Driving

CMBSTM Conditions and Limitations

~4min read

The system may automatically shut off and the CMBSTM indicator will come on under certain conditions. Some examples of these conditions are listed below. Other conditions may reduce some of the CMBSTM functions.

Environmental conditions

  • Driving in bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.).
  • Sudden changes in ambient light, such as an entrance or exit of a tunnel.
  • There is little contrast between objects and the background.
  • Driving into low sunlight (e.g., at dawn or dusk).
  • Strong light is reflected onto the roadway.
  • Driving in the shadows of trees, buildings, etc.
  • Roadway objects or structures are misinterpreted as vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Reflections on the interior of the windshield.

Roadway conditions

  • Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obscured lane marking, vehicle tracks, reflected lights, road spray, high contrast on a snowy or wet roadway).
  • Driving on curvy, winding, or undulating roads.
  • The road is hilly or the vehicle is approaching the crest of a hill.

CMBSTM Conditions and Limitations

Do not put a sticker on the radar sensor cover or replace the radar sensor cover.

If you need the radar sensor to be repaired, or removed, or the radar sensor cover is strongly impacted, turn off the system by pressing the CMBSTM off button and take your vehicle to a dealer.

Vehicle conditions

  • Headlight lenses are dirty or the headlights are not properly adjusted.
  • The outside of the windshield is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.
  • The inside of the windshield is fogged.
  • An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wrong size, varied size or construction, improperly inflated, compact spare tire, etc.).
  • When tire chains are installed.
  • The vehicle is tilted due to a heavy load or suspension modifications.
  • The camera temperature gets too high.
  • Driving with the parking brake applied.
  • When the radar sensor in the lower bumper gets dirty.

Detection limitations

  • A vehicle or pedestrian suddenly crosses in front of you.
  • The distance between your vehicle and the vehicle or pedestrian ahead of you is too short.
  • A vehicle cuts in front of you at a slow speed, and it brakes suddenly.
  • When you accelerate rapidly and approach the vehicle or pedestrian ahead of you at high speed.
  • The vehicle ahead of you is a motorcycle, bicycle, mobility scooter or other small vehicle.
  • When there are animals in front of your vehicle.
  • When you drive on a curved, winding or undulating road that makes it difficult for the sensor to properly detect a vehicle in front of you.
  • The speed difference between your vehicle and a vehicle or pedestrian in front of you is significantly large.
  • An oncoming vehicle suddenly comes in front of you.
  • Another vehicle suddenly comes in front of you at an intersection, etc.
  • Your vehicle abruptly crosses over in front of an oncoming vehicle.
  • When driving through a narrow iron bridge.
  • When the lead vehicle suddenly slows down.

Limitations applicable to pedestrian detection only

  • When there is a group of people in front of your vehicle walking together side by side.
  • Surrounding conditions or belongings of the pedestrian alter the pedestrian's shape, preventing the system from recognizing that the person is a pedestrian.
  • When the pedestrian is shorter than about 3.3 feet (1 meter) or taller than about 6.6 feet (2 meters) in height.
  • When a pedestrian blends in with the background.
  • When a pedestrian is bent over or squatting, or when their hands are raised or they are running.
  • When several pedestrians are walking ahead in a group.
  • When the camera cannot correctly identify that a pedestrian is present due to an ►nusual shape (holding luggage, body position, size).

Automatic shutoff

The CMBS may automatically shut itself off and the CMBS indicator comes and stays on when:

  • The temperature inside the system is high.
  • You drive off-road or on a mountain road, or curved and winding road for an extended period.
  • An abnormal tire condition is detected (wrong tire size, flat tire, etc.).
  • The camera behind the rearview mirror, or the area around the camera, including the windshield, gets dirty.

Once the conditions that caused the CMBS to shut off improve or are addressed (e.g., cleaning), the system comes back on.

Test yourself

A quick Honda Civic quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.