HAAAALP! Digital rearview mirror not working

[Doodode]

So Taco Tacoda Brown Sugar Tacoma was recently in a small fender bender. The damage was to the passenger front corner. (Car in front of me slammed on their brakes for a Jay Walker and I slammed into them ) Got the truck back today from body shop and my digital rearview mirror is no longer working. No power going to it whatsoever. I've checked continuity on all the fuses I could. Both boxes in the engine compartment and the fuse box on the front passenger side leg well. I've also taken the cover off that covers where the mirror is attached and made sure the connectors are plugged in. I've also tried off the overhead console to make sure there wasn't another connection I missed. The body shop asked me to bring it back on Monday when they have their tier 2 technician becoming in. Anyone have any ideas? This is a 2025 Tacoma Limited. Thanks guys!

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[CrispyTacoLover]

So Taco Tacoda Brown Sugar Tacoma was recently in a small fender bender. The damage was to the passenger front corner. (Car in front of me slammed on their brakes for a Jay Walker and I slammed into them ) Got the truck back today from body shop and my digital rearview mirror is no longer working. No power going to it whatsoever. I've checked continuity on all the fuses I could. Both boxes in the engine compartment and the fuse box on the front passenger side leg well. I've also taken the cover off that covers where the mirror is attached and made sure the connectors are plugged in. I've also tried off the overhead console to make sure there wasn't another connection I missed. The body shop asked me to bring it back on Monday when they have their tier 2 technician becoming in. Anyone have any ideas? This is a 2025 Tacoma Limited. Thanks guys!

I can’t imagine the camera wire routing close to the passenger front corner. Maybe the collision jarred something loose in the actual mirror.

 

[Doodode]

I can’t imagine the camera wire routing close to the passenger front corner. Maybe the collision jarred something loose in the actual mirror.

But it was working when I dropped the truck off??‍??‍

 

[CrispyTacoLover]

But it was working when I dropped the truck off??‍??‍

Then they have some fixing to do.

 

[Compy386]

If only there were some sort of a simpler, non-powered solution that could perform the same job while also costing far less to service and replace... ?

(sorry, I had to be a dill-hole for a sec. I think digital mirrors are one of the dumbest damn things to ever exist on modern vehicles.)

Hope the body shop makes it right! I would bet if not a connector in the mirror itself, there might be something disconnected elsewhere that could be tied into that same circuit that powers the mirror. Possibly even a popped fuse from whatever work they did if something was unhooked while the battery was still connected? Just spitballing at this point.

 

[Doodode]

Fun fact, the mirror assembly cost $800+ to replace. 2nd fun fact, the headlight assembly on the 4th Gen Tacoma at least in my trim, $1800+ to replace.

 

[Sagebrush]

I think digital mirrors are one of the dumbest damn things to ever exist on modern vehicles.

I really like mine.

Do you have one?

 

[ToyTaco]

I really like mine.

Yesterday was the first time using the digital rear view mirror on our Limited. All I can say is Wow! Almost 180 deg rear visibility (side to side). With the regular mirror there's only a narrow (30-45 degree), tunnel-like view between the rear headrests. Between the side mirrors and the digital rear view mirror we have zero blind-spots.

Did notice one downside to the digital. There's an abrupt change in depth of field as you transition from the road in front, to the much closer digital screen. Some may find the change awkward. With a regular mirror you retain depth of field, since your eyes are focused on real objects behind the vehicle.

 

[Compy386]

I really like mine.

Do you have one?

Nah, I wouldn't have one as long as I could avoid it. They absolutely have their perks and nice features, so I'm not shaking a stick at the sky because of technology... I just think they add unnecessary complexity and additional points of failure when a plain mirror has done the job for decades now. In OP's case, his stopped working so now it needs to be fixed before he can have visibility directly out the rear again.

Additionally, you're looking at like 10x-20x the replacement cost if it should need to be replaced over a traditional mirror.

My thought on it? Manufacturers should leave the physical mirrors in place. The truck (and most vehicles these days) have 2 giant screens in them - they should just feed additional rear view cameras into those, then you get the best of both worlds... additional rear view features AND a mirror that you can use without needing power or if some electronics decide to croak.

