Key cards no longer unlock truck

rlhamil

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I had a bit of trouble pairing my new stainless key card, so after a few tries, I rebooted. But before that I'd tried one of my original cards, and both the pillar and inside reader detected it. Eventually I got it paired. So not the same problem, although also probably a quirkiness with the software.
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countryboy

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Happened to me a few days ago, good reminder for those who have them, pair your watch as key! Luckily, I had just done that, and didn't have to find out the hard way key card doesn't work. Regression testing at Tesla is nonexistent. I get there will be occasional bugs in some features, but this kind of bug should never reach production!
 

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I submitted a service request today, followed by a message with request for confirmation of known issue, haven’t received response yet.
 

hodginator

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I just confirmed that I have the same problem… Hopefully this can’t be fixed remotely.
 

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I posted about this yesterday. The same thing happened to me.
So, it happened to me today. I received my metal card and tried to use it. It worked with the card, but not with opening and closing—until it worked.

I found the solution. You have to hold the card very specifically and place it in a very specific spot on the B pillar; then it works. I think they changed the sensitivity/energy level of the Bluetooth antennas when they started optimizing and reducing energy drain. I will make a video and post it here.

[It was incredibly frustrating until I found a solution.]
 


Troye

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I discovered same issue a week ago. Have a service scheduled the 27th for this.
 

Live2Pin

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Yesterday 01/10/2025 the key card stopped working.Works inside.the CT Will not unlock vehicle. Went to the local Tesla dealership and was advised to make a service appointment.
 

kofitoshie

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Has anybody else experienced this? I went to use my key card yesterday and it would not unlock my truck, tried the second one with no luck. These are key cards that previously worked. I got in the truck with my phone key, then turned off Bluetooth and put the card in the cupholder and it was recognized and I could operate the vehicle, same with the second key card. I could not figure out why it would operate the truck but not unlock it.
I went to my local service center and the tech said this is the third CyberTruck with this issue in the last two days. Apparently it is a software bug.
I’d be curious if anybody else has encountered this and if you haven’t tried your card in a while, try it and see if you’re affected.
The technician said he will put this in the system and reach out when they have a solution but as of now, they do not have a fix.
I have this same issue . Key card won’t lock or u lock car but can operate car. I have a service appointment next week to replace the Bpillar/reader
 

rlhamil

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So, it happened to me today. I received my metal card and tried to use it. It worked with the card, but not with opening and closing—until it worked.

I found the solution. You have to hold the card very specifically and place it in a very specific spot on the B pillar; then it works. I think they changed the sensitivity/energy level of the Bluetooth antennas when they started optimizing and reducing energy drain. I will make a video and post it here.

[It was incredibly frustrating until I found a solution.]
Cards (and rings) are not powered. Therefore they must be NFC (which has to be within an inch or less, typically), not Bluetooth. The radio signal of the reader powers the card.
 

dalton108

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Cards (and rings) are not powered. Therefore they must be NFC (which has to be within an inch or less, typically), not Bluetooth. The radio signal of the reader powers the card.
RFID, not NFC.
 


rlhamil

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RFID, not NFC.
You're right. Either way, very short range, unpowered. Although a number of descriptions have NFC as a subset of RFID. Full RFID can have a much longer range (25 meters unpowered, 100 meters powered) although practical use may be half that, and reader or tag could have much shorter range; much of that depends on the reader.

Would be nice if the pillar reader consistently worked even if one left the card in a thick wallet, and just waved the wallet at it. That might be complicated by the presence of multiple contactless cards in the wallet.
 

KG206

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Make sure you make a service appointment if experiencing this. They responded to me in the messages and said this is new and they need the vehicle to diagnose what the problem is as of right now they do not have an update planned to fix it.
 

FHWizard

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Hmm mine works ok (so far). Left the phone in the house and the keycard unlocked and let me drive. Took several tries to get it to lock the truck back up with the card though.
Took delivery in oct 24. Non FS dual motor 2024.45.25.5
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