2012 Camry Hybrid Offset Steering Wheel Oddity

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by cycledrum, Jan 20, 2013.

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  1. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Anyone like their steering wheel a bit to the right?

    2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE Steering wheel offset maybe two inches right of seat. Camry L, LE, XLE and Hybrids like this.

    Copy of camera 508.jpg

    2013 Honda Accord EX-L

    Copy (2) of camera 384.jpg
     
    #1 cycledrum, Jan 20, 2013
  2. DoPeY5007

    DoPeY5007 Member

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    my Prius C is not straight, I thought it might have been the alignment, it may have the same issue.

    It is slightly off, and yes it bothers me a ton.
     
    #2 DoPeY5007, Jan 20, 2013
  3. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Not me, I've had car with a bigger offset and soon got to the point that I didn't notice it.
     
    #3 xs650, Jan 20, 2013
  4. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Are you t talking about the wheel being turned a little while going straight down the road (that is fixable). A wheel askew laterally is so not fixable.

    And I think, but not sure if I recall, the Prius c wheel was a little askew, laterally (?) shifted to the right a bit.
     
    #4 cycledrum, Jan 20, 2013
  5. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Maybe if you always drove with one arm it could be considered a Toyota ergonomic design to make your one arm more comfortable? :p
     
    #5 PriusCamper, Jan 20, 2013
  6. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    And if you switched to the other arm, it would be that much more uncomfortable from reaching further.
     
    #6 cycledrum, Jan 20, 2013
  7. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Interesting... I've only test driven the '12 HyCam once or twice, maybe only once. I've never noticed this. I'll have to take a look the next time I'm in one.

    I doubt it'd dissuade me from getting one. If my 06 Prius were to be totaled or stolen, I'd probably be replacing it with a Gen 3 Prius, a PiP or a '12+ HyCam. I doubt that even if I did notice, that it'd be enough to make me switch to anything else. I just don't see any viable alternatives.

    It sure didn't prevent almost 405K units from being sold in the US last year (Top 10 Best-Selling Cars of 2012 - KickingTires).
     
    #7 cwerdna, Jan 20, 2013
  8. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Yeah, they sold tons of the cars last year. Obviously most people don't notice or care about those things.

    One could drop a plumb type line down from center of wheel and see where it lands in relation to seat bottom pad.

    I sat in a non-hybrid LE also, and same situation for me as the hybrid. I was a bit shocked and did not expect to see that. Missed picking up on the wheel at SV auto show.
    It was so plain to see though. Look down to seat bottom, look up to wheel center, wow, not centered.
     
    #8 cycledrum, Jan 20, 2013
  9. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    I don't notice it in my 2012 TCH XLE. Of course I went to the Camry after driving a Prius for 9 years.
     
    #9 firepa63, Jan 20, 2013
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the touch pad on my dell is off center to the left for some reason and my right arm gets tired after awhile. no idea why they designed it this way.
     
    #10 bisco, Jan 20, 2013
  11. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    I noticed my steering is not perfectly lined up with the driver's seat too - it's skewed off center to the left. Perfect placement should have the center of the steering wheel lined up with the center line of the driver's seat. I"m aware of it everytime I drive, but I'm used to it now.
     
    #11 jhinsc, Jan 20, 2013
  12. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Ok, that's good to know.
     
    #12 cycledrum, Jan 20, 2013
  13. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    2 photos added to first post.

    Did the same string measurement on my Prius before going, found string pretty well aligned to center of seat bottom. From what I see, where is Toyota's attention to detail on Camry?

    camera 361.jpg
     
    #13 cycledrum, Jan 20, 2013
  14. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    UPDATE: Oh... I stand corrected, looks like you did measure....

    How do you know it's not a optical illusion? Have you actually measured? I mean when I look at steering wheel placement on my Gen2 Prius it looks off, but if I close my eyes it feels perfectly centered. I as well have yet to measure... PS: Don't close your eyes while driving, it's dangerous! :)
     
    #14 PriusCamper, Jan 20, 2013
  15. skwcrj

    skwcrj Member

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    OMG!!! A 1/2" off?!! Someone should sue.

    All kidding aside.... I'm sure there is an engineering reason for it. Maybe the steering column had to be offset a 1/2" to accomodate a component in the engine bay. They probably figured that this offset was insignificant enough that most people would not notice it.
     
    #15 skwcrj, Jan 20, 2013
  16. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    it looks bad to me, there's an airbag in the wheel, I'd prefer mine directly in front in case. Least I won't be tempted to change to a Camry in a few year. The wheel thing plus extra headroom is minimal with sunroof cause they're a little stingy with how much the power seat can lower down.

    back to topic.
     
    #16 cycledrum, Jan 20, 2013
  17. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Quick glance from left seat bottom tuck just about lines up with left edge of steering wheel. Right edge of steering wheel appears at least an inch to right of right seat bottom tuck.

    Seen the same thing in C-Max, Sienna, Passat and others forgotten about at moment.
     
    #17 cycledrum, Jan 21, 2013
  18. iuswingman

    iuswingman New Member

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    I test drove a '12 Camry Hybrid last month and didn't notice anything being off with steering wheel location.

    If it's off-center, then it's not enough to matter in my honest opinion.
     
    #18 iuswingman, Jan 21, 2013
  19. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Here's a pic off Toyota's website of the 2012 interior. It's not from straight behind the driver's seat, but I will get a photo that way. The wheel offset will be plain as day, wait and see.

    2012 Camry interior.jpg
     
    #19 cycledrum, Jan 22, 2013
  20. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

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    Ive noticed this in the GM/Chevy trucks and full size SUVs(Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban) for years. Dealers say its normal. [​IMG]
     
    #20 sdtundra, Jan 22, 2013
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