by Reuters

Nissan North America has a warning for customers: Placing your electronic key too close to your cell phone could leave you stranded.

The automaker is asking customers driving new models of two of its flagship sedans to keep their car keys and cell phones at least an inch apart to avoid disabling the "intelligent keys."

Cell phones kept near Nissan's I-Keys -- wireless devices designed to allow drivers to enter and start their cars at the push of a button -- can erase the electronic code on the keys, rendering them unable to unlock or start the cars.

The problem has occurred on the 2007 Nissan Altima and Infiniti G35 sedans -- two of Nissan's top-selling models, the company said yesterday.

"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," he added.