You can barely read the dash in normal daylight!

[DTSIke]

The only serious complaint I have about the DTS is, the color of the graphics for the dashboard! I noticed this after 5 minutes of driving in ordinary daylight, and a company the size of GM should be ashamed, and their interior/Instrument Panel engineers should be embarrassed when they have good contrast on so many other vehicles! This is supposed to be a top-of-the-line Flagship, on one of their most expensive Sedans, that must go up against the top vehicles from around the world! What were the Test-Drivers who took the pre-production test cars on the road doing? Shouldn't they be looking at the DASH in all lighting conditions that the average Customer would experience? You gotta look at the Dash everyday,and you interact more with the Instrument Panel than the outside,trunk, or engine compartment! I sure hope that they don't make any glaring, stupid, mistakes like this on the future models that they send into the market! It obviously got by me on a 7:00-pm, Fall test-drive, but is inexcusable to me. I wouldn't base my buying decision on this, but what about trying to convert an Import-driver to GM products? The Speedometer,Tachometer,Gas, and temp gauges have a shroud over them, but the Radio graphics are off-white or grayish in color, which makes me have to take my attention off the road to use my hands to block the sun so that I can see the station or preset!

[TSS]

Make sure your auto-headlights are working properly. If they aren't, and lights are on even in daylight, then your dash will dim significantly. I have never experienced the issue in a DTS with properly funtioning auto-headlights which leads me to believe your is not "the norm" . Try shutting off the autoheadlights and see if things improve.

[SouthernCountry]

I know what hes complaining about. When I go thru tunnels my headlights come on as they should but sometimes after getting back into the sun the lights stay on and the dash is stuck in dim mode even if I cut off the auto lights. I have to cut my car off and then back on to clear it. It's weird how it does that some times. I thought I was the only one. Plus this model is the only one I've had this issue with along with other problems more than the other 2 models I've owned.

[c5 rv]

Also, are you wearing polarized sunglasses? The radio display in my 06 SRX is nearly impossible to read when I wear polarized sunglasses. On the other hand, my MKZ has a cashmere colored top on the dash and I have to wear polarized sunglasses in order to cut the reflected glare in the windshield. (I'll never buy a car with a light dash top again.)

[SouthernCountry]

I have all black interior. No glare. Don't wear sunglasses either. Use the visor if I need to. I do some times get that weird angle where the sun hits the chrome around the shifter or the clock but thats it. Tinted windows works wonders.

[Southern]

My dash works well. I do have to raise my Polarized glasses to read the radio, but that is in all cars.

[TulsaVic]

I have no complaints with the main dash display (though I did prefer the 300C's white dials and dark numbers that didn't need back lighting during daylight and were clearly visible early morning or at dusk). The dash does dim when going under overpasses but it seems to return to bright relatively quickly, except during early morning/late afternoons when the sun is at extreme angles. The radio display could be brighter. It does totally disappear with polarized glasses and is difficult to read even without the sunglasses in bright light. The one graphic that is totally invisible except at night is the headlight control. But I've since memorized the positions.

I'm not too fond of the dash in general since it's almost identical to the Chevy Impala and for only $25K more..... (of course the door panels are almost identical design too, except the Caddy has the padded overlay...as is the steering wheel)

[Superjim]

From your description, it sounds like the auto lights are on.
Next time it does it...stop the car and get out and actually look at the headlights and see if your lights are on.

The light sensor on my dash that controls the automatic lights...is not quite sensitive enough to light.

It leaves the auto lights on too long in the morning and turns them on too early in the late afternoon to suit me.
Which, if it is already good daylight...makes the dash hard to read.

I have complained about it...but since it "DOES WORK"...they won't replace it.

I know what you mean about the radio numbers.
My first 2006 DTS, did not have NAV and I had the same problem.
Luckily, this one has the big nav screen and the letters are bright white on a blue background. Very easy to see.

Texas Jim

[jjm01]

In my opinion, the gauge cluster and interior lighting on the 2006 and later DTS was a major step backwards. The 2000-2005 gauge cluster (on the STS as well) was much more elegant, completely blacked out with the ignition off and coming to life with bright white "floating" gauge lettering and numbers, accented with green fluorescent displays for the DIC, speedometer, transmission selector, and climate control.

The cold, white LED gauge cluster and overall interior lighting does have the appearance of "lesser" GM vehicles. You really need need factory nav to give the dash some "life" otherwise the white LED lighting on the radio makes the entire dash extra bland.

