Key Outside Car Message

When the ignition is in RUN and a door or liftgate/luggage compartment lid is opened and then closed, the RFA module activates all of the PATS antennas to search the inside of the vehicle for a passive key. If a passive key is no longer detected inside the vehicle, the Key outside car message displays in the message center.

This strategy prevents the passive key from being separated from an already running vehicle. If a passive key is no longer in the vehicle, the ignition remains in ON and the engine continues to run. If the START/STOP button is pressed to turn the ignition OFF, the engine can be restarted without a passive key present inside the vehicle for approximately 10 seconds. After 10 seconds a passive key must be present to start the engine or transition the ignition out of OFF. If the driver door is opened during the 10-second countdown, a programmed passive key is needed to restart the engine.