rubee

Hi there!

I just recently purchased the 2015 RX 350 F sport! I checked the body of the car to see any scratches and the interior was fine. When we drove it home and my husband noticed the leather on the steering wheel was off. It seems like the manufacture did not do a good job wrapping the leather on the steering wheel which cause a bump. The sales rep said its not under warranty. Has anyone encounter that? Is there a fix? it starts to become annoying when its not smooth all around when you are driving.

Many thanks!

AL13NV8D3R

Its a 2015 it still has bumper to bumper warranty. The dealers always say its not covered. Jusk keep calling and showing up and complain over and over again until they do something. If you annoy them enough they will fix your issue. If not make a complaint to lexus corporate and usually they will help you.

Can you take a picture of this defect and show us your problem?

corradoMR2

^^^ Agree. This is a build/warranty issue that somehow was missed during inspection on the assembly line. Picture will help.

I had an '08 IS headrest replaced since the stitching was not symmetrical with the other headrest (was minor that I only noticed yet replaced without hesitation) and my steering wheel entirely replaced on my '11 CT when fine lines began appearing months after ownership. See here

I do have an excellent dealer in the Toronto area and the dealer plays a HUGE role, but the point here is 1. it's a manufacturing defect and not wear and tear; 2. go to another dealership if yours does not acknowledge this.

Good luck!

rubee

Thanks for the feedbacks! I went back to the dealership and they told me that it's normal and not all cars are perfect. Just told me to report to the corporate. No help from them. Can you provide with the info to Lexus corp?




Normal





Leather bump.

The picture might not show much, but when you touch it, it's not a smooth touch.

UCSB

It does not seem significant. Every Lexus has something like this on it. If the wheel was wood, the wood may not perfectly match the other wood in the car, for example. If you look and listen hard enough, you will find small issues. For example, the leather seems stretched on the other side of the wheel from the bump.

greeknasty

looks ok to me?

TechNut

You are right. From the picture alone, I can understand why they are unwilling to do anything about it. I think this is a situation where one would have to feel it to fully understand the magnitude of the problem. Is it soft or spongey? I had a car with two very slight bulges on the inside at the 10 & 2 position for thumb grips but they had a very solid feel and were clearly intended to be there.

In this case, since it isn't a machined component, but rather a sewn material from an animal hide - I would think it may be impossible to get it exactly perfect each time. I would suppose that each animal hide stretches or contracts differently as it ages. The question may be how much tolerance is considered acceptable/normal and then there is the issue of customer goodwill. Even if it isn't awful, it highlights a quality control oversight and t seems inconsistent with the "passionate pursuit of perfection".

sick21

My wife's '14 4Runner Limited has a jacked leather steering wheel too.. I'd just accept the minor flaw. Before long you will forget all about it. What you have is almost buyers remorse. I'm assuming you think you just spent a ton of money on a car, chose Lexus because it's the closest to keep you from feeling like you threw your money down the toilet on a car, and you're expecting it to be flawless? I've been there. You just need to relax. All cars cost a **** ton of money unless you want to drive a stripped down Kia or Chevy. So cope with what you spent and understand that no vehicle is perfect.

Cruiter

In the papers you got from your dealer, there instructions on how to contact Corp. Follow your dealers advice and contact them with the photos. See what they say. I can see your concern but not positive it's at the level of Corp intervention. Contacting them should settle the matter one way or the other. The easiest fix is just installing a new wheel but don't know if they'll do it. You'll never know tho if you don't ask.

raylor4

I know this may sound crazy, but if I didn't get satisfaction from my dealer, I would take the car to a shoe or handbag repair shop, or leather specialist, and they may be able to smooth out the bump, so to speak. I know how a seemingly little thing like this can get stuck in your craw, so please keep us posted.
Ray A.

jst17

Which dealer is that? NorthWest?

dwlink

Just hit it with a mallet a few times - that will flatten it out. Problem solved.

AL13NV8D3R

Problem solved unless you accidently make it worst than this is a bad idea. And if you missed and manage to hit the instrument cluster or radio than that will present even more problems.

Better leave it to lexus to fix it. If lexus screws things up they will fix it.
But if we screw things up they are not obligated to fix it.

Woodrow

Not all cars are perfect!?!? I would go ballistic if they ever said that to me, and I suspect Lexus will, too.

Did you already fill out the dealer questionnaire? A less than perfect score on those can cost the salesman and dealer a ton of money in bonuses. Just tell your salesman not to worry, not all salesmen are perfect. You might consider going over his head to the GM or General Sales Manager, especially if you haven't filled it out. It worked wonders for me.

You probably already know that a "less than perfect" car impacts the corporate initial quality score that is highly important to Lexus.

Cruiter

Rubee, are you still out there? Did you contact Corporate? If so, what was the response?

Just following up