Steering wheel vinyl coming off

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by fredonly, Jul 2, 2018.

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  1. fredonly

    fredonly Junior Member

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    Some days the ICE never comes on, and then I'm going 35-45 (ignoring red lights and stop signs). I notice that the displayed mile estimate goes up if I turn off the AC, than goes back down when I turn it back on.

    I assume our higher humidity is a factor. Maybe you also get a better eco score.
     
    #41 fredonly, Aug 5, 2018
  2. fredonly

    fredonly Junior Member

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    Here's the latest on my peeling vinyl....

    On Aug 2, Toyota called and said they had made a determination: it will not be covered as a warranty issue. Their reason: they attribute the peeling to "outside influence." They made this determination based on the dealer's inspection and the picture they received. I pointed out that the service manager told me he thought it should be covered. Her response became: it was based on the picture.

    I was pissed. But then she said, "in the interest of customer satisfaction, Toyota will pay for a new steering wheel cover." It appears this lets them off the hook if it happens again.
     
    #42 fredonly, Aug 5, 2018
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Witness Leader

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    Do all levels have that cover? If not, could you get a steering wheel from a level without that stuff, or are there other differences. If they agreed to something like that maybe it becomes tacit admission that the cover is problematic.

    Never good for a company to be defensive and adversarial with customers, especially when it's a blatant quality control issue.
     
    #43 Mendel Leisk, Aug 5, 2018
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  4. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    This is what they will send you. The "Big Foot" free steering wheel cover. :ROFLMAO:

    IMG_0249.JPG
     
    #44 Starship16, Aug 5, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2018
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  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Classy:oops:.

    Nice new avatar(y).
     
    #45 Raytheeagle, Aug 5, 2018
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  6. dame94

    dame94 Junior Member

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    What dealership was this that originally denied you
     
    #46 dame94, Aug 23, 2018
  7. Pete R

    Pete R New Member

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    Hey All.. new to the forum but have a question here regarding the peeling steering wheels. My touring four is only 28 months new.. at 12 o’clock.. 2.5 inches long and straight across horizontally- yup.. a peeling steering wheel surface. What to do? Any success stories regarding Toyota covering this obvious defect on their otherwise quality product? Suggestions BEFORE I approach my service guy or contact Toyota Care?
     
    #47 Pete R, Nov 9, 2018
  8. martintoyota

    martintoyota Junior Member

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    Vinyl can crack when exposed to direct sunlight too long. Get a genuine leather steering wheel cover and that shouldn’t happen again.
     
    #48 martintoyota, Nov 11, 2018
  9. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Lots of stories about the Gen4 (regular Prius) steering wheels peeling. Some owners have had the wheel replaced, under warranty. I just put a cover on mine.

    The question is... what changed? What kind of material is Toyota now using, that is so prone to peeling? I live in an area that can get very hot, and my 2016 Prius steering wheel is the first one that has ever peeled. (My windows are tinted, and I always put a heatshield sun reflector in the windshield. But the wheel still got a bubble in it.)
     
    #49 Starship16, Nov 11, 2018
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Witness Leader

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    Looking at the US brochure, from level 3 up they have the Softex steering wheel. That incidentally is the threshold for 3 door touch to lock/unlock. Ugh...
     
    #50 Mendel Leisk, Nov 11, 2018
  11. PushingSquares

    PushingSquares Junior Member

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    Interesting thread - I was already concerned about this because my wife is on an immunosuppressant regimen, and as such we're both using hand sanitizer all the time, including when we get into the car. I was wondering if this might affect the lifetime of the material. I'll report if I notice any issues, but I just might get a cover instead.
     
    #51 PushingSquares, Nov 18, 2018
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  12. Haddonhill

    Haddonhill Junior Member

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    I’m now VERY interested in this. I have a leased 2017 Prius Prime Advanced and the wheel started bubbling then peeling at the 12 o’clock position a couple months ago. I brought it in for its last free service today at 25k miles and mentioned the wheel delaminating and that a new bubble has appeared on the left side at 9 o’clock.

    They replied right away with a) I’ve never seen this before, b) it must be caused by lotion or grease on your hands (neither of which I use), and c) it’s probably not covered by the warranty. It sounds similar to others and the above almost like they have a script they’re trained to follow?

    I’ll hear back later this afternoon. I’ve only has this problem before in an ‘01 Classic Prius when it was around 15 years old and approaching 200k and then it was the rubber wheel itself starting to deteriorate.

    If they say “not covered” for this obvious defect I will complain higher up. I’ll post updates.
     
    #52 Haddonhill, Dec 21, 2018
  13. Haddonhill

    Haddonhill Junior Member

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    FBC78451-12CC-43F6-993C-B6DEF83F6942.jpeg Update: Downtown Toyota in Oakland said “not covered”. Next step will be to open a case with Toyota.
     
    #53 Haddonhill, Dec 23, 2018
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  14. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    If they could only spell covered correctly :cool:.

    Have you tried other Bay Area dealers to see if they concur:whistle:?

    Good luck and happy holidays (y).
     
    #54 Raytheeagle, Dec 23, 2018
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  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Hmm this is disappointing. I really prefer a genuine leather steering wheel. The SofTex temperature regulating properties is nice but it doesn’t feel nice after a year of ownership. My leather-wrapped wheel on my 9.5 year old Gen 3 feels great - summer or winter
     
    #55 Tideland Prius, Dec 23, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2018
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  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    We had a leather steering wheel in our 98 4runner that we got rid of last year. The steering wheel started peeling when I met my wife in 2006.

    We just let it be for another 11 years and lives with it.

    Unless there is a compelling reason to, I’d let it be or buy a steering wheel cover.
     
    #56 Raytheeagle, Dec 23, 2018
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Witness Leader

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    According to this thread (summarizing the US 4th gen levels):

    Visual Tables of Gen4 Package Combinations | PriusChat

    every level from 3 and up have the softex steering wheel.

    Searching through the Canadian 2016 Brochure, I see no mention of Softex steering wheel, just seats. Maybe we dodged a bullet.
     
    #57 Mendel Leisk, Dec 23, 2018
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Nope. Touring and Technology with Advanced package have SofTex-wrapped steering wheels.
     
    #58 Tideland Prius, Dec 23, 2018
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Witness Leader

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    Huh, good to know. Regular Tech level does not have it, just the advanced? What have you got again?

    Addendum:

    Looks like Techonology level (with or without Advanced package) gets "synthetic leather" steering wheel. Just checked Toyota Canada site:

    upload_2018-12-23_18-50-18.png
     
    #59 Mendel Leisk, Dec 23, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2018
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Whoops. Lol. Ok so all except the base model then.

    We have the Touring
     
    #60 Tideland Prius, Dec 23, 2018
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