Steering Wheel Pealing?

[GripT4R]

There are cheap corollas running around from the late 80's and early 90's that still don't have steering wheels peeling.

My 2015 corolla base model with 98k miles has a steering wheel and interior that look showroom new.

Are you saying that toyota used better quality steering wheel material in their economy car vs. the 4runner of the same year? I bet its the same material, just different lot numbers due to the mixing of the material before being injected in the mold and cured.


Toyota needs to own up to their crappy $8 steering wheel that they charge $770 for and replace it under warranty. Literally as Simple as that.

 

[Grape Ape]

I was a the dealer this morning for service and brought this up when I checked in, they ordered me a new steering wheel, no questions asked.

 

[dot_tom]

Good news! Local dealer got the ok to replace my steering wheel under warranty. Getting a new one this week.


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[Ryan at Eibach]

My 14 Tundra did this too

 

[StevenB1962]

Mine too

I have two 5th generation 4Runners and a Tundra.
The Tundra and 4Runner I drive both have this problem. Both started around 20,000 miles. This obviously makes me think it is something about my driving style (holding the top center) that causes the problem.
Being said...
The top and bottom of the steering wheel is made from vinyl and the sides are real leather. On mine the black finish is rubbed off and showing the sub white uncolored vinyl at the top. Toyotas are great cars and I have driven them for years. I think it is kind of cheap of them that somehow it makes financial sense to make the top and the bottom of the steering wheel out of vinyl and not just make the whole wheel from leather. I had a 2003 4Runner and the whole wheel was leather. It did fine for the 13 years I had it. Mixing vinyl and leather on the seats as a cost saving measure has been going on for years. Some bean counter at Toyota figured that the majority of people must hold the wheel at 2 and 10 or 3 and 9 and that they can get away with making the top and bottom from vinyl!

Toyota did warranty my 4Runner steering wheel but I could not ask to warranty the Tundra wheel because I had put it on myself. (Same exact Toyota factory wheel).
They did not change out the 4Runner wheel but instead gave a decent amount of service credit at the dealer as compensation. I accepted that because I figured a new wheel would just do it again.
I have had reasonable luck repainting it/re-dying it with kiwi leather dye. It comes in a shoe polish foam tip. I taped it off and put a drop cloth so as not to drip in the wrong places. It dries surprisingly evenly for a foam applicator. The kiwi does wear off over time but takes quite a while....it does not come off on your hand. They use the same stuff to dye purses and shoes. It is a little bit shiny but dulls with use.
There are after market wheels that have leather accent sides and plastic top and bottom that are as little as $200. Its not that hard to switch it out with a $15 wheel puller, some YouTube videos and some courage. Once mine gets very bad I am going that route. Or maybe you could get a shop to do it for $150 or so.
I think if the whole wheel was leather it would not have had this problem. I do agree with a lot of others that Toyota picked the wrong place to cheap out. It is right in your face everyday!

For what is worth.

 

[LimeLED]

Since the common wear spot seems to be the top of the wheel, could this be form sun damage rather than holding it?

Those that have the issue, is your vehicle parked out in the sun during the day?

 

[CavPro]

Due to these threads on this issue I did install a black perforated leather wheelskin wrap, turned out great. Good luck to all trying to resolve this with toyota.

 

[Meeces390]

So, here to add I had/have the same issue. 2017 TRD Premium. Started to peel at about 25,000 miles and two year from purchase. Do not drive by holding that spot, no gloves, cleaning solutions, sunscreen etc. Dealer refused to fix without approval from Toyota (the dps regional manager). Came back, outside influence. No explanation. Contacted Toyota and opened a case. They got back and said same thing- outside influence and not covered. The really frustrating part was the case manager could not explain the process, how, what, or why the decision was made. Only that it was the engineers who looked at it and therefore it wasn’t covered. They looked at a few pictures (Unknown quality or quantity) that the dealer sent. I asked the toyota case manager if they would cover it as a customer service issue, or even offer to partially cover it-the answer was no. Since the engineers has made the decision, that was it. Don’t know if it was one engineer, or multiple.

