Does the Curt Spectrum Work with Adaptive Cruise Control and Safety Emergency Braking

Updated 10/02/2020 | Published 10/01/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller - Dash Mounted Knob - Up to 4 Axles - Proportional

(425)

$269.95

Universal Wiring Adapter for Curt Trailer Brake Controllers

(459)

$14.92

Question:

Were considering this model for our 2020 Toyota Highlander, and I have a few questions: 1. Is the braking signal controlled by hitting the brake pedal, the vehicle speeding up and slowing down, or both? 2. The Highlander has a radar-controlled cruise control that accelerates and decelerates based on the speed of the vehicle in front of it to maintain a safe distance. Does the accelerometer in the Spectrum respond to these changes and transmit the appropriate signal to the trailer brakes? 3. One of the features in Toyotas Safety Sense 2.0 is a collision-avoidance system that will slow down the vehicle quickly. Will this activate the trailer brakes? Thanks in advance for your help!

asked by: Ron

Expert Reply:

The Curt Spectrum # C51170 is a proportional brake controller, meaning that the brakes on the trailer are applied in proportion to the amount of inertia sensed by the slowing of the vehicle. So to answer your question, it's going to sense small slow downs and lightly apply the trailer brakes, but will also respond when you brake the vehicle using the brake pedal and apply the brakes on the trailer as well. This is going to work regardless of whether you've got the adaptive cruise control on or are manually controlling the speed of the vehicle.

We don't recommend completely relying on the collision avoidance system, but it would also sense any quick stop coming and start to apply the brakes; it's going to ramp up the braking pressure when the brake pedal is pressed or the manual override knob is pressed.

You shouldn't ever rely on your vehicle's safety system to completely handle your braking, but the Curt Spectrum's internal accelerometer will sense these changes and start to apply the brakes as required. You will want to use the Universal Wiring Adapter for Curt Brake Controllers # C51515 to install this in your 2020 Toyota Highlander.

I've also linked a review video of this

expert reply by: Erik B