Nissan Says Phones Can Erase Your Key

If you own a 2007 Nissan Altima or Infiniti G35, we have a suggestion: Keep your key fob in one pocket and your cell phone in the other.

According to the Associated Press, Nissan is getting complaints that cell phones are erasing its “intelligent keys” – you know, the ones you don't actually have to put in the ignition – because some phones can alter the fobs' electronic code if the two touch while a call is being made or received.

"When this happens, the I-Key will not start the vehicle and cannot be reprogrammed," Nissan’s statement said.

Ouch. Wrong number, indeed.

Nissan says it’s working on the problem and will give customers new keys sometime this fall. For now, the company recommends keeping your cell phone and your fob “at least 1 inch apart at all times.” Just like when you were dating in junior high.

Brent Adams, vice president and general manager at Action Nissan in Nashville, told AP that the problem involves only a "certain type of phone and this particular service," which he declined to specify. He described the number of complaints as "minute."

Nissan: Cell Phones Can Alter the I-Key (L.A. Times)

Comments

[Juan Carlos]

the wonders of technology. what will thry think of next?!

[V]

I have two acquaintances that each have a 2007 Altima and G35. A few weeks back the Altima owner would wear her key and cell phone (one of the teeny ones) around her neck on one of those stringy things, along with her work security badge. A Nissan dealership here in Atlanta told her that the magnet in the security badge caused the conflict with the remote and charged her a whopping $425 to replace and reprogram. Now we know better -- and I'll be sure to pass this info along to the G35 owner.

[Rico Machiavelli]

Just curious about that "certain type of phone." It happened to me and I have a Sony Ericcson. Wierd thing is that I didn't have the phone anywhere near the fob. Fob worked one minute and went kaput the next. Not only did it stop unlocking the doors or starting the car, but the security key indicator on the dash wouldn't stop flashing. Hours later the car needed a jump in order to start (with the key inserted manually)??! But it still wouldn't unlock or start the car remotely. I got a loner, but its been two days now waiting to get my car back because only one person "reprograms" the fobs??!!

[chicopanther]

What the carmakers don't seem to realize is there are a lot of people like me who WILL NOT buy any car that has a so-called "security" key! Far from stopping thieves from stealing cars, the keys just inconvenience the legitimate are owner, not to mention cost the car owner big bucks when the damned keys fail.

We need some good hardware hackers who can hack out the damned "security" systems so we car owners can reinstall plain old metal keys, thereby also making it easy to carry a spare key in our wallets!

[chicopanther]

What the carmakers don't seem to realize is there are a lot of people like me who WILL NOT buy any car that has a so-called "security" key! Far from stopping thieves from stealing cars, the keys just inconvenience the legitimate are owner, not to mention cost the car owner big bucks when the damned keys fail.

We need some good hardware hackers who can hack out the damned "security" systems so we car owners can reinstall plain old metal keys, thereby also making it easy to carry a spare key in our wallets!

[chris]

I don't think it's all cell phones, but you really have to watch out for gsm phones (the kind that take a sim card). Peak radiation from these phones is very high and can cause audible interference in audio equipment from a significant distance. There is also some concern over possible brain damage but the link is still somwhat inconclusive.