My keychain has my gas station discount card. I stopped for gas late at night. I was on the phone and I guess distracted. Took keys out of my pocket and scanned the card at the pump. Then put the keys on the roof of the car and pulled out my wallet to get the credit card. Swiped the card and put that back in the wallet and pocket thankfully. Started pumping the gas and forgot that the keys were on the roof. Filled up the tank, got in the car and drove off!

Thankfully, I did not get on the freeway and drove in the city around 40mph. Did 6 right angle turns, though, a couple at reasonable speed.

Pulled into the garage. Got out, and tried to lock the car by touching the front of the door handle. The car beeped the beep that the key is inside. I looked inside, on the seats, on the floor and could not find the keys. Since the car was safely in the garage and it was late, I thought I would just leave it and look for the keys in the morning. Got out of the car and then I noticed the keys were sitting on the roof! I picked them up and the keys were ice cold! It was cold outside.

Then I realized what I just did. I was amazed that the keys had stayed on the roof exactly on top of the driver's seat for 4 to 5 miles at speeds up to 40 mph and several turns and did not fall off. If they would have fallen off on the road at night, I would never have been able to find them!

I was so grateful the key chain did not fall off. It has the Lexus key, my wife's car keys, house keys, office keys etc.

Just wanted you folks to know that in the 2014 Lexus ESh at least, if the keys are on the roof of the car, it thinks the keys are inside. Never once did the car complain that there were no keys inside the car.

 

It seems odd that it thought the key was inside, but if it fell off the roof you would have been alerted as soon as it happened. Maybe don't replace your fob batteries as often.

 

So what was the lesson learned?

 

Lesson learned is NEVER to put anything on the roof of the car as a rule. It is a convenient place when hands are full, but risky because it is easy to forget.

 

Absolutely right! I keep my remote-keys safe on my man purse (lol)!