I want to ask about a strange observation---its a long story, but stick with me. Anyone ever tap the bottom of a jar of hair gel (from the 90's or so) and feel that weird springy reverb sensation? Well my 2022 ESUL steering wheel feels just like that when I go over steel highway dividers or sometimes at higher speeds over reflectors in the road. Its not horrible but its unusual. I previously had a 2017 BMW 230i convertible that had the same feeling, and I kinda hated it (both the car and the sensation) so I traded it in after a year for a 2019 X3 that didn't have that sensation ( and was a way better car in general ). I also previously owned a 2013 ES 350 that definitely didn't have this characteristic (won't call it a problem because maybe it isn't one?).

Has anyone else noticed it? Is it a normal driving characteristic of the vehicle? Can it be reduced or removed somehow? Its definitely not severe enough a problem for me to get rid of the car, but I'd love it that much more if it weren't present.

 

I know what you're talking about generally and I *think* i've felt that in my ES--that little reverb/microvibration, but I'd have to drive it again to see. Could be just the lack of stiffness in the design of the steering wheel column

 

I wonder if it’s the tires? When we were test driving an NX we noticed the factory Bridgestones were kind of “squirrelly” feeling on striated concrete roads. We test drove another with Michelin tires and it didn’t exhibit that squirrelly or wandering behavior at all. My point is tires make a big difference and since you are only seeing this on certain road surfaces I can’t help but wonder if the tires may be a factor?

 

Duplicate post. Sorry. Just another result of distracted posting…

 

nah he's talking an extremely fine micro-reverb. nothing directly to do with any road imperfections. kind of a tuning-fork type resonance. extremely subtle and nuanced. only 1 out of 100 people would even be remotely capable of distinguishing such. takes an extremely fined/honed sense. i know exactly what OP is referring to. it's super minor.

 

Absolutely true. I'm a complete freak about my car. It is super minor....but I still want it to go away!

 

I've wondered that as well....I'm going to have my dealer look at it when I take it in for the first service.

 

My 2022 ES has lane departure warning which is a slight vibration of you cross lane lines without using your blinker.
Maybe that's what you're feeling in the steering column.

 

That was my initial thought as well. It is also a very subtle sensation not unlike what was described in the OP.

 

Good call. When he said "steering wheel feels just like that when I go over steel highway dividers or sometimes at higher speeds over reflectors in the road," that's exactly how I'd describe to someone the feeling of the lane departure communicating itself to me through the steering wheel. Betcha that's it.

It's easy for him to test — just switch that function off and on and see whether you feel it while crossing lane lines.

 

The reason I have it disabled.

 

His description sounds like it is lane departure alert warning kicking in. In our 2014 RAV4 Limited with tech package it has lane departure alert feature as well but it beeps instead of vibrating the steering wheel so it gets annoying real quick. I read drivers don't like to be "shamed" when they are doing something wrong so it is more discreet to vibrate the steering wheel. Some manufacturers you can choose to vibrate the seat instead of steering wheel.

 

Definitely not lane departure alert….I have it set to beep rather than vibrate. But I appreciate the idea…it’s more subtle than that and follows hitting the road divider or reflector by milliseconds…vibration is too strong a word—it’s more of a jitter…and it can be heard as well…but again super subtle.

 

That's a perfect way to describe the lane departure warning through the steering wheel.
Turn on your blinker and go over a line and see if you get the vibration.
Hope this helps.

 

If it does not do it if driving in the lane, but you get to a lane marker of sort and are close to it or going over, it's likely some sort of safety alert. In my wife's '21 RAV4 even with nothing engaged it steers back into the lane at highway speed if I let go of the wheel completely and the vehicle wanders a bit. There is high likelyhood what you are experience is a "feature". Educate yourself on all the possible driving aids in the owners manual.