Table of Contents

Introduction

You sit in the car, all ready to go. You may have a job interview that you have prepared for. Maybe you need to go somewhere urgently, or even want to park your car, but suddenly you can’t. This happened because your key got stuck in the ignition, and while it doesn’t let you start the car, neither will it come back out. While many drivers panic about not starting the car or even taking the keys out, rushing may lead to breakage.

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Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Do not try to take out the key forcefully, as you may end up breaking off the key completely.

A car key easily slides out of the ignition once you rotate it anticlockwise. If the key doesn’t come out, try understanding the main cause of this issue. Then, continue reading the article below to explore the causes and solutions for car keys stuck in the ignition.
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What are the Common Causes of Your Car Key Stuck in Ignition?

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Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
A car key stuck in the ignition is one of the most common problems encountered by any professional locksmith.

While car keys stuck in the ignition is a common issue many drivers face, there can be multiple reasons for this. Some may occur due to a specific issue in a particular vehicle model. However, most reasons for your key being stuck in the ignition are common and can occur in any model vehicle. Let’s discuss these causes below.

Locked Steering Wheel

Vehicles have this built-in function: if you move your steering wheel while turning off your vehicle, the steering will lock. A locked steering wheel prevents you from moving the wheel and pulling out the key from the ignition. This is because the ignition cylinder gets locked at the same time the steering does, making the key stuck in the ignition.

Unset Parking Gear

Automobiles with automatic transmissions are expected to account for about one-fourth of the market by 2025. However, given the built-in feature in automatic transmissions that locks your key when the gear is set to drive or other gears other than park, it becomes another common reason your car key is stuck in the ignition.

Debris on the Key

Sometimes the reason your car key is stuck in the ignition can be as simple as having dust or debris on the key that might cause the key or ignition to get stuck. For example, think about when you used your car key to open a package wrapped in tape. Cutting through the tape can leave stickiness on your keys which might cause them to stick inside the ignition.

Dead Battery of Your Vehicle

The car ignition system depends on the electrical voltage and power gained through the car battery. If, somehow, your car battery gets discharged, it will make the ignition system get locked. This, in turn, can get the car key stuck in the ignition and prevent you from removing the key. A repeated clicking sound while trying to start the vehicle indicates that your key is stuck in the ignition due to a dead battery.

Busted Ignition Cylinder

Your car’s ignition cylinder might get damaged over time as other electrical and mechanical components fail. For example, if your ignition lock cylinder is likely to get damaged, it may cause your car key to be stuck.

Manufacturer Recall

While this is very rare, there are chances that your specific make or model of the car is subjected to a TSB or recall that is related directly to the ignition cylinder. You may check the status of your vehicle on the NHTSA website by entering your VIN. However, even if it’s not affected, it’s always better to check the status of other recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs).
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How Can You Remove Your Car Key Stuck in Ignition?

Before we head towards the solution to common causes of your car key being stuck in the ignition, you must always remember to apply parking brakes once your car is in the parking position.

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Now that you have applied the handbrake, you can check for other things. Depending on varied situations, you can get your car key unstuck from the ignition following different methods. This section will present solutions to unstuck your car key from the ignition depending on different scenarios.

Key Stuck in the Ignition for the First Time

If this is the first time your key has stuck in the ignition, try doing the following.

Set the Gear to Parking

As mentioned earlier, one of the common causes of keys stuck in the ignition is that the car’s gear is not set to the parking position. Set your car gear to “P” in an automatic vehicle or the shifter to Neutral in a manual vehicle.

Try Jiggling the Steering Wheel

Once you have confirmed that the gear is set to parking and the keys still didn’t come out, jiggle the steering wheel slowly while trying to gently pull the key from the ignition. If the key were stuck due to a locked steering wheel, it would come out after jiggling it.

Car Keys Keep Getting Stuck in the Ignition

You may have noticed that it gets slightly hard to get car keys out of the ignition or get stuck in the ignition repeatedly. If you notice this, try the following.

Try WD-40 Spray

Try WD-40 rust-resistant spray into the ignition. This lubrication lets you gently remove the key by wiggling it a little. After removing the key, examine it for any further damage.

Rub Alcohol or Adhesive Remover on the Key

If you didn’t find any damage on the key, try removing the dirt or debris by using an adhesive remover or rubbing alcohol on it.

If cleaning the key or spraying WD-40 doesn’t work for you, and you’ve tried the fixes mentioned above a couple of times, there might be an issue with the ignition lock. In this regard, call an automotive locksmith or a mechanic for further inspection.
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Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
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Key Broke Off in the Ignition

I hope this didn’t happen to you, but if it did, you are not alone in experiencing this. I experienced this when my car key got stuck in the ignition, and while trying to remove the key, I broke it. Thankfully my mechanic came to save the day. Nevertheless, if it happens to you, you can do the following.

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Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Never insert the key’s broken part into the ignition again to get the other half part out.

Use a Key Extractor

You can use a key extractor to remove the key’s broken part from the ignition. Usually, locksmiths and mechanics use it to do so. However, if you want to do it cheaper, you can do it yourself.

Call a Locksmith or Mechanic

When everything else has fallen apart, and nothing works for you anymore, it’s time to call an automotive locksmith or your mechanic. It might cost you a bit more, but they’ll surely complete the task.
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Ignition Switch Replacement Cost

Replacing an ignition switch cost may vary depending on the make and model of your car. This section will highlight the average cost of replacing an ignition switch in different cars.

 

Car ModelsIgnition Switch Replacement Cost
Chevrolet Silverado 1500$200-$270
Honda Accord$150-$300
Dodge Ram$200-$300
Mercedes Benz$300-$500
Toyota Corolla$250-$350

Conclusion/Key Takeaway Points

While there are different causes and solutions to car keys stuck in the ignition, following these simple tips can save you much time. However, if you find yourself being stuck with this more often, it’s better to call a full-service automotive locksmith or mechanic so that he can inspect the actual root cause of the problem. You might need to replace the ignition switch or your car keys. Please consult a professional and resolve the issue as soon as it starts troubling you.

FAQs

Depending on normal scenarios where the car is not set to parking gear or the steering wheel is locked, removing the key will only take 10-15 minutes. However, in other situations where your key gets broken, it might take 30-45 minutes to remove the key stuck in the ignition.

Depending on the task and the make and model of the car, getting a broken key out of the ignition will cost you $100 to $150.

No, you should never apply force to pull out the key stuck in the ignition as it may cause the key to be broken into the ignition.

You can replace the ignition switch, but it can be dangerous to do so, as you’ll have to work closely with the airbag after removing the steering wheel. It’s recommended to get professional help to get the task done.

On average, it will cost you somewhere between $200 – $300 to replace an ignition cylinder, including the cost of the parts and labor.

Provided all the necessary parts are available and depending on the mechanic, replacing an ignition lock cylinder will only take 30-45 minutes.

About Author

Jane Carrey

Andrew is an automotive technician with 10 years of experience mainly in American and Japanese cars, covering everything from routine vehicle maintenance and engine inspections to tire rotation.