Is Toyota Safety Sense reliable?

[jp.vegas]

I’ll be very candid with you about how I feel about this. There is NO way that TSS could intervene successfully and reliably with as close as I got before any warning appeared.

To be fair, I was already on the brakes, so I don’t know if it still applies them (harder) if it detects you’re already braking.


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That’s pretty much been my experience as well. I’m already on the brakes, or my foot is covering the pedal waiting to see what happens next, when the warning has gone off. Hence why I’m curious if it will do anything more or not.

I race cars for a hobby, I’m well versed in threshold braking at the limit of traction, and there’s no way the truck could have stopped or slowed faster or harder than I would have in those instances. By the time the warning goes off I’m already acting so it’s hard to see where a collision would be avoided if I just did nothing and let it go.

Still file it under “nice to have” in case I’m looking down at the radio or something when shit happens and I need a warning.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

That’s pretty much been my experience as well. I’m already on the brakes, or my foot is covering the pedal waiting to see what happens next, when the warning has gone off. Hence why I’m curious if it will do anything more or not.

I race cars for a hobby, I’m well versed in threshold braking at the limit of traction, and there’s no way the truck could have stopped or slowed faster or harder than I would have in those instances. By the time the warning goes off I’m already acting so it’s hard to see where a collision would be avoided if I just did nothing and let it go.

Still file it under “nice to have” in case I’m looking down at the radio or something when shit happens and I need a warning.

I wonder if there’s any (safe) testing that could be done with big sheets of construction paper and fishing line?

I have owned it since new so the sensitivity is set to whatever the stock settings were.


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[RobS10]

i wonder if there’s any (safe) testing that could be done with big sheets of construction paper and fishing line?

I have owned it since new so the sensitivity is set to whatever the stock settings were.


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Lol!

 

[Climber1]

That’s pretty much been my experience as well. ....

Still file it under “nice to have” in case I’m looking down at the radio or something when shit happens and I need a warning.

I feel this is where the safety feature shines the best.
I was at 500 miles in on my new 2022 ORP and merging on the interstate and checked my rear-view mirror at the exact time the car in front of me locked up its brakes. I'm pretty sure I would have rear-ended that fella if the 4runner would not have warned me and helped with braking.

 

[NVSteve]

Same for me. Audio alert and “BRAKE!!!” displays in the instrument cluster.

I can see how easily this alone would cause people to panic & brake, possibly resulting in having someone hit you from behind. It is not subtle at all, and I could see older drivers getting a bit scared if it goes off on them. Mine has gone off about 5 times in the past year I have had mine-always on wet roads or when construction signs are involved. Absolutely hate this feature.

Adaptive cruise is kind of cool if there is only one lane at your disposal. It works well. If there are 2+ lanes, I use regular cruise because that is how I am used to driving.

All the safety measures are great, IMO. I feel a tad safer out there knowing there are so many vehicles that have it. With the number of distracted drivers out there (those who can't bear to unclutch their damn phones), they need all the help they can get. I just wish there was one master "switch" to toggle all the safety features on or off.

 

[RobS10]

I can see how easily this alone would cause people to panic & brake, possibly resulting in having someone hit you from behind. It is not subtle at all, and I could see older drivers getting a bit scared if it goes off on them. Mine has gone off about 5 times in the past year I have had mine-always on wet roads or when construction signs are involved. Absolutely hate this feature.

Adaptive cruise is kind of cool if there is only one lane at your disposal. It works well. If there are 2+ lanes, I use regular cruise because that is how I am used to driving.

All the safety measures are great, IMO. I feel a tad safer out there knowing there are so many vehicles that have it. With the number of distracted drivers out there (those who can't bear to unclutch their damn phones), they need all the help they can get. I just wish there was one master "switch" to toggle all the safety features on or off.

That "BRAKE" alert sounds like something that needs "adjustment"...assuming sensitivity is adjustable?

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

That "BRAKE" alert sounds like something that needs "adjustment"...assuming sensitivity is adjustable?

Yes with Carista

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[Mr_Bingley]

I have a 21 ORP. One thing I've noticed is that in moderate rain the sensor gets covered with droplets that distort its 'vision' and it shuts off.

 

[wsu_runner]

I wonder if there’s any (safe) testing that could be done with big sheets of construction paper and fishing line?

My wife's car has similar safety technology, and while I appreciate that we have it, there's very little you can do to test it, practically speaking. Sure, I can drive straight towards a brick wall and see if the robots intervene in time, but if I'm wrong it's a tough conversation with both my wife and my insurance company.

 

[RobS10]

Insurance rates with TSS?

Did anyone compare insurance rates on a 2019 and 2020-2022 (with TSS)? Even though a newer car is a little higher in value, I would think you would get a better rate for having the technology that saves the insurance companies M-O-N-E-Y.

 

[3xranger]

Not as refined as others...

