How to Unlock a Locked Steering Wheel
or Key Won't Turn in Ignition

Problem 1. A Locked Steering Wheel. You may be having a problem with a locked steering wheel. If your steering wheel is not locked, and your key won't turn then do not touch the steering wheel, your problem is 2, 3 or 4 below. If a locked steering wheel is is the only thing preventing your key from turning in the ignition, then follow our instructions below for How to Unlock a Locked Steering wheel and you will be back on the road fast.

Problem 2. Dirt, pocket lint or debris (like tape from opening a package) may cause your key not to turn in your ignition lock cylinder. Ignitions can be extremely fragile. Please do not poke around inside the ignition lock cylinder.

A dirty ignition can be fixed by spraying small doses of an electrical cleaner in the ignition then gently sliding the key in and out of the ignition cylinder many times. (DO NOT use this method on Honda, Acura, Toyota or any vehicle that uses a high security key). Every now and then try turning the key with normal turning pressure. NEVER force the key to turn. NEVER force the key into the ignition.

Problem 3. Worn, damaged, or bent key. 1. Try pulling the key out a very small amount before gently turning key. (About 1/16 of an inch, the thickness of a nickel). 2. Wiggle key while trying to turn key gently. If this works then more than likely you have a worn or damaged key, or your ignition may be starting to fail, you may not get a second chance to turn your key so go to a locksmith or call a Locksmith and ask them to first cut you a key by numbers, this is called a CODE key. A code key is not a duplicate, it is a key cut by a machine that will recreate the original depth and spacing of the factory key (when the vehicle had zero miles) on it. It should be within about 1000th of an inch. If this does not fix your problem then you are having a problem with the ignition lock cylinder.

Problem 4. Worn, damaged or failed ignition lock cylinder. Many modern ignition lock cylinders only last about 60,000 miles. We have seen them with as little as 1,800 miles on the vehicle.

Note. The instructions below are for every year, make and model vehicle ever manufactured.

Step 1. This step is simple but very important.
NOTE: Use both hands for this step.

The steering wheel normally turns in two directions, as you know (right and left). If your steering wheel is locked, then one of those two directions will be very solid and one direction will be a little springy (wheel wants to spring back). Determine what direction you need to turn the wheel so you can feel it wanting to spring back, then go to step 2.
Note: Steering wheels most often get locked when people use the steering wheel to assist them getting out of the vehicle. With that being said, the "springy" feel in the steering wheel tends to be to the left.

Step 2. Do not shake or rock the steering wheel. Turn and hold the steering wheel with a constant and even pressure in the direction that it feels springy . When you feel the steering wheel wanting to spring back you have turned hard enough, do not turn the wheel too hard, turn the key with normal pressure (Do not force key). If a locked steering wheel is the problem this will fix it.

NOTE: If your steering wheel was not locked initially and your key would not turn your ignition lock cylinder then you are having a problem with either your key, or the ignition lock cylinder.

Step 3. If you followed the instructions above closely and your key still does not or will not turn in your ignition lock cylinder, then you are having a problem with either the key, or the ignition lock cylinder, call an Automotive Locksmith to come out to you and fix your problem. Do not try forcing or hitting the key in an attempt to get the ignition lock cylinder to turn as this has the potential of damaging the key and/or ignition lock cylinder more. It is not uncommon for modern car keys to cost well over $100 if they break. If the key breaks in the ignition that can be 2 to 10 times more expensive to fix.

If your key won't turn your ignition lock cylinder and the steps above did not get your ignition to turn, then there is an extremely good chance your vehicle is in the list below. The list below is just a partial list of vehicles we suspect of having ignition failure problems when people call and say "My key won't turn in my ignition". When we ask how many miles on the vehicle, it is usually near 60,000, 120,000, 180,000 or 240,000 miles.

The Acura and Honda vehicle ignitions tend to fail from a combination of worn keys and worn ignitions. Vehicles Affected

The Toyota and Geo ignitions tend to stop turning because of worn keys. A new "code" key or duplicate key may solve the problem. Vehicles Affected

The Saturn ignitions tend to stop turning because of worn keys and worn ignitions. (mostly worn ignitions) Vehicles Affected

The GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Pontiac) ignitions tend to fail because of wear from inserting the key at a slight angle. This is the same for the Chrysler vehicles (Chrysler, Dodge, Eagle, Jeep, Plymouth). Vehicles Affected

Ford vehicles such as Focus, Contour, Cougar and Mystique tend to stop turning because of ignition wear, all other Ford vehicles tend to be dirty ignitions or locked steering wheels. Vehicles Affected

We understand the list below will have some errors, but we will do our best to make this list as accurate as possible. We are Automotive Locksmiths that specialize in ignition lock cylinder problems and failures. The list below covers many (but not all) of the newer vehicles that we have to replace the ignition lock cylinders for. Our website and the list below are copyrighted.