Dim display screens on new 2026 Lariat Hybrid

[a***h]

I’m wondering if anyone else has had their display screens go dim during the day like they should go when its dark. I have to turn my auto headlights off to be able to see the screens during the day. I have turned the brightness up all the way on settings. I don’t know if I’ve accidently done something to cause this problem or not. So I thought I would ask?

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[Johnkn]

Which display? in front of the steering wheel or the infotainment screen?

There's a brightness switch next to the fuel door release.

There's also a setting to auto change the screen brightness based on daytime or night...


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[a***h]

Which display? in front of the steering wheel or the infotainment screen?

There's a brightness switch next to the fuel door release.

There's also a setting to auto change the screen brightness based on daytime or night...

Both Screens are affected, It appears that the truck thinks its dark all of the time. This just started yesterday. Before that everything was normal. I have turned both of those adjustments all the way up.

 

[Rolmav]

Both Screens are affected, It appears that the truck thinks its dark all of the time. This just started yesterday. Before that everything was normal. I have turned both of those adjustments all the way up.

Is the sun sensor on the dash covered? Might be defective if not covered. That is my best guess.

 

[El Kabong]

I’m wondering if anyone else has had their display screens go dim during the day like they should go when its dark. I have to turn my auto headlights off to be able to see the screens during the day. I have turned the brightness up all the way on settings. I don’t know if I’ve accidently done something to cause this problem or not. So I thought I would ask?

My '26 Lariat does not behave this way at all, the autolamps and display brightness work as intended.

Sad to say it sounds like a visit to dealer service is called for.

 

[a***h]

My '26 Lariat does not behave this way at all, the autolamps and display brightness work as intended.

Sad to say it sounds like a visit to dealer service is called for.

I just went into settings and changed the light mode to day from auto. It appears to have fixed my problem.

 

[El Kabong]

I just went into settings and changed the light mode to day from auto. It appears to have fixed my problem.

Well, hooray for a simple fix that works!

But auto should work for you.

 

[a***h]

I just went into settings and changed the light mode to day from auto. It appears to have fixed my problem.

After some checking, that didn’t fix the problem. The problem stems from the day - night sensor not working correctly. It is in the night position no matter how much light there is.

 

[wblake68]

On my wife's 2018 Flex it did that when we first got it. I pulled the ambient light sensor out of the dash top and the wire connector fell off. It obviously was not fully attached and was intermittently disconnecting and making the computer read dark. I was able to fish the connector out and get it firmly connected. 8 years without an issue now.

 

[WJOHNM]

Yes, I have the same problem, took it back to dealer 2x, they said is normal, BS its so dark can barely see my back up camera and when driving have to remove my sunglasses to see how much gas I have or to see engine temp, that cant be normal.
I made a complaint with Ford, waiting for response, I think this is a cover-up the dealer didnt make a repair order after 2x visit I insisted on a repair order be made, this what they wrote{unable to verify customer concern. no updates available. LIGHTS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. NO PROBLEMS FOUND} This is what you call a cover-up, theres no fix for this YET and the last thing ford needs is another RECALL.
I also made a complaint with the NHTSA this is a safety defect, the back-up camera is very dark if theres a child on a hot wheel behind my vehicle and I have sunglasses on am going to hit them, Like you said the only way to get a visible screen or instrument cluster is to shut OFF headlamps, which turns off your running lights, if its raining your lights should be on. Also on 13" screen the Icons for all the settings are so dark like fan speed, temp, AC, etc. you have to take your eyes off the road to see them or turn your headlamps OFF.
I think the last thing Ford needs is another recall now, there has to be others like us out there MAKE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD 1-800-392-3673 AND NHTSA 1-888-327-4236.
ANY FOOL CAN SEE THIS IS NOT NORMAL, if the dealer would of said to me we know theirs a problem and Ford is working on it I would understand, but to tell me THATS LIGHTS WORKING AS DESIGNED IS BS...

 

[GearGuy]

Didn't see it mentioned as a possibility when troubleshooting...
Make sure the headlight switch is turned to 'Auto', or 'Off' during the day.

 

[WJOHNM]

Yes, I have the same problem, took it back to dealer 2x, they said is normal, BS its so dark can barely see my back up camera and when driving have to remove my sunglasses to see how much gas I have or to see engine temp, that cant be normal.
I made a complaint with Ford, waiting for response, I think this is a cover-up the dealer didnt make a repair order after 2x visit I insisted on a repair order be made, this what they wrote{unable to verify customer concern. no updates available. LIGHTS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. NO PROBLEMS FOUND} This is what you call a cover-up, theres no fix for this YET and the last thing ford needs is another RECALL.
I also made a complaint with the NHTSA this is a safety defect, the back-up camera is very dark if theres a child on a hot wheel behind my vehicle and I have sunglasses on am going to hit them, Like you said the only way to get a visible screen or instrument cluster is to shut OFF headlamps, which turns off your running lights, if its raining your lights should be on. Also on 13" screen the Icons for all the settings are so dark like fan speed, temp, AC, etc. you have to take your eyes off the road to see them or turn your headlamps OFF.
I think the last thing Ford needs is another recall now, there has to be others like us out there MAKE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD 1-800-392-3673 AND NHTSA 1-888-327-4236.
ANY FOOL CAN SEE THIS IS NOT NORMAL, if the dealer would of said to me we know theirs a problem and Ford is working on it I would understand, but to tell me THATS LIGHTS WORKING AS DESIGNED IS BS...

I forgot to mention there has been times when screen flickers and come back on bright or normal, is ford in my system working on this? a few times when starting vehicle screen was bright then goes dark after driving a while, I started keeping a log with dates and times, I have spoken to service manager he is saying its normal and salesman agrees it very dark, I have contacted other 26 Maverick owners and they have no issues, I only have 500 miles on a new Lobo, I traded a 25 Lariat that had no issues screen was bright all the time, I never had to turn headlamps to see out the back-up camera or to check my gas or engine temp.

 

[GearGuy]

I've had my brightness alternate when it is not full sunlight outside and I'm passing under the shade of trees or shadow of a mountain. But in normal sunny conditions, it's stable. If it flickers under full sun conditions, sounds like it could be an electrical connection issue. Just make sure the dash light sensor is clean and not covered.

 

[WJOHNM]

Didn't see it mentioned as a possibility when troubleshooting...
Make sure the headlight switch is turned to 'Auto', or 'Off' during the day.

I have tried all the different modes, they all work the same, even in night when you turn the headlamps off it gets brighter, this is a software problem or sensor problem. On my first visit to dealer they did something it worked for about a half hour than back to dark, what ever they did it didn't work on the second visit.
They cant expect us to turn our headlamp switch to off to see the info screen or back-up camera, the only good thing is when you turn off vehicle Off it always come back on in auto mode, so you have running lights or if its raining with wipers on you have lights BUT your screen is DARK.

 

[Finnster]

I have tried all the different modes, they all work the same, even in night when you turn the headlamps off it gets brighter, this is a software problem or sensor problem. On my first visit to dealer they did something it worked for about a half hour than back to dark, what ever they did it didn't work on the second visit.
They cant expect us to turn our headlamp switch to off to see the info screen or back-up camera, the only good thing is when you turn off vehicle Off it always come back on in auto mode, so you have running lights or if its raining with wipers on you have lights BUT your screen is DARK.

Consider seeing a different Ford dealer, or 6!

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