Question: I understand why people like the adaptive cruise control feature, but I think it’s super annoying! Is there a way to turn it off in my Toyota?
Answer: Adaptive cruise control is a driver assistance feature designed to manage the distance between you and the car in front of you. Your car automatically adjusts its speed when this setting is on. Fortunately, if you’re not a fan, it’s easy to override Toyota’s adaptive cruise control and switch to standard cruise control.
The exact way you’ll do this may vary depending on the model and year of your Toyota, but in general, there are two main ways:
- If your Toyota has a cruise button on the steering wheel: Press and hold the cruise button for at least two seconds. On most Toyota steering wheels, the button will be on the right-hand side. The standard cruise control icon should appear on your driver information screen.
- If your Toyota’s cruise is controlled by a stalk: Find the cruise control stalk on the right-hand side of your steering wheel, then press the stalk away from you until the cruise icon changes.
If you’re using adaptive cruise control and want to turn it off, just press the cruise button once. When you’re ready to use adaptive cruise control again, turn it back on by pressing the button one more time.
A Toyota’s adaptive cruise control icon looks like a speedometer with a vehicle to its upper left and an arrow at the upper right. A standard cruise control icon looks like a speedometer.
What is Toyota’s adaptive cruise control?
Toyota’s adaptive cruise control—also called Dynamic Radar Cruise Control—works like standard cruise control, but it uses sensors to monitor the distance between your Toyota and the vehicle in front of you. If you get too close, your car will automatically slow down to maintain a safe distance.
When you turn on Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, you’ll see an indicator on your dashboard menu that says “Radar Ready.” This indicates that once you set your speed, your vehicle will begin monitoring the road ahead.
Need to know:Toyota’s adaptive cruise control is intended to be used mainly on freeways and expressways, where your speed typically remains constant other than minor adjustments.
What are the drawbacks of adaptive cruise control?
While adaptive cruise control is a valuable safety feature, some drivers find it has drawbacks. For instance, it may not function properly in certain conditions, such as when your car is dirty, it’s dark out, or when driving in inclement weather or other conditions that lead to poor visibility. It can also have trouble detecting oddly shaped vehicles.
There can also be issues with drivers not understanding exactly how it works—adaptive cruise control won’t stop your vehicle if there’s a stationary object in your path. And some drivers are simply uncomfortable with driver-assist features that control the vehicle’s speed.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
