Another hot day, another steering wheel destroyed

[ukaskew]

My so-far so-good wonderful Clio Cup has now seen 2.5 years service (registered Dec 23rd 2003) and covered a fairly easy going 24,000 miles. Everything was fine when I set off for the beach this morning etc etc etc, return to the car (thankfully mostly in the shade) and everything is still fine.

This evening I pop out and my (up to now absolutely perfect) steering wheel has self-destructed, the leather just above the right thumb-grip has gone all bumpy and horrible, really nasty to touch...and the thumb grip is showing new signs of cracking but to be honest that's not nearly as bad as the actual wheel feeling like running your hand across a pebble beach or something.

The thumb-grip issue has been discussed at length here so I will have to fight that and see how it goes, but the leather too?! It's really horrible to use now despite absolutely no signs of wear just a few hours ago. As I said it's only covered 24k, never gets any substances on it or anything that may damage it all. Gutted really.

Any tips for fighting this one? Surely with it being on 24k and 2.5 years old it can't be classed as "wear and tear"?

 

[caymanr26]

weird thing to happen - must have been bloody cooking at that beach chris

 

[ukaskew]

weird thing to happen - must have been bloody cooking at that beach chris

Only 28c or so, considering these things are sold in France and other European countries where temperatures can be considerably higher than here, I would have expected this to have been a non-issue!

 

[clio__chris]

my steering wheel is f**ked as well (although no thumb grips on the dynamique ones)
i assume they are still leather......

really bobbly in places but rubbed shiney where my thumb goes
heap 'o' shite

mines a month older than urs and on very similar mileage

 

[ukaskew]

Yep I had a Dynamique before, pretty much the same apart from the thumb grips.

 

[SoA2k6]

Time to purchase some pink fluffy steering wheel covers from halfrauds me thinks!

 

[LegoHead]

anyone want to sell me there fucked one? cup owners need not apply as I need one with the cruise controls.

 

[Topgun]

Cheap Clio interiors strike again !

 

[Chris1.4RT]

My Disklok steering wheel lock always keeps the intense heat off the thumb grips.

They have been repaired once under the previous owner but they should stay ok now with my disklok.

 

[Middo]

go back to your dealer, whether in warranty or not, if not write a nasty letter to renault uk, saying that the car is faulty, and the wheel isnt designed properly for its purpose. Also make sure u take lots of pics.

 

[Minx172]

Same here i have a disklok on my car, and i guess it must protect from the heat as ive not had any probs.. *touch wood*

 

[The Hoff]

My right hand thumb grip is fked, torn to ribbons, and the wheel is also sticky in parts where the surface has become broken.

Really ain't happy with it though as Renault will gladly sting you for £350 for a new one. My car is still under warranty too. Phoned Renault UK and they didn't want to know, however im taking it in to my dealer this week, and failing that im going to be drafting a letter to the effect of:

"...recently was told that my steering wheel issue was classed as general wear and tear. I'm extremely displeased to be brushed off, when clearly my steering wheel has become defective. I understand that on a 5 year old car wear occurs to parts, but my steering wheel has never been neglected, never misused and frankly after 2.5 years of ownership I am unwilling to accept wear and tear should occur in the manner that it seemingly has.

If this is the case then clearly the wheel has been manufactured from materials unsuitable, or sub-standard for use on a steering wheel. Failing to accept my warranty claim is neglect on your behalf as a company, as this part IS possibly endangering my safety due to the wheel not feeding through my hands.

If your after sales service constitutes palming off valid warranty claims as grey area, then myself and my family will cease to buy Renault cars. After owning two Clio's I feel let down by your willingness to hush your customers over such matters.

I'd also like to point out that never have I witnessed such a massive failure of steering wheels within their warranty period. As a member of the Cliosport owners club, I have been made aware of many such failure's, many of whom have had their wheels replaced under warranty."

Something along those lines would do the job i think...safety being a key point.

 

[Englebert]

I can understand why people would be annoyed but the point of a Renault is it's value, if you start expecting Audi build quality then you should of paid more for a better built car.

I definetly think you should get a replacement though Ozzy if it's still under warranty.

 

[The Hoff]

Audi build quality, I'd expect nothing of the sort. I happily live with numerous rattles, and poor fitment in exchange for a good price, good spec and a fun drive.