In the front of the warranty book is a dispute resolution process. I am in the process of following that and the claim is pending. It says only for California in the warranty book, but the information online looks like a national arbitration mechanism/process. I wanted to pass that on.
Also, there is a change.org petition with some signatures-
Petition * Replace steering wheel for free * Change.org

 

[tdo805]

Mine has been peeling for about the last 5k miles. 2017 with 30k miles. It's due for service so I'll be taking it in later this week and will see what they say....

 

[Beer_Runner]

Mine is flaking on the perforated section on the left side. Never had a leather steering wheel do this before. I’m well outside the 3 yr/36k with about 46k miles.

 

[Jaem94]

If anyone is having this problem in Oregon, Kendall Toyota in Eugene replaced mine for free. I have a 2018 TRD ORP WITH 22000 miles. Took about a month to get approval from Toyota and to get the part shipped out but they did replace it.

 

[Meeces390]

I was a the dealer this morning for service and brought this up when I checked in, they ordered me a new steering wheel, no questions asked.

If you don't mind me asking, what dealer was this? And was it peeling at the top of the steering wheel? How many miles on it? Thanks.

 

[Meeces390]

Good news! Local dealer got the ok to replace my steering wheel under warranty. Getting a new one this week.


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What dealer did you have yours done through? And how many miles/how old is the 4runner? I've opened a dispute resolution case via the warranty book and have found a very inconsistent way that Toyota dealers/regional managers seem to address this issue. Thanks.

 

[Godfr33]

2017 Pro. Glad I found this because I was pointing it out to the wife. Peeling in the exact place/manor as everyone else in this post.

Going to bring it in and see how they treat a pro owner. FYI bought it in late June 2017 and just cracked 18k on the odometer.

 

[4gambler]

Last 02 V8 Tundra Limited steering leather wheel peeled off.
My ex 2017 corolla was starting to peel at 28k but just a little like 1/4 inch...
My aunts 2006 expedition did same thing.


Honestly I think this is wear and tear. You REALLY want the "techs" to dikkk with it and create a dash rattle or some bs like that? I know i can be anaaal about things but this in my opinion is wear and tear. All leather wrapped steering wheels do this.

Steering wheel cover. Done. Enjoy it.

 

[Titanpat57]

Last 02 V8 Tundra Limited steering leather wheel peeled off.
My ex 2017 corolla was starting to peel at 28k but just a little like 1/4 inch...
My aunts 2006 expedition did same thing.


Honestly I think this is wear and tear. You REALLY want the "techs" to dikkk with it and create a dash rattle or some bs like that? I know i can be anaaal about things but this in my opinion is wear and tear. All leather wrapped steering wheels do this.

Steering wheel cover. Done. Enjoy it.

Really waterhead?...on a 45K truck just forget about the wheel peeling?..I'm not, and doubt anyone here is. Go pedal your Fleabay garbage somewhere else.

 

[_westtexasrunner_]

Mine does the same thing

 

[1jzgte]

Idk if I would agree with that. The interior quality of modern vehicles is immensely better than what it was in the 90s let alone 15 years ago.

Again, I'm not asking for top notch quality just something that'll last through the comprehensive warranty

true that! remember when cars of the AC vents would crumble or snap as you adjusted it back in the 90s? now u can mount phones on that shit!

 

[pointman]

Going to bring it in and see how they treat a pro owner.

The same as any other 4Runner owner.

You REALLY want the "techs" to dikkk with it and create a dash rattle or some bs like that? I know i can be anaaal about things but this in my opinion is wear and tear. All leather wrapped steering wheels do this.

Steering wheel removal is the easiest thing ever. No one is causing a dash rattle doing it.

All leather steering wheels do not do this. Nowhere close to “all”.

 

[Grug556]

exactly where mine is pealing.

The fact that all failures are on top may indicate its UV damage to the leather/plastic or whatever its made out of. The glass will stop UVB however your likely getting UVA on it. Do you park out in the sunshine at home or at work? Maybe get a windshield sun cover.