Why won't my Lucid Air unlock with my phone or fob?

Short answer: On the Lucid Air, a phone key or fob that doesn't unlock the car is a common owner complaint. Usually the car is asleep and slow to wake, or the phone has turned Bluetooth down to save battery. Pressing the door handle wakes the car, and waking your phone helps. If it happens a lot, ask service to check the key antennas and security module. Some owners said new antennas fixed it. Always carry the card key as a backup.

Symptom: You walk up and the doors stay locked, the handles don't present, or the app sits on 'waking up' for a long time.

What to check first

1. Press the door handle. Owners say this wakes the car and often gets the phone key working.
2. Wake your phone or open the Lucid app as you walk up. Phones save battery by turning down Bluetooth when they sit still.
3. Make sure proximity unlock is on in the car's settings, and try unlinking and re-linking the phone key.
4. If the app can't wake the car at home, try turning off the car's Wi-Fi. Owners said this helped after software 2.5.
5. If it keeps happening, write down the dates and times and ask service to check the key antennas and security module.

Likely causes

1. Car asleep and slow to wake. Pressing a handle usually wakes it.
2. Phone Bluetooth power saving or phone software. Wake the phone, and keep it updated.
3. Car software update or Wi-Fi connection problem. Owners linked app wake problems to the 2.5 software.
4. Weak key antennas, security module or fob. Service has replaced antennas, a security module and fobs for owners with ongoing problems.

What it usually costs

Owners reported these repairs were done by Lucid service under warranty. We don't have out-of-warranty prices.

Is it safe to keep driving?

This doesn't affect driving, but it can leave you locked out. Keep the card key with you. If the whole car is dead and won't respond at all, the 12-volt battery may be flat, which needs service.

DIY or shop?

Try the simple steps yourself. Antenna, security module and fob replacements are dealer work.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• No recall for the key problem: NHTSA lists several Lucid Air software recalls (for example 22V351 for the display wiring and 23V520 for the rearview camera), but none for phone key or fob unlocking.
• NHTSA complaints: 37 keyword-matched complaints for Lucid Air 2022–2025 (of 78 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-21; keywords: key, fob, phone, unlock, locked out, won't open/unlock/wake/start, wake, door handle, app). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In Mobile key not working on Lucid Owners, an owner's iPhone key didn't unlock the car as they walked up. Members suggested checking proximity unlock, pressing the handles to wake the car, re-linking the key and always carrying the card key. One owner said the problem nearly disappeared after demanding an antenna replacement.
• In Since 2.5.0, app will not wake up car? on Lucid Owners, owners said the app often failed to wake the car after the 2.5 software. Several said turning off the car's Wi-Fi helped. Others explained that the phone key uses Bluetooth, not the cell signal, and that phones moving or waking helps. One owner said service replaced their security module after finding errors.

My take

If a car depends on your phone to get in, test it before you buy: walk away, come back, and see how long it takes to unlock.

Vehicle focus: 2022–2025 Lucid Air.

Safety / mechanic note

Being locked out can strand you. Carry the card key. Verify with a mechanic.