I traded in an Audi Q8 and got a 22 ORP. The Audi was much more refined as far as the cruise features. It had traffic jam assist which brings the vehicle to a complete stop when in heavy traffic. Then, with just a tap of the accelerator, the vehicles resumes up to the pre-set speed. I don't commute to work (remote job) so this feature is not something that I used frequently.

I actually do like the cruise control on the ORP for long trips. It is a safety measure that could potentially help you avoid an accident. If you are distracted--pet, kid, passenger, radio--it could be the difference between a close call and a major accident. I don't use the system much when driving around town. Overall, I'm glad I have it as an option. I'm sure Toyota will update this older system when they come out with the Gen 6 4R. It will not be a reason for me to trade to the newer model....

 

[RobS10]

I traded in an Audi Q8 and got a 22 ORP. The Audi was much more refined as far as the cruise features. It had traffic jam assist which brings the vehicle to a complete stop when in heavy traffic. Then, with just a tap of the accelerator, the vehicles resumes up to the pre-set speed. I don't commute to work (remote job) so this feature is not something that I used frequently.

I actually do like the cruise control on the ORP for long trips. It is a safety measure that could potentially help you avoid an accident. If you are distracted--pet, kid, passenger, radio--it could be the difference between a close call and a major accident. I don't use the system much when driving around town. Overall, I'm glad I have it as an option. I'm sure Toyota will update this older system when they come out with the Gen 6 4R. It will not be a reason for me to trade to the newer model....

I assume TSS can be completely disabled, or just "adjusted"?

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

I have a 21 ORP. One thing I've noticed is that in moderate rain the sensor gets covered with droplets that distort its 'vision' and it shuts off.

I have experienced the same.


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[2021nightshade4x4]

Did anyone compare insurance rates on a 2019 and 2020-2022 (with TSS)? Even though a newer car is a little higher in value, I would think you would get a better rate for having the technology that saves the insurance companies M-O-N-E-Y.

The important question here is, does TSS contain any technologies that your insurance company discounts your rate for having?


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[2021nightshade4x4]

I assume TSS can be completely disabled, or just "adjusted"?

When it detects an obstruction to the sensor, it turns itself off and you get a little dash light. But you can drive the car normally. Not sure about turning it off with software.

You can apply a piece of black tape over that part of the windshield and see what happens!


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[RobS10]

When it detects an obstruction to the sensor, it turns itself off and you get a little dash light. But you can drive the car normally. Not sure about turning it off with software.

You can apply a piece of black tape over that part of the windshield and see what happens!


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Just curious if there is a dash switch to turn it off or on.

 

[3xranger]

I assume TSS can be completely disabled, or just "adjusted"?

Yes, you can adjust the setting for TSS for level of responsiveness. It can also be turned off completely.

 

[RobS10]

Yes, you can adjust the setting for TSS for level of responsiveness. It can also be turned off completely.

Thanks, what I was hoping for.

 

[The4RunnerDude]

The front collision avoidance system works well. I was farting around with the radio and not paying attention to the guy in front of me who put on his brakes. The 4runner beeped, a warning appeared on the screen, and applied the brakes for me. It saved me from rear ending some guy who didn’t deserve to have me ruin his day.

The rear cross traffic alert works well most of the time. Sometimes it is too sensitive and alerts me to things that are pretty far away or aren’t moving at all. Sometimes I think it could be more sensitive.

I love the adaptive cruise control. Comparatively, my wife has a Subaru Crosstrek that cost $20k less and can do all the things listed above and literally drive itself around curves on the highway. The adaptive cruise control on the Subaru can also bring you to a complete stop and then resume when the car in front of you moves... like in stop and go rush hour traffic. At first we were apprehensive about all this self driving technology. But after using it for a year, it’s really awesome.


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Had the same thing happen to me when I was also farting around with the radio and nearly rear ended another vehicle in traffic. My 4runner was only a few weeks old and I nearly shat myself with the thought of wrecking it that soon!

 

[The4RunnerDude]

I've only had it apply brakes one time, see post above this, but I've had the audio and dash "BRAKE" alert numerous times.

There is a one-way street where I live and travel often that has about a 50-60 degree turn it with vehicles parked on both sides. The sensor goes off every single time I drive that road thinking I'm going to hit one of the parked cars, but it has never applied the brakes there.

I hate the adaptive cruise control as I nearly was rear ended in a very bad way once trying to pass a vehicle on an interstate in a Sequoia that had the adaptive cruise control. I was going about 75mph with another car basically tailing me, and when I switched lanes to pass a car in front of me, the sensor picked up another vehicle and applied the brakes hard and the car behind me nearly slammed into me. They honked and passed me flipping me off, and probably thought that I was brake checking them. That was my first experience with adaptive cruise control and I'll never forget it.

I can do without the lane assist as well. Glad you can turn it off because it would drive me nuts in my area when I have to go across the lines to avoid pot holes and such.