2023 Chevy Colorado Key Replacement

The 2023–2026 Colorado uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Chevrolet Colorado key guide.

2023 Chevrolet Colorado: key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: Yes
Transponder chip: Hitag Pro (ID49)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

Push-button start with a smart fob (YG0G21TB2 era, Hitag Pro ID49 per catalog) is standard on all gen-3 trims including the WT work truck per published 2023 specifications — earlier reports that base work trucks kept a bladed key do not match US-market specs, though we still confirm the fob's FCC ID on early-production trucks. All-keys-lost on this electrical architecture may require GM server access (ACDelco SPS2) with NASTF VSP-credentialed tooling or dealer service depending on the tool — confirmed per job.

What kind of key does a 2023 Colorado use?

The 2023 Colorado is a third-generation truck, and it uses a smart proximity fob with push-button start. The fob carries a Hitag Pro (ID49) transponder chip, and that chip family is verified against the catalog data we work from. You do not insert anything to start the truck. The truck detects the fob, and the fob has to be programmed to that specific vehicle.

You may have heard that the base work truck keeps an old-style bladed key. That does not match the published US-market specifications for 2023. Push-button start with a smart fob is standard across the trims, work truck included. We still check the fob's FCC ID on early-production trucks, because that is the one place a surprise could hide.

Every fob also has a hidden mechanical emergency blade. That matters on the day the battery dies, which is the most common problem with this setup.

Key type: smart proximity fob, push-to-start
Transponder: Hitag Pro (ID49)
Mechanical backup blade: yes, hidden inside the fob
Programming method: through the OBD port

Dead battery, lost fob or water damage: what actually goes wrong?

These are the three problems we see recorded for this truck. They call for different fixes, so it helps to know which one you have before you call.

Dead fob battery: the dash shows a 'no remote detected' message, but the emergency blade still opens the door. This is often a battery issue rather than a key replacement.
Lost fob: a replacement costs more than it would for an older bladed key, because the fob has to be cut for the backup blade and programmed to the truck.
Water-damaged or crushed fobs: if the fob went through the wash or under a tire, the electronics may be gone even if the case looks fine.

Do you have a spare, or are all keys lost?

For this truck, duplicating a key requires an original key to be present. If you still have one working fob, adding another is the more straightforward job. We program the new fob through the OBD port and test that it starts the truck and unlocks the doors.

If every key is lost, replacement is still possible. It is a bigger job, though. On this electrical architecture, all-keys-lost work may require GM server access (ACDelco SPS2) using NASTF VSP-credentialed tooling, or dealer service, depending on the tool involved. We cannot tell you which path applies until we look at your truck, so we confirm it per job rather than guess.

Because of that, if you have one fob left, do not wait until it fails. Getting a second fob made while the first still works is usually the simpler and more economical route.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the price of a 2023 Colorado key?

We will not quote a number before we know what you have, and any quote that skips these questions is a guess. The main factors are:

Whether you have a working fob to copy or all keys are lost
Whether the job needs GM server access and credentialed tooling, or a dealer
The fob itself, including its FCC ID, since early-production trucks can differ
Whether the problem is only a battery, or a damaged fob that needs replacing
Where the truck is: at our Westwood storefront, or somewhere our van has to reach you
Whether the emergency blade needs cutting

Call us and give your VIN, plus how many working fobs you have.
We tell you which path applies and what drives the cost on your truck.
We cut the backup blade and program the new fob through the OBD port.
We test starting, locking and unlocking before we finish.

What we confirm by VIN before we start

One honest note: the fob data for early-production 2023 trucks is not uniform enough for us to promise a part number from the phone. That is why we check the FCC ID against your truck. Dealer-only situations can also come up on all-keys-lost jobs, depending on the tooling. If yours is one, we will say so plainly instead of taking your money for a job we cannot finish.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for theirs before work begins.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for your Colorado

We have been in business since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans. You get one company, not a dispatch middleman passing your call along. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and the phone is answered around the clock. For the wider picture, see our Chevrolet Colorado key page, our Chevrolet key service, or all car key services. You can also reach us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2023 Colorado work truck still use a bladed key?

No. Push-button start with a smart fob is standard on all third-generation trims, including the work truck, per published 2023 specifications. We still confirm the fob's FCC ID on early-production trucks.

My dash says 'no remote detected'. Do I need a new key?

Not necessarily. That message commonly points to a dead fob battery. The hidden emergency blade will still open the door. If a fresh battery does not fix it, the fob itself may be damaged.

Can you make a key if I lost every fob?

Yes, all-keys-lost replacement is possible for this truck. Depending on the tooling, it may need GM server access (ACDelco SPS2) with NASTF VSP-credentialed tools, or dealer service. We confirm which applies per job.

Do I need my original key to get a copy?

Yes, duplication on this truck requires an original key. With one working fob, adding a spare is the more straightforward job.

How is the new fob programmed?

Programming is done through the OBD port. The fob uses a Hitag Pro (ID49) chip and has to be matched to your truck before it will start it.

Why does a replacement cost more than an older truck key?

A smart fob contains electronics, a transponder chip and a backup blade, and it has to be programmed to the vehicle. Older bladed keys were simpler. Whether you have a spare also shapes the cost.

What should I have ready when I call?

Your VIN, the number of working fobs you still have, and where the truck is parked. Call (213) 577-1366 any hour, any day.

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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.