Gear

Nissan Wireless Car Keys Wiped By Cell Phones

Nissan’s “intelligent keys,” wireless entry devices that open the automaker’s car doors at the push of a button, are actually kind of stupid. Being placed in close proximity to cellphones can erase the codes stored in memory, rendering them inoperable.

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Nissan's "intelligent keys," wireless entry devices that open the automaker's car doors at the push of a button, are actually kind of stupid. Being placed in close proximity to cellphones can erase the codes stored in memory, rendering them inoperable.

Here's Nissan spokesman Kyle Bazemore, interviewed by Reuters:

"We discovered that if the I-Key touches a cellphone, outgoing or incoming calls have the potential to alter the electronic code inside the I-Key. ... The car won't start and the I-Key cannot be reprogrammed."

A new version of the I-Key will emerge this fall, but until then, victims will have to get replacements from their dealer.

Ever seen, on some appliance or other, an inexplicable FCC sticker going on about being able to "accept" interference? Well, now you know why they exist. And so does Nissan.

Nissan warns U.S. cellphones can disable car keys [Reuters]