Japanese automaker Nissan has asked SiriusXM Pandora to keep satellite radio subscriptions active in more than 10,000 rental vehicles that are afflicted with a software bug.
The bug has the ability to disable the rearview backup camera in rental versions of Nissan Frontiers, Pathfinders, Rogues and Titans sold in the United States. The issue has the potential to conflict with federal traffic regulations, which require newer-model cars come equipped with the cameras.
Last year, Nissan began receiving reports that radios not subscribed to SiriusXM were rebooting by themselves. The issue came after the radio’s manufacturer, Bosch, issued a software update that was automatically delivered to affected vehicles.
Once Nissan discovered the problem, it contacted SiriusXM with a request that the company keep subscriptions active on the affected vehicles. It then worked with Bosch on a permanent fix, which began rolling out to rental vehicles in April.
This week, Nissan issued a recall for more than 10,000 vehicles that were still believed to be afflicted by the bug, and was working with rental companies to have the radios fixed in those cars. Rental companies can contact Nissan to have the issue fixed by a local dealer or through an over-the-air software update free of charge.
Vehicles purchased by consumers were not affected by the issue.
