When I bought my 2006 IS a few months back I noticed this on the steering wheel. Somehow the leather has peeled/scratched off.

When I bought the car it had 37,000km (23,000 miles). I find it hard to believe that something like this would happen after such little mileage under normal wear and tear. Heck I have seen 20+ year old cars with better looking steering wheels.

The dealer told me that the original owner must've worn a ring (or rings) on that hand but I don't see how that would affect this. Even if the original owner had some mad crazy gangsta lean going on, the ring is actually wrapped behind the steering wheel on the other side (picture how you would hold the steering wheel at the very top with only your left hand). For the ring to be scratching the front of the steering wheel like that, their hand would have to be in a very uncomfortable position.

It just seems odd to me. Not to mention it bugs me every time I noticed it. Is there anything I can do? Any chance I can complain to the dealer for some sort of warranty work?

 

maybe sweaty hand..?!? or you can mod it up to something like
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ing-wheel.html

 

Yeah I thought about sweaty hands, but how sweaty could they possible be to cause something like this in just a couple of years with such low mileage?

As for the steering wheel, I saw it a few days ago when it was posted. Unfortunately I'm not a fan.

 

Not to worry you, but often times things like this are signs of higher mileage vehicles and odometer tampering. This is probably a combination of wear factors. Good dealers would replace under bumper to bumper if you provide a good story and email the service manager.

 

Yeah--that's not normal wear and tear. Is the dealer saying it was abused? As you state, a leather steering wheel should withstand a ring.

 

no conditioner and a lot of sunlight would cause that too. I would do what brian recommends. It still should be under warranty.

 

A couple of possibilities: 1) Accessive hand lotion. 2) " suntan lotion. 3) Rings dingging in when making a turn and the wheel is upside down. 4) Large accumulation of dirt never cleaned off. 5) Defective leather.
I've done a lot of detailing over the years and have never seen that happen until 10+ years on older cars. I'd say something is wrong and make a call to Lexus.

 

when I bought my IS350 it had roughly 35k on it.. the steering wheel doesn't feel as smooth up top so I don't think you're the only one

 

The oily acid thats in your sweat can cause this. If a person drove with their hands in the same spot gripping the sh.it out of the wheel then this would be the outcome.

 

Looks like someone might have worn a watch, and drove with their wrist on top of the wheel.

 

rings will make that happen.

 

no. original owner probably had a leather coat or something. turning the wheel around and around and having the coat rub on it repeatedly over time will do it.

Its hard to explain, but happened to me in an older company car. (used to be in sales, kept my coat on when I lived in Boston)

 

Damn I've had my car for almost 3yrs and mines look nothing like that.

 

Rings or zippers on jackets/sleeves. The zipper on my cargo shorts did that, but on the bottom of the steering wheel. It's hardly noticeable, just you can feel it.

Edit:
The zipper was for a pocket, not my fly. haha
When i was getting out, my leg rubbed against it and caused it to happen.

 

I think the previous owner probably used some non leather compatible cleaner.