Question 1

What is the cheapest way to replace my 2012 Outback key?

Accepted Answer

Call a mobile locksmith before you call the dealer. Subaru dealers on keys like these charge significantly more, and they typically won't even start the job the same day. With a mobile locksmith, there's no towing, no leaving your car overnight, and no paying a service counter to schedule you into next week.

The other thing worth knowing: if you still have the broken key, even in pieces, bring everything. If the chip inside the old housing is intact, that changes the job. A working chip means we can avoid the longer all-keys-lost process, and that saves time and money. The cheapest version of this job is the one where you show up with the broken parts in a bag.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

More. Sometimes a lot more.

Adding a spare when you still have one working key is a shorter job. The existing key is already enrolled in the immobilizer, so pairing the second one is quicker.

All-keys-lost means the immobilizer has no reference to work from. The system has to be reset and both new keys enrolled from zero. On the 2012 Outback this is doable on-site with the right equipment, but it takes longer and the job cost reflects that. On newer Subaru push-to-start platforms, all-keys-lost can become a dealer-only situation involving module work that gets expensive fast. The 2012 is not in that category, but the lesson still applies: get the spare made while you have a working key. Waiting costs more every time.

Question 3

Do aftermarket remote head keys actually work on the 2012 Outback?

Accepted Answer

Quality aftermarket keys work on this vehicle when they're the right spec and programmed correctly. The 2012 Outback is not on a newer encrypted platform, so compatibility with aftermarket keys is generally solid, which is different from what owners of newer Subaru push-to-start models run into where aftermarket fob support is much spottier.

The variable is quality. Cheap shells sold online are frequently reported to have brittle plastic, loose battery contacts, and buttons that stop clicking within a few months. The key may work on day one and fail by winter.

We carry keys verified for this vehicle. You're not rolling the dice on whether the chip spec matches or whether the remote frequency pairs correctly. That peace of mind is part of what you're paying for.

Question 4

My 2012 Outback starts fine but the remote buttons stopped working. Is the fob dead?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. The transponder chip and the remote radio are two separate functions inside the same housing. The chip handles starting the car. The remote handles lock, unlock, and trunk. They can fail independently.

First thing: swap the battery. The 2012 Outback remote head key uses a CR2032, and a weak cell will kill the radio range or drop button response entirely before it affects the ignition. If a fresh CR2032 doesn't bring it back, the remote may have lost its pairing to the body control module, which happens sometimes after a battery disconnect or a low-voltage event. That's a reprogramming job, not a new key. If the buttons work intermittently or only at close range after a new battery, look at the contact points inside the housing. Corrosion on the battery terminals is a common culprit on these.

Question 5

Can I program a second key myself on a 2012 Outback?

Accepted Answer

There is an onboard programming sequence for the remote on this generation, but it has to be done exactly right and it is easy to mess up. The sequence involves cycling the door locks in a specific pattern within a tight window. If you get the timing wrong or the cycle count off, it can drop your existing programmed fob from memory and you're suddenly in worse shape than when you started.

The transponder chip side of the key also has to be enrolled, and that part requires a programmer. So even if you complete the remote sequence correctly, the new key won't start the car without the chip being registered separately.

Short version: buying a key online and trying to self-program is a real way to turn a spare key job into an all-keys-lost job. If you want a spare, call us. It's a quick on-site job in Fletcher Cove or anywhere in Solana Beach.

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