The "Auto" It does huhzing! (Auto headlights never turn on)

I recently purchased a new to me 2012 Prius v Five. The "auto" setting on the headlight switch does not seem to do anything, no matter how dark the ambient environment (even out in the country with zero artificial lighting) -- the headlights turn on normally when turned to "on" and turn off normally after the car has been turned off for 30 seconds.

I wonder if it is tied to an issue with the sensor (the manual says that the sensor also affects the Auto A/C, which also appears to be acting funny -- it blows frigid air, no matter the setting, no matter the outside temperature, unless it's set to >85°F; this isn't a problem when it's 90°+ outside, but may be annoying in the winter.)

I'm trying to figure out where to start my troubleshooting, or if this is a known issue?

FYI: I'm new to Priuses (or is it Prii?), but am old hat at cars (first car was a '65 Mustang that I rebuilt, I've built and raced a SpecE30 race car and wrenched on my own daily drivers since I was a teenager); this 2012 is the most modern vehicle I've ever owned and the first non-manual transmission.