Nissan Warns Cell Phone Interferes With I-Key

Anthony Fontanelle
May 28, 2007

The Nissan Motor Corporation recently announced that some makes of mobile phones actually pose as a serious threat to their ‘intelligent keys’. These keys are used on late Altima models as well as on Infiniti vehicles. While the small key fob designed by the Japanese car manufacturer has earned the praise of tech experts for its design and functionality, this glitch may put a dent in the reputation of the third largest Japanese car manufacturer.

It has been reported that some cell phones can corrupt the programming of the Nissan Altima and the Infiniti I-Keys. These intelligent keys are offered for the 2007 Nissan Altima and the Infiniti G35 luxury car. To reduce the risk of corrupting the programming of the intelligent keys, Nissan advises car owners to keep the gadgets away from each other “at least 1 inch apart at all times.” Nissan announced that once a cell phone receives and sends messages or makes and takes calls, it can affect the programming of the intelligent keys. That is why it is of utmost importance that they should be kept apart at all times. Further cause for car owners to take this precaution is the fact that Nissan warned them that: “When this happens, the I-Key will not start the vehicle and cannot be reprogrammed.”

While it is absurd that cell phones can alter the performance of non-electronic parts such as Infiniti head gaskets and the like, the threat to Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are great. To prevent inconvenience for their consumers, Nissan is already developing a new programming that will not be affected by any cell phone. The said intelligent keys will replace the current I-Keys and will be distributed by the car manufacturer come this fall. This is to prevent further inconveniences on both the part of the car manufacturer and their consumers. Aside from these statements, Nissan is yet to shed light on which particular phone model can cause the corruption on the programming of the intelligent keys used on the 2007 Nissan Altima and the Infiniti G35.

Nissan’s Brent Adams, the Vice-President and General Manager of Action Nissan in Nashville, Tennessee, only said that the problem is caused by a “certain type of phone and this particular service”. Aside from that, Nissan is yet to clarify which make of phone causes the problem and what particular service makes the I-Keys go bonkers.

For now, Nissan will be including a warning with every purchase of the 2007 Nissan Altima and the Infiniti G35. This is to ensure that the consumers will not fall victim to the problem encountered by Nissan with their intelligent keys. But as further protection for their consumers, Nissan dealerships are already ordering extra keys until the new ones are developed and produced.

Source:  Amazines.com