2015 Mercedes GLA Key Replacement

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA: key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: Varies by trim — we confirm by VIN
Programming: Confirmed per vehicle — call us
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

Genuine boundary year: US GLA sales began September 2014, and Mercedes' own bulletin puts the FBS4 switch for model 156 at November 2014 production — so early 2015-model cars can be FBS3 (Silca catalogs list 2013-2014 X156 keys as FBS3) and later ones FBS4. FBS3 cars are specialist-serviceable; FBS4 cars are effectively dealer-only. We identify the system from the VIN/Vedoc data before quoting — never from the model year alone.

What kind of key does a 2015 GLA use?

The 2015 GLA uses a smart-proximity key, the Mercedes fob that talks to the car electronically. It is not a push-to-start setup for this year. The key goes into the ignition and turns, and there is a mechanical backup key built into the fob for when the electronics or the battery let you down.

That backup blade matters in practice. If the fob goes dead, the blade can still open the door, so a flat battery alone does not mean you are stranded. What it will not do is replace a working electronic key for starting the car.

The problems we see described most often for this setup are:

A worn or failing electronic ignition switch (the EIS/EZS) where the key is not recognized or will not turn
Aging key electronics that stop syncing with the car
A dead fob battery, where the remote buttons fail first
Cracked key shells and worn buttons

Why is 2015 a boundary year, and what is not verified?

Here is the honest part. The data we have for this exact year is conflicting, and we will not guess. US GLA sales began in September 2014, and Mercedes' own bulletin puts the switch to the newer FBS4 security system for the 156 model at November 2014 production. That means an early 2015-model car can still carry the older FBS3 system, while a later one carries FBS4. Parts catalogs we checked list the 2013 to 2014 versions of this body style as FBS3.

We have not verified a chip family or a programming method for this year, and we are not going to print one. Whether your car is FBS3 or FBS4 changes the job a great deal. FBS3 cars can be handled by a specialist. FBS4 cars are effectively dealer-only, and we will say so plainly if that is where yours lands, rather than take your call and then send you elsewhere.

So we identify the system from your VIN and the vehicle data before we quote anything, never from the model year alone. Send us the VIN, which is visible at the base of the windshield on the driver's side, and we can start from facts instead of a hunch.

Spare key or all keys lost: how does it differ?

For this setup, an original key is not required to make a new one, and an all-keys-lost situation is possible to work with. Both of those depend on the car turning out to be a system we can service. If it is an FBS3 car, losing every key is usually a solvable problem. If it is FBS4, the route runs through the dealer, and we will tell you that up front.

Even so, having one working key is the easier position. It gives us something to work from and saves you the trouble of proving ownership under more stressful conditions. If you have a single key left, treat that as a reason to get a spare made soon, not a reason to wait.

Either way we will ask for proof that the car is yours, such as registration and ID, before cutting or programming anything.

Send us the VIN and tell us how many working keys you have, including the mechanical blade.
We check the vehicle data to determine whether the car is FBS3 or FBS4.
If it is serviceable by a specialist, we confirm the plan and the cost factors before starting.
If it is dealer-only, we say so and point you in the right direction.
We confirm ownership, then cut and program the key and test every function before you drive off.

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 2015 GLA key?

We do not quote a figure over a general description because this car's system is not settled by the year. These are the things that actually move the cost:

Whether the car is FBS3 or FBS4, which decides whether a specialist can do the work at all
Whether you have a working key or are in an all-keys-lost situation
Whether the ignition switch is worn or failing, which can mean more than a new key
Whether the problem is only a battery or a cracked shell, which is the lighter-cost fix
Whether you need the key brought to your location or can come to our Westwood storefront
The hour you call, since we answer 24 hours a day

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key about your GLA?

We have been in business since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile vans that serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. You get one company, not a dispatcher passing your call to whoever is free. 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 it before they touch your car. For more on how we handle European makes, see our Mercedes-Benz key page, the GLA overview, or all car key services. When you are ready, contact us or call (213) 577-1366.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mercedes GLA push-to-start?

No. For this year the key goes into the ignition and turns. It is a smart-proximity key with a mechanical backup blade, but not a push-button start.

Can you make a key if I lost every key to my 2015 GLA?

An all-keys-lost situation is possible to work with on this setup, provided the car is a system we can service. We check the VIN first. If it turns out to be FBS4, which is effectively dealer-only, we will tell you plainly.

Do I need my original key to get a copy?

No, an original key is not required. Having a working one still makes the job simpler, so get a spare made before your last key is lost.

Why do you need my VIN before quoting?

2015 is a boundary year. Early cars can use the older FBS3 system and later ones the newer FBS4, and the two are serviced very differently. The VIN tells us which one you have, so the quote starts from facts.

My GLA key will not turn in the ignition. Is the key the problem?

Not always. A worn or failing electronic ignition switch can cause a key to be unrecognized or refuse to turn. We look at both the key and the switch before recommending a fix.

My fob buttons stopped working but the car still starts. What now?

A dead fob battery is the most common cause, since the remote buttons fail first. That is the lighter-cost fix. If a new battery does not help, the key electronics may be aging and no longer syncing with the car.

Can I still open the door if the fob is dead?

Yes. The fob has a mechanical backup key that will open the door. It will not take the place of a working electronic key for starting the car.

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.