Toyota Tacoma (N400, 2024-2026) Owner's Manual: Automatic High Beam (AHB): Operation and Settings

The Automatic High Beam system uses a front camera mounted near the upper area of the windshield to monitor light conditions ahead of the Toyota Tacoma. By recognizing the brightness of vehicle lamps, streetlights, and other sources of illumination, the system automatically switches the headlights between high beam and low beam as driving conditions change.

WARNING

For safe use

Never depend entirely on the Automatic High Beam system. The driver must continue watching the road, surrounding traffic, pedestrians, and changing visibility conditions, and should switch between high and low beams manually whenever the situation requires it.

To prevent unintentional operation of the Automatic High Beam System

• Disable the system whenever conditions make automatic high beam operation inappropriate or when manual headlight control is necessary.

Using the Automatic High Beam System

1. Press the Automatic High Beam switch to prepare the system for operation.

2. Turn the headlight switch to the or position.

With the headlight switch lever positioned for low beam operation, the AHB system becomes active. The AHB indicator then illuminates to confirm that Automatic High Beam control is available.

 Automatic operating conditions of the high beams

• The high beams will illuminate automatically when all of the following operating conditions are satisfied:
  • The Toyota Tacoma is traveling at approximately 21 mph (34 km/h) or faster.

    (except for New Caledonia)

  • Vehicle speed is approximately 19 mph (30 km/h) or higher.

    (for New Caledonia)

  • The area ahead of the vehicle is sufficiently dark for high beam operation.
  • No vehicle ahead is detected with its lights illuminated.
  • There are few streetlights or other significant light sources along the road ahead.
• The system will change the headlights back to low beam when any of the following conditions are detected:
  • Vehicle speed falls below approximately 17 mph (27 km/h).

    (except for New Caledonia)

  • Vehicle speed falls below approximately 16 mph (25 km/h).

    (for New Caledonia)

  • The area ahead is no longer dark enough to require high beams.
  • A vehicle ahead with illuminated lights is detected.
  • Numerous streetlights or other bright light sources are present on the road ahead.

 Front camera detection

• In certain traffic or road situations, the front camera may not recognize another vehicle quickly enough for the high beams to change automatically to low beam. This may occur in circumstances such as the following:
  • When another vehicle suddenly moves into the lane in front of the Toyota Tacoma.
  • When another vehicle crosses directly in front of the vehicle.
  • When vehicles ahead repeatedly move into and out of the camera's view because of consecutive curves, road dividers, roadside trees, or similar obstructions.
  • When a vehicle ahead approaches from a lane located farther away.
  • When the vehicle ahead is at a considerable distance.
  • When a vehicle ahead is traveling without its lights illuminated.
  • When the lights on a vehicle ahead are unusually dim.
  • When a vehicle ahead reflects strong light, including light from the Toyota Tacoma headlights.
  • In situations where the sensors may not be able to operate properly or accurately recognize surrounding conditions.
• The headlights may switch to low beam when the front camera detects a vehicle ahead using fog lights without its regular headlights turned on.
• Lighting from houses, streetlights, traffic signals, illuminated advertisements, billboards, or road signs can be interpreted as surrounding light. As a result, the system may switch from high beam to low beam or continue using low beam.
• The timing of the transition from high beam to low beam can vary depending on several factors, including:
  • The intensity and brightness of the lights on vehicles ahead.
  • The movement, position, and direction of vehicles traveling ahead.
  • The distance between your vehicle and another vehicle ahead.
  • Whether a vehicle ahead has lights illuminated on only one side.
  • Whether the vehicle ahead is a motorcycle, bicycle, or another two-wheeled vehicle.
  • Road characteristics such as gradients, curves, and the condition of the road surface.
  • The number of occupants in the vehicle and the amount of luggage being carried, as these factors may affect vehicle attitude and headlight aim.
• Depending on the surrounding lighting, traffic, and road geometry, the headlights may occasionally switch between high and low beam at a time the driver does not expect.
• Bicycles and other small or less-visible vehicles may not always be detected reliably by the front camera.
• Under certain environmental, traffic, or visibility conditions, the system may be unable to determine the brightness of the surroundings accurately.

In these situations, the Automatic High Beam system may keep the low beams illuminated when high beams would otherwise be expected, or the high beams may flash or create glare for pedestrians and vehicles ahead. If the Toyota Tacoma lighting does not match the current road and traffic conditions, switch between high and low beams manually rather than relying on automatic operation.

• When lights in the surrounding area resemble the headlights or tail lights of another vehicle and may be interpreted incorrectly by the front camera.
• When the headlights or tail lights of vehicles ahead are switched off, covered with dirt, changing in color, unusually dim, or aimed incorrectly.
• When the headlights repeatedly alternate between high beam and low beam in a way that does not suit the current driving environment.
• When high beam use is inappropriate, or when the high beams could flash toward or dazzle pedestrians, approaching traffic, or other road users.
• When the Toyota Tacoma is driven in a country or region where traffic travels on the opposite side of the road from that for which the vehicle was designed, such as operating a right-hand-traffic vehicle in a left-hand-traffic area, or vice versa.
• Whenever surrounding conditions make it necessary to disable Automatic High Beam operation and control the headlights manually.
• In situations where the sensors or front camera may not operate correctly or may have difficulty recognizing the surrounding lighting conditions.

 Temporarily reducing front camera sensitivity

The detection sensitivity of the front camera can be temporarily reduced when a less sensitive Automatic High Beam response is preferred under particular driving conditions.

1. Turn the engine switch off after confirming that all of the following conditions are satisfied.

• The headlight switch is in the or position.
• The headlight switch lever is positioned for low beam operation.
• The Automatic High Beam switch is turned on.

2. Turn the engine switch to ON.

3. Within 60 seconds after completing step 2, push the headlight switch lever forward to the high beam position and quickly pull it back to its original position 10 times. After the tenth operation, leave the lever in its original low beam position.

4. If the front camera sensitivity setting has been changed successfully, the Automatic High Beam indicator will blink 3 times to confirm the adjustment.

Turning the high beams on/off manually

 Changing to the high beams

Push the headlight lever forward to select the high beams manually.

The AHB indicator will switch off, while the high beam indicator will illuminate to show that manual high beam operation is active.

Pull the lever back to its original position when you want the Toyota Tacoma Automatic High Beam system to resume controlling the headlights.

 Changing to the low beams

Press the Automatic High Beam switch to change from automatic high beam operation to low beam control.

The AHB indicator will turn off, confirming that the Automatic High Beam system is no longer active.

Press the switch again when you want to reactivate Automatic High Beam operation.

Temporarily changing to the low beams

Switching temporarily to the low beams is recommended whenever high beam illumination is unsuitable for the road situation or could cause glare, discomfort, or difficulty for nearby drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians.

Pull the headlight lever toward you and then allow it to return to its original position.

The high beams illuminate while the lever is being held toward the driver. After the lever returns to its original position, the low beams remain illuminated for a certain period rather than immediately returning to automatic high beam operation. Once that interval has passed, the Toyota Tacoma Automatic High Beam system resumes controlling the headlights according to detected conditions.