometimes more serious, problem.
When should you go to professionals?
Although the problem seems to be more or less simple to solve, if no DIY methods help you solve the issue, you should ask for help. You may go to local locksmiths, trusted garages, or Nissan dealership. People tend to think that a locksmith will take less money for this job, but it’s not always the truth.
Your costs depend on what exactly is going to be repaired or replaced. Sometimes, you may need a new key fob which is not cheap at all. A good garage can offer you some options while the dealership will charge you several hundred euros for the new programmed fob.
Before you agree to have your problem fixed, always get to know the final price. Sometimes, programming things in your car may cost surprisingly expensive and you may want to find someone else who will do this cheaper.
I’ve also written about the “Warning System Fault” error message in the Qashqai earlier – you may want to have a look.
To wrap up
The most common problem that triggers the “Key ID Incorrect” message in your Nissan Qashqai is the problem with the key fob battery. Fortunately, replacing the battery is quite a simple job and you don’t need to pay for it. Get a battery in any supermarket and install it by following the chosen video tutorial.
If the problem is more serious, you may need professional help. Even though the dealership is an expensive choice, in this case, I still recommend you go to the dealer and start with a good inspection. Maybe, after that, you will want to find a cheaper independent garage that will solve the problem for you.