Your Car’s Safety Technology Is Only as Good as Its Last ADAS Calibration
Modern vehicles are equipped with sophisticated systems, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning that don’t just operate on their own. That network of cameras, radar sensors, and ultrasonic detectors must be precisely calibrated to function correctly.
After any collision, structural repair, windshield replacement, or even a suspension adjustment, those sensors can shift by millimeters that are invisible to us but catastrophic to system performance.
A sensor that’s off by one degree can misread distance by 30 feet at highway speed.
At Heritage Collision, ADAS recalibration is not an add-on; it’s a required part of every repair that disturbs a sensor, camera, or radar component.
We use OEM-approved diagnostic equipment and follow manufacturer-specific calibration procedures for every vehicle we service.
If your shop skips this step, your safety systems may appear functional but fail when you need them most.
What ADAS Systems does Heritage Collision Calibrate/Repair?
- Forward Collision Warning: Detects vehicles ahead and warns of imminent impact
- Automatic Emergency Braking: Applies brakes autonomously to prevent or reduce a collision
- Lane Departure Warning: Alerts the driver when crossing lane markings unintentionally
- Lane Keep Assist: Actively steers the vehicle back into the lane
- Blind Spot Monitoring: Detects vehicles in adjacent lanes
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert: Detects approaching traffic when reversing
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains set following distance
- Backup Camera: Rear view when reversing
- Parking Sensors: Proximity detection front and rear
- Surround View / 360 Camera: Full-perimeter camera system
What is ADAS Calibration and why is it needed after a collision?
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) calibration is the process of realigning the cameras, radar, and sensors that control safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and blind spot detection.
After a collision, windshield replacement, structural repair, suspension work, or wheel alignment, these sensors can shift out of specification. Calibration restores them to manufacturer-defined positions so they perform accurately.
A shop that doesn’t perform ADAS calibration after qualifying repairs is returning a vehicle with safety systems that may not function correctly.
ADAS calibration is required after more repairs than most drivers and body shops realize.
FOR YOUR ADAS CALIBRATION?
Heritage Collision has a dedicated ADAS Calibration space, where calibrations are performed inside the shop using manufacturer-specific target boards, precise floor markings, and controlled lighting conditions.
What other Reasons Does ADAS System Calibration/Repair Matter?
For drivers with newer vehicles, particularly those leasing or under manufacturer warranty, this matters directly. Improper ADAS calibration can affect your vehicle’s warranty coverage.
Most manufacturers require that safety systems be repaired and recalibrated according to OEM specifications. Heritage Collision’s certification programs require us to follow OEM calibration procedures, giving you documented, warranty-compliant recalibration for every qualifying repair.
This is especially relevant for University of Michigan faculty, staff, and Ann Arbor residents driving newer or leased vehicles.
If your vehicle has been in a collision, had a windshield replaced, or received suspension or alignment work and calibration wasn’t documented, bring it in for a free assessment.
Michigan winters stress ADAS systems beyond what most drivers in warmer climates face:
- Potholes and frost heaves in Michigan’s roads affect suspension geometry more often, increasing the frequency of alignment-triggered recalibration needs
- Snow and ice on sensors, radar, and camera systems can misread or fail when sensor surfaces are obstructed
- Road spray and road salt accelerate sensor housing degradation and affect calibration stability
- Low-visibility conditions, lane keep assist, and forward collision systems work harder in reduced visibility and amplify even minor miscalibrations
If your ADAS systems weren’t calibrated after your last repair or if you’ve hit significant road damage this season, a calibration check is worth scheduling after every season.
MANUFACTURER CERTIFICATIONS
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Get an ADAS Repair Estimate
📍 Ann Arbor: 6550 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734)-327-7500
📍 Canton: 4985 Belleville Road, Canton, MI 48188
(734)-975-4600 | (734)-397-8000
Serving Ann Arbor, Canton, Plymouth, Ypsilanti, Belleville, Saline, Dexter, Westland, Van Buren Township & all of Southeast Michigan.
OEM-Standard Repairs. Lifetime Warranty.
Bring it in, and we’ll tell you what’s going on with your ADAS.
What you need to know about your vehicle’s ADAS System and how Heritage Collision handles the repair.
Static calibration typically takes 1–2 hours per system. Dynamic calibration requires a road drive of a specific distance and under specific conditions.
When calibration is performed as part of a larger repair, it’s scheduled to be completed before vehicle delivery.
Technically yes, but your safety systems may be operating inaccurately. Automatic braking, lane assist, and collision warning systems that appear to be active may not respond correctly in an emergency.
Stop by Heritage Collision and let us check out the ADAS system if you’re concerned. If a vehicle system needs recalibration, we can get it done quickly.
A warning light after a repair is a strong indicator that calibration was not completed or was not performed correctly.
Bring your vehicle in to Heritage Collision for a diagnostic scan, and we’ll identify the fault and perform the correct calibration procedure.
No. Only repairs that affect the mounting position, orientation, or operational environment of sensors and cameras.
At Heritage Collision, our technicians assess each vehicle’s calibration requirements before work begins.
ADAS calibration is typically covered under collision or comprehensive auto insurance when it’s required as part of a covered repair, such as after an accident or windshield replacement. It should be included in the repair estimate and submitted with the claim.
A certified shop like Heritage Collision documents calibration requirements and coordinates with your insurance carrier to ensure proper coverage.
Yes. Most modern vehicles have a forward-facing camera mounted to the windshield that supports automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and other ADAS features.
When Heritage Collision replaces a windshield, it checks for changes in camera position because the replacement will require calibration to restore accurate function.
Skipping this step after windshield replacement is one of the most common ADAS calibration errors in the industry
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