I also don't know why they went with white LED interior lighting (cold indeed) but left the foot-well lighting incandescent? Doesn't "match" and just seems like poor planning. If you're going to go LED, go 100% or not at all.

Speaking of lighting, why aren't the volume controls on the steering wheel illuminated? All the other controls are. And what happened to the temperature controls on the steering wheel?

I'm also not a fan of the silly HVAC controls, round knobs with goofy symbols that make no sense. What happened to clearly labeled controls in ENGLISH? After all this is a traditional AMERICAN car.

Cadillac did a great job on the much needed 2006 exterior redesign, but in my opinion they took a major step backwards on the interior (with the exception of the seats). Not that the 2000-2005 interior didn't need work, but it seems they threw the baby out with the bathwater.

It's the little stuff like this that takes away from a vehicle being world class.

Joe

[TSS]

^^ agree on several points (not all). The gauge cluster in our 01 SLS (like the 00-05 DTS and 98-05 STS) is top notch and classy.

Also, the controls in my 07 Lade are logical (not the "new" standard issue Cadillac HVAC dials). There are dedicated separate buttons for a lot of functions such as rear and front defroster, etc. just like the good ole days. And the gauges function like the old DTS/STS/SLS. All blacked out until start up, then the blue needles and floating numbers come to life and the needles do a "sweep". Crystal clear in all types of light. Point is, Caddy still makes one model (albeit a truck) from which they could take ideas/parts if they wish for the gauge cluster.

However, as I stated earlier, the current gauges in the DTS are fine IMO. It would not deter a purchase for me. I still think the OP has an auto headlight issue.

[V-Eight]

Originally Posted by TulsaVic

(though I did prefer the 300C's white dials and dark numbers that didn't need back lighting during daylight and were clearly visible early morning or at dusk).

Really, I think they look extremely cheap.

[DTSIke]

I'm not wearing sunglasses, and I got out and looked to make sure that my headlights were not on. This happened to be 2:00 -P.M. on a normal Sunny,Summer Day. Driving down the street, I feel that the contrast of lettering on its background is poor and forces me to tilt my head to see the radio stations and eventually needing to shield the sun with my hand in order to see the station numbers! The light gray lettering on its background, doesn't provide the contrast that you would have with blue or red or orange lettering does in all types of lighting conditions. The red needles on the speedo, plus the shroud around the pod for the tach/temp/gas/ and speedo help make it much easier to see in all conditions. Normally the Automaker either has the lettering and/or background colors assure you an easy-reading situation whether facing the sun or dealing with shadows! They don't have the same issues with the STS and CTS Instrument Panels! Critical information should be available at a GLANCE! That is precisely why I would take any of the Caddy Instrument Panels over the BMW or Mercedes,or Lexus Instrument panels! If you have many buttons that are very similar or just the same and you can only differentiate them by location, you have to take your eyes off the road or memorize them by their position by scanning with your fingers for shapes /notches or some other variable! it's worse to have to go through a computer interface as poor as the COMMAND System or the iDrive system that BMW had in some of their high-end cars! Just my opinion, but I thought that the goal was to convey information in a concise manner, at a glance in most cases, whether it is graphical/Digital/Analog/ or Projected.

[TSS]

^^ Have you driven other 06+ DTSs with similar criticism? If not, might be worth a shot. I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but perhaps somehting is wrong with your DTS. What you describe would definitely irritate me, to say the least. I just have not had the same experience in the dozen plus 06+ DTSs I have driven. We have ruled out the auto headlight issue, but maybe you actually have a backlighting malfunction which further compromises an imperfect design.

[z06bigbird]

Just wondering what percentage of DTS owners have cataracts!!??

[junkers]

I have a 2006 DTS Lux III with NAV. I'm having the same issue as the OP, dash lights extremely dim. This just happened. It's under original CPO warranty (the bumper to bumper extension one) so it's going back to the dealer.

I have confirmed that auto headlights do NOT function normally - bright daylight and auto headlights are on. If I shut off auto headlights (the green 'headlight' symbol goes off on the lower left dash' and am in Park there aren't any headlights/lamps on outside the car but dash is still very dim. Additionally, if I turn the NAV system display to 'auto' the nightime mode goes on. If I turn it to 'day' the NAV brigtens up but the dash is still dim. All of this happened for the first time this weekend.

I'll post what the dealer says in case anyone else has the same issue.