Instrument Lights - Let's Contact Toyota

So it turns out that in the 2017 Prius Two (I assume also the 2016), the instrument cluster brightness does not work as stated on page 98 of the manual. It only works properly on Three and above. This did work properly on the 3rd gen Prius Two. During the day if you turn on the headlights or parking lights, in other words when you turn on the tail lights, the instrument brightness is not supposed to dim. That's the only purpose of the ambient light sensor on the dashboard in this model since it doesn't have auto-headlights.

I have contacted Toyota and I was just put in a loop between them and a local dealership's service dept. This needs to get to the proper dept in Toyota so that it can be fixed. I'm assuming it's a simple software change, as long as the hardware is there, which it seems like it is. Also, it specifies that this works in the manual and I consider this a safety issue.

Does anyone know how to contact the right dept in Toyota to start the process of getting this taken care of?

 

I showed the dealer in a Two and Three on their lot, they didn't know anything about it.

 

According to the manual the customization settings are -2 to +2 to change the sensitivity, with 0 being the default. However, the not dimming the cluster lights in daylight function with headlights on simply isn't working at all in the Two. Hence changing the sensitivity won't do anything.

 

No that isn't necessary. I confirmed that the behavior of mine is the same as other Twos by checking them at a dealership.

 

Yep all of the Twos are not behaving properly.

 

I might not have a case if it didn't specify on page 98 of the manual that it absolutely is supposed to function this way. And it doesn't say "*if equipped" so it needs to function properly on every trim level with standard features.

 

I thought of contacting the NHTSA but I'm not sure if that'll do anything.