NHTSA Complaint #10621981 — 2014 TOYOTA SIENNA

TOYOTA'S DESIGN DOES NOT PERMIT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTING OF THE INSTRUMENTS AND DIALS UNLESS ONE TURNS ON THE LIGHT SWITCH FOR (1) PARKING LIGHTS OR (2) HEADLIGHTS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTING DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN ONE STARTS THE ENGINE. IT DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN ONE TURNS ON THE FRONT DRIVING LIGHTS. TOYOTA'S GAUGES AND SPEEDOMETER ARE RECESSED UNDER A HOOD IN ORDER TO PREVENT GLARING OF SUNLIGHT. PREVIOUS TOYOTA VEHICLES WOULD TURN ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHEN YOU STARTED THE ENGINE. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH OUR 2014 TOYOTA. IF THE DRIVER IS OPERATING HIS VEHICLE IN THE DAYLIGHT HOURS AND SUDDENLY RUNS INTO DARKNESS CAUSED BY CLOUDS, DUST STORM, ETC., HE WILL HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME SEEING THE INSTRUMENTS AND GAUGES. HE MAY HAVE TO DIVERT HIS ATTENTION TO TURN ON HIS DASHBOARD LIGHTS. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT TURN ON RUNNING LIGHTS WHEN YOU TURN ON THE MOTOR. THE DRIVER MUST ENGAGE THESE LIGHTS WITH THE STALK CONTROLS WHICH OFFER FOUR POSITIONS: 1. OFF 2. RUNNING LIGHTS 3. PARKING LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING 4. HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING. *TR