Cancer on steering wheel

If sunscreen and lotion were the cause I think we would see examples of blistering on the sides and bottom of the steering wheels. All of the blistering I've seen is in areas of maximum sun exposure.

 

Here's a thread on the 2016+ Liftback forum discussing this problem.

I've see a few cases of wear on the sides and lower section, but they look more like wear from friction than blistering.

I've seen enough used & worn steering wheels over the years to make me wonder how people do what they do...

Steering Wheel peeling | PriusChat

 

Another steering wheel cover with abnormal wear. This is in the 6 o'clock position and really not exposed to much wear. Has anyone had this replaced under warranty? I'm less than 3 years and only 26,000 miles.

This car is garage and never sits in the sun. I rarely use the heated feature on the wheel.

 

I have the same on my 2016 softex steering wheel wrap. 10 o’clock position. But this is very minor. Not like a cracked windshield or clunking suspension (my 2 warranty claims).

Interesting comment about sunscreen. I often apply sunscreen with my left hand while driving, and then hold the steering wheel at 10 o’clock, where it’s peeling

 

Started at around 26000 miles.

 

Better start looking on Amazon for some kind of wheel cover. The wear on my steering wheel was less but warranty claim was denied, "Wear caused by jewelry, my fault."

Thing is I don't wear jewelry and the worn spot was at 6 o'clock. Apparently caused by rubbing the bottom of the wheel while sliding in.

Softex is clearly inferior to real leather in high wear areas. Leather has been used for thousands of years and is a proven material. Is Toyota worried about a PETA protest?

 

My 2017 Prime is the premium model w/ no heated steering wheel and it started peeling @ 26000 mi. Very slight at first and just as my warranty expired it went crazy.

 

WOW, that look terrible! My Premium has just passed warranty miles of 36K, but so far no sign of peeling. I wonder if this is Softex material problem? I have not read anything similar happening to Softex material used on the seats yet. It must be specific to the wheel.

 

My 2016 Prius lost the cheap vinyl on the steering wheel at around 38,000 miles. I had an extended 100,000 mile warranty and Toyota would not fix it. They said it was normal wear and tear. I tried to get the dealer to fix it under goodwill and Toyota Refused. Last time I buy a Toyota.
Now the car battery is dead and it’s the second Toyota battery. The dealer says without a receipt it can’t be replaced under the two year manufacturer warranty. So I’m switching brands. Again Toyota got away without replacing the part. Incidentally the steering wheel is very expensive if you have a higher end model. My Prius now has 193,000 miles

 

I always laugh a little... "The Prius is an engineering marvel, but my 12V battery died and the dealer won't replace it without a reciept, so I'm never going to buy a Toyota again."

On the steering wheel I'd try cutting off the Softex cover and seeing if there is a nice textured rubber wheel underneath (see photo of what it probably looks like). If not, just buy an aftermarket cover for the wheel, or get it recovered in real leather, or find a used one on eBay, or buy a new one. Lots of options that are less extreme than never buying another Toyota.

 

I tried to cut the Softex cover off the steering wheel. That was a complete fail. The Softex covers a thin foam wrap that is glued to a thin shiny plastic rim with no texture. Also, the are a few 1/8" notches molded into the plastic that extend to the interior aluminum rim. What you are left with after the Softex and foam padding is removed is a unusable mess.

 

I suspect there may be a disconnect between people who've owned Toyotas since the 1990's or 2000's and people whose first Toyota is more recent. I suspect people who have owned Toyotas in the past are more likely to be appalled by the lower quality and service that Toyota of today has compared to years past. People who have driven other cars may be used to driving a collection of annoying minor defects, but long-time Toyota owners aren't used to it.

I suspect Toyota has learned the old adage that you don't have to be great, just better. If all the other cars break down every 10,000 miles, you're not maximizing profits making a car that breaks down every 200,000 miles. Instead, you just need to make a car that breaks down every 15,000 miles. Likewise, if the other brands average 20 minor defects and customer complaints, Toyota only has to average 15 or less. In days past they would aim much higher.

 

Option 2....

 

is there a good cleaner or something to maintain the steering wheel?

 

Any pictures?

 

Write to Consumer Reports? They got Honda to fix the Civic battery didn't they? This is the kind of issue they exist to investigate and expose.

 

That doesn't have the controls for the dynamic cruise control and lane assist.

 

I wonder if it's possible to transfer them from the old steering wheel.