NHTSA Complaint #10380763 — 2010 FORD F-150

2010 FORD F150...DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN IN VERY LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS OR VERY BRIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS IF EQUIPPED WITH 'AUTO LAMP'...IT WILL ONLY ILLUMINATE IN PITCH BLACK ENVIRONMENTS. INSTRUMENT PANEL IS RECESSED 8 INCHES INTO DASH AND YOU CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER OR OTHER GAUGES AS YOU DRIVE.....THIS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AS KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR SPEED IS MANDATORY FOR SAFE VEHICLE OPERATION IN ANY LIGHT ENVIRONMENT. FORD HAS ADVISED ME 'IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED'. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE INABILITY TO QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY READ YOUR SPEED IS PARAMOUNT TO DRIVING ANY VEHICLE. THE ENGINEERING SHORTCOMING MUST BE REMEDIED. GOOGLE '2010 FORD F150 DASHBOARD LIGHT PROBLEMS' AND YOU GET 7 PAGES OF CONCERNS....... THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE LIGHTS WORK NORMALLY DURING ANY DAYLIGHT CONDITION IS TO COVER THE DASHBOARD SENSOR WITH A RAG. THE OWNERS MANUAL SECTION ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS, HEADLAMP SWITCHES AND EVEN AURO LAMP AND DIMMER ALL STATE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE ANY TIME ANY EXTERIOR LAMP IS LIT....THIS IS NOT TRUE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS IT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. UPDATED IVOQ 02/18/11 *TR