ive had a replacement steering wheel fitted after around 6000 miles from new, after the leather completely wore away. My replacement has now done 7000 miles and is again showing signs of wear. Anyone else having these issues? i had an avensis before this and had no problems with wear on the wheel. Dealer says this is normal wear and is not covered under warranty
In what country are you located? I believe the UK has the leather steering wheel on some trim models.
You have what we call a Prius v. I know there is a thread in the Generation 4 Liftback section on steering wheel issues. Steering Wheel peeling | PriusChat
I had the 2012 Prius+ T-Spirit which had softex seats but the steering wheel was leather and it showed no signs of wear at all when I traded it in with 28K miles on it. Does your steering wheel have a stitched cover or is it the moulded type ?
Yes it is stitched. Had 3 avensis before this, usually trade in around 30000 miles and never had a problem with any. This is on wheel 2 already Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Just curious, but do you work with any chemicals that might be corrosive to leather? I put a Wheelskins leather wrap on my Prius, and I've owned several vehicles with leather wrapped steering wheels and always the durability was pretty good. I've never had to replace a leather steering wheel because the leather was "completely worn away". Completely worn away, in such a short time, makes me think the steering wheel is coming in contact with something that is prematurely and aggressively wearing the leather away. What do you use to clean it? PS. My experience with Wheelskins was very good. Installation is challenging, and time consuming. With information available here, and on youtube. But once you get the cover stitched on? The leather quality is excellent. If you could wear through that cover in 6000-7000 miles? I'd bring in scientists to try to figure out what is happening.
Sweat etc. off your hands can affect leather badly. Q&A #9: How Do Body Oils Affect Leather? | Chamberlains Leather Milk I think I've had no problems because I have dry skin on my hands. Maybe you got hyperhidrosis
I agree. But since the OP said they have had leather steering wheel before? And since they seem to be wearing COMPLETELY away? They'ed have to be sweating like a Ridley Scott Alien. I'm curious but I have feeling we may never know.
Read post 5. They have a Softex wheel not leather. If it is the same material as the Gen 4 there are several users with peeling issues.
In one of the other Gen 4 posts it looks as if the softex is blistering, could it be excess exposure to the sun maybe ?
Sorry, I missed that post. But I had thought about that, if only because I've never had that level of problem with leather. Since the OP already evidently had it in to the dealer and replaced once...I'm surprised nobody said anything like..."You realize this isn't leather it's Softex.".
I don't work with any chemicals at all and have no sweat issues. After the wheel was replaced, on dealer advise, I haven't cleaned/ put anything whatsoever on either the wheel or my hands. Don't think it's the sun either as I live in England- we only get 5 sunny days per year! Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
I have Prius V step 4 which comes with soft-tex seats, and leather wheel and shifter. I'm up to 15000 miles and no problems with the wheel. My previous V also had leather and I put on one of those steering wheel covers to protect it. Wife doesn't like it (her hands are much smaller than mine) so on current V I don't use one.