I don't expect though that my steering wheel dies on me after 2.5 years, on any type of car i've never seen a steering wheel degrade so badly. The wheels on my 1.2 T reg clio, and our T reg Escort are all pretty much as new.

Just poor choice of materials used I think. To call it wear and tear is like making a kettle from chocolate, and the inevitable happening when used.

They best be nice to me though, otherwise im going full bore and giving them the Nikki from BB treatment.

 

[A8KYP]

The same thing happened with my Mk2 172 when it was only about a year old. The 2:00 o'clock part of the steering wheel starting bubbling and peeling off. (My gut feeling was it was some bad reaction to heat or sweat, but it should have been resistant either way.) The dealer said it's not covered under warranty and said the only option was to buy a new wheel. I ended up having to patch it up with some glue to hold the rubber/leather together to stop it from getting any worse.

 

[Dubai182]

To be fair to the Clio,my steering wheel is still fine after 20,000 miles and being left in over 50 degrees of direct sunshine. I guess it comes down to individual cars holding up better than others?

 

[bunzee]

I noticed mine's going a bit lumpy in places too only 17,000 miles and just 2 and a half years old

 

[Has]

My current one is "melting" at the top.

I always park with my steering/wheels straight.

Last summer the heat just built up and as soon as i touched the wheel at the top it flaked away

Since then ive kept as much shade on it as possible and also dab soem water with a cloth at the end of the week which has kept it rather soft.

Still annoyed tho!!


**Oh and also, regarding the cruise control - the wheel itself is NO different. The cruise control switches just clip onto the airbag !

 

[CUPCRAZY]

I use a steering wheel lock and have no problem with heat damage.

Goes over the wheel so it does't get hot.

 

[Bezza4]

Mine has done it aswel. It happened on the right hand side last year, left side has now started to do it, and also the bottom in the last couple of days. Not good really.

 

[ukaskew]

Thanks for the comments all. Today it is now even worse, all down the right hand side its rippled and very coarse to touch. Think I'm going to have to cover it during the day with a sheet or something.

Will pay Platinum Renault a visit tomorrow, not expecting any joy at all though. Problem is I really think it needs changing as it is potentially a safety issue, so if they don't do it I'm going to have to pay up.

 

[cliokiz]

My valver has covered 115k miles and my steering wheel is still in very good condition, the thumb grips don't look worn at all. Don't seem to have any problems with the baking heat either.

Perhaps they made the later steering wheels from different (cheaper?) materials?

If you lot are all having problems after 20k miles, imagine what the steering wheels would look like after 115k? Gotta be something seriously wrong there!

 

[CUPCRAZY]

Thanks for the comments all. Today it is now even worse, all down the right hand side its rippled and very coarse to touch. Think I'm going to have to cover it during the day with a sheet or something.

Will pay Platinum Renault a visit tomorrow, not expecting any joy at all though. Problem is I really think it needs changing as it is potentially a safety issue, so if they don't do it I'm going to have to pay up.

Get a steering wheel lock.


trust me it works.

 

[The Hoff]

The point is CUPCRAZY you shouldn't have to pay for a fudging steering lock if they were made correctly in the first place. From a design POV it's obvious they're going to be subjected to heat, so to make a steering wheel non-heat resistant if that is the issue then its ludicrous.

 

[Has]

^^^ EXACTLY !!!

These conditions are common to every car. Heat builds up in the car during summer.

The steering wheels should be able to cope with extreme heat. My dads old Ford Escort has the origional wheel and is perfect! As is most other cars ive been in.

Surely if Renault sell there cars in places of extreme heat they use the same steerign wheel?

 

[ukaskew]

...and a steering wheel lock isn't going to cure the damage it's already received.

They sell Renaaultsport Clio's in Spain, France, Israel etc don't they? Temperatures get considerably higher in all those countries.

 

[R20 CWH]

round 2 of my battle commences tomorrow. Initially the computer said no - but its got worse and developed, so this time im saying fu ck you

 

[The Hoff]

Indeed, basically we should all whinge like hell. End of the day this IS a very COMMON problem. It's not one user, and its not on cars with ridiculous miles, these are cars under 3 years old, and importantly - that have been looked after, we all take pride in our motors. My car is pretty much spotless, plain to see its been looked after, and cared for.

