Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) is a driver-assistance feature that alerts you to vehicles or objects in your vehicle’s blind spots – areas that are not visible through the side mirrors.
It is more useful when changing lanes, merging, or performing other maneuvers where it’s important to have a clear view of the space around your vehicle to reduce the likelihood of collisions and improve your overall driving safety.
However, you need to know how to turn on the blind spot monitoring to be able to use it. So, how do you turn on blind spot monitoring on a Toyota Highlander?
Does the Toyota Highlander Have Blind Spot Monitoring?
Yes, the Toyota Highlander does have Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), but its availability depends on the model year and trim level of the vehicle.
In recent models, especially from around 2020 onwards, Blind Spot Monitoring is included as a standard feature or available as part of a package on higher trim levels.
For example, the 2023 Toyota Highlander BSM is standard on most trims, including the LE and above. The 2022 Toyota Highlander BSM is commonly found as a standard feature on mid-to-high trims.
On earlier models before 2020, BSM might be included in higher trims or as part of an optional safety package. So, of course, there’s a blind spot monitoring in the 2018 Toyota Highlander, as well as the 2024 Honda Civic high trims.
It is a feature Toyota incorporated to enhance the driver’s awareness by detecting vehicles in adjacent lanes that may not be visible in the side mirrors and providing visual alerts in the side mirror to warn the driver of possible threats.
How to Turn on Blind Spot Monitoring On Toyota Highlander
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to turn on blind spot monitoring on your Toyota Highlander:
Step 1: Start Your Vehicle
The first step to turning on blind spot monitoring on your Toyota Highlander is by turning the car on. The car needs to be on before you can proceed with turning any other features on.
Therefore, ensure your Toyota Highlander is either in the running state or at least in the “On” position to allow the vehicle’s electronic systems to be fully operational.
Simply turn the ignition key or press the start button if your Highlander is equipped with a push-start feature.
Step 2: Locate the (< or >) Buttons on the Steering
The next thing to do is to locate the arrow buttons on your steering wheel. Depending on the year the Highlander you drive was made, the buttons can be either on the left or right side of the steering wheel.
In the image above, the arrow buttons are situated on the left side of the steering. I used a 2020 Highlander as an example for this tutorial.
Step 3: Click on Any of the Buttons
Once you’ve located the arrow buttons on the steering wheel, click on them. You can choose to click on any of the arrow buttons.
If you’re using a 2018 Highlander, click on the side buttons (> or >) to activate the systems settings menu options. If you’re using the 2020 model and above, you can click on the down button as marked in the image above.
Step 4: Locate the BSM on Your Dashboard
As you click on any of the buttons to activate the car’s menu settings, watch your speedometer on the dashboard. You will see different features with options to turn them on or off.
Keep clicking on the button until you stumble on the word “BSM”. Once you see it, click on the ‘OK’ button on the steering wheel to turn it on.
Once it’s turned on, a yellow light will flash on the side mirror of your Highlander to tell you that the option has been turned on. Also, the BSM sign will be on the dashboard too, as seen in the image below.
This is how to turn on blind spot monitoring on the Toyota Highlander from 2018 till the present. This method works for all Highlanders.
You can also follow this method to turn the blind spot monitoring off if you no longer need the feature to be on.
However, if your BSM system does not activate or seems to be malfunctioning, follow these troubleshooting steps to diagnose it:
- Check Your Car Settings: the first thing to do is to check your Highlander settings to be sure that BSM is not disabled in the vehicle’s settings. Access the settings menu through the method explained above to verify the status of the BSM.
- Inspect the Sensors: Examine the sensors for any visible damage or obstruction. Clean the sensors if they appear dirty or blocked.
- Check the Car’s Manual: You can also check the owner’s manual for troubleshooting tips and additional information about the BSM system.
- Visit a Toyota Dealer: If the issue persists, it may be necessary to visit a Toyota dealer or a qualified automotive technician for a thorough inspection and possible repair.
Conclusion
Blind Spot Monitoring is no doubt an invaluable feature that enhances driving safety by providing alerts about vehicles and objects in areas that are often difficult to see.
The Toyota Highlander, with its advanced safety suite, makes it easy to take advantage of this technology. All you have to do is follow the method explained in this article to have the blind spot monitoring turned on on your Highlander.
