Mobile Phones Could Wipe Car Ignition Fobs
Owners of some new Nissan motor cars are being advised to keep their mobile phones away from the keyless-ignition fobs which are used to start their cars, as the phones can "wipe" the fob memory. The problem is limited to the 2007 Altima and G35, and the problem can be avoided by keeping mobile phones at least an inch away from the fob.
The Tennessean newspaper said that if owners send or receive calls while their phones are touching the fob, there's a chance the fob's electronic code could be erased. Once erased, the fobs cannot be reprogrammed, and owners can restart their engines only by using the spare fobs sold with their cars, a Nissan spokesman told the newspaper.
Nissan expects to be able to issue new fobs within a few months, and is currently replacing damaged fobs free of charge.
Brent Adams, general manager of Action Nissan on Thompson Lane, told The Tennessean that only a few customers have complained. "(Nissan officials) are doing the right thing by letting the dealers know," he said."
Posted to the site on 24th May 2007