Chevrolet Suburban Key Replacement

Chevrolet Suburban keys by year

Year	Key type	Chip	Push-to-start
2026	Smart / proximity key	varies — ask us	Yes
2025	Smart / proximity key	varies — ask us	Yes
2024	Smart / proximity key	ID49 (NXP Hitag Pro/AES)	Yes
2023	Smart / proximity key	ID49 (NXP Hitag Pro/AES)	Yes
2022	Smart / proximity key	ID49 (NXP Hitag Pro/AES)	Yes
2021	Smart / proximity key	ID49 (NXP Hitag Pro/AES)	Yes
2020	Smart / proximity key	46E (Hitag2 Extended)	Yes
2019	Smart / proximity key	46E (Hitag2 Extended)	Yes
2018	Smart / proximity key	46E (Hitag2 Extended)	Yes
2017	Smart / proximity key	46E (Hitag2 Extended)	Yes
2016	Smart / proximity key	46E (Hitag2 Extended)	Yes
2015	Smart / proximity key	46E (Hitag2 Extended)	Yes
2014	Remote-head key	ID46 (PK3+ circle-plus, Hitag2)	No
2013	Remote-head key	ID46 (PK3+ circle-plus, Hitag2)	No
2012	Remote-head key	ID46 (PK3+ circle-plus, Hitag2)	No
2011	Remote-head key	ID46 (PK3+ circle-plus, Hitag2)	No
2010	Remote-head key	ID46 (PK3+ circle-plus, Hitag2)	No
2009	Remote-head key	ID46 (PK3+ circle-plus, Hitag2)	No
2008	Remote-head key	ID46 (PK3+ circle-plus, Hitag2)	No
2007	Remote-head key	ID46 (PK3+ circle-plus, Hitag2)	No
2006	Mechanical (no chip)	none (Passlock — no chip in key)	No
2005	Mechanical (no chip)	none (Passlock — no chip in key)	No
2004	Mechanical (no chip)	none (Passlock — no chip in key)	No
2003	Mechanical (no chip)	none (Passlock — no chip in key)	No
2002	Mechanical (no chip)	none (Passlock — no chip in key)	No
2001	Mechanical (no chip)	none (Passlock — no chip in key)	No
2000	Mechanical (no chip)	none (Passlock — no chip in key)	No

Which Suburban key do you actually have?

The Suburban has been around a long time, but the key changed four times between 2000 and 2026. Each change affects what we bring to the job, how we program it, and what can go wrong. The fastest way to place your truck is the model year: 2000–2006, 2007–2014, 2015–2020, or 2021 and later.

Two details help us before we arrive: the year, and whether the truck starts with a key turned in the ignition or a button on the dash. If you can read the VIN at the base of the windshield, even better. It lets us confirm the exact system, which matters most on the newest trucks. The year-by-year table on this page lists each model year, and our broader overview is on the car keys page. Other models from the brand are under Chevrolet keys.

2000–2006 Suburban: the Passlock years

Suburbans from 2000 through 2006 use GM's Passlock system, and the unusual thing about Passlock is that there is no chip in the key. The security sensor sits in the ignition lock cylinder instead. A correctly cut key starts the truck with no programming. These are mechanical keys, and they are the simplest Suburban keys to replace.

Because there is no transponder to pair, a lost key on one of these trucks is a cutting job, not a computer job. We do not need an original key to work from, and an all-keys-lost situation is possible to handle.

The bigger point for this era is that trouble people blame on the key is often not the key. If the security light stays on and the engine starts and then dies, even with a good key, the usual cause is a failed Passlock sensor in the ignition cylinder. A new key will not fix that, and we would rather tell you so than cut a key that changes nothing. If the ignition cylinder or the body control module has been replaced, GM calls for a relearn of about 30 minutes, run as three 10-minute cycles. Mention it if another shop has already swapped parts.

2007–2014 Suburban: transponder remote-head keys

The 2007 model year starts a new generation. There is no carry-over 'Classic' model, so every 2007 Suburban belongs to the generation that runs through 2014. The key is a remote-head key: a metal blade with the remote built into the head, carrying an ID46 chip (the PK3+ circle-plus, Hitag2 family).

Two things must be right for the truck to start. The blade has to turn the ignition, and the chip has to be programmed to the truck. We program through the OBD port. With a working key in hand, duplication is the straightforward case. If every key is gone, all-keys-lost is still possible. GM's onboard relearn, about 30 minutes in three 10-minute cycles, covers all-keys-lost on most PK3+ vehicles without special tooling, and OBD programming with a professional tool is faster.

One trap in this era: a hardware-store copy cut without a transponder will open the doors but will not start the engine. If someone has handed you a cheap copy that does exactly that, the blade is likely fine and it is the chip that is missing.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

Call (213) 577-1366

2015–2020 Suburban: proximity fobs, with a few keyed exceptions

From 2015 through 2020, most retail Suburbans use push-button start with a proximity fob from the HYQ1AA family, running the 46E (Hitag2 Extended) system. The fob stays in your pocket, and a hidden emergency blade inside it still opens the door if the battery dies. We program these through the OBD port.

The exception is fleet and police-package units. Base LS trucks and fleet/police versions are reported with a keyed ignition and a 46E flip key, and push-to-start did not become standard on the police package until 2021. We do not guess here. If your Suburban is a fleet truck or a base trim, we confirm which setup it has before cutting or ordering anything.

A duplicate from an existing fob is the simpler path. All keys lost is still possible on these years, but it takes more preparation than the keyed generations, so call before you try to push-start or tow the truck.

2021–2026 Suburban: newer smart fobs, and where we confirm by VIN

Suburbans from 2021 on use a YG0G21TB2-era smart fob on GM's newer electrical architecture. Through 2024, the system is NXP ID49 (Hitag Pro/AES). These trucks still have a hidden emergency blade, and the fob is still programmed through the OBD port.

