These instructions apply to the Nissan NV300 2016-2021.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Remote stopped locking your Nissan NV300 (2016–2021)? It’s almost always a flat fob battery — and the good news is the van still gets you in and started using the key blade built into the fob.
The NV300 was Nissan’s take on the Renault Trafic III under the Renault-Nissan alliance, sold from 2016 to 2021, after which Nissan revived the ‘Primastar’ name for the facelifted version.
Will It Still Start?
Yes. Even with a weak remote battery the key still starts the van — the immobiliser reads the key’s transponder, which needs no battery. A dead fob battery locks you out of the buttons, not the van.
Get In and Start
- Release the key blade — press the fob button and the metal switchblade flips out.
- Unlock the driver’s door with the blade (on some vans behind a cap on the handle).
- Start as normal — key-start vans just turn the key; keyless vans, press start with your foot on the brake and, if it doesn’t detect the fob, hold the fob against the start button.
- Replace the fob battery so remote locking works again.
Replace the Fob Battery
- Open the fob case at the slot with a small flat screwdriver.
- Swap the coin cell, matching the type and polarity marked on the cover — check the marking on your own fob rather than guessing. It lasts about two years.
- Clip the cover back firmly — a loose cover is a common cause of a fob that only works now and then.
There’s no owner resync step; the remote works as soon as a good cell is fitted. If the 12 volt battery was disconnected, the van’s ACCESS mode resets to default.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the Nissan NV300 and the Primastar?
They’re the same van at different points in time: the NV300 (2016–2021) is the Trafic-based model these guides cover, and Nissan brought back the ‘Primastar’ name in 2021 for the facelifted version — same platform, revised front end.
Will my Nissan NV300 start with a dead key fob battery?
Yes — use the built-in blade to open the door, then start as normal; the transponder works without a battery.
Where is the emergency key?
It’s the metal switchblade inside the fob — press the release button and it flips out for the driver’s door lock.
What battery does the fob take?
Check the type marked on the back of the cover — a standard coin cell lasting about two years. It varies by trim and year, so read your own fob.
Is it the same as a Renault Trafic?
Yes — as Nissan’s version of the Renault Trafic it uses the same fob and key, so the get-in-and-start method is identical across the Renault Trafic, Fiat Talento and Vauxhall/Opel Vivaro.
If a warning light or fault code appeared, look it up on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Nissan. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.