I Took My Toyota 4Runner to the Dealer For an Oil Change and They Lost My Key Fob. Toyota Please Get It Together as Others Say It Happened To Them As Well

Have you ever taken your car in for an oil change, and they lost your car keys?

Hopefully not, but it may be more common than you think. It happened to Dixie Mayfield (@dixie_may2006), who shared her experience in her TikTok video. 

Dixie's routine oil change for her Toyota 4Runner turned into an unexpected ordeal when the dealership lost her key fob. The ensuing back-and-forth trips to the dealer made it an experience she'd rather forget.

Imagine getting a text from the Toyota dealer where you purchased your Toyota 4Runner that they are running an oil change special for $19.95. You think, great! I'm due to get my oil changed, and I have a road trip coming up. Perfect timing.

You arrive at the dealer at the appointed late afternoon scheduled time, get your truck checked in, and sit in the customer waiting area. It's nice because they have a TV with the afternoon news, soft drinks, free bagels, and other assorted snacks to munch on. 

The hour goes by quickly as you are engrossed in the news story about 10 inches of snow in Pensacola, Florida. Crazy weather, you think to yourself.  

Imagine the surprise when the service advisor approached Dixie in the customer service area and uttered the unexpected words, "Um, Miss Mayfield, I think we lost your 4Runner's key fob. The technician that did your oil change can't find it."

You aren't sure you heard him correctly. "Excuse me? You don't have my key fob? What happened to it?? You ask.  

"I don't know; the service technician was busy, and one of the lot techs pulled your 4Runner into the service bay because we are so busy. Hopefully, he has your key. Can you give me a few minutes while we try to find it," he says apologetically. 

"Sure," you say, trying to be polite. 

After another 15 minutes, the advisor returns and says, "I'm so sorry, Miss Mayfield, we cannot locate your key fob. Because it's late in the day, so you don't have to wait any longer, I have arranged to give you a loaner car you can drive while we locate them."

You aren't happy, but at least you have a car to drive to get back home. You wait at the service drive for the loaner and see a small Toyota Corolla pull up. The lot tech gets out, hands you the keys, and says, "Here you go; we'll give you a call when we find your 4Runner's key fob."

You slide into the Corolla, which is brand new, and realize how small the compact car is. You think, wow, I really like my 4Runner, it's so big compared with this small car. 

You drive the Corolla compact car home and wait for the call. 

The call comes the next morning, and they have bad news for you. Your service advisor says, "I'm sorry, Miss Mayfield, but we have not been able to find your 4Runner's key fob. It has disappeared. You can keep the Corolla today. We have ordered another key fob, free of charge."

However, you have to wait another day to get your 4Runner back. "We don't have yours in stock and must have it shipped from the Toyota distribution center. We will get it tomorrow and have it programmed. We are so sorry for the inconvenience he says apologetically." 

Here is what Dixie said, "I took my Toyota 4Runner, which I love, to the dealer for an oil change and drove home in a Corolla. The car is too small. I want my 4Runner back."  

She is actually not that upset with Toyota since they gave her a new car to drive, but she wishes she had a vehicle like her 4Runner. 

"They had to order a new key, and it was already almost close by the time they told me they lost the key, so they had to give me a spare car. It was a little small, but it was brand new!"

Dixie continues, "Whipping a Toyota Corolla because the dealership lost the only set of keys to my 4Runner when I took it in to get my oil changed. Toyota, please get it together."  

Dixie asks, "So, is this a common thing??"

In the comments, others say it's happened to them. 

Katelynnstringfield says, "Girl, my fiancé bought a truck last year, and later in the evening, they kept calling us back to back, and it was because someone's keys were in our truck."

Dixie responds, "This is definitely what happened, I fear."

Kenzie says, "This happened to me when I bought my Toyota Crown. They gave me my "spare keys" but it was keyed to a 4Runner."

Rae - "I have that luck too, for real. I'm surprised they didn't offer to get you another key!"

They definitely did! It just took another day or two to order."

Pdawg, Okay, so to make sure, did you have your house key or anything like that on your key?"

Dixie - "No, thank god! it was just my fob that I kept in my keychain pouch!"

My question is, 

Did Dixie have a spare key fob? Likely not. Every new car comes with two sets of keys, but often, they get lost, or when you purchase a used vehicle, you only get one set. 

They also have a code stamped on a metal plate that comes with the spare, so you can order another fob if one is lost. 

I asked myself the same question. Where is my spare key fob? I couldn't find it anywhere and searched for 30 minutes. I finally found them. 

Don't lose your key fob because it can be expensive. 

What does Toyota say about replacing a key fob? "If you've damaged or lost your key fob, you'll need to have it replaced by your local Toyota dealership." 

So, how much does a Toyota key replacement cost? 

"The cost of replacing a Toyota key fob can be anywhere from $200 – $350. This is because a total key fob replacement means a new key needs to be cut, and the electronics must be programmed into your vehicle."

Why are key fobs so expensive to replace?

Edmunds says, "All key fobs need to be programmed. Some dealerships will do it for free, while others will charge for a half-hour to an hour of labor."

"These keyless entry remotes limit your options for a new key. The replacement remote must be purchased at the dealer or a factory parts reseller. And while it's handy to carry smart keys in your purse or pocket, these are the very places you will feel the pain when you lose them." 

"The cost to replace a smart key for a Honda Accord, according to one of our local Honda dealers, is around $300. That's $150 for the smart key module and cutting the "emergency" key blade that slides inside the housing and about another $120-$140 for programming, estimated to take about one hour," Edmunds says.

Conclusion.

It's not just Toyota dealers that lose customers' keys. The dealer service departments are busy, especially when they run an oil change special, which they often do. 

However, The Toyota dealer did the right thing by giving Dixie a free loaner and paying to replace her key fob. She was only upset about having to drive a small Corolla and not her larger 4Runner. 

How about you?

Have you had a dealer lose your keys or have another item left in your car gone missing? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Toyota story titled; I Called Toyota to See How Much It Would Cost To Get a New Key Fob For My Corolla, They Told Me $1,000. I Had My Dad Call, and the Price Was Suddenly $250

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.