Both my wife's 2016 Edge Sport and my 2017 F150XL, turn lights off out as trans is put into park, when light switch is in auto position. Put it into drive and lights come on. KM

 

This is why we have a header on the forum that says 2009-14. No offense, but there is a lot of **** that changes each generation and doesn't apply to the old.

My lights have been set on Auto for 6 years. Only changed a very few times when there is snow or fog and it is very light out, or working on the truck. I find this auto system is very good at turning on in dim light.

OP, have you changed your dimming settings with the dimmer switch? That could be affecting your results.

 

Year or gen change will explain, I have little experience in pre 2016's. KM

 

Those are your daytime running lights not headlights. The DRLs will turn off when in park. When it's dark enough and on Auto the exterior lights will all turn on as soon as the ignition is turned on and remain on regardless of gear position until the truck is turned off.

 

Could be as I do use LED bulb in the headlights. The DRL would run them at full on unlike a halogen bulb. KM

PS: Did check and it is DRL, I had them enabled and coupled with a switch to LED headlight right after picking up my truck (LED's come on full power when DRL is used), I had forgotten they were enabled.km

 

The dash/interior lights do not operate like they used to in older vehicles; because everything is electronic (switches aren't directly connected to circuits anymore) the interior dimming is controlled via the aforementioned light sensor - you will see a very different behaviour in daylight conditions and auto lights - interior only dim when the incoming light level is below a threshold, not linked to your headlights at all.