...but again... different strokes for different folks. My opinion on the matter is worth the price charged, so if you like your digital mirror then power (literally) to you! I'll keep my reliable glass.

 

[ToyTaco]

Nah, I wouldn't have one as long as I could avoid it. They absolutely have their perks and nice features, so I'm not shaking a stick at the sky because of technology... I just think they add unnecessary complexity and additional points of failure when a plain mirror has done the job for decades now. In OP's case, his stopped working so now it needs to be fixed before he can have visibility directly out the rear again.

Additionally, you're looking at like 10x-20x the replacement cost if it should need to be replaced over a traditional mirror.

My thought on it? Manufacturers should leave the physical mirrors in place. The truck (and most vehicles these days) have 2 giant screens in them - they should just feed additional rear view cameras into those, then you get the best of both worlds... additional rear view features AND a mirror that you can use without needing power or if some electronics decide to croak.

...but again... different strokes for different folks. My opinion on the matter is worth the price charged, so if you like your digital mirror then power (literally) to you! I'll keep my reliable glass.

On our Limited (OP also has a Limited), we can switch between the old-school rearview mirror and the digital rear view mirror with a simple flip of a lever. Best of both worlds.

 

[DENNISD]

On our Limited (OP also has a Limited), we can switch between the old-school rearview mirror and the digital rear view mirror with a simple flip of a lever. Best of both worlds.

I usually use it when something blocks the view of the regular mirror—like people sitting in the back seat or when I’m hauling something large in the bed.


Fair point about more tech meaning more chances for problems, but if we peeled back all the layers of technology, we’d be back in the Model T era. Most Model Ts can sit abandoned in a field for years and still be brought back to life with minimal effort. Of course, at the end of the day, you still have a Model T with no comfort features.

 

[Compy386]

On our Limited (OP also has a Limited), we can switch between the old-school rearview mirror and the digital rear view mirror with a simple flip of a lever. Best of both worlds.

Well that's fair, then. The few I've encountered in the past have been completely useless when powered off or have had a reflective surface that was next-to-useless in "normal mirror" mode.

 

[ToyTaco]

Fun fact, the mirror assembly cost $800+ to replace. 2nd fun fact, the headlight assembly on the 4th Gen Tacoma at least in my trim, $1800+ to replace.

3rd fun fact: The LED lights on many new vehicles are only covered under the OEM 3/36 warranty. After that you're on your own---even if you purchase an OEM bumper to bumper extended warranty (some 3rd party warrantees may provide coverage). According to our dealer, Toyota doesn't offer any OEM extended warranty coverage for the LED lights---they're considered maintenance items.

For what it's worth, Ford offered (and we purchased) a $70 rider with our Ford OEM extended warranty that provides additional coverage for all the LED lights (exterior and interior) for our Bronco. Nothing serviceable inside these LED headlights, so the entire assembly has to be replaced if they fail. The Bronco LED headlight, like the Tacoma (Limited), are pricey---almost $2000.

 

[DENNISD]

Well that's fair, then. The few I've encountered in the past have been completely useless when powered off or have had a reflective surface that was next-to-useless in "normal mirror" mode.

As you can see, when my Truck is off the digital mirror can clearly be used when no power is directed towards the mirror. So in short, if the "tech" goes sideways, all is not lost. You can still use the mirror "old School". Btw, I have had a few vehicles with Digital mirrors and all were the exact same. Not sure what vehicles that you were in that couldn't be used with no power but I would guess all Toyotas are the same with the use of a Digital mirror and no power and they CAN be used without disruption.

 

[Compy386]

As you can see, when my Truck is off the digital mirror can clearly be used when no power is directed towards the mirror. So in short, if the "tech" goes sideways, all is not lost. You can still use the mirror "old School". Btw, I have had a few vehicles with Digital mirrors and all were the exact same. Not sure what vehicles that you were in that couldn't be used with no power but I would guess all Toyotas are the same with the use of a Digital mirror and no power and they CAN be used without disruption.

Right on - that's not bad at all. The ones I've seen with no functionality when powered off were aftermarket add-ons and the crappy reflectivity one was in a late model F-150. I just wasn't impressed with any of them but I'll change my stance after seeing these. That's how they should all be.

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