NHTSA Complaint #10155320 — 2007 GMC YUKON

THE 2007 GMC YUKON (& CHEVROLET TAHOE) HAVE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE / PROBLEM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO READ IN DAYTIME (SUNNY) CONDITIONS. MOST OF THE TIME DURING DAYTIME/SUNNY CONDITIONS YOU CAN NOT JUST GLANCE AT THE INSTRUMENTS TO READ THEM. YOU HAVE TO DIVERT YOUR ATTENTION FOR 2 OR MORE SECONDS TO READ EVEN THE SPEEDOMETER (WHICH IS THE EASIEST TO READ). ALL INSTRUMENTS HAVE BLACK FACES WITH WHITE MARKINGS WHICH ARE LEGIBLE DAY AND NIGHT. THE DAYTIME VISUAL RECOGNITION PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY TWO CONDITIONS. 1) RED POINTERS THAT DO NOT CONTRAST SUFFICIENTLY WITH THE BLACK FACE, AND 2) DASH COWLING SHADING/GLARE PROBLEMS. THE TOP LEFT (OIL PRESSURE) AND TOP RIGHT (VOLTMETER) GAUGES ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. THE BOTTOM RIGHT (COOLANT TEMP) IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. THE BOTTOM LEFT (FUEL) IS DIFFICULT TO VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. THE TWO LARGE CENTER GAUGES (TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER) ARE DIFFICULT TO READ. THE TIME / ATTENTION REQUIRED TO READ THESE GAUGES PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU ARE FORCED TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR FAR TO LONG (OR TO KEEP REPEATING LOOKS TO CHECK YOUR SPEED / FUEL STATUS. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2007 GMC YUKON AND MADE A ROAD TRIP OF 3000 MILES. TWO DRIVERS HAD SIMILAR VISUAL RECOGNITION PROBLEMS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. I GAVE UP EVEN TRYING TO READ THE OTHER GAUGES. IF YOU WEAR SUNGLASSES YOU HAVE TO LIFT THEM TO TRY TO READ THE GAUGES. THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO (HAVE TO DO) TO LESSEN THE VISUAL RECOGNITION PROBLEM. 1) TURN ON THE LIGHTS (PROVIDES MINIMAL DASH ILLUMINATION), 2) CLOSE THE SUNROOF SHADE (REDUCES GLARE), AND 3) PLACE YOU HAND ABOVE YOUR EYES AS A SHIELD (REDUCES GLARE). I HAVE TALKED TO THE GM DEALER TO SEE IF THEY COULD INCREASE ILLUMINATION ON THE DASH LIGHTING. (THAT WOULD STILL MEAN I WOULD HAVE TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS DURING THE DAY.) BOTTOM LINE - THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING - THEY CAN'T RE-ENGINEER GM'S PRODUCT. *JB