Nissan Frontier: Starting and driving - Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Basic Information Nissan Frontier SUV
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and instructions for proper use of the RCTA system may result in a collision, serious injury, or death.
- The RCTA system is a driver assistance feature, not a substitute for correct backing and parking procedures. It is not designed to prevent contact with every vehicle, person, or object around the Nissan Frontier. When backing out of a parking space, always check both side mirrors, the rearview mirror, and the area behind the vehicle by turning your head in the direction the vehicle will move. Never depend only on the RCTA system when reversing.
The RCTA system is designed to assist the driver when backing out of a parking space, especially in areas where visibility to the left or right may be limited by parked vehicles, walls, or other obstacles. When the Nissan Frontier is in reverse, the system monitors for vehicles approaching from either side. If cross traffic is detected, the system warns the driver so that backing can be stopped or adjusted before the vehicle continues moving.
RCTA system operation Nissan Frontier SUV
- Side BSW/RCTA Indicator Light
The RCTA system can help alert the Nissan Frontier driver to an approaching vehicle when reversing out of a parking space. This is particularly useful when nearby parked vehicles make it difficult to see cross traffic until the rear of the truck has already moved into the traffic lane.
When the shift position is in R (Reverse) and the vehicle speed is less than approximately 5 mph (8 km/h), the RCTA system becomes operational and begins monitoring the rear side areas of the vehicle.
If the radar sensors detect a vehicle approaching from either side, the system sounds one chime and the side BSW/RCTA indicator light flashes on the side from which the vehicle is approaching. This visual and audible warning helps the driver identify the direction of the cross traffic while backing up.
The RCTA system uses radar sensors 1 installed on both sides near the rear bumper to detect an approaching vehicle. These sensors monitor the left and right rear areas where moving traffic may enter the path of the Nissan Frontier while it is backing out.
The radar sensors 1 can detect an approaching vehicle from up to approximately 66 ft (20 m) away, depending on the surrounding conditions, vehicle speed, sensor visibility, and the angle at which the other vehicle is approaching.
How to enable/disable the RCTA system
When the RCTA system is enabled in the vehicle information display, it can also be turned off temporarily by pressing the Parking Aids system switch. For more details about that control, see "Parking Aids system switch". This gives the Nissan Frontier driver a quick way to manage parking assistance features when needed.
Perform the following steps to enable or disable the RCTA system:
1. Press the
button until
"Settings" displays
in the vehicle information display.
Use the
button to select "Driver
Assistance"
and press ENTER.
2. Select "Parking Aids" and press ENTER.
3. Select "CTA" and press the ENTER button to turn the system on or off.
4. Push the Parking Aids system switch to turn the system on or off.
NOTE:
When the system is enabled or disabled, the selected setting is retained even after the engine is restarted. The Nissan Frontier will keep the chosen RCTA setting until it is changed again through the menu or switch.
RCTA system limitations Nissan Frontier third generation
WARNING
Listed below are the system limitations for the RCTA system. Failure to drive the vehicle in accordance with these limitations may result in serious injury or death.
- Always check the surroundings and turn to look behind you before backing up. The radar sensors are
designed to detect approaching moving vehicles, but they cannot recognize every hazard around the
Nissan Frontier. The radar sensors may not detect objects such as:
- Pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, animals, shopping carts, or child-operated toy vehicles
- A vehicle passing at speeds greater than approximately 19 mph (30 km/h)
- A vehicle passing at speeds lower than approximately 5 mph (8 km/h)
- The radar sensors may fail to detect approaching vehicles in certain situations:
- Illustration A: When a vehicle parked next to you blocks the radar sensor beam.
- Illustration B: When the Nissan Frontier is parked in an angled parking space.
- Illustration C: When the vehicle is parked on inclined ground, which can change the radar angle.
- Illustration D: When an approaching vehicle turns into your vehicle's parking lot aisle.
- Illustration E: When the angle formed by your vehicle and the approaching vehicle is small, making cross traffic harder for the sensor to recognize.
