Placing your electronic car key too close to your cell phone could invite some trouble. That’s exactly what Nissan has been telling its customers.
In a statement, the Japanese automaker advised its customers driving the new Altima and Infiniti G35 sedans to keep their car keys and cell phones at least an inch apart to avoid disabling the ‘intelligent keys.’ Nissan Altima parts as well as those of the G35 are now under close inspection.
“We discovered that if the I-Key touches a cell phone, outgoing or incoming calls have the potential to alter the electronic code inside the I-Key,” Nissan spokesman Kyle Bazemore said. “The car won’t start and the I-Key cannot be reprogrammed.”
Brent Adams, the vice president and general manager at Action Nissan in Nashville, said that the problem involves only a "certain type of phone and this particular service," which he declined to identify. He described the number of complaints as "minute." Adams noted that only a few customers have complained. "(Nissan officials) are doing the right thing by letting the dealers know," he said.
Bazemore said that current owners have been notified of the potential glitch via mail and can get new keys from dealers if they encounter the problem. The problem has occurred in a "very small percentage" of cars sold, Bazemore noted. He also said a new version of the I-Key, part of Nissan accessories, would be available in the fall.
Ken Hunt, the owner of Hunt Nissan in Chattanooga, said the dealership was including a warning in the vehicle packet for purchasers. "I have ordered extra keys in case," Hunt said. He added no retail customers have complained.