Why You Need Traction Control in Your 2019 Toyota Tacoma and When to Turn It Off

If you have ever wondered what that button is in your 2019 Toyota Tacoma (or any car or truck brand as well) with a car icon with squiggly lines and the word “OFF, we have the answers. You will find out how traction control helps you and when you should turn it off.

The cars and trucks and SUV’s we buy these days are loaded with all types of safety features, as well as buttons and controls that help us use these technologies. One of the most helpful safety features to come along in the last 20 years is traction control. This includes not only your 2019 Toyota Tacoma, but also virtually every other car and truck brand and model as well. But when should you turn it off?

I’ll take “What is Traction Control” for $200 please Alex

The first thing we need to establish is what traction control is and how it can help you while driving.

Traction control helps drivers maintain stability and control of their car, truck or SUV, especially while driving in adverse weather conditions. It also prevents your wheels from slipping when your vehicle is starting or accelerating on wet or slippery roads.

When your vehicle’s traction control senses your vehicle is losing grip with the road and the wheels begin slipping, the system will adjust your engine and braking to regulate spinning and ensure proper contact of your tires with the road. This helps keep you stable and in control on the road. Traction control is a good thing to have.

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How can I turn Traction Control off in my vehicle?

There is a button in most of your vehicles (like a Camry or a Tacoma or a Forester), regardless of the brand you are driving, that turns traction control off. Look for the button with a car icon, and the two squiggly lines below it, and the word “OFF” below that. Push that button and either that icon will display on your instrument cluster, or it might say “TRAC OFF.” This is how you turn your car’s traction control on and off.

But if Traction Control is so useful, why turn it off?

One of the most useful situations to turn traction control off is when your car is stuck in mud or snow. Think back to a time when you were stuck and needed to rock your car back and forth…and back and forth…until you got your car out of the snow or the mud. With traction control on, you cannot rock your vehicle. Turn this system off and it might help you get out of the mess you are in.

One of my YouTube channel viewers, OldDood, agreed. “The main reason is like you said, to 'Rock It' from being stuck. It is funny how many people do NOT know how to do that today. It was mandatory when I grew up with mostly all rear wheel drive vehicles.”

Donuts? Did someone say Donuts?

Remember, traction control is designed so your vehicle will not slip and slide and move out of control. However, when you are in a snowy parking lot, and temptation is calling and you just have to do that donut that is calling your name, this is a perfect time to turn the system off.

My YouTube viewers happily chimed in with enthusiasm over this idea. Let the games begin.

“Shut it off in the winter to spin, drift, slide and just lose control.” Added viewer MentalWarFare.

TheFarmerfitz chimed in, “I thought it is the button you push when you want to do a burnout.”

Dylan said he turns traction control off “when I’m in an empty parking lot and it’s snowing. Time to play!”

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When would you turn your traction control off in your 2019 Toyota Tacoma, or your other brand truck, your car and your SUV? Do you think it is more or less effective when in a truck vs. a sedan? What are some other uses for traction control and for turning it off?

Thanks for watching everyone. See you next story in which I am discussing what makes the 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro so special.

Jeff Teague is a Toyota news reporter at Torque News. You can reach Jeff on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter @toyotajeff1 and tweet him tips for new stories. Jeff also shares Toyota news videos on his Youtube Channel at ToyotaJeff1.