Nissan Sentra Car Key Replacement

Nissan Sentra keys by year

Year	Key type	Chip	Push-to-start
2026	Smart / proximity key	4A (Hitag AES)	Yes
2025	Smart / proximity key	4A (Hitag AES)	Yes
2024	Smart / proximity key	4A (Hitag AES)	Yes
2023	Smart / proximity key	4A (Hitag AES)	Yes
2022	Smart / proximity key	4A (Hitag AES)	Yes
2021	Smart / proximity key	4A (Hitag AES)	Yes
2020	Smart / proximity key	4A (Hitag AES)	Yes
2019	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2018	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2017	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2016	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2015	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2014	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2013	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2012	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2011	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2010	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2009	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2008	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2007	Transponder chip key	ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)	No
2006	Transponder chip key	4D60 (Texas fixed-crypto)	No
2005	Transponder chip key	4D60 (Texas fixed-crypto)	No
2004	Transponder chip key	4D60 (Texas fixed-crypto)	No
2003	Transponder chip key	4D60 (Texas fixed-crypto)	No
2002	Transponder chip key	4D60 (Texas fixed-crypto)	No
2001	Transponder chip key	4D60 (Texas fixed-crypto)	No
2000	Transponder chip key	4D60 (Texas fixed-crypto)	No

Which Nissan Sentra key do you have?

The Sentra has run through four generations since 2000, and the key changes enough between them that 'a Sentra key' really means four different jobs. Nissan's internal codes are B15, B16, B17 and B18. We use them here because they track the key hardware better than model years alone.

The short version: B15 (2000–2006) is a bladed key with a 4D60 chip. B16 (2007–2012) is a bladed key with an ID46 chip and a separate remote. B17 (2013–2019) keeps the bladed ID46 key on base trims, with a push-button Intelligent Key optional on upper trims. B18 (2020–2026) has push-button start on every trim and a 4A smart key.

Below we go era by era, then cover duplicates, all keys lost, programming, cost, and when to skip the dealer. The year-by-year table on this page is built from the same data. Where that data is marked unverified, we say so, and we confirm the exact key by VIN and by the stamp on your key before cutting or programming anything. If you're driving a different Nissan, the Nissan key page covers the rest of the lineup.

What does a 2000–2006 Sentra (B15) key involve?

B15 Sentras use a bladed key with a Texas 4D60 fixed-crypto transponder, the NI02 / NSN11T2 type. Nissan's NATS immobilizer checks the chip in the key against the car's body control module before the engine will run. The system uses a 4-digit PIN derived from the BCM, and the car is programmed through the OBD port. No dealer-only step shows up in our data for this generation.

We don't gloss over one wrinkle. A single locksmith source claims a Philips chip for early B15 cars. Our data says 4D60 across 2000–2006, but the stamp on the key settles it. When you have a key, we read the stamp. When you don't, we work from the VIN and confirm in person before cutting anything.

For most B15 owners the real issue is the age of the car. These are older, often high-mileage Sentras, and the ignition lock is frequently as tired as the key. We'll tell you which one is actually the problem before you pay to replace the wrong part.

What does a 2007–2012 Sentra (B16) key involve?

The B16 moved to an ID46 (Philips Hitag-2) chip in a bladed NI04T-style key, with a separate remote. Ignition is keyed across the whole line, and programming is through the OBD port. As with the B15, nothing in our data points to a dealer-only requirement.

The separate remote changes how we diagnose. The remote handles lock and unlock. The chip in the key is what lets the car start. A dead remote battery, a cracked shell or a broken button is an annoyance, but it isn't a no-start. A lost or chipless key is. People often call about one when they actually have the other, and sorting that out first can keep the job smaller.

Some upper trims in this range offered Nissan Intelligent Key entry, and we confirm that per vehicle. If you aren't sure which setup your car has, give us the VIN and we'll tell you which key belongs to it before we head out.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

Call (213) 577-1366

What about 2013–2019 Sentras (B17)?

B17 is the era where one model name covers two key systems. Base trims keep a bladed ID46 key and keyed ignition. Upper trims could be ordered with a push-button Intelligent Key, a CWTWB1U840-style fob that also carries an ID46 chip. Our data lists OBD programming for both.

The first question we ask is simple: do you turn a key in the ignition, or press a button? That one answer tells us which path you're on, and it's more reliable than going by model year.

Be careful with 2018 and 2019. Our data for those two years is carried over from the verified 2013–2017 listings and is marked unverified. One catalog also shows the newer 4A chip beginning in 2017 for some keys, and catalog coverage thins out for 2018–2019. So for 2017-and-later B17 cars we confirm the exact key by VIN and by the stamp on your existing key before we cut a blade or program a chip. For 2013–2017 the ID46 data is verified against more than one source.

What changed with the 2020–2026 Sentra (B18)?

Push-button start is standard on every B18 trim. The key is a 4A (Hitag-AES) smart key, and this is the 20-digit rolling-PIN era, so security data plays a bigger part in the job than on older cars. The base S lacks the door-handle request switches, which can make it look simpler from outside. It still uses the smart-key immobilizer and still needs a properly paired fob.

A mechanical backup key is listed for every year in this range. If the fob battery dies and the dash says it can't detect the key, the backup start method is to hold the fob against the start button.

Here is where the data stands. 2020 is verified, including the push-button spec. 2021 through 2026 are marked unverified: the 4A chip family is verified for the generation and carried across an unchanged run, and we have no reason to expect a change mid-run. We still confirm by VIN before we order or pair a fob.

