It’s an all-too-common modern frustration: the unexpected failure of your car’s key fob. For owners of vehicles like the 2021 ID.4, this issue can surface sooner than you might expect. Imagine the scenario: you’re handling the valet key, also known as the emergency key, and suddenly, it jams inside the fob. Attempts to remove it can lead to further damage, sometimes even forcing the fob casing open, leaving components loose and dysfunctional.
This was the exact experience of one car owner whose 2021 ID.4 key fob broke. In trying to reinsert the valet key, it became irretrievably stuck. In the process of trying to free it, the fob’s cover was opened, the valet key released, but the rubber cover refused to reassemble correctly, remaining loosely attached. A call to the dealership offered little comfort, only the prospect of ordering a costly replacement, exceeding $300 for parts and “installation”.
Adding insult to injury, a second key fob in the same household suffered a similar fate later that year. A seemingly innocuous drop onto a hardwood floor resulted in a bent internal mechanism. Now, the valet key would either fail to release or wouldn’t securely lock back into place. Inserting it became a cumbersome process, requiring removal of the cover and manual manipulation of the mechanism. The dealership’s response was a disheartening echo of the first incident: another expensive replacement costing over $300.
Forced to use two physically compromised key fobs, the owner questioned why such a critical component, designed for daily use, exhibited such fragility. The inability to easily access the emergency valet key further compounded the issue. The lack of warranty coverage for what appears to be a design flaw raises significant questions about the robustness and real-world durability of modern key fobs. It leaves car owners wondering if they are alone in facing these problems, and searching for answers beyond expensive, dealer-dependent replacements.
