Don’t ever buy from Kwikset.

Dead Kwikset smart lock

At least, that would be my recommendation, based on my experiences with my Kēvo locks. I bought the first one in 2014. While it worked it was great. I could grant, e.g., dog walkers, access to my place remotely, I could issue automatically expiring “guest” keys, etc. But, I had to replace that lock in 2019. I went with the same thing, now upgraded to “generation 2.” The Gen 2 had battery issues. Wouldn’t really work with NiMH rechargeables, ate through quality alkaline AAs (Energizer, Duracell) in a matter of weeks. When 1.5V rechargeable LiIon batteries hit the market, I swapped to those, and life with the Kēvo Gen 2 was fine ... Until two days ago.

I noticed the lock’s motor wasn’t making the same sounds. It was working okay, but when you hear a noise at least twice a day every day, you quickly notice when it gets slightly off. This was slightly off, and the ring would oh so quickly flash red while cycling orange.

Seemed like a battery issue, though I’d charged it up fairly recently. Maybe the Tenavolt cells (which probably have 6 (?) cycles on them, but are now over a year old, weren’t all that high quality and were starting to degrade? Whatever. I charged 'em overnight and stuck them back in the lock ...

 And got nothin'. No response from the ring at all. Doesn’t show up in the app. Just, dead.

I called 1-800-327-5625 and learned Kwikset had discontinued the Kēvo about 18 months ago, and no longer has any parts available. Really? For a deadbolt people install in their homes? (1) These things should last longer than ~4-5 years (Yale has a 5 year mechanical warranty for its $25 deadbolts!), and (2) the manufacturer should support them longer than that, even if they do charge for parts outside of the 1 year warranty period.

My next lock will not be a Kwikset. I’m not likely to ever purchase from them again, ever, for anything. Does Medeco have a smart lock? (Could I integrate a Level Bolt “invisible” lock into one? Looks like no.)

August? (DEFCON hackers give me pause, though August was evidently responsive.)