Kia Stinger Not Detecting Both Keys? Here’s the Real Reason

Modern cars tend to have complex electronics that, while offering convenience, can become a burden over time. As someone who is constantly looking for great car deals, particularly for performance cars, I was curious to see what problems Kia Stinger owners encounter. While browsing one of the Facebook groups (Kia Stinger Owners Group) dedicated to the model, I stumbled upon a post from one owner who is experiencing issues with his key fobs. 

I had a similar (although not identical) issue a year earlier, with my Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and since both cars are from the same concern, I was curious to "dissect" this issue and pinpoint potential culprits for future reference, for other owners. Here’s what the owner says:

“Super frustrated with an issue where both keys aren't detected.. push to start works with the key held up to the button. Lock/unlock doesn't work 95 percent of the time. Batteries are fresh on both remotes. The unlock button on the driver's door also doesn't work because the key isn't detected. Don't know what else to do .. I understand there are three antennas in the car. What else can I try?”

The owner of the 2018 Kia Stinger GT even provided a video in which he demonstrates the issue and provides additional explanation. The issue persists 90 percent of the time, and the car only starts if the key fob is next to the engine-start button. Another issue is that the driver lock/unlock button doesn’t function most of the time. 

This reminds me of another owner who experienced issues with his Hyundai Palisade that locked him out. The Kia Stinger is a great bang for the buck, and a bit of an underdog, and while most owners report positive ownership experience of their Kia performance car, this is what happens if your Kia Stinger is not maintained properly. 

One particular owner was experiencing so many issues with his 2021 Kia Stinger that he made an unusual decision to switch to a much more frugal car. As for this particular case, there are a few potential causes for this Kia Stinger problem, which I have listed below. But before that, I decided to see what other owners say and see how accurate their advice is. Here are some opinions from the group:

Mike says, “Car battery just went through it” - he likely refers to the keyfob battery. Since the keyfob and the car constantly communicate, it is possible for the car’s battery to drain the keyfob. These coin-cell (most often, lithium-ion) batteries have an excellent shelf-life of 5 to 10 years, meaning they provide peak performance within that period, after being manufactured. 

Depending on how intensively the batteries are used or how much the car and keyfob “talk” to each other (usually when they are in proximity), the resources of these batteries can be depleted much sooner. 

Hari Rusev suggests the “car battery” as the potential cause, but I am skeptical about that. The car “cranks up” eagerly, from what the video shows. Still, testing the battery voltage will quickly confirm or deny that.

Brett Quinn suggests: “Get good batteries for your remotes…not cheapies…” We can’t rule this out as a potential cause for the Kia Stinger problem, but it would mean that the owner has to change the key fob battery again. Batteries with prolonged shelf-life can experience performance degradation and potentially cause this. Still, the issue persists with both key fobs, leading me to believe this could be something else. 

Hasan Nailor says: “I’ve been having this exact same issue with my 2018 GT2, at 55,000 miles.” This owner has experienced the issue at a relatively early mileage. I changed my keyfob battery at around 110,000 miles, but different cars “tax” the keyfob battery at different rates.

Rich Ramos chimes in with a plausible explanation: “Since u already replaced the batteries...Try to get the KIA Service Center to reprogram the fob first.” Not all vehicles require this (mine didn’t), but as more modern vehicles feature increasingly intricate systems, this may be a solution. The issue? Having to deal with the dealership and dealer charging rates.

Jonathan Williams suggests the Kia Stinger issue could be something a bit more expensive. “The motherboard inside the key fob has gone bad. Time for a new key fob.” I am not saying that planned obsolescence is a thing with chips, but I am also not against the possibility. 

Anyway, while we don’t know if that’s the case here, this is a potential cause for the issue. But what is the likelihood of both keys having this issue? Also, the car consistently starts as soon as the key is in proximity to the start-stop button. This could be the least-likely cause, but it is still a possibility. This, however, is another topic entirely.

Most opinions point to the car battery or keyfob battery being the cause, but that’s up to the owner to figure out through what could (hopefully won’t) be an irritating method by exclusion. All the issues we talked about, including the links I have included, make it seem that buying any Hyundai or Kia vehicle is like playing Russian roulette. While this is true for almost all used cars (“certified preowned” not excluded), I am curious to hear your opinion. If you have valuable experience, feel free to share in the comment section below.

Image source: 2021 Kia Stinger Press, Kia Stinger Owners Group via Facebook

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.