- The following conditions may reduce the radar sensor’s ability to detect other vehicles:
- Severe weather, including heavy rain, fog, or snow
- Road spray from nearby vehicles or wet pavement
- Ice, frost, snow, mud, dirt, or road grime built up on the vehicle near the radar sensor area
- Do not attach stickers, decals, protective films, or transparent material near the radar sensors. Do not install accessories or apply additional paint near the sensor area, because these conditions may reduce the radar’s ability to detect other vehicles approaching the Nissan Frontier.
- Excessive noise, such as a loud audio system, open windows, strong wind noise, or other sounds inside the cabin, may interfere with the warning chime and make it difficult to hear.
Illustration 1
Illustration 2
NOTE:
If several vehicles approach in a row, as shown in Illustration 1, or approach from opposite directions, as shown in Illustration 2, the RCTA system may not sound a chime after the first vehicle passes the sensors. For safe operation of the Nissan Frontier, continue checking both directions visually even after the initial alert.
System temporarily unavailable Nissan Frontier third generation
Basic Information
When the Nissan Frontier detects that the side radar area is blocked, the RCTA system is automatically deactivated to avoid giving the driver incomplete or unreliable warnings. The "Unavailable Side Radar Obstruction" warning message will appear in the vehicle information display, letting the driver know that the system cannot monitor cross traffic correctly at that moment.
The systems will remain unavailable until the condition causing the radar obstruction has cleared. While this message is displayed, the driver should use extra care when reversing, check both directions visually, and rely on mirrors and direct observation rather than the RCTA warning alone.
The radar sensors may be temporarily blocked by surrounding environmental conditions such as splashing water, road spray, mist, fog, or heavy moisture around the rear bumper area.
The blocked condition may also be caused by ice, snow, frost, mud, dirt, road salt, or other buildup covering the radar sensors. Even a thin layer of contamination near the sensor area can reduce detection performance on the Nissan Frontier.
NOTE:
If the BSW system stops working, the RCTA system will also stop working, because both functions use the rear side radar sensor information.
Action to take:
When the conditions described above are no longer present, the system will resume automatically. If the warning appears after driving through snow, rain, mud, or road spray, carefully cleaning the rear bumper sensor area may help restore normal operation more quickly.
Malfunction
When the RCTA system malfunctions, it turns off automatically. A system malfunction warning message will appear in the vehicle information display. This warning indicates that the Nissan Frontier has detected a fault in the system, not just a temporary radar blockage.
NOTE:
If the BSW system stops working, the RCTA system will also stop working. Until the warning is cleared, the Nissan Frontier driver should treat these assistance systems as unavailable.
Action to take:
Stop the vehicle in a safe location, place the vehicle in the P (Park) position, turn the engine off, and then restart the engine. If the message continues to appear after restarting, have the system inspected. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service, especially if the warning appears after rear bumper damage, a collision, or repair work near the radar sensors.
System maintenance
Basic Information
The two radar sensors 1 used by the BSW and RCTA systems are located near the rear bumper. For reliable operation of these Nissan Frontier driver assistance features, always keep the area around the radar sensors clean and unobstructed.
The radar sensors may be temporarily blocked by environmental conditions such as splashing water, road spray, mist, fog, or moisture collecting near the rear bumper.
The blocked condition may also be caused by ice, frost, snow, mud, dirt, road salt, or other objects covering or interfering with the radar sensor area.
Check the area around the radar sensors regularly and remove any material that may obstruct detection. This is especially important after driving in winter weather, heavy rain, muddy conditions, or on roads treated with salt.
Do not attach stickers, decals, transparent film, protective material, aftermarket accessories, or additional paint near the radar sensors. Such changes can interfere with radar transmission and may reduce the ability of the Nissan Frontier BSW and RCTA systems to detect approaching vehicles.
Do not strike, drill into, bend, repaint, or otherwise damage the area around the radar sensors. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer if the rear bumper or radar sensor area is damaged due to a collision, because sensor position and alignment may need to be checked before the systems can operate correctly.
Radio frequency statement
For USA
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
CAUTION TO USERS
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
Radio frequency statement
For USA
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
CAUTION TO USERS
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
