2007 Nissan Altima Key Replacement

The 2007–2012 Altima uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Nissan Altima key guide.

2007 Nissan Altima: key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: Yes
Transponder chip: ID46 (Hitag-2, PCF7952)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

Intelligent Key with push-button start was standard on all US trims from the 2007 redesign (contemporary Nissan launch coverage). ESCL steering-lock failures are a known no-start issue on this generation.

What kind of key does a 2007 Altima use?

The 2007 model year was the redesign, and Nissan made the Intelligent Key with push-button start standard on every US trim. So there is no bladed-key-in-the-ignition version of this year to worry about. If your Altima starts with a button, you have a smart-proximity fob.

Inside that fob is an ID46 transponder chip (Hitag-2, PCF7952 family). The car checks for that chip when you press the button. If it does not find a fob it recognizes, it will not start, even if the fob looks perfectly fine.

There is also a mechanical backup key built into the fob. It exists so you can open the driver's door if the fob battery is dead. Keep it where you can find it; people often forget it is there until the day they need it.

Dead battery or a real key problem?

Before you pay for a new fob, rule out the two most common causes of a no-start on this car. Neither one needs a replacement key.

Dead fob battery: the dash shows a "key not detected" message. The backup is to hold the fob right against the start button and press, which lets the car read the chip without the battery.
Steering-column lock failure: the electronic steering-column lock (ESCL) on push-button Nissans of this era is a known failure. It gives a no-start with a flashing key light, and it is often mistaken for a key problem. A new fob will not fix it.
A genuinely lost or damaged fob: if you have no working fob, or the chip no longer responds, replacement and programming is the right job.

Replace the fob battery if the message says the key is not detected.
Try holding the fob against the start button.
If the key light still flashes and the car will not start, call us and describe what the dash shows.

Duplicate key or all keys lost?

For this setup, making a duplicate requires an original key. If you still have one working fob, we can add another to the car through the OBD port. That is usually the more economical route, so do not wait until you are down to zero.

If you have lost every fob, the job is still possible. It takes more work because there is nothing to copy from, and we come to the car with the equipment rather than having you tow it somewhere. Programming on this year is done through the OBD port, and the data we hold shows no NASTF SDRM access is required for it.

Either way, the car needs to be with us, and we need to know you own it. Bring registration or title and photo ID.

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 replacement fob?

We do not quote numbers on a page, because the real cost depends on your situation. A lost-fob replacement costs more than an older bladed key, since you are buying a proximity fob with a chip and circuitry, not a cut piece of metal. What moves the cost:

Whether you have a working key (duplicate) or none (all keys lost).
Whether the fob is new, or a used one that has to be cleared and reprogrammed.
How many fobs you want programmed at once.
Where the car is, and whether we come to you or you come to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd.
Whether the real fault turns out to be the steering-column lock rather than the key.

What we confirm by VIN

The ID46 chip information for this year comes from a verified source, and the data shows OBD programming. Fob hardware can still differ between trims and production runs, so we confirm the exact fob by VIN, and by looking at your car, before ordering or programming anything. If something does not match what we expect, we will tell you plainly rather than guess.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key: we have been in business since 1987, with a storefront in Westwood and mobile service vans. You talk to one company, not a dispatch middleman, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. See our Nissan Altima key page for other years, or the wider Nissan key service overview. To send details about your car, use our contact page, or call (213) 577-1366 any time.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2007 Nissan Altima have a transponder chip?

Yes. The Intelligent Key contains an ID46 (Hitag-2, PCF7952) transponder chip, and the car must recognize it before it will start.

My Altima says key not detected. Do I need a new key?

Not necessarily. Try a new fob battery first. If it is dead, you can hold the fob against the start button to start the car.

The key light is flashing and the car will not start. Is it the fob?

It might be, but this era of push-button Nissans is known for electronic steering-column lock failures that cause the same symptom. We help work out which it is before you pay for a fob.

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

Yes, all keys lost is possible on this car. It takes more work than a duplicate, and we need proof of ownership and photo ID.

Do I need an original key to get a copy?

For duplication, yes, an original key is needed. If you have one working fob, adding another is usually the more economical route.

How is the new fob programmed?

Through the OBD port in the car. The data we hold shows this does not require NASTF SDRM access on this year.

Is there a physical key inside the fob?

Yes, a mechanical backup key is built into the fob so you can open the door if the battery dies.

Do I have to tow the car to you?

Usually not. Our mobile vans come to the car. You are also welcome at our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will sort out which makes sense.

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.