That makes total sense, a new cluster has zero miles on it so any miles you put on it will be "up".
Installing a used cluster with more miles and trying to turn them back and not being able to also makes sense because it is illegal to roll back a odometer and how easy would it be to roll back your OD and lie about the miles if there was not a default in the program for the OD?

Good info man, thank you.

 

No check engine light. Pulled the instrument panel. It looks solid state. No access to the lights without disassembling the panel itself.

 

And the back will come off of the panel with like a few clips and screws.