Toyota Tacoma Lane Departure Alert (LDA): Explained
Lane Departure Alert keeps you safe on the road using a camera system that monitors road lines.
Key Points:
- Land Departure Alert (LDA) warns you when you cross road lines.
- LDA sensitivty can be adjusted in the multi-information display settings.
- LDA only works above 32 miles-per-hour.
Trying to keep up with all of the latest safety features in modern vehicles can be overwhelming. One that you may need help understanding is the Tacoma lane departure alert system. It’s a vital inclusion to the Toyota Tacoma safety features but also remains a mystery to many drivers.
In this guide, I seek to explain the Lane Departure Alert (LDA) on Tacoma trucks. I show you how it works, list the models it can be found in, and illustrate how to turn it off or on.
What Is Lane Departure Alert (LDA)?
Lane Departure Alert is one safety feature that’s bundled with the Toyota Safety Sense™ program in newer vehicles. Its primary purpose is to tell drivers when the vehicle has departed from its lane.
Lane Departure Alert (LDA) monitors the white or yellow lines on the road to determine where the truck should be. When traveling at 32 mph or more, the system tells the driver if the truck is moving beyond these boundary lines.
The audio and/or visual warning is issued if a tire touches one of these boundary lines. The purpose of the system is to avoid crashes caused by departing or drifting from the lane.
The system also comes with Steering Assist (SA) on 2024 or newer Tacomas. If the driver doesn’t take action after the alert is issued, Steering Assist provides corrective steering maneuvers to bring the vehicle back into its lane.
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How It Works
While I’ve already provided the overview of the system, I will break down how LDA works in a simple format.
- Once the truck is driving more than 32 mph, the LDA system activates (unless disabled)
- LDA recognizes the white and yellow lines on the road with the front camera located at the upper section of the windshield
- When your truck gets close to the lines without the turn signal on, an alert activates
- The alert deactivates once the truck is back in its lane
The Lane Departure Alert will only work if the road’s paint strips are clearly marked on both sides. With this in mind, it doesn’t work on every street.
You should also know that you can tweak sensitivity of the LDA settings on your multi-information display in the settings menu.
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Compatible Models
Since 2018, all Toyota Tacoma trucks have come standard with Lane Departure Alert. This safety system is found on every Tacoma trim for model years 2018 to 2023.
Lane Departure Alert has been a part of the Toyota Safety Sense™ bundle. It’s been in the TSS-P, TSS 2.0, TSS 2.5 & 2.5+, and the TSS 3.0.
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How to Turn It On/Off
If you don’t want the Lane Departure Alert on, you can turn it off. Here are the steps to follow.
- Locate the LDA button. With the 2023 Toyota Tacoma, the button is located at the right hand of the steering wheel. It looks like a car that is tilted sideways. See the photo below.
- Press the LDA button to turn it off.
- After the button is pressed, an indicator light appears, and you receive a message on the multi-information display that it is deactivated.
- When you are ready to turn it back on, simply press the button again.
- The message will turn off, and the indicator light will disappear.
If you are having trouble using the LDA system or can’t find the button, look in your Tacoma owner’s manual.
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Troubleshooting Tips
As with any sophisticated safety system, there’s always the chance that something could go wrong. If you are having trouble with your Lane Departure Alert, there are several things you can do.
Here are some common reasons for the LDA system to stop working and what you can do about it.
- LDA is off. Make sure the button hasn’t been pushed accidentally. Try to turn it back on.
- Lane markers aren’t clear. If the lines on the lane aren’t clearly marked, the system may not work.
- You aren’t traveling fast enough. If you aren’t driving 32 mph or faster, the system doesn’t activate.
- The roads are snowy or icy. The LDA can’t always see the lane markers in bad weather, so the system won’t activate.
- The sensors are dirty. If the front camera is dirty, the system can’t see the markers.
- You got a new windshield. If you’ve just installed a new windshield, the sensors might not have been calibrated.
- Sensors are malfunctioning. The system is made up of several sensors that could be defective. Before you take the truck to have it looked at, double-check your tire pressures.
The worst-case scenario is that there’s a software glitch. In this case, there could be false alerts and warnings. The system may even detect lane markings that aren’t there. For this reason, you should have the truck looked at by a Toyota technician.
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Other Included Safety Tech
Lane Departure Warning is one of the many safety features included with the Toyota Tacoma truck. This advanced safety system comes as a package with the standard Toyota Safety Sense™ P (TSS-P) technology.
The other technology found with this system includes the following:
- Pre-Collision System w/Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD): This technology detects other vehicles and pedestrians in the truck’s path. Audio/visual warnings are given to prevent a collision. The system will apply automatic emergency braking if those warnings aren’t followed.
- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC): This system works on the highway to maintain appropriate distances between other vehicles. You can also choose the available Full-Speed Range DRCC technology for more protection.
- Automatic High Beams (AHB): While traveling at speeds above 21 mph, AHB detects headlights and taillights from other vehicles. The headlights toggle from high and low beams as needed.
The Toyota Tacoma also comes standard with the Star Safety System™, which includes:
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
- Traction Control (TRAC)
- Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
- Brake Assist (BA)
- Smart Stop Technology® (SST)
Additional features that are available with your Tacoma include:
- Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Rear parking assist sonar
I suggest looking into these options to see if they are beneficial for you. When used in conjunction with Lane Departure Alert, the Tacoma offers all of the safety equipment you need for a protected ride. Furthermore, these technologies have likely contributed to the four-star safety rating given by the NHTSA.
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Stay in Your Lane
With the help of the advanced Toyota Tacoma safety systems, you don’t have to worry about minor distractions while driving. If you drift out of your lane, even a little, the system will alert you.
This system is another reason why Toyota vehicles continue to top the charts for safety and reliability. You know you can stay in your lane wherever you decide to go in your Tacoma.
