I dunno what you were trying to do when you drove, but thats a little weird. I don't typically steer with my crotch.

 

I would say it is most likely a watch. I highly doubt the dealer will replace this part free of charge. Seems more like a wear and tear issue to me.

This is the primary reason why I don't buy used car...

 

I think it's sweaty hands as well, the steering wheel in my G35 did that and I think it was from sweat

 

the sunlight maybe.

 

yeah, its sweaty hands or solution plus heat, etc. If it was a ring, it would have deeper gouges. They prolly drove it like a gangster with their one hand on the wheel. I'm surprised the dealer didn't fix it.

 

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I did consider the fact that the car may have higher mileage than it states, but I don't think that is the case. There would be other signs as well of more than normal wear and tear (like the leather seats) but I don't see that.

Again, wearing a ring doesn't really make sense to me. Next time you're in your car, grip the top of the steering wheel with your left hand and if you're not wearing a ring, pretend that you are. The ring is actually behind the steering wheel, so if it does create some damage it won't be visible.

If it were a watch, damn, how could that possibly be comfortable to drive like that all the time?

In any event, I will raise the issue with my service manager and see what they say.

 

To me it looks like someone never cleaned nor conditioned that steering wheel. Either way see if the service manager is willing to do something.

 

I have a 2006 with 22,210 miles and live in extreme heat in the summer and mines is fine. Thats weird for such low miles

 

This is the best excuse for yourself to mod the interior.. I smell another CF interior mod

 

sucks that happened. but there are 2 steering wheel covers in the vendor forum. one being junction produce and the other bellezza. both are nice wheel covers.

 

I've scraped the leather on my steering wheel but it looks nothing as bad as that. Just a little scratch that's barely visible but you can feel it with your hand. Once I scraped it with the zipper of my jacket as I was getting in, and another time I scraped it with this belt clip holster for my Blackberry, it scraped against the wheel from the side of my hip as I got into the car... both times I think because the car was running, I had to get out and back in, and the wheel was extended down and not up like when you shut the engine off to get in and out. So learn from my mistakes and always shut it off first, or move the wheel yourself up and out of the way, or just be more careful... guess I'll be looking at one of those wheel covers soon.

 

I've also scraped the leather on my steering wheel in my old Celica GT-S, which you could feel if you rubbed your hand against it, but never looked anything like the pics you posted. But it always bugged the hell out of me.

 

I dont want that to happen to me...
THATS IT, im never getting married.

 

I bet the previous owner never did clean/condition the leather

sun damage + ring could be the cause ?

 

My brother did that to his old car by driving it with a broken wrist. The cast on his left hand scraped up the wheel when he turned it.