So I had a bit of an issue yesterday. After getting parked and shutting it off, my baby refused to release the key. Also buzzed at me. Took several tries to get it out. At that point I realized that my battery gauge was registering between 11-12.
My assumption was that the battery was dying. I replaced it and it ran just fine last night.
Fast forward to this morning. When I went out to start it, the gauge was registering 12, and there was a momentary hesitation in the start.
Anyone else have this problem? Any thoughts as to what it could be?

 

Aside from the mechanical barrel for the key there is a separate switch attached to it that provides a ground to enable certain things to happen . One of the things is the go to sleep command to the security module that cuts off the battery drain after a certain amount of minutes . Ii you remove the lower column plastic cover you can test the switch with a meter

Pin 5 to 4 is the key in / key out portion of the switch

 

Pic added above . The wire colors in the pic may not be the same as this is the same switch part # and circuit for the X100 , X300, and X308 .

 

Because you have had problems removing the key there are a couple of things to look out for. First it was buzzing at you because the system didn't see PARK. If it does it again try shifting park to reverse a couple of times. If it continues or gets more frequent then the Park Micro-Switch on the J-Gate is out of adjustment or going bad.
The primary cause of a battery drain after a key problem is the small door that must close over the opening to let the security system know the key is removed. The flap has a tendency to stick. A small squirt of WD-40 and putting the key in and out a couple of times usually cures it. If it is bent and not closing then it is replacement time.
The flap has to close to start the time out sequence for the computers. It is the shutdown trigger. Once shut down their amp draw goes from amp to milliamp range