NHTSA Complaint #10060727 — 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER

PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED AS : 10060723 ,AMMENDING DEALER,PURCHASE DATE AND INCIDENT DATE: DASHBOARD GAUGES, ESCPECIALLY SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE, ARE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN DAYTIME. SITUATION IS MADE WORSE WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES. PROBLEM IS THAT GAUGES ARE RECESSED TOO DEEP AND LETTERS ARE NOT CONTRASTED ENOUGH WITH DASH PLATE (IE LIGHT GRAY ON DARK GRAY). TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB WHICH ESSENTIALLY KEEPS DASH LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME. TURNING ON DASHBOARD LIGHTS DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM AS LIGHTING IS AN AMBER COLOR. SOLUTION IS TWO STAGE LIGHTING. BRIGHT WHITE IN DAYTIME AND AMBER OR BLUE IN NIGHT.*AK