Toyota Safety Sense Malfunction

Hey Every one,
So about 2-3 weeks ago I got a warning that said something with my Pre - Collision System was having an issue, my LDW(lane departure warning) icon was lit(I did not have it turned on) as was my FCW(forward collision warning) light was lit(I did not have it turned off). This disappeared about 5 minutes after it came on. Fast forward to yesterday, I get a message saying my “Forward Facing Camera is Unavailable” and my forward collision warning light is lit again like someone turned it off but I didn’t touch the settings. Once again it turned off 5 minutes later. There was nothing obstructing the camera or sensor either time. It’s going to the dealer but does anyone have any idea to what the cause could be? Picture below: it looks like someone just turned it off once the camera message went away, and the light turned off by itself 5 minutes later.

 

Only time I had a TSS malfunction like that was when ice built up on the stock OR grill sensor cover.

 

It can happen when the camera is pointed directly in the sun, and/or the camera assembly is too hot. It turns back on when those conditions go away.

 

Did it rain a lot?

Check connectors. Also, there's a recall for gen3 TSS sensors.

W/o a scan code it's just guesswork.

 

This occurred at night, on a 70 degree high day.

My grille sensor was already replaced after faulty “BRAKE” warnings under that recall. No rain.

 

Still no code...

W/o the fault code, all we can do is guess, and we tried guessing...

 

I had the same issue with my 18' and I ended up giving the vehicle back to Toyota and got another one but a 19'. I have had it now for three months and everything seems to be working fine. I had the same issues that you are experiencing and had it at the dealer 6 times and they could not correct it. They replaced the sensor two times and checked the wiring harness and everything came back clean. The truck would turn the sensor off and not give a code almost every time. I started taking pics and complaining to my dealership and after the fourth try to fix it I claimed the lemon law and got rid of it. It kept turning the sensor off even after the second sensor was installed and the recall was done to the truck. Damn Gremlins. I really liked that color (Inferno) and as you know they don't offer it anymore on the Tacoma's.

 

I apologize, I’m not very mechanically inclined and have had a few issues with this truck unrelated to this. I’ll update everyone after it goes to the dealer.

I’m very happy to hear you’re having more luck with your ‘19 then your 18, but sad to hear they don’t make the color ya really liked anymore. I’ve had a handful of issues;

1.) Rear Diff replaced at 960 Miles(Had a howl, Toyota Corp. asked dealer to install a new diff, package my original diff and send it their HQ for what the SM said for them to check out why it “failed”. Warranty)
2.) Stumbling Trans(Was told no fix, I’ve gotten used to it at this point)
3.) An extremely creakey/squeaky passenger seat(Was told this is a characteristic of the vehicle, I usually don’t have a passenger)
4.) Chattering Leaf Springs(Tech pointed this out, then Service Manager said the tech said “he thought he heard it so no fix)
5.) High pitched popping/clicking noise from rear(Was told it’s a characteristic of the vehicle)
6.) Low Oil Pressure/Check Engine Light, towed to dealer(Dealer said no fault codes when they checked it, all fluid levels were perfect, health diagnostics ran, no issues found)
7.) Faulty “BRAKE” from TSS Sensor(Replaced Under Recall)
8.) Now this TSS/Camera thing.

So all this in the 5-6k miles. I’m now at 9k. Leased last November. They told me keep driving it till something happens and then they can fix it/replicate the issue or if it happens again bring it back in.

 

I've been trying to uninstall TSS since I bought it. I just can't find the software.

 

So what you're saying is...your dealership service department doesn't know how to fix anything.

#2 and #4 have TSB's available to fix those issues.
#5 isn't a "characteristic" of the vehicle. If it was, they would all do it...
#6 definitely doesn't sound like something they should have shrugged off...

This service department sounds inept.

 

Believe it or not my problem isn’t with the service dept, though I do get extremely annoyed by them especially after #6 happened and he said “well when it happens again bring it back”. I’m not mechanically inclined so I took checking fluid levels, running a health diagnostic to find fault codes but showed none was good enough. As for number 2 I told them that, and he said they would have to plug in my ECU as it was “VIN Specific” for the stumbling trans.... well why my ecu, if it’s VIN specific. But they never did it. In regards to numbers 3 and 5, I was told that the service manager and a senior technician test drove a new, exact match to mine that they had on the lot (2019 Toyota Tacoma SR Access Cab Long Bed with the SX Package) and the passenger seat creaked/squeaked as bad as mine and made the high pitched popping noise. Different time: The one time my truck sat on the lot for an entire week, it was never moved, never looked at(Was told this by the service manager), same spot it was parked. When they were checking oil the low oil pressure/Check Engine light, they had it for 3 days, when I asked why it took so long just got a diagnostics check, fluids check the SM said he had off yesterday and wanted to take care of it. Sorry the messages are so long!

 

Drove randomly and it went off a couple months ago when no one was in front of me for at least 800 ft. Could never replicate the problem again though

 

Took my 2018 TRD sport for 10k service, told them that “Forward Facing Camera is Unavailable” message would come on display 2 second later the(lane departure warning) icon would appear as well. Dealer had the truck for 2 days to troubleshoot system, found several fault codes on TSS unit. New TSS sensor was placed on order, will be about 2 weeks to get new one.

 

Good luck! I know I had mine replaced twice and it still kept shutting itself off randomly. It only applied the brakes on me twice to slow me down, it wasn't dramatic and luckily it was 5am the one time and no one was behind me. I turned the system off to prevent that from happening again. I actually purchased my vehicle and that's why I claimed the lemon law on it. Keep track of everything and take pictures. So far my 19' has been great and the 18' was as well but with the exception of that TSS sensor issue.

 

I hate to necropost, but I'm beginning to suspect that there is an issue with the TSS in my new to me 2019. It might just be operator error, but I have no way of knowing.

Lane Departure Alert works fine. The PCS works fine when in cruise control mode. In non cruise control mode, the sensor doesn't seem to work. The info systems says it's on, sensitivity is set to high. I've gotten as close as I dare to a car in front of me and got no sort of alert.

No trouble codes or warning lights, but I don't know that it works.

 

That may be the best news in this situation.

I'd be evaluating my options to see if the lease can be terminated w/o them plundering my wallet.