Steering wheel peeling in 2016

Soft of off topic but I knicked my steering wheel a bit with my nail, its really small but I can feel it sometimes when holding the wheel and Im wondering if theres some kind of product I can buy to fix it either by sanding it or applying some solution or whatever
 
This peeling is very small and most wouldn't notice it, but I do. Easily. It's in a three different spots, one being the size of a piece of rice and the other two spots about half the size of a piece of rice. It seems like its the outer "glossy" layer and underneath the peal its dull. This is minimal and not necessarily a huge deal but, my worry is what's to come in the future. Guessing it's only going to get worse. Has anyone had anything like this happen with their CX5's steering wheel? 2016 with about 24k miles on it. I haven't cleaned it with any wipes or anything either because I know they can mess with steering wheel. I am going to call the dealer tomorrow and looking to get it replaced while I am still under warranty. I hope this is possible.

Mine is doing this, too. I'm planning to use shoe polish to fix t he looks.
 
Soft of off topic but I knicked my steering wheel a bit with my nail, it’s really small but I can feel it sometimes when holding the wheel and I’m wondering if there’s some kind of product I can buy to fix it either by “sanding” it or applying some solution or whatever

Maybe a filler of some sort (uhm)
 
solved one problem but created another...

Update on my replacement wheel:

Well after two days at the dealer, it appears that I may have to live with a replacement steering wheel that is off by 5*-10* to the left. The service writer drove the car and could duplicate my condition and knows what I was describing. According to the service writer (and validated by pictures on the internet), there are only two pins that help align the steering wheel, 12 & 6 o'clock positions. With the pins, you can't be off by one tooth/spline.

The dealer also did an alignment check and everything is bang on centered, nothing in the extreme Green or yellow or red.

My only other thought was possibly a badly manufactured steering wheel. But if things fit together precisely, how does the mounting plate get off center? I guess the metal plate could have been drilled/stamped wrong, but wouldn't another wheel be off too?

I don't know exactly what steering wheel they are using as the replacement wheel and what car is was made for, but it seems that Mazda uses the same for pretty much across their entire line-up.

I've got two options staring at me - 1) live with a brand new steering wheel that is off by 5*-10* to the left affecting hand placement and wiper/turn lever activation as we've been to the dealer twice now for the same repair (dealer is 45min away) ... 2) request a 2nd steering wheel be ordered to see if the 1st one defective and cures the issue.

The shop has already sent my original wheel back for analysis/credit, etc.

A minor inconvenience for sure, but what do you all think?
 
its is for a steering wheel replacement; not one of the 4 wheels that touch the ground...

the actual alignment was bang on center; nothing out of spec.

I just thought that when they placed it on, somehow the alignment was affected.

Anyways from your previous post, maybe try another dealer. Maybe they might be able to resolve the issue without actually replacing the steering wheel again (uhm)
 
Although your 2016 CX-5 is a CPO it should be still covered under 3-year/36-month new-car warranty. You should demand your Mazda dealer replacing your leather-peeling steering wheel under TSB 06-001/17 - LEATHER STEERING WHEEL SURFACE WEAR / PEEL. The only problem is according to TSB there're 3 part numbers for CX-5 black-leather steering wheel: KD46-32-982C02 or KDY6-32-982 (Leather, black stitch) and KA0G-32-982 02 (Smooth leather, black stitch), and it's hard to tell which one would last longer. Since your dealer most likely is going to special order it, ask them to order KD46-32-982C02 if I were you as it seems to be the latest revision and the leather should come with more textured feeling and "rough" like the one jhu8 got.

Luckily (or unluckily ;)) the "smooth-leather" steering wheel of my 2016 CX-5 GT with 24,931 miles from factory still looks fine and I couldn't get a new steering wheel last time I went in getting all warranty/TSB services and recalls done right before my new-car warranty expires.

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I had a smooth shiny leather steering wheel on my 2012 model and it was full of bubbles, had it replaced today with the KDY6-32-982 which looks like a fake leather, hopefully it’s a superseded better one.
 
I just thought that when they placed it on, somehow the alignment was affected.

Anyways from your previous post, maybe try another dealer. Maybe they might be able to resolve the issue without actually replacing the steering wheel again

The 2nd dealer in town is just as far as our current dealer. They are all on the south side of town and we live way north of town. I suppose I could ask, but I value my time too.

I don't think the issue lies with the 1st dealer/techs. It seems that the steering wheel goes on one way. There are two alignment pins (either 12/6 or 3/9 positions) and installing the steering wheel is a no-brainer. It can be installed right side up or up side down; that is what the pins are there for, to prevent being off 1 spline tooth like on other steering wheel columns.

I can ask for another wheel, as a problem still exists. If the 2nd new steering wheel is the same, I am back to square one.

I do not want to jack with the car's wheel alignment to correct a steering wheel issue that did not exist prior to the new wheel being placed on. The alignment spec sheet given to me showed everything right in the middle of all of the measurements. Lots of "0.0X* measurements. I'm too lazy to go get the sheet out of the car, but If I need to post the alignment specs, I will.

I may talk with the service writer and see about ordering a 2nd new steering wheel. Sure the "repair/replacement" was done, but not to a, what I call, satisfactory standard.
 
Have a look at the attached pdf. You can see that small adjustments of the wheel are done with the tie rods and you can do it yourself (Id rather that than somebody with unknown ability). As long as you turn both sides by equal amounts youll be fine.
 

