Here’s Why Your 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Cannot Detect Your Key If You Left It Inside

Different drivers have different entrance muscle memory. Some get in and do a 15-item check list just to go to the local market. Others don’t even buckle up and just hit the road. For me, I tend to get in, put my seat belt on, and put my keys inside the driver’s side door cargo space. Some people put their keys in the cupholders or somewhere near the middle. On some cars, if you leave your keys in the car and lock your door via the door locks in the car, then you can easily unlock your doors if you just try to nudge the keys closer to the door. This is the case in my 2012 Toyota Prius.

In my car, I sometimes leave the keys in my car when I am at home or in a parking lot that I know like my church parking lot or my friend’s house. Because my keys are a bunch of other things all connected onto one lanyard, I try to not keep them in my pocket. This has never really given me any problems as my car’s locking system operates within a proximity and not my actually pressing a button.

However, on the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, if you accidentally leave your keys inside the car, then you would have a pretty hard time trying to get back inside. On Facebook’s Toyota RAV4 Hybrid group, Douglas Stemke said, “I went to drive the car and I found it locked, the car flashing "No Keys Detected". No big issue, I got my other set of keys, but why wouldn't it have detected the keys in the car?”

Now if you have the Toyota app connected to your 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, then you wouldn’t really have this problem since you can either lower your windows to grab your key, or just unlock the car from the app. This is one solution you could use to unlock your car however it turns out that a lot of owners didn’t even know the app existed. Especially with the older RAV4 Hybrid owners. Let’s take a look and see what some of the other owners commented.

Todd Chambers said, “I have a 2020 ltd and twice now I've had just the driver’s door locked when I come out to the garage to get in it. I always leave my key fob in the center by the shifter lever when it's in the garage. For some reason it just doesn't unlock when I grab the outside handle, I have to go to passenger side and unlock it.” I haven’t really tried this however I think that the only reason my 2012 Prius opens with the key still in it is because it is close to the door. I am not sure where the receiver for the key is located in my car, but I guess since I put it in my door it is close to it.

Granted, I don’t really think this is such a big deal if you always keep your keys in your pocket or purse, however for those like me who cannot stand with things like phones and wallets in your pockets, then I suggest you get the app or just train yourself to always put the key in the door cargo holder and not in the center console.

What do you think? Have you had this problem before? Let us know in the comments below.

Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun for daily Toyota news.