Leather Steering Wheel

[Matt Dammes]

I have a 2004 with leather interior and I noticed the steering wheel looks really bad now. I do a good job of making sure my hands aren't that dirty but the steering wheel is almost black now instead of tan. It looks like it is losing its color and starting to peel, is this covered under warranty? I do not use any abrasive cleaners just leather cleaner wipes on the leather.



Anyone had this problem before



Dammes

 

[Matt Day]

Very common- there is a TSB on this, but I don't know if applies to the 04s or not. I have an 02 and had mine replaced.

 

[Kevin Long]

I have the same problem, I was thinking of posting the question...but you beat me to it.

 

[2]

I had mine replaced on my 03. If you are still under warranty they should replace it.

 

[Mike Wilson]

Here's the NHTSA website where I have found most of my tsb's and recall

information. I used 2004 Tracs as an example, but when you go here you can

search all years and makes of vehicles.

 

[Tig OBit]

My steering wheel started to wear at the top also on my 2002. Tried to have it changed under factory warranty before it expired and ended up in a huge argument with the service manager at the dealership. Even contacted Ford customer service and they still wouldn't replace it. I made sure that I told the owner of the dealership that we bought our last two new vehicles from him and have since gone elsewhere.

 

[A1cntrler]

My '01 looks disgusting. It has almost work all the way through at the top, and I don't touch the wheel there much. I asked about getting the cover replaced at my dealer (my expense) and they pointed me to an uphoulstry shop they use. I called them and they said that it is too difficult to repair the wheel, but if I buy the replacement, they will put it on and swap the airbags for 40 bucks. I sent an e-mail to Rusty about getting a wheel, and I think he said it was $280 for the wheel and the life expectancy of a steering wheel was only about 80k miles. Seemed kind of strange to me, as I have had many other vehicles with well over 100k and the steering wheels still looks fine. My wife says to get a cover for the wheel, but I just hate the way covers look on a steering wheel...jujst look bad. Reminds me of my grandma keeping her couches and chairs covered up to protect them... How can you enjoy them if they are covered????

 

[alex schneebacher]

Dealer replaced mine on my '02 under warranty. Also replaced the round door pulls and radio bezel. Should have had them replace some other cosmetic interior stuff as well. Oh well, warranty is long since expired.

 

[Todd Z]

mine was replaced by the dealer at 20K..

Todd Z

 

[Kevin Long]

need info on repairing the leather if someone knows how, I am well out of warranty.

 

[gary s]

i'm happy to hear this as mine is starting to wear at the top, and in my 02 i had the same problem. i thought it might be my wedding ring but now i'm not sure. i guess either i get a new steering wheel or get a divorce

 

[Fer Echegaray]

If you still have warranty, they might fight you back by saying it's "wear and tear".



If your warranty expired, they won't replace it, you might consider a new wheel or a wheel cover.

 

[Fred]

I wonder if the wheel under the leather is a normal looking (rubber) wheel, with the same grain finish as the parts that protrude out from the leather? If so, I wonder if it would look better to carefully cut the leather off, leaving the rubber, instead of ragged out leather? (For out of warranty, don't want to buy a new wheel instances)



Mine's still in good shape, for now... I'm real careful with it since it seems to be a common problem.

 

[Gerald Pierce]

Dealer replaced mine under warranty at 20k, of course it looks like a$$ now. I had a van with a black leather wheel and it looked great untill I sold it five years later, guess it has to do with the color. I'll just get a steering wheel cover........

 

[Larry Gamble]

Mine just suddenly started fading out this summer. I hadn't seen the TSB and mines way out of warranty.



When I was at a dealership, we had the local trim shop come in a airbrush arm rests, etc. I wonder if something like that would work on these wheels?

 

[2]

larry - NO, airbrush will not work on the steering wheel. The dealer tried this as a fix when I first brought the problem to them. They airbrushed it and it looked great for a about a week, then the airbrush material started to bubble up and peel off, at that point it looked worse then original. At that point they replaced my wheel.

 

[Dale Carter]

Try this out, I really like mine. Almost exact color match. It wears too, but easy to clean and cheaper to replace than a factory wheel. One guy said he used these to cover his silver interior door pulls.





If link doesn't work, Google "Wheelskins" or go to www.stylinconcepts.com.

 

[FlipTrac_511]

The wheel cover that link shows says it's not available for the Sport Trac.

 

[MJ L]

I have the Wheelskins for my ST. I got the Grey/Black with perforations on the 3 and 9 sides. Fits perfectly...looks like it coulda been factory installed. I think the diameter of the steering wheel is 14", but I may be wrong!!!



WP'06

 

[Dale Carter]

If it isn't available from Stylin Concepts any longer, just google Wheelskins. I measured my wheel to order mine.