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control panel issues

n0xville

New member
Joined
May 28, 2025
Messages
2
My entire control panel for HVAC isn't backlit. I could only see a small LED when a function is active but it's difficult to spot especially when I want my eyes focused on the road. Is this a defect or has Chevrolet gone minimalist? I got a 2025 RS.
 
At night, it's a real struggle to see the controls, and on sunny days, they practically disappear. Thankfully, the climate display comes to the rescue, keeping me informed about the temperature, fan speed, and where the air is blowing, all without me having to look down

I've found that using "Hey Google" commands works like a charm for changing the temp and adjusting the fan speed. I haven't tried the airflow settings yet, but I imagine they'll be just as easy. My dealer recommended syncing the temperature and using the auto mode with the knob,it sounds super simple and efficient

Honestly, these visibility issues can be pretty frustrating. It's not just me, I've heard plenty of folks mentioning how hard it is to see these controls
 
Hmm...some owners have reached out to Chevy support about this issue and somone I know even considered wiring the panel into the DRL circuit to keep it lit during the day, others have used voice commands like "Hey Google" to adjust settings without looking down.
 
That's a good point. I've seen some owners try those tricks as well. I know a guy who connected his to the daytime running lights, and it worked well for him. Voice commands can be useful, but they're not always spot on. Have you considered giving either of those a shot?
 
I dont think its defective at all, Chevy went for a minimalist design with very limited backlighting, so you mostly just see small LEDs when functions are active. It can definitely be hard to notice, especially while driving, and yeah that IS frustrating. Using voice controls or getting used to the layout can help, but this dim lighting is intentional, not a fault. Hope this helpps
 
I totally agree with you, it's not really a flaw, just a deliberate design decision.

A buddy of mine just got a 2025 RS a couple of weeks ago, and on our first night driving it, we both struggled to find the HVAC controls since they were almost impossible to see. Only those little LEDs were glowing. It looks really sharp in the showroom, but driving it at night? Pretty frustrating. He eventually learned the button layout by heart and now relies on voice commands. Definitely a "feature" that didn't impress us.
 
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