2017 Toyota Sienna: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jun 22, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · CA

Purchased used vehicle from a Toyota Dealership on or about March 27, 2021. The dashboard illumination on the 2017 Toyota Sienna only appears to operate when the vehicle is turned on AND the front headlight selector is moved to the on or automatic mode. I do not believe it is a standard feature for any vehicle to NOT illuminate the dashboard without the headlights being turned on. Issue: With no illumination of the tachometer and speedometer these items are nearly impossible to see. That naturally forces the human eye to remain looking down slightly longer than normal which can possibly result in an accident. If it is a sunny day with no need for headlights this issue is now exacerbated because the bright sunlight often causes drivers to wear tinted or dark sunglasses rendering the dashboard nearly 100% black. So, my question is a simple one: On the 2017 Toyota Sienna, with the standard feature set included as indicated under VIN - [XXX], should the dashboard lights illuminating the tachometer and speedometer areas turn on immediately and automatically when the vehicle is started? On the vehicle, the dashboard lighting only turn on when the headlights are turned on or set in the auto-headlight mode…both of which are not my choice. I want see my dashboard data automatically and without having to drive with my headlights turned on. This is a poor dashboard visibility standard for this make, model and year Sienna. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Nov 15, 2020 · Lights · 125 miles · MI

Cannot see speedometer in daytime unless headlights are turned on. Bought new and took back to dealer but . He could nolt get any back lighting. Speedometer has black background.

Filed Jul 18, 2019 · Electrical · 13,100 miles · GA

2017 l model toyota sienna mini van / just purchased as a certified toyota pre-owned unit with less than 13,000 original miles, I am the second owner. I cannot reliably see the speedometer display in daylight, no display back lights in day light, unless headlights or parking lights are on, very poor visibly of speedometer is most unsafe as I have to take my eyes off the road for extended periods of time just to try and see my speed reading. I did not notice this issue at night when purchased the car.

Filed Jul 21, 2018 · Lights · AL

Instrument panel gauges hard or impossible to read during daytime hours unless full sun is out. Can not see the speedometer nor other indications. Instrument panel lighting come on when headlights or parking lights on, but at day time when they are off, the terribly designed dark cluster is impossible to see. Due to the dark design of the cluster, I recommend that the vehicle cluster illumination to be on at all times during vehicle operations regardless the position of the headlight switch.

Filed Aug 4, 2017 · Electrical · 1 miles · NC

The 2017 toyota sienna le does not illuminate the speedometer, tachometer and other gauges when the headlights are set to the auto or drl off (lights off/ daytime running lights on) position. As a result, under some daylight driving conditions, such as when exterior conditions are bright but there is no direct light on the gauges, the speedometer is not easily visible. For the driver to determine the current speed, fuel level, etc., it can take several seconds for the driver's eyes to adjust to the darker instrument panel and longer if the driver is wearing sunglasses. This takes the driver's attention off the road or prevents the driver from accessing critical information. Previous model years of the toyota sienna le, such as the 2010, illuminated the gauges brightly with the headlights turned off. To further illustrated the problem, assuming the gauges are lit 100% at night with the headlights on, the 2010 toyota sienna le lit the gauges 150% with the headlights off and the 2017 toyota sienna le lights them 0%. There does not appear to be anything about the design or contrast of the gauges that helps makes them visible without backlighting. Some other toyota sienna models have a white background on the gauges which makes them visible in daylight. Note that the vehicle has a gauge dimmer control that reduces the brightness of the gauges when the headlights or parking lights are on. This control has no effect when the headlights are switched to drl off or auto (under daylight conditions). In other words, there is no method of brightening the gauges without turning on the headlights in the day time. And even then, the gauges are not bright enough for all conditions. Please investigate. The manufacturer should be required to correct this design flaw to protect the safety of the vehicle occupants.

Filed Apr 1, 2017 · Electrical · 68 miles · NY

The speedometer is not lighted during daylight unless the headlights or driving lights are on. This makes it very difficult to determine your velocity. If you spend too much time trying to see the speedometer it is a safety hazard. It is also a hazard not knowing if you are driving too fast or too slowly. The speedometer was lighted on my 2008 sienna le. The speedometer is lighted on the 2017 sienna xle. To introduce such a safety hazard on the lower price model seems really inappropriate.