A flashing red car and key on a Nissan dashboard is the immobiliser light, and a slow flash with the ignition off is normal. With the ignition on, the light means the key is not read.
Nissan Key Light Checker
Pick what the red car and key light is doing.
The immobiliser is armed and there is no fault. No action is required.
The key is recognised. No action is required.
The key is not recognised. Fit a new CR2032 in the key fob, then hold the fob against the start button.
The key is not recognised, or the immobiliser has a fault. Work through the 5 fixes, then call for a fault code check.
The key signal was lost after the start. Park safely before switching off, then test the spare key.
Still stuck? Call 07830249408 and I talk you through it by phone.
Nissan not starting? Call 07830249408 in Devon, Dorset or Somerset. I am a mobile auto locksmith based in Honiton, and I give the likely cause and a price by phone.
The red car and key light belongs to the Nissan immobiliser, which reads a transponder chip in the key at every start. The sections below cover the flash patterns, the 6 causes in order of likelihood, the 5 fixes to try at the car, the cost of each fix and the Nissan models that show the light.
A slow flash with the ignition off is normal. A key light that stays on or flashes with the ignition on means the key is not recognised. Fit a new CR2032 battery in the key fob, hold the fob against the start button and try the spare key.
What Does the Flashing Red Car and Key Icon Mean?
The flashing red car and key icon on a Nissan is the security indicator light of the immobiliser, which Nissan calls NATS, the Nissan Anti Theft System. Drivers also describe it as a red car with a key in the middle. The light reports whether the immobiliser has recognised the key. The flash pattern of the light shows the state of the immobiliser. A transponder chip sits in the key blade or the key fob. A ring antenna around the ignition barrel, or a reader behind the start button, reads the chip at every start. The immobiliser releases the engine when the code matches, and the key light goes out. The key light stays on and the engine stays dead when the code does not match.
When Is the Flashing Red Key Light Normal?
The flashing red key light is normal when the ignition is off. The table below sets out 5 patterns of the Nissan key light, the meaning of each pattern and the action to take.
| Pattern | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Slow flash, ignition off | Immobiliser armed, no fault | None |
| Light goes out when the ignition comes on | Key recognised | None |
| Light stays on, ignition on, engine dead | Key not recognised | Work through the 5 fixes |
| Light flashes, ignition on, engine dead | Key not recognised or immobiliser fault | Work through the 5 fixes |
| Light comes on while driving | Key signal lost after the start, often because the key fob has left the car | Park safely before switching off, then test the spare key |
Rows 1 and 2 are the normal patterns of the key light. Rows 3 to 5 are the fault patterns, and immobiliser diagnostics confirms which of the 6 causes is present.
Can You Drive a Nissan With the Key Light Flashing?
Yes, a Nissan with a running engine keeps running when the key light comes on, because the immobiliser blocks the start and does not cut a running engine. Finish the journey and park somewhere safe before switching off, because the next start fails if the key is still not recognised.
A Nissan that does not start with the key light on is the opposite case. The immobiliser is active, and the engine does not fire until a key is recognised. Immobiliser diagnostics reads the fault codes stored in the Nissan ECU and names the failed part.
What Are the 6 Causes of the Nissan Key Light?
The 6 causes of the Nissan key light with the ignition on are a flat key fob battery, a damaged transponder chip, a flat car battery, a key not registered to the car, an antenna ring fault and an ECU fault. The causes run from the most likely to the least likely.
Flat Key Fob Battery
A flat key fob battery is the most common cause, and older Qashqai and Juke models show the fault most. A Nissan Intelligent Key runs on a CR2032 coin cell, and a weak cell gives a signal the car does not read, even while the lock buttons still work at close range. A dead key fob battery gives no signal at all.
Damaged Transponder Chip
A damaged transponder chip sends no code to the immobiliser. Drops, water and a cracked key head destroy the chip. A spare key that starts the car proves the chip in the first key has failed.
Flat Car Battery
A flat car battery, below about 11.5 volts, leaves the immobiliser without enough power to read the key. Cold mornings and weeks of standing bring the fault on.
Key Not Registered to the Car
A key that is not registered to the car fits the lock and still shows the key light. The fault follows a replacement key, a replacement ECU or the wrong key from the drawer.
Antenna Ring Fault
An antenna ring fault is a failed ring antenna around the ignition barrel that reads no key at all. The fault appears on Nissans with high mileage, and a new fob battery and a second key both fail to clear the key light.
