Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
2010 Mazda5 headlight safety issue
I just replaced my 2007 Mazda5 Sport with a 2010 Mazda5 Sport. On my 2007, and on all cars I have ever driven, the instrument panel only lights up when the headlights are turned on. If you forget to turn on the headlights, you figure it out very quickly because the instrument panel is dark. On my 2010 Mazda5, the instrument panel lights up automatically when it is dark or even just overcast outside. The headlight switch has no effect on the lighting of the instrument panel. As a result, I have driven the car with the headlights off on more than one occassion, and so has my wife. I checked the manual, and it says that the headlight switch is supposed to also turn on the lighting on the instrument panel. I called this to the attention of my dealership and Mazda Customer Assistance, and both told me that it is functioning normally and is probably just a design change. I feel that this is extremely unsafe, as it is far too easy to drive with the headlights off without knowing it. Has anyone else here experienced this issue? Do you think it is normal or safe for the instrument panel to light up automatically when the headlights are off?
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
This is an accident (or many) waiting to happen. There is a huge difference between having to look for a small indicator on the dashboard vs. not being to drive because you can't see the dashboard. The latter forces you to notice that he headlights are off, which is how cars have been designed for decades.
I think this is a bug which Mazda is spinning as a design change. Even their manual confirms this.
The instrument cluster back lighting is on at all times when the key is in the ‘run’ position, but the brightness is controlled by the knob mentioned above.
On my 2010 Sport, this has to be turned up on full bright during the day, as the speedo and other gauges are not very visible on a sunny day, or even an overcast day unless the back-light is on full.
If it’s dark, then of course the headlights would be on. Note that some of the controls shown on the turn signal lever on page 9 of the quick start guide only pertain to the Grand Touring Model, such as the headlights auto-on feature.
When going from a parking lights/headlights off to on, the instrument cluster lights will go from being full bright to a lower level (seems pre-set). If the lights off setting has been lowered for some reason, the backlight will still dim down from whatever the current ‘daylight’ setting is.
At night, if the brightness had been set to full up for the day time, even the dimmer mode is too bright, so it has to be turned down as not to be so bright. When turning the knob from full-bright down, it beeps, and also beeps when turned from just below full bright to full, but only if the headlights are on. If the lights are off, there is no beep when turning the dimmer knob up or down.
So far, I have not found a happy medium from daytime (full bright), to night/lights on, as if it was on full bright for the day, and it’s a rainy day and the headlights or even the parking lights are turned on, I still have to have the backlight on full bright. Then when it finally gets dark, it has to be turned down, as it’s too bright for, say, out of town driving where it is really dark.
This is the first vehicle I have had that has to have the instrument cluster lights on to be able to see the speedo and other gauges during the day, so I do find that to be somewhat unusual. The fact that the backlights have to be on to see the gauges should be tip-off at night that your lights are not on (as well as the exterior ‘lights on’ indicator not being on), as the backlight should be so bright, you will be asking yourself why is it so bright.
So far, I have not had any problem deciding if my 'exterior lights' are on or off when it is dark enough to need them.
To answer the question above, no, mine does not have auto lights, either.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
And FYI, luminescent gauges are very common nowadays, so Mazda is not alone. I believe the best combo is luminescent gauges and auto-on/off lights, but hey, I guess that is more money into production...
In the 2010 US Sport, the speedo, the tach, the gas gauge and the temp gauge are not visible during the day with out turning up the instrument cluster back lighting with a small knob just to the left of the odometer. I have a PDF file of the 2009 owners manual, and it is the same as the 2010 manual. I don't know about earlier years.
Sounds like the difference could be due to the nation where the cars are being sold.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
No key, ignition switch-off, lights off
Turning ignition switch to "on" position, ready to crank up (and subsequently car is running). Lights off
In any case, I thought you guys meant the gauges didn't display or something. During the day, the lighting is much better than what you show in your first pic, so the gauges certainly are visible. That's all I meant.
If the outdoor light is so dim I can't see my gauges, that would definitely mean it is time to turn on my headlights anyway.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The main instrument cluster gauges on my 2010 are just barely visible with out using the backlight, just as in the picture shown in post #12. On a sunny day, it's pretty much necessary to have the backlight turned up all the way to see the gauges clearly. On overcast/rainy days, the backlight can be turned down some, but then if it's a rainy day, I'd probably have at least the 'parking lights' on, if not the headlights, but would still use the dimmer to turn up the backlight so the gauges are clearly visible. Then when it gets really dark, I usually turn the dimmer down, especially when out in the country, away from street lights, etc.
I bought a pair of Nighthawk Platinum headlight bulbs but have not installed them yet. Wonder if any Mazda5 owners have installed them and what your thoughts are.
Thanks
Surely in this day and age this is a safety issue, as with airbags and the like?
What's the general standard on other similarly-priced vehicles?
Our other car is the Pontiac Vibe (2009), and I haven't had to touch the headlight switch once in ages on that car.
Dave
My other car has the auto feature, I used it a couple of times but annoyed the heck out of me