I hear plenty of different stories about lemon cars and trucks, but most are very similar. I heard something new the other day. My client says the digital dashboard in his 2013 Chevy Malibu goes dark, the gauges go to zero, and the radio screen cuts off. Okay, this is not really different than lots of my other lemon car cases. During our conversation, though, he says the dealer told him that his pacemaker may be interfering with the car’s electronic system.
Say what? You have got to be kidding.
Then it occurred to me. Lots of people who have pacemakers drive. What if this were true? That would mean there is the possibility that a lot of cars could have lots of electrical problems while being driven down the street and we have all heard about the GM ignition cases. (Read here and here for more information.) where the car cuts off leaving the driver without any steering or brakes. I can tell you I don’t want to be next to someone whose pacemaker causes his car to cut off.
Anyway, I looked online. Apparently, the concern is not with the pacemaker affecting the car. It is the car affecting the pacemaker. (Is one problem better than the other?) The “smart keys” used by some newer cars transmit signals between 119 and 135 kHz with a relatively low power. If the key is close enough to the pacemaker, it might interfere with the pacemaker signal. Some pacemaker companies recommend you keep your smart key 9" to 24" inches away from a pacemaker. If you have a pacemaker, you might want to check with your doctor and the pacemaker company to determine if there is any real concern about being in a digital car.
Say what? You have got to be kidding.
Then it occurred to me. Lots of people who have pacemakers drive. What if this were true? That would mean there is the possibility that a lot of cars could have lots of electrical problems while being driven down the street and we have all heard about the GM ignition cases. (Read here and here for more information.) where the car cuts off leaving the driver without any steering or brakes. I can tell you I don’t want to be next to someone whose pacemaker causes his car to cut off.
Anyway, I looked online. Apparently, the concern is not with the pacemaker affecting the car. It is the car affecting the pacemaker. (Is one problem better than the other?) The “smart keys” used by some newer cars transmit signals between 119 and 135 kHz with a relatively low power. If the key is close enough to the pacemaker, it might interfere with the pacemaker signal. Some pacemaker companies recommend you keep your smart key 9" to 24" inches away from a pacemaker. If you have a pacemaker, you might want to check with your doctor and the pacemaker company to determine if there is any real concern about being in a digital car.
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