Attachments

  • Steering Wheel Off Center.pdf
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There are two alignment pins (either 12/6 or 3/9 positions) and installing the steering wheel is a no-brainer. It can be installed right side up or up side down; that is what the pins are there for, to prevent being off 1 spline tooth like on other steering wheel columns.

What pins are you talking about? I’ve removed steering wheel on a cx5 and it’s not a multi spline. It’s a hexagonal end where you cannot get it wrong by just 3 degrees. It was a 2014 cx5 mode I replaced the steering wheel on.
 
What pins are you talking about? Ive removed steering wheel on a cx5 and its not a multi spline. Its a hexagonal end where you cannot get it wrong by just 3 degrees. It was a 2014 cx5 mode I replaced the steering wheel on.

I was told this, the two pins, by the service writer. Yes, I can see the hex hole in this other "Paddle Shift Intall" post [https://www.mazdas247.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-123851561.html] and along with that center hex hole are two round holes at the 3 & 9 o'clock positions; which I am assssuming are the alignment pins the service writer was speaking of.

He may think that pins are the primary alignment when in fact it is the hex hole in the center.

My Google search was "cx-5 steering wheel" and I scrolled down to the picture with a steering wheel turn to the right with the air bag removed.


I suppose I could scan my alignment sheet, but I haven't really pursued ways to post pics/attachments on this site.
 
I was told this, the two pins, by the service writer. Yes, I can see the hex hole in this other "Paddle Shift Intall" post [https://www.mazdas247.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-123851561.html] and along with that center hex hole are two round holes at the 3 & 9 o'clock positions; which I am assssuming are the alignment pins the service writer was speaking of.

He may think that pins are the primary alignment when in fact it is the hex hole in the center.

My Google search was "cx-5 steering wheel" and I scrolled down to the picture with a steering wheel turn to the right with the air bag removed.


I suppose I could scan my alignment sheet, but I haven't really pursued ways to post pics/attachments on this site.
Those two pins only align the clockspring with the wiring on the wheel (they rotate freely and independantly of the cars wheels). The steering wheel placement on the spline is what aligns the steering wheel with the front wheels. See the pic below. It's completely possible to place the wheel incorrectly and have it be off by a few degrees. Since there are six positions to choose from, the wheel would be off by +/-60 degrees though and that doesn't sound like your issue.

 
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I had my 2016 CX5 steering wheel replaced in January for this same issue. It definitely is a more tactile feel kind of leather. Now after using it a few months, I kind of prefer the original smooth leather that had shiny gloss look to it.

Like another poster said, I noticed that my steering wheel was also slightly off, even after 3 alignments. The dealer said I needed a wheel balance and gave me one for free. Before my old wheel also slightly preferred the left (11:30) position, and now prefers 1:00, despite being dead center on the machine.

I am curious as to how these new leather steering wheels are holding up? Mine now seems to have several wrinkles, which it did not have 3 months ago.

<a href="https://ibb.co/vPDdFcw"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/vPDdFcw/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW-thumb-2811.jpg" alt="UNADJUSTEDNONRAW-thumb-2811" border="0"></a> (OLD WHEEL)

<a href="https://ibb.co/9N2CjMG"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/9N2CjMG/IMG-0561.jpg" alt="IMG-0561" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/23tPqJS"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/23tPqJS/IMG-0562.jpg" alt="IMG-0562" border="0"></a> (NEW WHEEL)
 
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I had my 2016 CX5 steering wheel replaced in January for this same issue. It definitely is a more tactile feel kind of leather. Now after using it a few months, I kind of prefer the original smooth leather that had shiny gloss look to it.

Like another poster said, I noticed that my steering wheel was also slightly off, even after 3 alignments. The dealer said I needed a wheel balance and gave me one for free. Before my old wheel also slightly preferred the left (11:30) position, and now prefers 1:00, despite being dead center on the machine.

I am curious as to how these new leather steering wheels are holding up? Mine now seems to have several wrinkles, which it did not have 3 months ago.

<a href="https://ibb.co/vPDdFcw"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/vPDdFcw/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW-thumb-2811.jpg" alt="UNADJUSTEDNONRAW-thumb-2811" border="0"></a> (OLD WHEEL)

<a href="https://ibb.co/9N2CjMG"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/9N2CjMG/IMG-0561.jpg" alt="IMG-0561" border="0"></a> <a href="https://ibb.co/23tPqJS"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/23tPqJS/IMG-0562.jpg" alt="IMG-0562" border="0"></a> (NEW WHEEL)

Mine was replaced last year on a 2012 model. New leather didnt feel the same as the ild shiny one but at least no bubbles or peeling off now. After one year still as new.
 
Mine was replaced last year on a 2012 model. New leather didn*t feel the same as the ild shiny one but at least no bubbles or peeling off now. After one year still as new.

Glad to hear it holds up. I am baffled as to why Mazda just didn't put the newer tactile leather steering wheel in the 16's instead of the cheap shiny one? Its a very thin material that seems to wear super easily.
 
So after 5 months of using this new and improved steering wheel, I'm really not a fan. Its too tacile and rough. Maybe its just, but in the sun, heat it feels super rough.
 
Update: in January 2020 my superseded steering wheel had started peeling off again. Initially it was just one bubble, than it became 4 and the leather protection was coming off just so easily. It was replaced in December 2018. My mazda dealer had refused to replace it again so i had contacted mazda Australia and after 3 days they had called me saying that there was a new revised version of the same steering wheel and that they agreed on replacing it again. It was replaced last week and the leather feels different again, less leather. Feels something like plastic/faux leather. But looks more resistant.
 
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