2009 Nissan Maxima Key Replacement

The 2009–2014 Maxima uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Nissan Maxima key guide.

2009 Nissan Maxima: 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

A35 push-button Intelligent Key (KR55WK48903-style fob); ESCL steering-lock failures are a known no-start issue on this generation.

What kind of key does a 2009 Maxima use?

The 2009 Maxima is a push-to-start car. It uses a smart proximity key, which Nissan calls the Intelligent Key. The car senses the fob in your pocket or bag, and you start the engine with the button. This generation uses the A35-style push-button fob, the KR55WK48903-style unit.

Inside the fob is an ID46 transponder chip (Hitag-2 family, PCF7952). We checked that against published transponder references, and it is verified for this year. In plain terms, the fob is not just a cut piece of metal. The car has to electronically learn it before it will start. A copy from a hardware kiosk will not do the job.

There is also a mechanical backup key hidden in the fob. It opens the driver's door if the fob battery is dead or the fob stops responding. Here is what that means for you:

Smart proximity fob with push-to-start, not a bladed ignition key
ID46 (Hitag-2, PCF7952) transponder chip, verified
Mechanical backup key included for the door lock
Programming is done through the OBD port, not by opening up the car's electronics
No NASTF SDRM access is needed for this year

Do you need a duplicate, or are all your keys lost?

On this Maxima, making an additional key is easiest when you still have an original working fob. The original is needed for a straightforward duplicate, so if you are down to one fob, getting a spare now is the lighter-cost and less stressful route. Do it before the last one goes missing.

If every key is gone, that is still workable. All-keys-lost programming is possible on this setup, and it is done through the OBD port. It takes more steps than adding a key to a car with a working fob, but the car does not need to be taken to a dealer for a new fob to be learned. Our mobile vans can come to the car, or you can bring it to the storefront in Westwood.

Call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the year, model, and whether you have any working fob left.
Have your VIN ready, and be ready to show you own the car.
We confirm the correct fob for your car, then cut or check the mechanical backup key as needed.
We program the new fob through the OBD port and remove any lost fobs from the car's memory where the procedure allows.
We test starting with the button, the door locks, and the backup key before you leave.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

Call (213) 577-1366

Is it really the key? Dead batteries and the steering-lock problem

Two things on this generation of push-button Nissan get mistaken for a lost or broken key.

The first is a dead fob battery. The dash shows a 'key not detected' message. Before you call anyone, hold the fob right against the start button and press it. The car can often read the fob at close range even when the battery is too weak to send a signal from your pocket. If that starts the car, you likely need a new battery, not a new fob.

The second is the electronic steering-column lock, known as the ESCL. On push-button Nissans of this era it is a known failure. The car will not start, and the key light flashes. It looks like a key problem, but a new fob will not fix a failed steering-lock unit. We would rather work that out at the start than sell you a fob you did not need. If the fob tests fine and the lock is the culprit, we will tell you plainly.

What affects the price of a 2009 Maxima key?

A smart fob costs more than the older bladed keys, and that is true for this car. Beyond that, a few things move the final cost:

Whether you have a working original fob or all keys are lost, since all-keys-lost takes more time and steps
How many fobs you need programmed
The fob itself, which is the largest part of the cost, and which one suits your car once we check the VIN
Whether we come out in a mobile van or you come to the storefront
The time of day, since after-hours calls differ from daytime appointments
Whether a separate steering-lock repair turns out to be needed, which is its own job

What we confirm by VIN, and why call us

The chip family and the OBD programming method are verified for this year. Details can still vary by build, so the exact fob we use is confirmed by VIN and in person with the car in front of us. We would rather check than guess. If a part of your car turns out to be dealer-only, we will say so honestly before any work starts.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith for theirs before work begins.

Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987. We operate a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile vans, all as one company with no dispatch middlemen. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. Our line is answered 24 hours a day, every day. For more on your car, see our Nissan Maxima key page, the wider Nissan key service page, or contact us directly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a hardware store copy for my 2009 Maxima?

No. The car uses a smart proximity fob with an ID46 transponder, and the car has to learn it electronically. A plain cut key will not start the car.

I lost every key to my 2009 Maxima. Can you still help?

Yes. All-keys-lost programming is possible on this setup and is done through the OBD port. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will walk you through it.

My Maxima says 'key not detected.' Do I need a new fob?

Not necessarily. Hold the fob against the start button and press it. If the car starts, the fob battery is probably dead. If it still does not start, call us and we will test the fob.

The key light flashes and the car will not start. Is the fob bad?

It might not be. Electronic steering-column-lock failures are a known issue on push-button Nissans of this era and cause the same symptoms. We check the fob first so you do not pay for a fob you do not need.

Is it cheaper to make a spare before I lose my last fob?

Usually yes, and it is the more economical route. A duplicate needs an original key, while all-keys-lost takes more steps. Our car key services page covers the general options.

Does the 2009 Maxima need dealer-only programming?

Not for the programming method we have verified. It is done through the OBD port and does not need NASTF SDRM access. We still confirm details by VIN, and we will tell you before work starts if anything on your car needs the dealer.

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.