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Steering wheel vinyl coming off

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

  1. fredonly

    fredonly Junior Member

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    About a week ago, I noticed a small tear in the vinyl that wraps the steering wheel, at the12:00 position, where I often put my hand. Within a couple days, the piece came off entirely - about an inch by a half inch. This stuff is so thin, it's no wonder it wore off.

    Has anyone else had this problem? Is it covered by warranty? Is there a third party steering wheel cover anyone would recommend?

    BTW, it's a 2017 Prime Advanced.
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i believe i have read this before. it is probably the 12 month warranty, but not sure, maybe 3 years.
     
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  3. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    What the heck is going on with all these Prius steering wheels???! And now the Prime too? I think there has been 3 seperate threads about peeling. One member had his steering wheel replaced by the dealer, under warranty, after 30 months. Apparently many of the wheels are defective?
     
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  4. fredonly

    fredonly Junior Member

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    I took it to the dealer yesterday, and he's not sure it's covered under warranty. He took a picture and is sending it to Toyota for their ruling. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but it would be helpful to hear from anyone who has had this problem and whether or not it was covered.

    BTW, I've had my Prime for 7 months.
     
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  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Bumper to bumper warranty. Of course it's covered
     
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  6. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    I'm having mine replaced as we speak (2017 Prime Advanced, under warranty). The surface is tissue-paper thin.

    I'm not that impressed with this Softex material.
     
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  7. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    I guess we are going to have to start to wear driving gloves so we don't get oil/sweat on the material.
     
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  8. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Treat yourself to "WheelSkin" (see Ye Olde PriusShoppe) and ask for Irene (see threads passim https://priuschat.com/threads/found-small-steering-wheel-cover.129361/page-2#post-2379190
    Found Small Steering Wheel Cover | Page 2 | PriusChat
    Good luck!
    ;)
     
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  9. fredonly

    fredonly Junior Member

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    My dealer informed me that Toyota is refusing to cover mine. They claim it could be the result of having chemicals (eg hand lotion) in the hands. (It wasn't)

    Did your dealer contact Toyota for prior approval, or did they assume coverage right off the bat?
     
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  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Even if it was hand lotion, it's extremely common for people to have hand lotion on their hands. That's why it's called hand lotion. And then there's sunscreen, aftershave, etc. If it won't stand up to that, it's junk.

    I'd suggest contacting Toyota directly to verify the dealer's story. And then keep going up the food chain. Eventually, there's generally someone with enough interest in their company's reputation to do what's right.
     
  11. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Definitely contact Toyota directly and let them know (nicely) that we at Priuschat are on pins and needles waiting for the outcome of their decision. Public relations demands a positive outcome from them on this.
    You've said you don't use hand lotion, so that excuse is not applicable; is your car subjected to extremes of heat or cold. They might try to use that as an excuse.

    This should not make any difference; I've had steering wheel covers on Alfa Romeos that lasted a decade or more.
    I've had my Advanced for a year and a half, with the car on one occasion in the sun, in 107° heat for about 7 hours; my steering wheel is perfect. The car has seen no extremes of cold. Please let us know the outcome.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    AChoiredTaste.com
     
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  12. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Any photo? I thought steering wheel wrap is the same material as the SofTex that covers the seats of Premium and Advanced models. Does Plus model with cloth seats have different material on the steering wheel?
     
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  13. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    I don't know what they did, they just covered it no questions asked.

    ~$900 repair.
     
  14. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Now that's GOOD news!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    AChoiredTaste.com
     
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  15. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    It's magic.
     
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  16. fredonly

    fredonly Junior Member

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    I called Toyota customer care and opened a case with them.
     
  17. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Do I smell recall??....
    Has anyone else had this problem?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    AChoiredTaste.com
     
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  18. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Anybody know of a good, easy to install steering wheel cover that fits the Prius? Seems like that big white plastic piece on the lower part of the wheel would make it hard to find a cover that fits.
     
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  19. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    It's certainly depressing to hear of this problem, especially since multiple people are having it. The excuse about lotion or aftershave, etc., is absurd. They obviously know some drivers will have those on their hands, so they should make a steering wheel that resists them. Even if you someone is lucky enough to get Toyota to fix this problem, what's going to stop it from happening again?

    In the past, the only luck I've had with covering steering wheels in a way that looked decent was using Wheelskins. That worked well on my '01 Maxima, however, the in the photos of installations on Prius steering wheels in these forums, the Wheelskins look like ill-fitting diapers. IMHO, they are in no way an option.

    Other than that, I took a steering wheel from a 280zx to a local upholstery shop and had it covered in leather. That looked good, but covering that was far less complicated (and thus less expensive) than a Prius' steering wheel would be.

    Worse for Prime Advanced owners is the fact that the steering wheel is heated, which I presume would mean an even more complicated and expensive repair.
     
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  20. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    That's the dumbest thing I ever heard of! A steering wheel "peeling" or falling apart after only a few months or a year of ownership?!

    My Prius looked great when it was new! But now it seems Toyota may have used the cheapest material and parts available to build the Gen4. Everything from windshields, to steering wheel wrap, to seat material, to carpeting, electronics, switches, even the tires. YES, I'm a disgruntled Prius owner. I admit it.

    I can no longer defend the Gen4 Prius as being this fantastic "green" car. Sure, the MPG is good... if that's all you care about. But there are too many other things that can, and are, going wrong.
     
    #20 Starship16, Jul 22, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2018
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