Over the past few years, Ford’s factory-installed SecuriCode keyless entry keypad has been dying a rather slow death, being removed from vehicle after vehicle with each passing model year update. That includes the Ford Bronco Sport, which replaced the keypad last year – previously optional on the Big Bend and standard on the Outer Banks and Badlands – with a dealer-installed option called the Illuminated Door Entry Keypad, which was a $350 option for all trims in the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport lineup. Now that the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport has debuted, not much has changed in that regard.
Rather, the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport has retained its dealer-installed keypad option, which is now $225 extra and is shipped separately from the vehicle itself, after which a dealer can install it for customers. The optional keypad is available for all 2025 Ford Bronco Sport trims, which is also the case with its platform-mate, the newly-refreshed 2025 Ford Maverick. The compact pickup will forge ahead with the keyless entry keypad as a dealer-installed option, which costs an extra $195 and is now called the Keyless-Entry Keypad (Wireless).
The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport and Maverick are just the latest models to ditch FoMoCo’s factory-installed SecuriCode keypad in favor of a dealer installed option, however. Most recently, this list includes the refreshed 2025 Ford Explorer, the 2025 Ford F-150 (even though that model retained the factory keypad as part of its 2024 refresh), and the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning, too.
It’s ultimately unclear why Ford is transitioning away from the factory-installed SecuriCode keypad and making it a dealer-installed option across many models in its lineup, but the move is likely being made as a way to reduce costs. The automaker is also keen to note that owners can remotely unlock vehicles by using the FordPass app, though this particular feature doesn’t work if a vehicle is in Deep Sleep mode, which is designed to keep the battery from going completely dead.
Comments
Should be standard for that kind of money.
The Ford Pass App is not the solution. On my 2023 Bronco Sport, it used to only work about half the time and now it doesn’t work at all. Why? Because, in their infinite wisdom, Ford “upgraded” the app features, which now requires the latest phone operating system. Since I don’t have $1,000 for a new phone, the “free” app doesn’t work at all for me. It’s logical to me that Ford would keep the old app working with at least some of the basic features. But NO! At least they don’t charge a subscription fee for the app. Yet. All these little things add up to a dissatisfied customer.
You can’t lock the vehicle with the motor running, using either the Intelligent Access fob or the door lock button. You can by locking the vehicle running using the key pad.
Handy when running into the C-store for a coffee after filling up. And the app is so S L O WWWW…