Pre-collision sensor…..why this design?

So moving into my second winter with my truck and remembering again how much these sensors suck. Barely any snow and it stops working. Why did they design it like this? Are there sensors behind the windshield too like other manufacturers? My wife’s 2018 Odyssey has never had a failed sensor due to snow, but I’m pretty sure all of its sensors are behind the windshield.

Not a huge complaint or anything, just a minor annoyance having the light come on and the message popping up every few minutes.

I’d rather have no sensor at all honestly but that wasn’t an option unless I bought something used.

Here is an example from today, sensor stopped working because of this:

 

The black rectangle shown in your picture is the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection. The sensors behind the windshield are Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. They are two different systems. None of the manufactures have found a perfect way to implement them without pissing off customers, so they place them where they want and where it makes sense to put it.

I don't like it either, and yes, a little bit of sleet/snow/mud or rain will make it stop working temporarily. But it's government mandated on all new vehicles, so you can't buy a new vehicle without one.

 

F the government regulations. Same people behind why I can't have a brand new 2023 70-series instead of a 4runner.

 

Makes me wonder if something could be applied to that, such as Rain-X maybe, that would make the water or snow slide off without affecting the operation of the sensor.

 

That is a great idea. As long as it doesn’t stain the plastic.

 

I sprayed mine with a ceramic coating, so things will sliiiiiiiiiide off of it. So far, no issues!

*knocks wood*

 

It’s just cheap looking period. They probably figured another US govt mandate we are not redesigning the front end for this since the vehicle sells well so just shlep a cheap plastic sensor on there and call it a day and sell it.

 

The sensor also doesn't like it when you drive on bright, highly reflective surfaces, like salt flats. I was on them last year in Utah and got the system not working message. As soon as I got back on asphalt it reactivated.

 

I hope a rock NEVER get's kicked up and breaks it. Im sure that would be pricey to repair? Mine stops often in the winter also.

 

Maybe they should have put a heating element in the sensor and wire it in with the mirror heat circuit.

 

You wouldn’t be able to afford one, even if they sold them here.

For starters, they wouldn’t sell the basic models here. You’d only get a tarted up version.

Then there’s the waitlist - I’ve seen estimates of 1 year, 2.5 years, or even longer. Now imagine the market value adjustment the dealers would add.

Then there’s the abysmal fuel economy. Toyota would want to price them high and in limited numbers to maximize profit and not divert sales from more fuel efficient vehicles.

Finally, there’s the Chicken Tax. Basically it’s a 25% tax that you’d be paying. Because we needed to protect the Big 3 and Harley Davidson.

Basically, you’re paying “real” Range Rover or Mercedes AMG Geländewagen prices when all’s said and done.

 

Keep us posted on that, and tell us what you used.

 

So, basically all problems that relate directly back to government regulation.

I stand by my original statement of "F the government regulations"

 

This is my first winter with my 4Runner and I was also surprised at how easy the snow and ice will mess with it. Took a lot more to disable the TSS sensor on my Tacoma.

 

The first two things I listed have nothing to do with the government.