Tacoma steering wheel interchangeable?

Been on the hunt for a newer steering wheel that isn't constantly peeling and came across a 2022 Tacoma steering wheel that's leather and looks identical. When I called the salvage yard they said they don't show this as being an interchangeable option for my 2018 4runner. Anyone know of any reasons why? Should I not be looking at Tacoma wheels?

Thanks

 

Steering wheel frame is interchangeable amongst Tacomas, 4Runners, Tundras, and Sequoias, for example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/155484926085

The buttons and switchgear would be different, so you're expected to swap everything over from your existing wheel.

 

I spent 2 hours trying to figure out what to do about peeling steering wheel. (Another example of sketchy quality from Toyota - there are tons of threads on the other forum).

Solutions:

1) Buy a new Toyota 4Runner wheel. $850 and it will start peeling again.
2) Put on a cover.

$64 Loncky Black Custom Car Steering Wheel Cover for Toyot 2012-2021 Toyota Tacoma /Toyota Tundra 2014-2021/ Toyota 4Runner 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021/ Sequoia 2014-2021

OEM looking one here, but hours of work (install video) ... or a more traditional cover here, good reviews but looks like a cover.
3) Buy a carbon fiber one. Review from a guy who has one is that it looks cool but the leather section has no padding so it's not comfortable.
4) Get one from a salvage yard.
5) Embrace your car starting to look like a beater.

The Taco and 4Runner seem close - I found a thread with Tundra people putting Taco and 4Runner wheels on because theirs are some sort of soft plastic. The joke is on them, because plastic doesn't peel. There was a comment or two that the 4Runner had a piece of metal that the Taco didn't have, but then someone else said "same part number."

https://www.car-part.com/ lists 3 for sale. But I'm not inclined to go that route, since they will all peel eventually.

 

Before replacing the whole wheel, I would take the advice above about the cover, or find a local upholstery shop and see if they can rewrap it for you.

 

Meh, I wrapped my wife's car with new leather and that's 3 hours of my life I'll never get back, in addition to it not looking as good as oem. 2022 wheels around $2-250 at salvage websites, which is half the price of an upholstery shop to strip and rewrap a wheel.

 

That's where I've been hunting. I think the previous owner of my truck parked in the sun all day and never used a sun shade, she also wore a wedding ring that wore the wheel in a specific spot where the peeling started. I know they all peel eventually, but figure if I can grab a '22 wheel it'll last me until I sell my truck. I thought the peeling would stop at some point but it just seems like it goes on forever.

 

After reading dozens of threads with irate owners, my conclusion is that they all peel, and it's between 2-5 years before it starts. I have been incredibly careful with the interior, and mine was picked up in November 2018 and just started flaking this summer. I live in Seattle and park indoors both at home and work, so I don't think it's the sun. Just crap parts from Toyota. And yeah, some of the pictures had 270 degrees of peeling.

Good luck. If you can find a 2022 you should have some time. I was thinking about the other route - get a Tundra, since they are some rubber-ish thing that will stand up to a beating. Same shape and grips, just not same material.

 

Good to know, maybe I'll just try and find a way to deal with it then.

My previous truck was a 2016 Tundra and I replaced the steering wheel with a leather wrapped tacoma one because I couldn't stand the oem plastic wheel. It just felt and looked incredibly cheap, especially on such an expensive truck.

 

This is the product I've used to stop the discoloration...

STARTSO WORLD Leather-Recoloring-Balm-Repair-Cream-Kit for Restoration Black Couches, Sofa, Furniture Color Dye Restorer-8oz

$20 STARTSO WORLD Leather-Recoloring-Balm-Repair-Cream-Kit for Restoration Black Couches, Sofa, Furniture Color Dye Restorer-8oz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P5C36WX

It worked great to fix the color, but I don't yet have chunks of leather falling off so it won't fix that unfortunately. After the dye job however it looks brand new, although the stuff is kind of a pain to work with, wear gloves and don't let it touch anything you don't want to be permanently black.

 

Yeah, I missed that in my list of fixes. Two people claimed black sharpies were just as effective and easier to work with ...

It looks like the Taco and 4Runner are the same part number, so if you can find a new Taco for cheap should be fine. Apparently the 4Runner has an extra metal part (where the wires for the airbag travel) but it must be removable given same part number, so when you do the swap, watch for that part and transfer it.

Let us know how it goes!

 

The new trd tacoma wheel and trd tundra wheel look nice. Maybe they'll fit

 

What trim of 4runner do you have? Is your wheel actual leather? I have a 21 OR base package. My wheel seems like it’s either a nice plastic made to look like a wrapped wheel, or it’s wrapped in an artificial leather (seems more plasticky than softex.

I kinda hope it’s plastic, just because maybe it wont peel. I’ve had factory leather wrapped wheels from mazda, kia, and toyota, and it’s just a matter of a few years for it to go from “rich, sumptuous corinthian leather” to a nasty ratty wheel.

 

I saw someone in another thread say they used this and it worked out well:

$60 Loncky Custom Car Steering Wheel Cover for Toyota Tacoma 2012-2022 / Tundra 2014-2021/ Toyota 4Runner 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022/ Sequoia 2014-2022 Accessories (Black Leather,Black Thread)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QLWTZ0W?th=1

No way I'd buy a whole new wheel. At minimum have a pro rewrap it if you dont want to do it.

I've also seen some YouTube people use these guys: https://azaautowheel.com/shop/?swoof=1&woof_text=4runner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ool9_ZG2BOA

 

Easy peasy, everything swapped right over. Found a brand new condition steering wheel on ebay from a newer Tacoma for $250.

 

KTJO has a nice-looking replacement

https://www.ktjo4x4.com/collections...n-fiber-steering-wheel?variant=42989001244880