Starts Without the Key - 2016 Toyota Tacoma Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Starts Without the Key - 2016 Toyota Tacoma Long-Term Road Test

We drove away in our 2016 Toyota Tacoma without the key and ran as if the key was in the car. I think we have a problem.

Read the full story here

MCZCOKE

Check your gear, you likely have another key in there.

s197gt

i bet they only hand out one key at the start of the test and keep another stored at the office for emergencies.

certainly it would be the first thought that some how another key is in the car, but it seems to have been ruled out as not even a possibility.

daryleason

I'm not going to gig the Toyota too harshly on this. The truth is, that with Technology, the more features you have, the more things that can go wrong. I'd bet it comes down to a scanning feature of the software. There must be a "test sum" setting on how often it reads the key's presence that's out of whack. I personally don't like those key readers that do that. What if you're in an office that is within range of the key, and your vehicle just sits there unlocked? I prefer either a physical key, or a keyfob that you have to manually press to unlock.

markinnaples_

Has anyone checked to see if the extra key is in the glove box or some other crevice or orifice in the truck? Or maybe it's in a garment that is in the truck. That would explain the situation.

craigo7

I can think of several reasons why it would think a key wasn't in the vehicle when it was... but thinks it is when it isn't? Seems unlikely.

zimtheinvader

On my car I can lock it with the remote even with another key inside the car. When I do that it then ignores the key that is inside the car until a button is pushed on that remote again. This actually allows for hiding a key inside the car if needed.

daryleason said:

I personally don't like those key readers that do that. What if you're in an office that is within range of the key, and your vehicle just sits there unlocked? I prefer either a physical key, or a keyfob that you have to manually press to unlock.

From what I've seen none of them unlock the doors automatically, you have to physically touch the handle or push a button on the handle to get it to unlock and you have to be right next to the door for it to work.

metalmania

I don't yet have a vehicle in my household with any of this "key detection" tech in it, but honestly it sounds kind of frustrating. I've never found pressing a button to lock/unlock or using a key to start or stop a vehicle to be an inconvenience - I've been doing it my entire driving life so it's second nature. Maybe it's one of those "don't realize what I'm missing" things. Though I do find it interesting when I read people (not necessarily here) saying they've dismissed a vehicle they otherwise liked because it didn't have push button start. Just about everything has it now, but I can't help but feel like it's become a "me too" feature.

reminder

I remember the old days, when you used to be able to lock your keys in the car & use a coat hanger to open it up.
Technology run amuck!

bloodyr

Keyless entry/ignition has been around for at least a decade (my 2007 Infiniti had it). It's definitely one of those features where you don't think it's necessary when you don't have it, but can't live without it once you do. I remember one time after playing golf, I was trying to shut the trunk after putting my clubs away. The trunk kept popping open. I was wondering what the hell was wrong with it, until I realized that I had left my keys in the golf bag and the car wasn't letting me lock them in the trunk. Handy feature!