17/10/2026
MJOC Top Tip
The "ESC OFF" Button Myth in Modern 4WDs
The Myth: Pressing the "ESC OFF" (or "VSC OFF" in Toyota’s) or “ESP Off” in older vehicles, button completely disables the vehicle's traction control system.
The Reality: The dashboard button does not turn off off-road traction control. It merely stops the computer from killing your engine power and prevents stability control interventions.
When you press the button, the vehicle’s central computer splits its safety systems into two categories:
❌ WHAT IT TURNS OFF:Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Engine De-throttling. This stops the vehicle from aggressively braking if it slides sideways and prevents the computer from cutting throttle power when you need momentum (e.g., in deep sand or mud).
✅ WHAT STAYS ON:Brake-Force Traction Control (e.g., Jeep’s Brake Locked Traction Control, Toyota’s A-TRC, Ford’s Brake Traction Control, or Mitsubishi’s MATC). The computer keeps the ABS system fully active in the background. If a wheel lifts off the ground or loses traction, the vehicle will still forcefully brake that single spinning tire to mechanically transfer torque across the axle to the tire with grip.
The Bottom Line: The "ESC OFF" button disables the momentum-killing on-road safety features, but it leaves the electronic differential locking capability (brake-based traction control) fully active to ensure the 4WD doesn't get stranded
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