NHTSA Complaint #749360 — 2000 AUDI A6

ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH WAS BACKLIT UNDER ALL RUNNING CONDITIONS NIGHT AND DAY WAS REPLACED W/ NON-BACKLIT CLUSTER DUE TO A SEPARATE FAILURE IN THE CLUSTER. UNLIKE OTHER CARS, THIS CLUSTER HAS NO LUMINESCENT MATERIAL ON THE INSTRUMENT FACE TO MAKE INSTRUMENTS READABLE UNDER DIFFICULT LIGHTING CONDITIONS; WITH BACKLIGHTING IT IS NO PROBLEM. WITHOUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE AND DANGEROUS WHEN UNDER TREES, IN SHADE, WITH SUN AT CERTAIN ANGLES, ETC. THE BACKLIT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED DUE TO A SEPARATE FAILURE AND MANUFACTURER AND REPAIRING DEALER STATE BACKLIT VERSION IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE DUE TO A RUNNING CHANGE IN MANUFACTURING. I HAVE HEARD IT RUMORED VARIOUSLY THIS WAS DONE BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THEIR LIGHTS WEREN'T ON AT NIGHT, FORGOT TO TURN THEM OFF IF THEY HAD THEM ON IN THE DAYTIME, OR BECAUSE THE EXPENSIVE LED LIGHTING USED WAS FAILING PREMATURELY REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE WHOLE $650 CLUSTER, OFTEN AT THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY EXPENSE. REGARDLESS, THE CHANGE HAS MADE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UNSAFE IN EVERYDAY CONDITIONS DUE TO ITS DESIGN PECULIARITIES WITH NO LUMINESCENCE AND PRIOR DEPENDENCE ON BACKLIGHTING. I UNDERSTAND OTHERS WHO HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR WITH THE BACKLIT FEATURE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THE NEWER NON-BACKLIT VERSION.*AK