GM’s Confusing Practice: Look-a-Like Remote Key Fobs That Are Not Interchangeable

Many vehicle manufacturers and add-on (aftermarket) alarm companies have made it a practice to employ remote transmitters that look identical with each other while not being interchangeable in use. GM is perhaps the worst offender in terms of doing this.

We recently received an email from a consumer who bought a replacement GM remote with OE part number 20935330, thinking it would work for the identical-looking key fob on her Buick Lacrosse. When it could not be programmed to work with her vehicle, she contacted us. Here is our response:

“You are correct that GM part 20935330 (equivalent to Remotes Unlimited part 814-1814) looks like the 4-button remote you need for your 2007 Buick LaCrosse, but, instead, your vehicle uses GM part 15252034 (Remotes Unlimited part 717-1717). In that period, Buick Allure and LaCrosse sedans used remotes made by Lear with FCC ID KOBGT04A. Part 20935330 is made by Omron and has an FCC ID beginning with OUC. This part was used on Buick Lucerne, but never on Allure or LaCrosse cars.”

Actually, GM created an even more confusing situation a few years before with the 2005 Buick LaCrosse and several other sedans. They installed systems, on the same model and in the same year, that both used identical remotes with FCC ID KOBGT04A, but which are not interchangeable. While some 2005 LaCrosse vehicles use part 15252034, others use GM part number 22733523 or 10305091 (Remotes Unlimited part 508-1508).

Go figure. Maybe GM is intentionally working to make life hard for their customers . . . or maybe they are just driving up inventory for their dealers. Who knows?