So I tried my heated steering wheel for the first time yesterday, as I live in Florida. 3 and 9 positions got slightly warm, the rest of the wheel not at all.

Is this normal?

 

That's all you're gonna get - 3 and 9 but mine gets toasty hot on high and even low is comfy.

 

Hmmm. Good that you live in Florida...

 

At some point Lexus changed it from 3 and 9 to all the way around. Mine is all heated wife’s IS just the sides.

 

It seems like mine might heat up every where, but it is very slight. Maybe mine is defective.

 

I don't think any of the heated steering wheels are 360. On my previous RC, the heating was at 10 and 2, just above the spokes at 3 and 9. This is, I understand, the usual setup for heated steering wheels until recently. My new 2024 ES UL has heating all across the top of the wheel as well (so, essentially 180 across the top circumference). I'm not sure if this is standard for all ES cars, or if the extra hearing across the top is part of a "package."
Heating the bottom would be, I think, pretty pointless.

 

My wheel heats up everywhere but it's not as strong where the wood trim is, I think the heating element may not be placed under the "wood" but is under the leather. If you have access to a FLIR camera you could "see" what's going on exactly.

 

If you aren't already aware of it, there is a customization setting for "Steering wheel heating preference in automatic mode" (see page 429 of the 2021 LEXUS ES300H OWNER'S MANUAL). The manual isn't the most helpful in exactly explaining where you find that customization setting in the "Remote Touch" Lexus Multimedia System's menu tree. FYI, it can be found following the menu chain: "Setup" (the gear icon) -> "Vehicle" (the car icon) -> "Vehicle Customization" -> "Climate Settings" which will yield a list of settable item titles - "Auto Seat Temp. FR L", "Auto Seat Temp. FR R", "Auto Heated Str. Time" amongst others. On the right side of each of those items there is a number with a down arrowhead "⌄" (most likely 0⌄). When you click/select each item an adjustable "setter" (-◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️+) will appear below the item title. The "Auto Heated Str. Time" menu item is the one controlling the heated steering wheel preference.

 

Mine is heated 360.

 

I feel like it's specific positions on my 2023 ES 300h. I'll have to check for those settings.

 

I have an aftermarket flat bottom all leather that's 360 and gets warmer than OEM's.

It's GREAT!

 

3 and 9 positions are the strongest points of heat, with less heat in the other areas. Low mode is comfortably warm with high being really toasty (in the 3 and 9 positions).

 

High mode on my 23 is pretty damn warm

as an aside the steering wheel heater is nice for those of us who often drive with the windows down or cracked on cool humid days as it keeps dew from condensing on the leather

 

I think I am going to take it in as it is hardly warm.

 

Your post made me go out and test my 2019 UL wheel... I found that the entire wheel is heated but the most heat comes from the 3 and 9 positions. I do get heat where the wood (bamboo) is located but not as warm as the other positions. FYI - this was not the case with my 2013 Lux 350. On that car it was only 3 and 9...