ECU Fault
An ECU fault is an ECU that has lost its stored key data and recognises no key. The fault is rare and follows a failed repair, a software update or a component failure. Immobiliser diagnostics reads the stored fault before any part is replaced.
What Are the 5 Fixes for the Flashing Red Car With Key Icon?
The 5 fixes for the flashing red car with key icon on a Nissan are replacing the key fob battery, holding the fob against the start button, moving other keys and devices away, trying the spare key and checking the car battery. Work through the fixes in that order. The first fix clears the most common cause for under £3.
Replace the Key Fob Battery
Replace the key fob battery with a new CR2032 coin cell, plus side facing the same way as the old cell. The cell costs under £3 and the job takes 2 minutes.
Hold the Fob Against the Start Button
Touch the start button with the key fob, press the brake pedal or the clutch pedal, then press start. The backup reader behind the button reads a fob with a weak battery. On a Nissan with a steering lock, turn the steering wheel slightly left and right while pressing start, because a locked steering column also stops the start. Models with a key slot read the fob in the slot.
Move Other Keys and Devices Away
Move other keys and devices away from the key fob, including chipped key rings and phones. A second chip next to the key confuses the reader.
Try the Spare Key
Start the car with the spare key. A spare key that starts the car proves the first key is at fault. A spare key that also fails points to the car.
Check the Car Battery
Check the car battery by looking at the interior light and the dashboard. Dim lights show a flat car battery, and a jump start or a charge restores the power the immobiliser uses to read the key.
A Nissan that still shows the key light after the 5 fixes has a key that requires programming, an antenna ring fault or an ECU fault. Each of the 3 faults requires diagnostic equipment.
Stop after 3 failed starts
Each failed start drains the car battery further, and a flat car battery adds a second fault to the key light.
When Do You Call a Nissan Auto Locksmith?
Call a Nissan auto locksmith when the 5 fixes fail. A mobile auto locksmith with Nissan programming equipment carries out 4 jobs at the car.
- Reads the fault codes from the Nissan ECU to find the exact cause of the key light.
- Tests the transponder chip in the existing key.
- Programs a new key to the immobiliser on site.
- Creates a replacement key with no original key, the fix for lost car keys.
Most Nissan immobiliser faults are resolved faster by a mobile auto locksmith than by a dealer booking, because the fault codes are read at the car before any part is replaced.
What Does It Cost to Fix the Nissan Key Light?
The cost to fix the Nissan key light starts from under £3 for a key fob battery and from £400 for an ECU repair. Each price in the table below is a starting price. The final figure moves with the model year, the key type, the number of keys and whether the car needs a new key or only programming.
| Fix | Starting Price | Who Does the Work |
|---|---|---|
| Key fob battery replacement | Under £3 | The driver |
| Key programming, existing key registered again | From £60 | Mobile auto locksmith |
| New key cut and programmed | From £150 | Mobile auto locksmith |
| Antenna ring replacement | From £120 including parts | Mobile auto locksmith or garage |
| New key through a Nissan dealer | From £250 | Dealer, plus a wait of 1 to 2 weeks |
| ECU repair or replacement | From £400 | Specialist auto electrician |
Car key programming on site is the most common paid fix for the key light. A mobile auto locksmith charges less for the work than a main dealer, with no wait and no transport of the car.
Which Nissan Models Show the Red Car and Key Light?
Almost every Nissan built after 2000 shows the red car and key light. The list below names 8 of the models with their generation codes.
- Nissan Qashqai J10, J11 and J12
- Nissan Juke F15 and F16
- Nissan Micra K12, K13 and K14
- Nissan Note E11 and E12
- Nissan X-Trail T31, T32 and T33, with the T32 and T33 sold as the Rogue in North America
- Nissan Navara D40 and D23
- Nissan Leaf ZE0 and ZE1
- Nissan Pulsar C13
A Nissan with a bladed key carries a chip that takes no power from a battery. A Nissan with an Intelligent Key and a start button relies on the key fob battery for keyless starting.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Nissan Key Light
The red car with key flashes when the car is off because the immobiliser is armed. The slow flash is the normal state on every Nissan and uses almost no power.
