We were on a long drive on the motorway and suddenly noticed that the dashboard lights went out. The clock and GPS map were dark. They came back on but would intermittently go off. The dealer will be checking this for us (it is a new 450h, we have now 3000 miles on it; it is 9 months old. Perhaps a loose connection ? Has anyone experienced problems such as this? (We love this car but still not familiar with all of the electronics!)

 

Are you sure you did not turn the screen off? Once you do it it will turn off automatically if you don't move the mouse.
Also your auto dim may turn dashboard and screen darker once your auto lights turn on. If they are set on high sensitive, they will turn on if you pass through tunnel, bridge or anything that makes surrounding little darker.

 

Has not happen to me. It must be a loose connection. There is a electrical connector (maybe three?) that connect the dashboard assembly to the car. The dash may need to be taken out to get access. At any rate, the dealer should fix it.

 

Thanks very much indeed, I had not changed anything (would not know how to and we didn't touch the mouse.) The lights suddenly went off (no change in the outside light conditions) and would intermittently go off and on again during the drive. There were stable clear conditions, no tunnels or dark skies.