Toyota Sienna headlights problems

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Lights · ND

This vehicle has the dash cluster light up as soon as the key is turned on. It does not have automatic headlights which turn on when it is dark outside. Due to the nature of the dash cluster lighting up and the daytime driving lights being automatic to turn on, it is very easy to drive off down streets with street lights completely unaware that there are no taillights or clearance lights on. The dash is lit up, so that is not an indication. The driving lights are on, so you can see enough to drive. I am aware of this now, but in the last week I have observed 3 vehicles driving around with no lights on in the dark because of the same reason. These modern cars with the automatically lighted dash clusters are causing people to lose all ability to assess whether the vehicles lights are on. It is not a question of automatic headlights/taillights, its a question of designing the interior of the vehicle to give the operator a hint that he hasn't turned on a specific safety feature. This agency has implemented so many other mandatory things related to safety (automatic tire pressure monitoring, automatic braking, backup cameras, etc.) and you forget the most basic things. You burden the cost of the cars with automatic systems to protect the people on the road but you forget how they can breed complacency in the drivers of the vehicles. You don't want distracted driving, but it is fine to have to search a touch screen on the vehicle to find the most basic controls for HVAC? If you are going to mandate safety, it should be safety that not only keeps the occupants safe but also doesn't lead them to do even more unsafe things, whether directly or indirectly. Dash clusters should ONLY light up when the headlights/taillights are on as this gives you the necessary indication that the vehicle's lights are actually on. Its called FUNCTIONAL SAFETY!

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 Jul 27, 2022 · Lights · VA

The headlight on the passenger side has LED daylight running lights. A number of the led's are not working of flickering. Toyota refuse to cover this under warranty even though the car was bought 8-31-2019. Not having working daytime headlights is a major safety issue to me.

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 Feb 26, 2018 · Lights · 138,000 miles · MD

The headlight bulb compartment allows water to leak into it on the passenger side causing the bulb to blow. This has happened twice, the repair cost was $500. We drove the car for one week and the bulb blew again because water leaked into the compartment. This is a design flaw and is hazardous when you are driving at night or god forbid if it's raining and dark. We also were pulled over and given a warning from a state trooper about the bulb being out. This is a dangerous and costly situation. We are still waiting to get the bulb repaired a second time. In the meantime we are without a van for our family. Please demand that toyota recalls this hazardous defective part. The bulb went out while we were driving at night. This is a problem and a hazard!

Filed Nov 30, 2017 · Lights · MT

When the headlights are off, the dashboard instruments (speedometer) are very difficult to seen when overcast outside (no back-lighting). This is our 3rd sienna and was not an issue with past models (2011 & 2013). This is a safety issue in the it require eyes off the road longer than necessary in order to ready the instruments.

Filed Oct 11, 2017 · Lights · 31,192 miles · MA

The dashboard speedometer and tachometer gauges cannot be illuminated without turning on parking or headlights. These gauges cannot be seen during the day when the dashboard is shadowed. Issue has been reported on sienna chat boards and numerous toyota service departments.

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.