Toyota Tacoma (N400, 2024-2026) Owner's Manual: Rear Camera Detection (RCD): Pedestrian Detection

When the Toyota Tacoma is backing up, the Rear Camera Detection (RCD) function uses the rear camera to identify pedestrians within the monitored area behind the vehicle.

If a pedestrian is detected, the system alerts the driver by sounding a buzzer and displaying a pedestrian detection icon on the multimedia display, drawing attention to the presence of a person behind the vehicle.

WARNING

Cautions regarding the use of the system

The recognition and control capabilities of the RCD system have limitations, and pedestrians may not always be detected accurately under every operating or environmental condition.

The driver remains responsible for operating the Toyota Tacoma safely and must not rely excessively on the Rear Camera Detection function. Always check the area behind and around the vehicle directly, understand the surrounding conditions, and confirm that it is safe before and while backing up.

To ensure the system can operate properly

Observe the following precautions to maintain proper RCD operation. Failure to follow them may interfere with pedestrian detection and could contribute to an unexpected accident.

• Keep the rear camera clean at all times, taking care not to scratch, damage, or otherwise affect the camera while cleaning it.
• Do not install aftermarket components, such as an illuminated license plate, fog lamps, or similar equipment, near the camera where they could interfere with its field of view or operation.
• Do not subject the camera or the surrounding area to a strong impact. If this area has been struck or damaged, have the Toyota Tacoma inspected by your Toyota dealer to confirm that the camera remains correctly positioned and functional.
• Do not disassemble, modify, remodel, or paint the rear camera, as alterations may prevent the RCD function from operating as intended.
• Do not attach accessories, stickers, or other items to the camera or in a position that could obstruct its view.
• Do not install aftermarket protective components, such as bumper trim or similar accessories, on the rear bumper if they could interfere with the camera or its monitored area.
• Maintain the tires at the appropriate inflation pressure so the vehicle remains at its intended operating height and position.
• Make sure the tailgate is completely closed before relying on the RCD function, as an open or improperly closed tailgate may affect the rear camera's view.

 When to disable the RCD function

Disable the RCD function in the following situations. Under these conditions, the system may not detect pedestrians correctly or may otherwise fail to operate as intended, potentially increasing the risk of an accident.

• When any of the precautions described above cannot be observed or the required camera conditions cannot be maintained.
• When suspension components other than genuine parts have been installed, as changes in vehicle height or attitude may affect the camera's detection area.

System component

The rear camera used by the RCD function is located at the rear of the Toyota Tacoma, where it monitors the applicable area behind the vehicle while backing up.

RCD display

1. Pedestrian detection icon

The pedestrian detection icon appears automatically on the multimedia display when the RCD function detects a pedestrian behind the vehicle, providing the driver with a visual indication in addition to the audible warning.

Turning the RCD function on/off

The RCD function can be enabled or disabled through the applicable customization setting. When RCD is disabled, the driving assist information indicator illuminates and a corresponding message appears on the multi-information display to show that Rear Camera Detection is not currently active.

Each time the engine switch is turned off and then returned to ON, the RCD function is enabled automatically again. The driver should therefore be aware that the system may return to its active state after a new Toyota Tacoma operating cycle.

When a pedestrian is detected

If a pedestrian is located behind the vehicle, or if the rear camera determines that a pedestrian is approaching the vehicle from behind, the RCD system warns the driver by sounding the buzzer and displaying the pedestrian detection icon on the multimedia display. The warning pattern varies according to the pedestrian's position within the monitored areas, as described below:

1. If a pedestrian is detected in area A:
   Buzzer: Sounds repeatedly
   Pedestrian detection icon: Blinks to indicate that a pedestrian has been detected within this monitored area.
2. If a pedestrian is detected in area B:
   Buzzer (When the vehicle is stationary): Sounds 3 times
   Buzzer (When the vehicle is backing up, when a pedestrian approaches the rear of the vehicle): Sounds repeatedly
   Pedestrian detection icon:
   Blinks while the system continues to recognize the pedestrian within the applicable detection area.
3. If the system determines that your vehicle may collide with a pedestrian in area C:
   Buzzer: Sounds repeatedly
   Pedestrian detection icon:
   Blinks to provide a prominent warning that the pedestrian's position may present a collision risk while the Toyota Tacoma is backing up.

