Why Is My Key Light on in My Nissan Altima? (Explained)

The Nissan Altima is one of the newest cars manufactured by Nissan. This sedan is a successor of the previously manufactured Nissan Bluebird.

Why is my key light on in my Nissan Altima?

The key light in your Nissan Altima can suggest two things. It can mean that the ignition switch is ready, and you can start the car. However, it can also indicate the security features of your vehicle are now active. System warnings will appear in the vehicle’s information display.

There are various reasons why the key light can be on in your Nissan Altima. Below given are some reasons.

The ignition switch is ready:

In older Nissans, the ignited “key” light on the dashboard indicated that the ignition switch is ready to start, and the driver can turn on the car.

If your Nissan Altima is of an older make, this could be the meaning of the key light.

Security systems:

Modern Nissan cars are equipped with security features. When the key is in the “lock” mode, “off” mode, or the “accessories” mode, the security features are activated.

The “key” light indicates that the security features are operational.

Unrecognized key or key battery is low:

If your Nissan auto does not recognize the key or you turn on the vehicle with a different key than the one that came with the car, the car will show the message that the key is unrecognized.

You will see a similar text if the key fob’s battery is low.

Absence of key:

Nissan cars that come with key fobs will not turn on without the key fob. So, if the key fob is not inside the vehicle, the auto will not start.

Instead, it will show the “key” light and give a warning message that the key is absent. You will have to have the key inside the car to start the engine.

Key system error:

If you see the “key system error” message, you need to visit the closest authorized Nissan dealer to get the car system checked.

This error can mean that the car’s security features are malfunctioning. It can also indicate that the key of the vehicle is malfunctioning.

These are the reasons why you may see the key light in your Nissan Altima.

What does the key symbol mean on my Nissan Altima?

The key symbol on your Nissan Altima can mean different things. It depends on the model of your Altima and the year it was manufactured.

If you have an old Nissan Altima, the “key” symbol can mean that the ignition switch is ready, and you can turn on your car engine. However, a red blinking light will indicate that the key fob is absent inside the car.

In modern Nissan cars, security features are installed to enhance the car’s security. A “key” light with the outline of a vehicle will indicate that the security features are operational.

You will see this symbol light up when you put the key in off, lock, or accessories mode.

However, in the latest cars manufactured by Nissan, the warning messages are directly displayed on the information screen. The presented information can help diagnose the problem.

Is blinking key light on nissan altima bad?

As mentioned earlier, the blinking key light indicates the absence of the key fob. The blinking key light will come up if you leave the key fob outside the vehicle. It will also come up if the key fob’s battery has depleted.

Therefore, it is not bad for your car. It simply means that the battery of the key fob has expired. Or, it can also indicate that you mistakenly left the key fob outside the car.

How do I reset my Nissan Altima key light?

If you want to reset the security features of your Nissan Altima, you will have to follow some simple steps. Follow the steps below:

Lock and unlock the vehicle:

Use your car key to lock the vehicle from the driver’s side door. Then, unlock the car again using the key. Get in the driver’s seat.

Put the key on the “on” position and wait:

After you are inside the car on the driver’s seat, insert the car key into the vehicle. Rotate the car key until it is in the “on” position. Wait for the blinking lights to go off. This can take about 5 minutes.

Start the car:

After the blinking lights have turned off, turn on the car and wait for 4 seconds. After a few seconds, you will see that the anti-theft lights have turned off and the alarm has stopped ringing.

By following the steps above, you can turn off the anti-theft system of your Nissan Altima. But, if you are having repeated problems or the alarm is getting triggered without any reason, you should contact an authorized Nissan dealer to get the problem checked.

However, if you are curious about how to stop the blinking red light, you can do that by putting the key fob inside the car. If the battery has depleted, install a new battery into the key fob and that will fix the issue.

Final Thoughts

The key light on your Nissan Altima can mean several things. What it means depends on the model of your car and the manufacturing year. If you are confused about what the symbol is trying to tell you, you can visit the closest authorized Nissan dealer to get help.