What’s going on with my steering wheel?!

^Sienna is made in 'Mericuh for KFC finger-licking hands (1st gen Sienna was even built in Kentucky), so that's probably the difference

 

Mine did that at like 15k miles. Dealer replaced it under warranty. I thought at the time maybe it was certain hand sanitizers causing it if my hands weren't completely dry.

 

I'd be interested in what you did to install that, if you wrote it up.

 

^I just used steps 1 thru 8 as written here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/installed-steering-wheel-audio-controls-on-my-08.316944/ (2nd gen Tacoma shown, but the procedure is the same.) It's relatively simple work that assemblers in Tahara/Tijuana repeat 40 times per hour!

Once the airbag module is removed, the steering wheel switches and cruise control stalk are just held down by a couple of readily visible phillips head screws.

 

So I take it you just replaced the steering wheel itself, and transferred everything else over, and didn't even mess with the clock spring.

 

^Correct. I did get "new" switch pads from a crashed 2019 Taco on eBay; the silver plastic trim on mine were worn. The switch buttons aren't wired to anything in the vehicle.

 

Yep. My work takes me to food processing plants and feedlots often so I have been using lysol wipe to clean the el cheapo OEM steering wheel on my 2005 Corolla for years and no issues, despite me also using hand sanitizer in the car, same goes for the fake leather wrap on my 2005 Crown Victoria.

it's just fragile material they use for the "soft touch" areas on newer 4Rs.

 

Pretty common, seen quite a few like this. our 2019 4Runner started doing that within about 6 months, though the steering wheel on our 2018 still looks almost new

 

If only someone had a used steering wheel for sale….
https://www.4runners.com/threads/2020-steering-wheel.42108/#post-726053