 When towing a trailer

• When Auto Trailer Detection (ATD) is activated after a trailer is recognized, the RCD function is automatically turned off. In this condition, Rear Camera Detection should not be expected to provide its normal pedestrian detection assistance behind the Toyota Tacoma.
• When the shift position is changed to R, the intuitive parking assist OFF indicator illuminates and a corresponding message appears on the multi-information display, informing the driver that the applicable parking assistance function is unavailable.

If a camera malfunction occurs while a trailer is connected, there may be situations in which the notification message indicating that intuitive parking assist, RCD, or PKSB is OFF does not appear. Therefore, the absence of an OFF notification should not by itself be interpreted as confirmation that these functions are operating normally.

 The rear camera detection function is operational when

• The engine switch is in ON.
• The RCD function is turned on and available for operation.
• The shift position is in R, allowing the rear camera detection function to monitor the applicable area behind the Toyota Tacoma while backing up.

 Setting the buzzer volume

The buzzer volume for intuitive parking assist, RCTA, and RCD can be adjusted together through the customization settings. Changing this setting applies the selected warning volume to all three applicable assistance functions rather than changing the RCD buzzer separately.

 Muting a buzzer temporarily

When an object or pedestrian is detected and the temporary mute switch appears on the multimedia display system, the driver can select the switch to temporarily silence the applicable audible warnings.

Selecting the temporary mute switch silences the buzzers for intuitive parking assist, RCTA, and RCD together. This is a temporary change to the audible warning and does not permanently disable the underlying assistance functions.

The temporary mute function will be canceled automatically in any of the following situations:

• When the shift position is changed to another position.
• When the Toyota Tacoma exceeds the applicable vehicle speed threshold.
• When a sensor malfunctions or the system becomes temporarily unavailable.
• When the currently operating assistance function is manually disabled.
• When the engine switch is turned off.

 Situations in which the system may not operate properly

• Certain pedestrians may be difficult for the rear camera detection function to recognize correctly because of their posture, movement, clothing, visibility, or position relative to other objects. Examples include the following:
  • Pedestrians who are bending forward or squatting, causing their normal standing silhouette to be difficult for the system to recognize.
  • Pedestrians who are lying down and therefore present a substantially different shape from an upright pedestrian.
  • Pedestrians who are running and moving rapidly through the Toyota Tacoma rear camera detection area.
  • Pedestrians who suddenly emerge from behind the shadow of the vehicle, a building, or another obstruction, giving the system limited time to identify them.
  • Pedestrians riding moving objects such as bicycles or skateboards, which may alter the appearance and movement pattern detected by the camera.
  • Pedestrians wearing oversized clothing, including a raincoat, long skirt, or similar garments that make the outline of the person's body less distinct.
  • Pedestrians whose bodies are partially concealed by another object, such as a cart or umbrella, reducing the amount of the pedestrian visible to the rear camera.
  • Pedestrians who are difficult to see because of darkness, particularly at night or in other poorly illuminated surroundings.
• Environmental conditions, camera condition, vehicle configuration, and changes in vehicle height may also prevent pedestrians from being detected correctly by the rear camera detection function. Situations in which RCD performance may be reduced include the following:
  • When backing up during adverse weather such as rain, snow, fog, or similar conditions that reduce visibility through the rear camera.
  • When the camera lens is dirty with mud, dirt, snow-melting agent, or other contamination, or when the lens has become scratched.
  • When an extremely bright light source, such as direct sunlight or the headlights of another vehicle, shines directly into the rear camera and makes the image more difficult to interpret.
  • When backing up through an area where ambient brightness changes suddenly, such as when entering or leaving a garage or underground parking facility.
  • When reversing in a dim environment, including at dusk or inside an underground parking lot where pedestrians may be less clearly visible.
  • When the position or viewing direction of the rear camera has shifted from its intended alignment.
  • When a towing hook is attached and affects the area visible to the rear camera or the conditions around the rear of the Toyota Tacoma.
  • When water droplets are flowing across the camera lens and partially obscure the image used for pedestrian detection.
  • When the vehicle height or attitude has changed substantially, such as when the front of the vehicle is noticeably raised or lowered.
  • When tire chains or an emergency tire puncture repair kit are being used and the vehicle is no longer in its normal driving configuration.
  • When the suspension has been lowered or tires of a different size from the genuine specified tires have been installed, changing the normal height or camera viewing angle of the Toyota Tacoma.
  • When an aftermarket component, such as a backlit license plate, fog light, or similar accessory, is installed near the rear camera and may affect its field of view.
  • When a bumper protector, such as an additional trim strip, is installed on the rear bumper and interferes with the area monitored by the camera.
  • When towing with the vehicle, because the trailer and towing equipment can obstruct or substantially alter the area normally monitored by the Rear Camera Detection function.

