2018 Hyundai Kona Key Replacement

The 2018–2022 Kona uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Hyundai Kona key guide.

2018 Hyundai Kona: key facts

Key type: Mechanical (no chip)
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: ID47 (Hitag 3) on smart-key trims
Programming: NONE
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

OS generation, on Hyundai's official anti-theft list (2018-2022 Kona): base SE/SEL turn-key cars have no immobilizer. Smart-key trims use ID47 fobs (e.g., TQ8-FOB-4F43) programmed via OBD.

What kind of key does a 2018 Kona use?

The first-year Kona is split by trim, and the split matters more than most owners expect. Base SE and SEL cars use a turn-key setup: a mechanical metal key that goes in the ignition and turns. On those cars there is no factory immobilizer, so there is no transponder chip to match to the car.

Smart-key trims are different. They use an ID47 (Hitag 3) chip in the fob, and the fob is programmed to the car through the OBD port. Those fobs also carry a mechanical backup key, which is what opens the door if the fob battery dies or the fob is lost.

If you are not sure which version you own, look at how you start the car. A key you turn is the turn-key setup. A fob you carry is the smart-key setup. If you are still unsure, give us the VIN and we will sort it out.

Base SE/SEL turn-key: mechanical key, no immobilizer chip
Smart-key trims: ID47 (Hitag 3) fob, programmed via OBD
Smart-key fobs include a mechanical backup key

Why does the missing immobilizer matter?

On a base turn-key 2018 Kona, a plain metal copy of the key will start the car. That is convenient when you need a spare, and it is also the weakness. These model years were primary targets of the 2021 to 2023 theft wave often called the Kia Boys trend, and the 2018 to 2022 Kona is on Hyundai's official anti-theft list.

Thieves who went after these cars often damaged the ignition lock cylinder and the steering column. If your Kona was attacked or you suspect an attempt, a new key alone may not fix anything. Often the ignition needs a lock rebuild or replacement before any key will work properly.

Hyundai offers a free anti-theft software update for eligible Konas at hyundaiantitheft.com. We recommend it alongside any key work you do, because a new key does not add protection to a car that has no immobilizer.

Duplicate key or all keys lost?

Making a duplicate is the simpler job, but it needs an original key in hand to copy from. If you still have one working key, make the spare now. It is the lighter-cost path and usually the more economical route compared with waiting until the last key goes missing.

If every key is gone, replacement is still possible for this setup. On a turn-key car we can cut a key to the lock itself. On a smart-key car we make a new fob and program it through the OBD port. For this year, NASTF SDRM access is not required, which keeps the process more direct.

Either way, we come to you with a mobile van or you can bring the car to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd. If the ignition is damaged, that is better handled in person.

Tell us your trim and whether you start the car with a turn key or a fob, and give us the VIN.
We confirm the setup and whether you have any key to copy from.
We cut the key, or cut and program the fob, and test it on the ignition, doors and trunk.
If the ignition cylinder is damaged, we repair or replace it so the new key works properly.

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?

We don't quote numbers on a web page because the job varies. These are the factors that actually move the cost on a 2018 Kona:

Turn-key or smart-key: a cut metal key is a different job than a programmed ID47 fob
Duplicate or all keys lost: copying from an existing key is simpler than starting from nothing
Ignition and column damage: a rebuilt or replaced lock cylinder adds work beyond the key
Where the car is: a mobile call to your location differs from a visit to our storefront
Time of day: we answer 24 hours a day, but after-hours work is not the same as a scheduled visit

What we confirm by VIN, and why call us

Our data is clear on the split between turn-key and smart-key trims, but a single Kona can have had parts swapped, especially after theft damage or a prior ignition repair. So we confirm by VIN and in person before we cut or program anything, rather than assume from the model year alone.

Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987, with a storefront in Westwood and mobile service vans covering 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You deal with one company, not a dispatch middleman, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for that number before work begins.

For more on the model, see our Hyundai Kona key page, the wider Hyundai key replacement guide, or all car key services. To describe your situation, use our contact page or call (213) 577-1366 any hour.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2018 Hyundai Kona have a transponder chip?

It depends on the trim. Smart-key trims use an ID47 (Hitag 3) chip in the fob. Base SE and SEL turn-key cars have no factory immobilizer, so their metal key carries no chip to program.

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

Yes. All-keys-lost replacement is possible for this setup. We confirm your trim by VIN, then cut a key or cut and program a fob, depending on the car.

Do I need my original key to get a duplicate?

Yes, a duplicate needs an original key to copy from. If you have no key at all, that is an all-keys-lost job, which we can still handle.

Will a plain metal copy start my base-trim Kona?

On base turn-key trims, yes, because there is no immobilizer. That is also why these cars were targeted in the 2021 to 2023 theft wave.

Is my Kona eligible for the Hyundai anti-theft update?

The 2018 to 2022 Kona is on Hyundai's official anti-theft list. The software update is free, and details are at hyundaiantitheft.com. We recommend it alongside any key work.

My ignition was damaged in a theft attempt. Is a new key enough?

Often not. Damaged ignition cylinders and steering columns usually need a lock rebuild or replacement, and the key is matched after that work is done.

What should I ask any locksmith before they start?

Ask for their BSIS LCO license number. California requires locksmith companies to hold that license, and a legitimate company will give it to you.

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.