Blind spot mirror recall

Welp got a letter for the blind-spot mirror recall today. Mine is not having issues but I guess I will head to dealer tomorrow and see what the say.

 

They will probably take care of the recall and send you one your way? If it's not an issue, and you aren't towing anything, perhaps just get it done at your next service?

 

Exactly what I’m doing now. Had service scheduled this morning and getting the BSM recall taken care of at the same time.

 

It is specifically related to towing.


The subject vehicles are equipped with a Trailer Blind Spot Monitor (TBSM) system, which consists of two Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) sensors. Due to the programming of the BSM sensors, the TBSM system may not be able to detect the extended area for the trailer under certain operating conditions as described in the owner's manual.

Remedy

Remedy Status: Remedy Available

Any authorized Toyota dealer will reprogram the Blind Spot Monitor sensors ECU FREE OF CHARGE.

 

Even when it works and it's probably a lot better when it does works, TBSM sounds like it could be a receipe for disaster using BSM on the trailer lots of varibles going on there, but it might help. I saw a SR5 yesterday no trailer and I could see their BSM working just fine.

 

Mirror?

 

I don't believe there's any BSM on the trailer - the system uses the user specified trailer length to enhance the BSM to alert the driver to stuff past the trailer.

 

Oh yeah I got that. I was going to say using TBSM while towing sounds like a recipe for disaster to judge the blind spot of the trailer. Seems like a lot could go wrong there. I'd think the system would need constant calibration, and if you have to enter the information wow. I'll speculate Toyota will drop this feature if there are constant issues.

 

What makes you think it'd need constant calibration?

You can save up to ten trailers and select which one you're pulling.

Please explain how it'd be a recipe for disaster unless you're someone who blindly depends on BSM to alert them vs. using mirrors & shoulder check as primary and BSM as a backup added layer of assistance? I'm genuinely curious as I've not used the system.

 

I had this done two weeks ago at my 5,000 oil change/tire rotation.
it added 1.5 hrs. to my service time. I did notice that my BSM warning light in my sideview mirror would stay on (with no cars passing) when I was towing. The update seems to have cleared that glitch.

 

If reprogrammed trucks need multiple recalibrations, or trucks not under that specific recall need recalibration. That hasn't happened yet and that system could prove to be problem free from here on out.

Yes if you are relying on the TBSM instead of your mirrors that spells disaster.

I wonder how Toyota found out the system needed recalibration?

 

Sure, and if you're relying on your mirrors instead of shoulder checks that also can spell disaster.

I taught my kids - in the days before any BSM - that mirrors just say "no", they never say "yes".

As for BSM - not having it covering the trailer seems worse than having it cover the trailer. Curious why you feel otherwise.

People being dumb isn't IMHO a valid reason - people misusing a safety system doesn't make the system bad.

 

Pretty much every blind spot monitoring vehicle out on the road contains no adjustments for if your vehicle got longer. They are all single programmed for the factory length of the vehicle and only the vehicle.

Toyota developed an algorithm that allows you to set the trailer length within the MID and when active, extend the BSM length to be equal to your vehicle + total trailer length (always round up higher in the menu ).

In certain instances, even though you've activated this feature, it's not properly extending the sensor range to your setting. Hence TSB.

Insanely minor software issue given that anyone towing should be looking with their own eyes to make sure they are clear to safely change lanes.

And different than the software/hardware error of the truck not recognizing a trailer disconnect. I say hardware because at least in my case the trailer detected TSB required a sensor replacement.

 

How many customers asked for TBSM? Probably wasn't many, if it has issues and not that many people asked for and I doubt anyone bought a Tacoma exclusively for TBSM. Disable it from the system. Toyota is spending money to fix a problem that nobody bought their Tacoma for to begin with. The negatives out way the positive when it comes to the bottom line. Whether or not the technology is good or bad really doesn't matter at this point. No future customer is goingvto pass up on a Toyota Tacoma because TBSM isn't available. Far as I know no other truck offers TBSM on their trucks thatchave the most advanced towing options.

It comes down to does it work or does it not work? If doesn't work, all that does is make the truck look bad to a customer.