Toyota RAV4 Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)
Wondering what that green “BSM” light means on your Toyota RAV4? You’re not alone!
That’s why I’ve written this article. You’ll quickly learn what BSM means so you’re no longer left in the dark.
I’ll cover everything you need to know about BSM, including what it means, how to turn it on/off, how to fix it if it malfunctions, and more.
What Is It?
If you’re seeing the BSM light on your RAV4’s dashboard, you might not know what it means. It’s not a warning light, but simply an indication that your BSM is turned on.
BSM stands for “Blind Spot Monitor”. Toyota’s Blind Spot Monitor system increases the driver’s awareness of vehicles within their blind spot using two orange indicator lights located in each side-view mirror.
An indicator light will illuminate when a car enters the driver’s blind spot on either the left or right side of the vehicle. The driver should notice this warning light if they look to change lanes while a vehicle is in their blind spot.
For example, if a vehicle enters the driver’s blind spot on the left side of the vehicle, the indicator light on the left side-view mirror will illuminate.
If the driver uses their turn signal when a vehicle is in their blind spot, the side-view indicator will flash rapidly to catch the attention of the driver.
In the Toyota RAV4, the BSM sensors are located on the left and right sides of the vehicle’s rear bumper. You will not see these sensors! They are hidden behind the plastic bumper.
These sensors use radar technology to detect vehicles entering and leaving the blind spot.
What’s a “blind spot”?
A blind spot is any area surrounding the driver’s vehicle that cannot be seen using the rear view or side-view mirrors.
The most common blind spot areas are on each side of the vehicle, towards the rear.
Although a blind spot monitor helps you become more aware of these blind spots, you should not rely on it. You should still monitor your surroundings and check over your shoulder before switching lanes.
A blind spot is any area surrounding the driver’s vehicle that cannot be seen using the rear view or side-view mirrors.
The most common blind spot areas are on each side of the vehicle, towards the rear.
Although a blind spot monitor helps you become more aware of these blind spots, you should not rely on it. You should still monitor your surroundings and check over your shoulder before switching lanes.
BSM Dashboard Light
If you don’t know what BSM is, seeing the dashboard light may be confusing. But don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with your car!
A green “BSM” light on your RAV4’s dashboard means your blind spot monitor is turned on. Your blind spot monitor will alert you if a vehicle enters your blind spot.
If you don’t see the green “BSM” light on the dashboard, there are two possible reasons why:
- The BSM is turned off
- Your vehicle is not equipped with BSM
Does your Toyota RAV4 have a blind spot monitor (BSM)?
Toyota first released BSM as an available option in the 2013 RAV4. If your vehicle is older than that… sorry! You don’t have a blind spot monitor.
If your RAV4 is 2013 or newer, you might have BSM.
The Toyota RAV4 comes standard with blind spot monitoring, except for the following model years and trim levels:
- 2018 XLE / XLE Hybrid
- 2018 Adventure
- 2018 SE
- 2019-2023 LE / LE Hybrid
Important notes:
- Blind spot monitoring is available as an optional add-on for these RAV4s.
- We do not have BSM information about pre-2018 model year RAV4s.
If you’re not sure if your RAV4 has BSM, follow the steps below to try turning it on!
How to Turn On/Off
If you want to turn your blind spot monitor on or off, it can be done in a few easy steps.
The process changes depending on the model year. When Toyota released the 2016 RAV4, then switched from a physical toggle button to a setting in the car’s multi-information display (controlled by the steering wheel arrow pad).
Follow the steps below according to your model year to toggle BSM on and off.
Steps to toggle BSM ON/OFF on a 2016-2022 Toyota RAV4:
- Turn the vehicle on
- Locate the settings icon (⚙️) using the left and right keys on the arrow pad
- Select the BSM section using the down key on the arrow pad
- Press the “OK” button on your steering wheel to toggle Blind Spot Monitor on or off
If BSM is ON, you will see a green “BSM” indicator light on the dashboard next to the tachometer.
Steps to toggle BSM ON/OFF on a 2013-2015 Toyota RAV4:
- Turn the vehicle on
- Press the “BSM” button on the dashboard left of the steering wheel
If BSM is ON, you will see a green indicator light on the BSM toggle button.
Here’s a quick video demonstration of disabling BSM on a 2021 Toyota RAV4:
We recommend keeping your blind spot monitor enabled! It’s a great safety feature that’s proven to reduce the likelihood of accidents.
How to Fix a Malfunction
If your BSM is not working, you may see a warning such as “Blind Spot Monitor System Malfunction” “Check blind spot monitor system”.
As mentioned before, there are two blind spot monitor sensors. They are located on the left and right sides of the rear bumper and look like small black boxes. You won’t see these sensors because they’re hidden behind the plastic bumper.
Here’s what you can do if you’re experiencing a BSM malfunction:
1. Reset Your BSM System
Resetting your blind spot monitoring system is very easy!
To reset the BSM on a Toyota RAV4, turn the car off and back on.
If your BSM is still malfunctioning after doing this, proceed to the next step.
2. Contact Your Dealer or Local Mechanic
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do yourself if your BSM is still not working.
If resetting the BSM didn’t work, you should contact your local Toyota dealership or a trusted independent auto shop.
Some RAV4 owners said their BSM sensors stopped working after experiencing an impact to the right or left side of the rear bumper. Even minor impacts may cause a malfunction. These are sensitive technologies that could become uncalibrated or broken due to collisions or tampering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Recap
BSM stands for “blind spot monitor,” which is a safety system that detects vehicles in the blind spot to alert the driver.
It’s easy to turn it on and off using the multi-information display, but we recommend leaving it on for safety reasons.
Many car accidents are caused when drivers switch lanes or merge onto a highway, so the invention of blind spot monitoring has been a huge benefit to automobile safety.
The Toyota RAV4’s blind spot monitor system works wonderfully and will be sure to catch vehicles in your blind spot when you don’t see them!
Leave a comment below if you have questions about BSM!