The first point of Toyota's star of security is the vehicle stability control. VSC helps prevent wheel-slip and loss of traction by reducing engine power and applying brake force to the wheels that need it. Toyota's VSC monitors your steering angle and the direction your vehicle is actually traveling and senses when your front or rear wheels begin to slip.

    The next feature making up the star is a traction control like no other. Traction Control helps maintain traction on wet, icy, loose or uneven surfaces by applying brake force to the spinning wheel(s). Toyota's Traction Control sensors are activated when one of the wheels starts to slip. TRAC limits engine output and applies the brakes to the spinning wheel. This transfers power to the wheels that still have traction to help you go safely on your way.

    Toyota also includes anti-lock brakes in their 5-Star Safety System. ABS helps prevent brakes from locking up by "pulsing" brake pressure to each wheel to help you stay in control in emergency braking situations. Toyota's ABS sensors detect which wheels are locking up and prevent the lockup by "pulsing" the brakes at each wheel independently. Pulsing releases brake pressure repeatedly for fractions of a second - a reaction time not possible for humans.

    Electronic Brake-Force Distribution is the fourth point to the star. Toyota's ABS technology has Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to help keep the vehicle more stable and balanced when braking. EBD is especially helpful when carrying cargo. Sensors recognize the extra load the cargo puts on the rear axle, so brake pressure on the rear wheels is increased because the extra weight improves braking effectiveness.

    Finally, the star is topped off with the brake assist. Brake Assist is designed to detect sudden or "panic" braking and adds the full pressure needed to help prevent a collision.  if a driver fails to apply enough pressure to the brake, the Brake Assist sensors will detect this sudden or "panic" braking and add pressure. This additional pressure can help the driver avoid hitting the object.