Duplicate key or all keys lost: what's different on a Sentra?

Across every year in our data, an original key is needed to duplicate, and all keys lost is possible. Those are two different jobs, and the difference shows up in effort and cost.

Duplicating means adding a spare while you still have a working key. It's the lighter-cost route in every era, because we start from a key the car already recognizes.

All keys lost means there's nothing to start from. On B15 cars the 4-digit PIN tied to the body control module comes into play. On B16 and B17 cars we cut a blade to the lock and pair a new ID46 chip through the OBD port. On B18 cars we're working in the 20-digit rolling-PIN environment with a new 4A fob. Our data says it can be done in each era. It just takes more steps and has more variables than a spare.

If you're down to one key, make a spare now. It's usually the more economical route, and it keeps you out of an all-keys-lost call at the worst possible time.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

Call (213) 577-1366

Is Sentra key programming OBD or dealer-only?

In our data every Sentra year from 2000 through 2026 lists OBD programming, so the car doesn't have to be on a dealer's lift. For 2000–2019 the data says no NASTF/SDRM credential is required.

For 2020–2026 the picture is less settled. Programming is by OBD, but whether a NASTF SDRM credential is required (the vetted-professional system for getting at vehicle security data) isn't resolved in our data, so we don't claim it either way. We confirm by VIN. If a particular car turns out to need something we can't do, we'll say so plainly before any work starts and point you to the dealer.

One more B18 point: on a replacement fob, the FCC ID and IC numbers must match the original or the fob will fail to pair. We check those numbers before programming, not after.

What are the most common Sentra key problems?

These come straight from the problems listed for each era in our data.

2000–2006: worn ignition lock wafers on high-mileage cars, so the key sticks or stops turning.
2000–2006: the NATS security light stays on, meaning the immobilizer isn't reading a worn or badly cloned chip.
2000–2019: hardware-store copies cut without a transponder open the doors but will not start the engine.
2007–2019: worn ignition wafers and key blades, cracked key shells, broken remote buttons and dead remote batteries.
2020–2026: a dead fob battery and a 'key not detected' message, water-damaged or crushed fobs, and aftermarket fobs whose FCC ID or IC numbers don't match the original.

What affects the cost of a Sentra key?

We don't give a blanket figure because the same car name covers very different keys. What moves the cost:

Key type: a bladed transponder key is a different job from a 4A push-button smart fob.
Whether you have a working key: adding a spare is lighter than an all-keys-lost job.
Whether you also need a remote, a new shell or just a battery on a B16 or B17 car.
Whether the ignition lock is worn enough that the lock needs attention too, mostly on older, higher-mileage cars.
Whether the replacement fob matches the original FCC ID and IC numbers on a B18.
How many keys you want made, and where and when you need us.

When should you call us instead of the dealer?

Call us when you can't easily get the car to a dealer, when you'd rather have the work done where it's parked, or when you want a straight answer on what your Sentra actually needs. We're one company. The storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and our mobile vans are the same crew, with no dispatch middlemen in between, and David, our owner and lead technician, oversees the work. We've been in business since 1987 and serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start work. A dealer is a fair choice if you'd rather order a factory key on your own schedule and aren't in a hurry. And if your VIN shows a setup we can't handle, we'll tell you up front.

Here is how a typical call goes:

You call (213) 577-1366, any hour, and tell us the year, whether you turn a key or press a button, and what you have left.
We narrow down the key by VIN and, if you have one, the stamp on your key, and we flag anything marked unverified.
We come to you with a mobile van, or you bring the car to the Westwood storefront.
We cut the blade if one is needed, program the key or fob through the OBD port, and test starting, locking and unlocking.
We make the spare while we're there if you want one.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a Nissan Sentra key if I've lost every key?

Yes. Our data lists all keys lost as possible for every Sentra year from 2000 to 2026. It takes more steps than adding a spare, and we confirm your exact key and setup by VIN first. Call (213) 577-1366 any hour.

Will a hardware-store copy start my Sentra?

On 2000–2019 cars, a copy cut without a transponder opens the doors but won't start the engine. The chip has to be programmed to the car. Push-button smart fobs on newer Sentras aren't a simple cutting job at all.

Do I need my original key to get a duplicate?

Our data says an original key is needed to duplicate on every year. If you've lost every key, that becomes an all-keys-lost job instead, which is still possible.

How can I tell whether my 2013–2019 Sentra uses a key or a push button?

Look at the dash. A keyhole means the bladed ID46 key; a start button means the optional Intelligent Key on an upper trim. For 2018–2019, where our data is unverified, we confirm by VIN and key stamp before we cut.

My 2022 Sentra says the key isn't detected. What should I do?

Hold the fob against the start button, which is the backup when the fob battery is dead. If it still won't start, the fob may be water-damaged or crushed, and we can look at it. Call us.

Does a 2020 or newer Sentra have to go to the dealer for a key?

Our data lists OBD programming for 2020–2026. Whether a NASTF SDRM credential is required isn't settled there, so we confirm by VIN and tell you plainly before any work if a car can't be done on site.

How much does a Sentra key cost?

It depends on the key type, whether you have a working key, whether a remote or a new fob is involved, and where you need us. Tell us the year and whether you turn a key or press a button, and we'll explain what applies.

Can I come to your shop instead of having you come to me?

Yes. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, and we also run mobile vans. Call first so we can identify your key and have the right one ready. You can also use our contact page, see all car key services, or start from the Wilshire Lock & Key home page.

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.