What’s going on with my steering wheel?!

2016 limited with 60k miles (100k kms) it’s peeling at the ~12o’clock position.

this a common issue with the wheels? Looks like $hit.

 

Time for a replacement. I've seen kits to do this, but have no link unfortunately.

 

Possibly sun damage?
Time for the heated steering wheel conversion.

 

That's because of all the hand sanitizer everyone used during COVID. It's abrasive to cloth materials.
Get a steering cover or there is also a kit that can restore it someone was talking about.

 

Almost every female driver i have seen with a 4R lately, their wheel looks just like that. I can only assume its the alcohol sanitizer that was used in excess the past few years. They all had a little bottle in the cup holder and used it religiously. Its gotta ton of alcohol in it, and the alcohol dries out the leather. It starts by feeling rough almost like sand paper, thats the leather drying out and starting to crack. Then eventually it starts peeling apart as the cracks migrate and join and little pieces start "flaking" off.
I can only speculate its the hand sanitizer, because whats happening, and where its happening, is exactly where that person holds the wheel and i'm seeing it LOTS lately and have never seen it prior to the past year and a half.

 

Get a full leather protective cover. PepBoys

 

Common issue since the 4runner launched. shit materials

 

No way I’m putting a cover over it, lol. That is tacky.

Anyone got a link to said repair kit, does this look somewhat good?

Heated steering wheel setup looks mint - what’s the feedback on that? Chinese quality it seems so I’m a bit concerned. That setup also looks like the padding is thicker.

 

Not really if you get a good quality one!

 

that looks awful. Just get the wheel recovered

 

The feel and look of that cover would drive me crazy. I’ll stick with my peeling leather/fake leather or whatever it is.

 

The photo angle is off but its completely aligned. Gets the job done for me.
And I don't feel the need to spend anymore on an utilitarian truck.

 

Yah I couldn’t hack that cover, would drive me insane seeing the ‘opening’ between sides.

I guess I’ll have to see if there is a 1) repair kit, 2) hear feedback on the heated wheel setup 3) there appears to be a non-heated version too for a bit less.

Heated wheel appears to be $500 Canadian on Amazon, looks identical to the “exclusive” one that I see vids for

 

You can buy a leather stitch steering wheel cover on Amazon for $60. You’ll need to remove the airbag and steering wheel, plus the whole process takes about 4 hours, but the result is a steering wheel that’s much nicer than the original. I installed one similar to what’s available at the link below. If you do decide to go this route, order some waxed thread as well.

$56 Loncky Custom Steering Wheel Cover for Toyota Tacoma 2012-2023 / Tundra 2014-2021/ Toyota 4Runner 2010-2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024/ Sequoia 2014-2022 Accessories

https://www.amazon.com/Loncky-2012-2023-2014-2021-2010-2012-Accessories/dp/B00QLWTZ0W?content-id=amzn1.sym.2da95b6c-f59a-4699-bc43-d0ff036c6388%3Aamzn1.sym.2da95b6c-f59a-4699-bc43-d0ff036c6388&crid=2AZU5AGNNLCCP&cv_ct_cx=4runner+leather+stitch+steering+wheel+cover&keywords=4runner+leather+stitch+steering+wheel+cover&pd_rd_i=B00QLWTZ0W&pd_rd_r=a4b3854c-9fcb-45cb-a6bc-fb50f0f33d3a&pd_rd_w=TFbtE&pd_rd_wg=JHBS8&pf_rd_p=2da95b6c-f59a-4699-bc43-d0ff036c6388&pf_rd_r=P1H3SZMP9068N3Q74CY0&qid=1749350936&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF+O5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=4runner+leather+stitch+steering+wheel+cover%2Caps%2C109&sr=1-1-6024b2a3-78e4-4fed-8fed-e1613be3bcce-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

 

Combination of hand sanitizer, lotion, and sun damage. I try to always wash my hands before driving, park with the windshield facing away from the sun, and apply Meguiars leather cleaner/conditioner twice a year.

Think of it as an excuse to upgrade Remember the stock 4Runner is a starter's kit.

 

Good explanation. I'll add that my wife's Acadia wheel is disintegrating like the OP's. She is constantly using some fufu lotion and I think that may be causing. I've never had the issue in any vehicle I owned.

 

Is they the heated wheel?

 

Leather conditioner on the steering wheel is a very good idea. I use Lexol.

Conditioner will not revert damage, but will greatly postpone any future damage. Time to start with it before any visible issues appear.

 

getting into the habit of cleaning "high-touch" areas will pay off. You're grabbing the wheel with dirty - oily hands

 

My 2020 SR5 is peeling a little bit, about 1 inch long at 11:00, started about 3 years ago and is not progressing much. I have never used hand sanitizer, not even during the stupidity a few years ago. No sunscreen either. Seems like it's just peeling for no good reason.

 

I think it’s just a crappy material that they used. My Tacoma is older and has 100K more miles than the 4Runner and the steering wheel is still like new.

 

Mine is fine too, but I don’t use fufu lotion either!

 

you only use non-fufu lotions?

 

LooooL

I should have put a spoiler alert:

No lotions here, not even FuFu Lotion like some of my friends on this website.

 

I have some minor pealing, cant really notice it. Annoying to feel though.

I leave it, adds caricature.

 

Say what?

 

Are these your hands?

 

I got the non-heated version:

$299 REVOLVE Carbon Fiber D-Type Racing Design Flat Bottom Replacement Car Steering Wheel - Nappa Perforated Leather Auto Steering Wheel for Toyota 4Runner Tacoma Tundra TRD 2014-2023

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2BWJZ2H

I don't trust the chineseium clock spring included in the heated steering wheel kits.

 

Don’t blame yah, the clock spring has be questioning the heated wheel as nice as it looks..

Wife’s 2016 sienna with 178k km wheel looks new.. so I’d say the quality of the 4Runner one is on the cheap end.. I don’t use hand sanitizer.