Steering wheel creaks in hot weather

Hello all,

As summer comes, I've been noticing my steering wheel makes creaking noises during the day when it's hot (but not at night). It seems to be the two pieces of the wheel and not the steering column or other more serious problem because it makes the noise if I just squeeze the wheel without turning it.

I'm wondering if anybody else has observed this and has a fix. Is there a way to tighten things down or put a piece of felt between them so they don't rub? It's pretty annoying in the afternoon and I'm sure it'll get worse when the temperature gets in the 100s.

 

"Could not replicate"

Same thing Honda said about my old car making grinding noises on cold start. One class-action lawsuit later there was a TSB for defective alternator design, but my warranty had expired by then. I don't put much stock in what the dealer mechanics say.

 

An update: I have identified the problem!

When the weather is hot, the steering wheel gets soft so it bends slightly when held causing the hard plastic trim around the buttons to creak and buzz.

The problem can be avoided by keeping my hands away from 9 and 3, instead driving with the traditional 10 and 2 or at the bottom of the steering wheel. It is safer to have the hands on the side, so I plan to ask my dealer if they can dampen or tighten this trim at my next oil change now that I know where the problem is.