 Situations in which the system may operate unexpectedly

• Even when no pedestrians are present within the detection area, the rear camera detection function may identify certain objects or visual patterns as possible pedestrians and operate unexpectedly. Examples include the following:
  • Three-dimensional objects such as poles, traffic cones, fences, parked vehicles, or other upright structures that may have a shape resembling part of a pedestrian.
  • Moving objects, including cars, motorcycles, and other traffic passing through or near the Toyota Tacoma rear camera detection area.
  • Objects or visual movement approaching the vehicle while backing up, such as flags or puddles, as well as airborne matter including smoke, steam, rain, or snow.
  • Cobblestone or gravel surfaces, tram rails, road repair areas, white road markings, pedestrian crossings, or fallen leaves that may create shapes or patterns interpreted by the camera system.
  • Metal covers or gratings, including those commonly installed over drainage ditches.
  • Objects reflected in puddles or on wet road surfaces, where reflections may produce an image that the system interprets as a pedestrian.
  • Shadows cast across the road surface, particularly when their shape or movement changes within the camera image.
• Under certain vehicle or environmental conditions, the rear camera detection function may also activate even though no pedestrian is actually present behind the Toyota Tacoma. These situations include:
  • When backing toward the edge of the road, a curb, or a raised bump in the road surface.
  • When reversing toward an incline or decline, where the changing road angle alters the image captured by the rear camera.
  • When the vehicle height or attitude changes significantly, such as when the front of the Toyota Tacoma is noticeably raised or lowered.
  • When an aftermarket component, such as a backlit license plate, fog light, or similar accessory, is installed near the rear camera and affects its field of view.
  • If a bumper protector, including an additional trim strip or similar accessory, is installed on the rear bumper.
  • If the orientation of the rear camera has changed because of a collision, another strong impact, or removal and reinstallation of the camera or surrounding components.
  • If a towing eyelet is installed at the rear of the vehicle and appears within or influences the monitored camera area.
  • When water flows across the rear camera lens and distorts the image used by the RCD function.
  • When the camera lens is dirty with mud, dirt, snow-melting agent, or other contamination that reduces image clarity.
  • If a flashing light is visible within the detection area, such as the emergency flashers of another vehicle, and the changing light pattern affects camera recognition.
  • When tire chains or an emergency tire puncture repair kit are being used and the Toyota Tacoma is no longer in its normal driving configuration.
  • When towing with the vehicle, because the trailer and towing equipment may alter or obstruct the area normally monitored by the rear camera.
• Situations in which operation of the rear camera detection function may be difficult for the driver to notice include:
  • The warning buzzer may be difficult to hear when the surrounding environment is noisy or when the audio system is operating at a high volume.
  • If the cabin temperature becomes extremely high or low, the multimedia display may not operate correctly, making the visual RCD warning more difficult to recognize.