Steering Wheel peeling

What type of cows does Softex come off, thin skinned ones ?

 

What is SofTex®?
SofTex® is a synthetic leather seat material designed for wear, easy cleaning and resisting spills. Soft to the touch, SofTex weighs about half as much as genuine leather. The way it's made generates around 85% fewer CO2 emissions and 99% fewer Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) than conventional synthetic leather. It also does not include any animal-based material.


From What is SofTex®?

also New artificial leather gains increasing Toyota acceptance - SAE International

 

Mine still looks like brand new after 16 months. and 3 people drive my Prius. thankfully no nervous nellies are picking at the SofTex.

 

They prefer "Sensitive"

 

dismack?

 

I get your theory.

If you look at the photo I posted -- taken after 45,000 miles of driving -- there is a 3/8" area that looks like the Softex has been picked at.

But there is also a 1.5" line radiating out from that area where the Softex material has bubbled up.

Any theories on how that bubbled up line came to be?

I will take some extra care to not rub my hand over that bubbled up 1.5" line when driving -- or pick at it or rub ithe blister without thinking like it were some sort of grunge from the fast food driver through-- but my guess is that over the next few 10k miles, the linear blister will get be broken too.

 

Or the ribbed, but I digress...

 

Gorilla Tape.
(Or an old man steering wheel cover)
Trim fingernails.
Quit picking.

Edit to add. I showed your picture to a coworker and sister who drive the 2015 Corolla S with SofTex seats and wheel. They report no problems.

 

Not sure if that is a heat failure or a ring caught the softex and it tore first.

None the less, I'd look to an upholstery shop to use a vinyl or leather repair kit on it and would predict the tear would not be very noticeable at lease turn in.

The shop may be able to reduce the bubble at the same time and I would repair this sooner than later.

Good luck.

 

I took in my 2016 Three Touring with the steering wheel delaminating. Rep said not covered under warranty.

 

I'd contact TOYOTA direct.

 

I guess they would call it wear and tear.

 

Really, I'd consider that a steering wheel would last the (useful) life of a car.

I've had cars up to 23 years old and only one needed the steering wheel replaced (a Mazda Familia/323 almost 3 yrs old replaced by MAZDA under warranty when the inner core became loose.

 

I agree. One used car I bought had an aftermarket steering wheel but that was likely due to somebody wanting a smaller "racing?" wheel.
I bought it in Canada and it was licensed from there. I had a mechanic tell me it would not pass Virginia state inspection due to the steering wheel size.

 

Me too Alan, but Toyota may be using it as an excuse to wriggle out of a warranty claim.

 

My Morris Minor project still has its original 49 year old steering wheel, perfectly serviceable (can't say the same for the rest of the car ATM though).

 

My Dad in Canada had one of those for a while.
My first thought was this though (borrowed from another user here.). Is this your project car??

 

That looks like a very serious project to me.

 

Mine's not as good as that one