Instrument Panel problems of the 2010 Mazda CX9

The automatic dimmer switched to low light setting in broad daylight for no apparent reason resulting in a dark instrument panel. Driver had to pull aside on a busy highway to try to restore daytime lighting. This is the safety aspect - loss of panel information while driving causing an emergency pull off and a distraction to the driver. The light sensor controlling both the panel and the day/night car lights was set to standard - default setting. It appears that this setting is too high. After insisting with the dealership, it was found that the sensor is programmable. It was set then to low, which seemed to have fixed the problem. This still needs to be addressed by the manufacturer in a systemic manner for the safety of other drivers.