Recently, on my way to work in our Nissan Murano, I realized the clock was off by 18 minutes. I could leave it alone, but I’d rather not do math to calculate my arrival time while driving in rush-hour traffic and monitoring traffic reports. Let’s see, 7:15 plus 18 minutes means… bumper to bumper traffic on the route I just took because I missed the radio report. Arrrgh!

So, just a simple adjustment and I’d be content in the knowledge that I am not significantly late for work. Based on recent experience driving our Infiniti EX35 and Murano, I know can adjust the radio, iPod controls, climate system, and even the trip computer when moving. Other than the integrated iPod controller, these functions don’t even require using the multifunction controller and its attendant bank of buttons. So far, so good.

But adjusting the clock? Not so fast—it’s buried deep within the vehicle settings menus, and the ability to adjust it is locked down when the vehicle is in motion. Hit “Settings” and… “Clock selection” is dim until you stop. Makes total sense.

Radio and iPod: Safe to adjust when moving. The clock: Not so much.

Nissan, why is it considered appropriate to navigate through the detailed iPod menu, browsing folders and songs, while driving at 65 mph, yet a simple clock adjustment is so convoluted that I’m not allowed to do it when driving? Sure, I change iPod tracks a whole lot more frequently than I adjust the clock’s time. (The need exists at least twice a year to adjust the clock and possibly more often, as I recently discovered.) You made redundant and simple hard keys for almost everything else, and our Murano doesn’t even have navigation, so why not just drop the mobile dashboard desktop look, sadly de rigueur for a luxury car, in favor of the luxury of simplicity? Or, just let me adjust the clock with the current, high-tech setup.

—Jon Linkov

Have you encountered a frustrating control or function with your car? Share your experience in the comments below.