key fob not needed, anyone can steal your truck!

[Bob.]

Just a heads up. I didn't notice this before my recall as there was a recall for the ABS brakes on my 21 Ram. I had the recall serviced and all is well. The recall was 75B ABS Module Configuration Mismatch. I don't know if the service caused this issue or not.

A month or so after I unlocked my Ram in the morning at home. I left on errands but forgot the FOB on the table. The FOB was not on me. The truck fired up and drove me to the store. The truck didn't need to sense the FOB was nearby or not. I never seen this one before. I couldn't lock my doors at the store so I returned home. I ended up unplugging the battery and made sure the truck was completely dead then I reconnected the battery, It took a few day after then the truck sensed the FOB again. ​

So who may read this check that your FOB is needed to drive your truck. If not kill the system and reset it. Good Luck.

 

[1791]

actually you could steal a mopar with key sense with a phone before the new app on the 25's all they need is your vin, it really don't matter what you do if they want it bad enough it will get stolen just ask all the hellcat owners.
god i mis the old fashioned key. if you had a physical key you would have not be able to leave without it lol and you would never loose it in the truck like i do.
it's progress? we already had fob's with a key that flipped out so no i think it saves money mechanical parts- no more lock cylinder on the column no more key. keys have been around since ancient Rome i think they had a good track record. but still would not keep a vehicle from determined thief.

 

[FastBlackRam]

Just a heads up. I didn't notice this before my recall as there was a recall for the ABS brakes on my 21 Ram. I had the recall serviced and all is well. The recall was 75B ABS Module Configuration Mismatch. I don't know if the service caused this issue or not.

A month or so after I unlocked my Ram in the morning at home. I left on errands but forgot the FOB on the table. The FOB was not on me. The truck fired up and drove me to the store. The truck didn't need to sense the FOB was nearby or not. I never seen this one before. I couldn't lock my doors at the store so I returned home. I ended up unplugging the battery and made sure the truck was completely dead then I reconnected the battery, It took a few day after then the truck sensed the FOB again. ​

So who may read this check that your FOB is needed to drive your truck. If not kill the system and reset it. Good Luck.

Part of this story seems incomplete. Not trying to dis you just wondering. When you got to the store did you turn off the vehicle then try to lock your doors from the outside and couldn't? Then you got back in didn't need the FOB again and started it again and returned home? This is insane.

 

[scottmoyer]

I've actually thought about replacing the push to start with a key. Just too much involved with the whole passive entry and such.

 

[Dewey]

I’ve always found it very concerning that the truck can be driven away once running without a key fob in the vehicle. There should be an interlock that prevents the vehicle from being shifted out of park till the fob is detected. That’s a very serious flaw.

 

[stevj]

Just verified this on my 2019:
If you use the remote start feature, the vehicle is locked, requiring the fob to unlock the doors.
If the doors are subsequently unlocked, the vehicle is still in remote start mode, requiring a foot on brake and start button push with fob in possession to get it out of remote start mode and into a Drive mode.

Steve

 

[Dewey]

Just verified this on my 2019:
If you use the remote start feature, the vehicle is locked, requiring the fob to unlock the doors.
If the doors are subsequently unlocked, the vehicle is still in remote start mode, requiring a foot on brake and start button push with fob in possession to get it out of remote start mode and into a Drive mode.

Steve

Yes that’s correct and how it should work. The issue is when the truck is already started by push button and then leaving the vehicle with the fob in possession. Someone can then jump in the truck and drive it away with a fob. Very poor engineering there. I can’t believe this has never been addressed.

Years ago when keys were in the ignition it was pretty hard to prevent but these days with all the sensors and other electronics it’s a very easy fix. No fob no go, seems pretty simple.

 

[CalvinC]

Yes that’s correct and how it should work. The issue is when the truck is already started by push button and then leaving the vehicle with the fob in possession. Someone can then jump in the truck and drive it away with a fob. Very poor engineering there. I can’t believe this has never been addressed.

Years ago when keys were in the ignition it was pretty hard to prevent but these days with all the sensors and other electronics it’s a very easy fix. No fob no go, seems pretty simple.

This is also default behavior for the F150, but you can enable “cop mode” via ForScan wherein even if engine is running from a traditional start (not a remote start) you cannot place the transmission into gear without the fob present.

Remote start already works that way.

I wonder if it is intentional so as not to strand someone.

I mean even with old fashioned keyed ignition, if you leave your engine running it meant the key was in the tumbler and therefore the vehicle would similarly be easy to steal.

Got to be careful how much “protecting us from ourselves” we ask the manufacturers to do. It’s already a nanny state.

 

[StuartV]

Part of this story seems incomplete. Not trying to dis you just wondering. When you got to the store did you turn off the vehicle then try to lock your doors from the outside and couldn't? Then you got back in didn't need the FOB again and started it again and returned home? This is insane.

This.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Yes that’s correct and how it should work. The issue is when the truck is already started by push button and then leaving the vehicle with the fob in possession. Someone can then jump in the truck and drive it away with a fob. Very poor engineering there. I can’t believe this has never been addressed.

Years ago when keys were in the ignition it was pretty hard to prevent but these days with all the sensors and other electronics it’s a very easy fix. No fob no go, seems pretty simple.

It's a safety issue, and purposely programmed that way so people aren't left stranded if the battery in fob does while driving. Once the truck is turned off, it can't be restarted without the fob.

What OP is describing is something different, and probably not a common issue. He may have a bad RF hub that thinks the key is present, otherwise he'd get the notification saying fob has left the vehicle. Or, someone left a fob in center console he didn't notice

 

[StuartV]

It's a safety issue, and purposely programmed that way so people aren't left stranded if the battery in fob does while driving. Once the truck is turned off, it can't be restarted without the fob.

What OP is describing is something different, and probably not a common issue. He may have a bad RF hub that thinks the key is present, otherwise he'd get the notification saying fob has left the vehicle. Or, someone left a fob in center console he didn't notice

Or, the fob at home was close enough to let him start it, and then he never turned it off. And maybe hit Ok on the steering wheel to dismiss the "fob not present" message maybe without even noticing it.

Maybe. Until OP gives more info, it's just another Internet fable.