I received my 2023 Lexus ES350 a few weeks ago. In general, very happy with the vehicle. One nitpick I have is with some irregular stitching on the left side of the steering wheel. There appears to be a broken or missing stitch at the 9 o clock position. It would not be such a big deal but that is where I typically keep my left hand on the steering wheel and it feels quite annoying. Has anyone else had this issue? I checked some of the other ES350s on the dealer showroom and none had this problem. I will bring it up during my first service in a few months and hopefully get the dealer to fix.


Broken stitch on left side of steering wheel

Normal stitching on right side of steering wheel

 

Looks like in the first pic, the part that id blurry has some issues as well, can't really tell, but anyway did you let them know when you picking it up and was it documented somewhere (sale papers/ emails/ sms...)?
If not it's really tough, since it has been weeks, how can they really tell if it was a defect or caused by someone.

 

I didn't notice it at first. I probably should let my salesman know. Its only been a few weeks. FYI the irregular stitching is near the bottom of the first picture (not in the blurry section).

 

Do you think the leather will separate? Otherwise itnis a nitpick jndeed. Impressed you even noticed.

 

I agree its a nitpick. I wouldnt have noticed if my thumb wasnt at that spot most of the time when I drive. One of the the stitch thread ends actually jabs my thumb when I place it there.

 

If you're going to report it to get it fixed under warranty, don't wait to report it; especially not as long as the few months for your first service visit.

The longer you wait to report it the more likely it gets put into the non-warranty covered "normal wear and tear" classification bin instead of the warranty covered "manufacturing defect" classification bin.

 

I will check mine but I think the holes are closer because of the curvature of the steering wheel on stat spot.

 

The wheel gets a lot of wear and tear, perspiration, and stress from your hands. I wouldn't mess with this and get it fixed.

 

I have one frayed stitch on my dash board stitching above the glove box. I just let it go at delivery. Now I regret not making an issue if it at that time. No one else notices it, it won’t effect the trade-in value and it won’t get any worse. But I see it every morning and it’s irritating! Get yours fixed while you’re still within the right time frame.

 

you aren't buying hand made bentleys where everything is poured over for perfection. these components are made quickly, rapdily, en masse, and thrown onto waiting cars. every car will be slightly different.

that being said i believe my ES wheel had that same stitch anomaly. i used to always push on it with my finger cause it was an interesting and easy spot to locate by feel. didn't bother me though cause although im a perfectionist, i also realize how things are made in factories.not a big deal.

you should've seen my new lexus 7ES. (two in fact) crooked doors, crooked seat (one of them), bubbling clear coat on the trunk edge, raised hood @ passenger fender, etched front-side glass. overall it was a nice car but because im a perfectionist (like you probably) i notice stuff.

 

Kentucky kwality.






Someone had to say it

 

Interesting Was it located in a similar spot? I wouldn't care if it was not at a spot where my hand is most of the time.

 

This right here! It's essential to take action right away! This doesn't mean rushing to the service department first thing in the morning, but you should contact them and explain the issue you're experiencing. Ask for a service appointment to assess if it's covered by warranty. It's best to speak directly to a service advisor, not a salesperson, as this is now a service issue. Don't be fooled if the advisor tries to deny or discourage you from a service visit. You have the right to have the issue assessed. Even if it's not covered under warranty, you can still file a complaint with Lexus. To reinforce grp52’s point, waiting too long can weaken your position, so acting quickly is best. The longer you wait, the less leverage you will have. To clarify, the warranty covers repairs and adjustments needed to correct defects in materials or workmanship of any part supplied by Lexus, except in the following situations:
Noise, vibration, cosmetic conditions, and other deterioration caused by normal wear and tear. Since your issue is cosmetic, involving a deformation of the thread/stitching that distracts the driver, it's likely a defect in materials or workmanship.
Some may argue that while this boils down to a form/function issue, meaning yeah, it might not be pretty, but it still works perfectly fine. I would argue that any primary visible component that wasn’t comparable to the standard of the majority of every other similar ES would be considered cosmetically defective and should be subject to repair or replacement, especially if it left the factory in that condition.

 

I'd contact my salesperson immediately and make an appointment to have the item addresssed. Just because it's mass produced doesn't mean it should have an annoying defect. It'll be interesting to see if the dealer service through Toyota says that wheel stitching meets minimum standards. Best of luck and please keep us informed.

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I setup a service appointment for tomorrow morning. Will close the loop afterwards.