2022 Kia Forte Key Replacement

The 2022–2024 Forte uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Kia Forte key guide.

2022 Kia Forte: key facts

Key type: Flip key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: Texas DST-AES ('H-8A'/ID75) — smart-key trims; flip-key chip unconfirmed
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

Immobilizer standard from the 2022 model year (applied at the start of the year or as a running change, per Kia). Bladed flip keys (FCC CQOTD00660) now carry a transponder whose family we have not confirmed this session; smart-key trims use the Texas DST-AES ('H-8A'/ID75) fob. OBD programming; a Kia PIN may be required.

What key does a 2022 Kia Forte use, and what does that mean for you?

The 2022 Forte is a flip-key car. The blade folds into the fob, and the fob carries the remote buttons. It also has a mechanical backup key, which matters more than most owners realize: if the remote dies, the backup lets you get into the car, and it is worth knowing where that blade is before you need it.

The bigger change for 2022 is the immobilizer. According to Kia, it became standard from this model year, either at the start of the year or as a running change. That means the key has a transponder chip the car must recognize before the engine will run. A plain metal copy from a hardware store may turn the lock and open the doors, but it will not start the car. That is one of the most common problems we see with this generation of Forte, along with cracked shells, worn buttons, broken flip hinges and dead remote batteries.

Some trims in the Forte lineup use a smart-key fob instead of a flip key. Those use a Texas DST-AES chip, sometimes listed as 'H-8A' or ID75. If your car has push-button start, tell us when you call, because the process and the hardware are different from the flip-key version.

Bladed flip key with remote buttons and a mechanical backup blade
Immobilizer standard from the 2022 model year
Hardware-store copies open doors but will not start the engine
Common wear: hinges, shells, buttons and remote batteries

Duplicate key or all keys lost: what is different?

If you still have one working key, duplication is the simpler job. For this setup the original key needs to be present so we can cut the new blade and program the new transponder and remote to the car. Having a spare made while you still hold a working key is usually the more economical route compared with starting from zero later.

If every key is gone, we can still make a new one. All-keys-lost is possible on the 2022 Forte, but it takes more steps: we cut a blade from the lock or by vehicle information, then program a brand-new key to the car without an existing key to work from. Kia may also require a PIN for this, and getting that code adds a step to the work.

If you are standing in a parking lot with no key, say so on the phone. We run mobile vans from our Westwood base, so in most cases the work can happen where the car is parked, rather than needing a tow.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

Call (213) 577-1366

How is a 2022 Forte key programmed?

Programming on this car is done through the OBD port under the dashboard. We connect our equipment, communicate with the immobilizer, and register the new key. The steps below are the general sequence; the details change depending on whether you have a working key and whether a PIN is needed.

We confirm the car by VIN and check which key type it has: flip key or smart-key fob.
We cut the new blade, either from your working key or from the car's key information if all keys are lost.
We connect to the OBD port and, if the car asks for it, obtain the Kia PIN.
We program the transponder and remote, then test starting, locking, unlocking and the mechanical backup blade.
We check any other keys you hand us so the full set works together.

What affects the price of a 2022 Forte key?

We do not quote a figure without knowing the car, but these are the real factors that move the cost:

Flip key or smart-key fob. The hardware is different, and so is the programming work.
Duplicate or all keys lost. Having a working key to copy from is the lighter-cost situation.
Whether a Kia PIN is required and how it must be obtained.
Whether you need only a new shell or battery rather than a full key. A cracked case can sometimes be fixed without replacing the whole electronics.
Where the car is. Mobile service to a location and work at our storefront are different jobs.
How many keys you want made in the same visit.

What we confirm by VIN, and why call Wilshire Lock & Key

Here is the honest part. For the bladed flip key on the 2022 Forte (FCC ID CQOTD00660), we have not confirmed which transponder chip family it carries. The Texas DST-AES chip is confirmed for the smart-key fob, but we do not want to assume the same for the flip key. Because this year was a transition for the immobilizer, we check the VIN and look at the key in person before ordering parts, and we tell you plainly if anything turns out to be dealer-only.

We have been in business since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles (90024) and mobile vans serving 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You get one company, not a dispatcher passing the job to someone else, 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 Kia Forte key page, the wider Kia key service overview, or all car key services. When you are ready, contact us or call (213) 577-1366; the line is answered around the clock.

Frequently asked questions

Can you copy my 2022 Kia Forte key if I only have one?

Yes. For this setup the original key needs to be present. We cut a new blade and program the transponder and remote to the car through the OBD port.

I lost every key to my 2022 Forte. Can you still make one?

Yes, all-keys-lost is possible on this car. It takes more steps than a duplicate, and Kia may require a PIN, which we obtain as part of the job.

Will a hardware-store copy start my car?

Usually not. The 2022 Forte has an immobilizer, so a copy may open the doors but will not start the engine unless a compatible chip is programmed to the car.

Does my 2022 Forte have a flip key or a push-button fob?

The standard key is a bladed flip key, but some trims use a smart-key fob. Tell us your VIN or trim and we confirm which one you have before ordering anything.

What transponder chip does the flip key use?

We have not confirmed the chip family for the flip key. The smart-key fob uses a Texas DST-AES chip. We verify by VIN and in person rather than guess.

My remote works but the case is cracked. Do I need a whole new key?

Not always. Broken hinges, cracked shells and worn buttons are common, and depending on the damage the electronics may be reusable. We look at it first and tell you what is actually needed.

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.