What Is the RSCA Off Button?

Both the Toyota Tundra and the Toyota Tacoma have a curious button marked with the words “RSCA OFF” right under their steering wheel column, and they aren’t the only ones. If you own one of these vehicles, then you might be wondering what the RSCA off button means and does.

The Meaning of the RSCA Off Button

RSCA stands for “Roll Sensing Curtain Airbags.” These side-curtain airbags are installed in the ceilings of certain Toyota vehicles. There are sensors installed that detect when there’s a sudden amount of wobbling and rocking. The side-curtain airbags deploy as a preemptive safety measure for a vehicle that’s rolling over. They cover the windows and protect the heads of anyone in the vehicle. Pressing the RSCA off button either deactivates or reactivates these particular airbags. It affects no other airbags in the safety system. An RSCA indicator light will light up on your dashboard if the RSCA is off.

How Does RSCA Work?

When your vehicle sways suddenly, whether up and down or side to side, it can trigger the RSCA system. This leads to the side curtain airbags deploying on both the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle. The system is in place to trigger the side curtain airbags right as the roll-over begins. It’s a precisely-timed trigger. If the airbags trigger too late, they might fail to preserve the safety of the passengers and driver. The fact that they trigger on the vehicle’s ceiling is also important to note. These are airbags specifically made for roll-over accidents where front-facing airbags prove insufficient.

Why Keep RSCA Off?

The button to turn RSCA off in Toyota vehicles is usually found either on the models with off-road capabilities or the ones that are likely to roll over such as light trucks, SUVs, and crossover vehicles.Not all vehicles with RSCA features have an RSCA off button. For most vehicles, the option to turn the RSCA off isn’t available. But why would you want to turn the RSCA off in the first place?

Roll-Over Airbag Accidents

Roll-overs are very serious accidents, and the RSCA system is meant to protect against them. However, the system can also be too sensitive at times. The system has been known to work better in more severe roll-over accidents, but it can cause injuries in more minor accidents. The airbags are violent when they deploy, and while this can save your life, it can also cause more harm in less severe cases. They can also cause significant harm if you aren’t wearing a seat belt when they trigger during a roll-over.

Offroading

Offroading is the more common reason drivers use the RSCA off button. While the sudden swaying that triggers the RSCA system is uncommon on a regular drive, it’s much more common when driving over hills, dunes, or whatever else. If the sudden but expected sways on an off-road track lead to the RSCA system triggering, it can be much more disastrous. The driver’s vision can be impaired or the airbags can drive the driver to distraction, leading to further accidents.

Should You Keep RSCA Off?

It’s generally a good idea to keep the RSCA on when you aren’t offroading. While side curtain airbags can cause a lot of trouble when they trigger by accident, this is a classic case of “better safe than sorry.” While it’s generally safe to drive with the RSCA off, it’s safer to drive with the system on as long as you’re on a generally stable road.