Renault are just w*****s at times.

Maybe we should write a mass letter to Renault about this issue!

 

[R20 CWH]

^^ agree - so basically its a design fault and should be dealt with.

Im sick to death of hearing the same old bullshit of wear and tear just so they dont have to pay out on warranty work. Whats the point in a warranty then if nothings covered????!

Alot of dealers dont replace these things as they pay then get money back from reno after they send the offending item off for inspection - basically the whole thing is a bag o w**k.

 

[The Hoff]

Just phoned my local dealer, who was COMPLETELY unhelpful, and said they will not cover it, nor will any other dealer. Fking ridiculous!

Said "Nah you've got no chance, that'll be chargable. We don't cover trim like that"

Basically ended up bitching that the life of the steering wheel is two years...blahblahblah.

Not giving up, no chance im paying £350 for a new fking steering wheel!

 

[R20 CWH]

^^ balls to that patter.

Reno Uk customer services is the next port of call.

Im ready for there pisch the mora. If thats fails (inevitably it will) then its off to reno for the moans. Im also complaining about the state of the alcantara seats in my car - theyre bolly as F as well and im sick of the lax couldnt care less attitude

 

[Middo]

start a petition! mines fine as of yet (touch wood) but it was out of a newish 182 so dont expect any problems. However i would gladly sign it to rub renault up the wrong way

 

[The Hoff]

Right spoke to Renault UK (again) and they basically said I was out of luck, trim parts are only covered for a period of 1 year after purchase. Basically i argued the longevity of the product, stating that wear and tear is not the same as use. You cannot drive the car without the steering wheel, and that i ddnt expect that by using it, the product would fail within 3 years of ownership.

To the people who got theirs replaced, who did you speak to - which dealer - and how old was the car when it was replaced?

Basically im writing them a stinking fking letter, stating just how common this really is.

 

[ukaskew]

I'm going into my dealer at lunch tomorrow, so I fully expect to come back angry and needing to write a letter to RUK tomorrow evening! Did they even look at your car ozzyo99?

The thing that annoys me is that it was spotless on Sunday morning, not a single mark or warning of any impending destruction. How can that be wear and tear for it to bubble up in 12hrs? Unfortunately I (obviously) can't prove that it hasn't been a gradual process.

 

[GazCB]

My thumbgrips are spotless. However the leather is gradually degrading around the 2-4 o'clock position. It was just a small bit around 2 o'clock originally that came suddenly so I thought I'd not washed my hands after work properly and got chemicals on it. But has got more bumpy and wrinkly as time has gone on and is now covering a larger area.

47k miles, 3 yrs 2 months old

 

[Gary Spencer]

My thumb grips are also fine, but the rim itself around where the thumb grips are is where the leather is bumpy and looks melted. My car is 3 and a half years old and has covered just 26k.

 

[sneeks]

Thumb grips are fine on my 172 but the leather has bubbled and peeled slightly at the 2 o'clock position. The car is 4 years old, 37k.

 

[GazCB]

I don't understand how it does this? I thought one of the advantages of leather is that it lasts forever?

 

[DynamiqueDebz]

I have read this thread with great interest. I am lucky at the moment as my steering wheel is fine (car is now 3years old and I'm a smoker) but in saying that, it is obvious to me this is clearly a design fault, and as such, the steering wheel is 'not correctly designed for the purpose it was intended for' which is indeed a problem that should be sorted out by Renault. If complaining to a main dealer that a part of your car is 'sub-standard', and you get absolutely no joy, there is only one way to turn, and that is to you local 'Officer Of Fair Trading'. He will indeed tell you that if the part being complained about is definitely fualty then it will be the responsabilty of Renault to replace said faulty part at Renaults cost. So I suggest that all of you who have problems with steering wheels/thumb grips (and those definitely still under warranty) look up you local 'Officer Of Fair Trading' to see what he can do for you. These people are there for your benefit and can indeed help you loads.

Good luck to you all.

 

[DynamiqueDebz]

One thing to check before you make that phone call. Look in your hand manuals and see if it says anywhere that 'you' have to use a leather treatment to keep 'all' leather in good condition. If it does not say this, I should think you are all pretty well covered. Anything is worth trying especially as the part costs so much to replace.