The honest caveat is all-keys-lost. On this architecture, it may require GM server access (ACDelco SPS2) with NASTF VSP-credentialed tooling, or dealer service, depending on the tool. We confirm that per job rather than promise it up front. Adding a spare while you still have a working fob is usually the easier situation.

For 2025 and 2026 the data is not settled. Catalogs overlap across the 2025 facelift: ID49 is listed through 2024, while a Megamos AES (ID88) system is listed from 2024 on. So we do not state the chip for those two years. We confirm the exact system by VIN before we quote, and if it turns out to be a dealer-only case, we will say so plainly.

Duplicate key or all keys lost: what changes by era?

The difference between copying a key and replacing every key is not the same on each Suburban. Here is how it breaks down:

2000–2006: no chip, no programming. A key can be cut from a code or the lock, with or without an original.
2007–2014: a working key makes a duplicate simple. All keys lost is possible through onboard relearn or OBD programming.
2015–2020: a working fob makes a duplicate the easier job. All keys lost is possible, with more setup. Fleet and base-trim trucks may use the keyed flip key instead.
2021–2024: a duplicate is straightforward with a working fob. All keys lost may need GM server access, depending on the tool.
2025–2026: confirmed by VIN before anything is quoted.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

Call (213) 577-1366

Is Suburban key programming done at the dealer or by a locksmith?

For most Suburbans, a locksmith with the right equipment can do it without the dealer. For 2007–2020 trucks, the data shows OBD programming with no NASTF/SDRM requirement. Our mobile service vans and the storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood both carry the tools for it.

The newest trucks are different. For 2021 onward, all-keys-lost may call for GM server access with NASTF VSP-credentialed tooling or dealer service, depending on the tool, and that decision is made per vehicle. For 2025 and 2026, we do not yet know the setup until we have the VIN. If your truck falls in the dealer-only bucket, we will tell you before any work begins, not after.

What affects the cost of a Suburban key replacement?

We do not publish numbers here because the same word, 'Suburban key', covers very different jobs. What moves the cost:

Key type: a cut mechanical key, a transponder remote-head key, and a smart fob are very different parts. The fob is the costlier piece.
Duplicate or all keys lost: a lost-fob replacement is costlier than older bladed keys, and all-keys-lost takes more work than adding a spare.
Programming route: OBD programming is one thing. Jobs that need server access or credentialed tooling add steps.
Where you are: coming to the Westwood storefront is usually the more economical route when the truck can be driven. A mobile visit covers the van, travel, and the job on-site.
Extra repairs: a worn ignition cylinder or a failed Passlock sensor is a separate repair from the key.
Time of day: after-hours calls are not the same as a scheduled visit.

Common Suburban key problems

Across the generations, a few problems come up again and again in the data:

Failed Passlock sensor (2000–2006): security light on, engine starts then dies, even with a good key.
Worn ignition lock wafers on high-mileage trucks: the key sticks or will not turn. This applies to both the Passlock and the 2007–2014 keys.
Worn or damaged key blades that no longer turn the locks, even when the chip still works.
Hardware-store copies without a transponder (2007–2014): the doors open, the engine will not start.
Dead fob battery (2015 onward): the dash says 'no remote detected', while the emergency blade still opens the door.
Water-damaged or crushed fobs, which usually need replacement rather than repair.

When to call us, and when the dealer makes sense

Call us when you have lost your only key, snapped one in the ignition, been handed a copy that opens the door but will not start the truck, or cannot get the fob to register. Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987, with a storefront plus mobile vans serving 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. It is one company, with no dispatch middlemen, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. The phone, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, every day.

The dealer can make sense for a 2025 or 2026 truck where the setup is still unconfirmed, for vehicles still covered by a warranty, or when your truck's tooling really does require dealer service. We will say so if that is your case.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith for the number before they start, including us. You can contact us with your year and VIN, or start at our home page to see what we do.

Frequently asked questions

Does my 2000–2006 Suburban key need programming?

No. These trucks use Passlock, which has no chip in the key. The security sensor is in the ignition cylinder, so a correctly cut key starts the truck. If the security light is on and the engine dies, the sensor is the more likely cause.

Can you make a Suburban key if I lost all of them?

Usually, yes. All keys lost is possible on every year in our data except 2025–2026, which we confirm by VIN. On 2021–2024 trucks, it may need GM server access with credentialed tooling or dealer service, depending on the tool. We confirm that per job.

Why does my copied key open the doors but not start the truck?

On 2007–2014 Suburbans, the key carries an ID46 transponder chip. A copy cut without a chip turns the lock but cannot start the engine. The chip has to be programmed to the truck.

What if my fob says 'no remote detected'?

On 2015 and later trucks, that message usually means a dead fob battery. The hidden emergency blade inside the fob still opens the door. If a new battery does not help, the fob may be water-damaged or crushed and need replacing.

My 2015–2020 Suburban has a regular key ignition. Is that normal?

It can be. Base LS and fleet or police-package units are reported with a keyed ignition and a 46E flip key, even though most retail trims use push-button start. We confirm which setup your truck has before cutting or ordering.

What chip does a 2025 or 2026 Suburban use?

We do not state it, because catalogs conflict. ID49 is listed through 2024, and a Megamos AES (ID88) system is listed from 2024 on. We confirm the system by VIN before quoting.

Do I have to bring the truck to you?

No. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile vans that come to you. Bringing the truck is usually the more economical route when it can be driven, but a van visit works when it cannot.

How do I know a locksmith is legitimate?

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask for the number, and ask whether the same company will do the work or pass it to someone else. We are one company with no dispatch middlemen.

We cover all these cities

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.