The flashing red car symbol on a Nissan Qashqai is the security indicator light of the immobiliser. A slow flash with the ignition off is normal, and a light that stays on with the ignition on means the Qashqai has not recognised the key. A flat CR2032 in the Intelligent Key is the usual cause. A Nissan auto locksmith reads the Qashqai key at the car and confirms the cause.
The Nissan immobiliser light has no reset button, on the Qashqai or on any other model. The light goes out when a recognised key starts the car, and stored fault codes are cleared with diagnostic equipment.
No, a key light that comes on with the ignition on does not go away on its own, because the immobiliser keeps it lit until a registered key is read. A new CR2032 in the key fob, or the fob held against the start button, clears the light when a weak signal is the cause. The slow flash with the ignition off is the normal armed state and is not a fault.
Yes, you can drive to a garage with the warning light on while the engine is running, because the car does not cut out on the way. A car that does not start is not drivable, and a mobile auto locksmith comes to the car.
No, the flashing key icon is not the same as the car alarm, because the immobiliser and the alarm are separate systems. The immobiliser controls the key icon and stops the engine from starting. The alarm guards against entry and makes noise.
Nissan key fob buttons work when the car does not start because the lock buttons reach the car from several metres on a weak battery, while keyless starting requires a stronger signal inside the cabin. The cause in most cases is a dead key fob battery, and the car still starts with the fob held against the start button.
No, you do not need a Nissan dealer to program a new key. A mobile auto locksmith with Nissan programming software carries out car key programming on site, usually faster than a dealer booking. Dealers hold no exclusive access to key programming on Nissans out of warranty.
A new key is created from the vehicle identification number (VIN) after a driver has lost all the Nissan keys, with no original key. The key is cut and programmed to the car, and the lost keys are deleted from the car memory. Lost car keys are replaced at the car in one visit.
Get a Nissan out of anti theft mode by starting it with a key the immobiliser recognises. Fit a new CR2032 in the key fob, hold the fob against the start button while pressing the brake pedal, or start the car with the spare key. A Nissan that stays in anti theft mode with every key has a key, antenna or ECU fault, and a fault code check at the car names which one.
A Nissan does not start when the key light is flashing because the immobiliser has not read a registered key and blocks the engine. A weak CR2032 in the key fob, a damaged transponder chip, a flat car battery or a key that is not registered to the car is the usual cause. Hold the fob against the start button and try the spare key, and stop after 3 failed starts so the car battery does not go flat.
The Nissan Intelligent Key warning light has no reset button, and it goes out once the car detects a working key. Fit a new CR2032 when the dash shows a low key battery warning, and hold the fob against the start button when the car does not detect the key. A warning that stays on with a new battery and with the spare key points to a key or antenna fault.
The flashing red car with key on a Nissan Juke is the immobiliser security light, the same light the Qashqai shows. A slow flash with the ignition off is normal. A light that stays on with the ignition on means the Juke has not read the Intelligent Key, and a flat CR2032 in the key fob is the usual cause.
No, a red light flashing on the key fob is not the dashboard key light. A key fob with a light flashes it when a button is pressed to show the fob is sending a signal, and a weak flash or no flash points to a flat fob battery. The dashboard key light belongs to the immobiliser in the car and reports whether the car has read the key.
The red key light comes on while driving because the car has lost the key signal after the start. The usual cause is a key fob that has left the car, such as a fob in the pocket of a passenger who gets out at a petrol station, or a weak fob battery. The engine keeps running, so bring the fob back into the car or fit a new battery before the next start.
Fix the red car with key symbol on a Nissan by fitting a new CR2032 battery in the key fob, holding the fob against the start button, moving other keys away, trying the spare key and checking the car battery, in that order.
The red car light stays solid with the ignition on because the immobiliser has not read a registered key. A weak fob battery, a damaged transponder chip or a key that is not registered to the car is the usual cause, and the engine does not start until the key is read.
Dean answers in plain words
Is the flashing light something to worry about?
Not when the car is parked and locked. That slow flash is the immobiliser doing its job. I only worry when it stays on with the ignition on and the car does not start.
What fixes the Nissan key light most often?
A new CR2032 in the key fob. A flat fob battery is the most common cause I see, mostly on older Qashqais and Jukes.
How long does a visit take?
I have dealt with this fault hundreds of times, and I usually sort it at the car in under an hour.
Based in Honiton. Working since 2009. Nissan programming equipment on the van.
Upfront price before I travel. Available 24/7.