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[POLL] Will Tesla ever offer a key fob for the Model 3?

When will Tesla offer a key fob for the Model 3?

  • Never

    Votes: 135 75.8%
  • 2018

    Votes: 19 10.7%
  • 2019

    Votes: 19 10.7%
  • 2020 and beyond

    Votes: 5 2.8%

  • Total voters
    178
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Maybe Tesla should offer fobs for Android users.......

Jk ;)

Tesla *must* have evaluated the lay of the land when they initially thought of the phone key. The android-specific issues certainly existed then (and were probably worse), so I don't see how it is an excuse for the poor reliability ie "it's more of an Android problem than a Tesla problem"
 
People have claimed that they will actually have the app running and it will say it can't connect. Their phones are not "asleep".
Ah, yes you are correct... there is a THIRD issue, which is - again - just a matter of better communication. When you first take delivery, the delivery specialist will pair your phone(s) app with the car. Then, within a few hours, it will no longer work, because there's some hocus locus that they need to do back at HQ to validate and synch systems. Then, within 24 to 48 hours, it will work again. Several friends of mine took delivery and it was explained to them. My delivery specialist did NOT explain this, and I had to call support to find out. I suspect that many delivery specialists may not sufficiently explain this, leaving owners surprised and irate the next day when their phone key won't work.

So, now 3 documented reasons that I know of for it not to work:

1) Initial setup (temporary issue)
2) Another Tesla up in your Tesla App (easy to change when you know about it)
3) Phone's bluetooth "asleep" (easy to address... just press any button)

All of these can be solved by communication/education - which Tesla needs to do a better job of.

I suspect other issues are user error... until proven otherwise. Software does not just work sometimes and not other times. There is ALWAYS a specific cause.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: Canuck
Proving that even tesla has no faith in the phone key.
Balderdash. It is so you can send your friend/spouse/kid out in the car, or give card to a valet, or... use in a pinch if your phone doesn't work.

Let me add... I HOPE Tesla DOES offer a bluetooth fob for those who want it... as an added cost item. Especially since it could be done very simply without change to the car's hardware. Personally, I won't want it. But it would alleviate a concern for some people, and that would in turn increase Tesla's market. My answer to this survey (like 80% of respondents) was that they WON'T. But now that I've read the thread for a while, I'd say that they may eventually if the hubbub keeps up. As for now, they are still operating off a huge backlog, so I don't expect them to invest attention into it.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: slipnslider
Can you point me to the reports? I hear a lot of people disliking it, however I can't find many complaints of non-operation. Especially with thousands upon thousands having their cars now.

My concern arose from this thread:

Phone as Key Issues

But I do agree with you -- people come to forums a lot to post complaints and rarely to say "works great". That's why I need to get my vehicle to form my own opinion -- and I sure hope it's the same as yours, especially since my wife will be driving the 3 a lot and she's not a tech person. Just telling her to turn bluetooth on, on her phone, results in a blank stare.
 
nope....its not the most essential by any means, however this thread is not about that.

I can't tell you how many keys stopped working back in the 60's 70's and 80's. There were billions of keys that stopped working in the drivers door. ie...keys broken off. Locks frozen. Keys becoming de-keyed. Keys needing batteries ( late 80's ).

NOW....you can leave your "fob" in your pocket and unlock whatever you want if you are close. That's progress.

Not to mention when the lock would freeze over and you either couldn't get the key in the lock or broke it off when trying to unlock it.

Edit: You already said that :D
 
  • Funny
Reactions: Garlan Garner
I suspect other issues are user error... until proven otherwise. Software does not just work sometimes and not other times. There is ALWAYS a specific cause.
You are right, there is always a specific cause. See this post if you want more details about the specific cause in Android phones that make the application not see the car, and the app doesn't even know there is a problem. The Bluetooth stack can get shut down in specific situations making the app UNABLE to connect.

Again, this is not lack of proper communication. This is an implementation decision by Android Bluetooth stack to silently kill paired devices when it thinks there is a device issue. And that issue can be as simple as you walking around with your phone on the edge of connecting. If your phone always stays out of range or always stays in range, there is no problem.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: tomas
I voted never, despite being very nervous regarding the number of people that have Pixel phones have said they had issues with their phone/BT not working well with the car. I have a Pixel XL (gen1) and wife has a Pixel2. When it comes for me to get my 3 (could have configured by now, but am waiting a bit) I hope that there aren't reliability issues, but I imagine that to be more on the cell manufacturers rather than on Tesla (as has been stated elsewhere in this thread). I would much rather carry around a fob/mini-3 in my pocket like S/X owners have and like I do with our CRV. It just works.
 
How many options should Tesla provide for entry into the car?

1. Phone
2. Credit Card sized backup
3. Key fob.

What will each option cost Tesla to provide to their customers?
Not sure it should cost Tesla anything. Seems as if the sample of people here advocating for fob are willing to pay for it. So it could be priced so as to pay for itself, recover R&D costs, and return a small profit.
 
I doubt it, it works great now (for me) and will work better in time. I don't think the iPhone headphone jack is coming back either.
It'll work better in time, then new phones and with a new OS will come out, and it wont work anymore. Then they'll fix it, then new phones and new OS will break it, over and over. It will never be as reliable as a fob. Mo tech mo problems.