Question 1

What is the cheapest way to replace a key for my 2013 Subaru Crosstrek?

Accepted Answer

Call a mobile locksmith before you call the dealer. Dealers on this generation Crosstrek quote significantly more for a replacement remote head key, and that usually does not include coming to you -- you may also be looking at a tow if you are stranded.

With EZ Car Keyz, the work happens at your car in Imperial Beach. No tow, no waiting days for an appointment, no shop labor on top of the key cost. If you still have one working key and just need a spare programmed, that is the quickest and least expensive version of the job. Pricing is given when you call, but either way it is a fraction of the dealer route.

Question 2

How much more does all-keys-lost cost compared to adding a spare?

Accepted Answer

More -- always. Adding a spare when you still have a working key is a shorter job. All-keys-lost on the 2013 Crosstrek means the immobilizer has to be fully reset before any new key can be registered, because the system will not accept a new key while it thinks the old one should still be active. That reset takes longer and requires professional diagnostic equipment connected to the OBD port.

The practical takeaway: get a spare made now, while you have a working key in hand. It costs less, takes less time, and means you never have to deal with the all-keys-lost version of this problem.

Question 3

Are aftermarket keys for the 2013 Crosstrek cheaper, and do they actually work?

Accepted Answer

Aftermarket remote head keys for this generation Subaru can work, but quality varies a lot. The common complaints on forums are thin housing plastic that cracks at the battery door, buttons that go mushy within a few months, and inconsistent transponder performance that causes intermittent no-start issues down the road.

The key also has to be cut to your vehicle and programmed to the immobilizer -- buying a shell online gets you partway there, but you still need someone with the right equipment to finish the job. We carry keys verified for this specific application, so you are not rolling the dice on whether the transponder will hold a program.

Question 4

My 2013 Crosstrek starts fine but the lock and unlock buttons on the key stopped working. Do I need a new key?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. On the remote head key, the remote function and the transponder are in the same housing but they operate through different circuits. If the car starts normally every time, the transponder side is fine -- the immobilizer sees the key.

Dead remote buttons on these are often a CR2032 that is drained or sitting with poor contact. Swap the battery first. If the buttons still do not respond after a fresh battery with solid contact, the remote may need to be reprogrammed to the receiver, or the button contacts inside the housing may have worn out. That is a different job than a full key replacement, and worth diagnosing before spending on a new key.

Question 5

Can I program a second key for my 2013 Crosstrek myself at home?

Accepted Answer

No onboard self-programming sequence exists for the remote head key on this vehicle. Programming the transponder to the immobilizer requires diagnostic equipment. You cannot do it with an ignition-turn sequence the way some older basic-key vehicles allow. If you bought a replacement key online, you still need a locksmith or dealer to program it before it will start the car.

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