I noticed my factory red/black leather steering wheel was feeling tacky for awhile now. I finally got around to getting some good quality leather cleaner and figure I'd try to clean off the steering wheel - well immediately the rag I was using to clean the wheel with turned bright red. Then, I just used a wet rag on the other side of the wheel and that too started turning red!

So it seems that the dye is actually coming off the cover for whatever reason. While cleaning I noticed at places the red has completely worn off.

Does anyone make a good quality replacement cover or know of a way to fix this???

 

What treatments have you been using on the steering wheel throughout the years?

 

Yeah, both of my wheels have done that now.

They simply aren't properly treated to survive skin oil, sweat and all the alkaline byproducts of metabolism.

I am looking for a replacement cover as well, but most of the possibilities seem cheesy and expensive. I'd like to have a Mercedes or Ferrari-style grip, though.

 

I agree - I dont think i got anything on the wheel that did this, rather just regular old skin oil/sweat/dirt


... not sounding good so far on a replacement cover. Is steering wheel replacement the only option (and how hard/dangerous is that with the airbag?)?

 

Is it just the red? I have the tan/black combo and haven't had any problems at all.

 

the black is just slightly showing signs of rubbing off

 

It is relatively easy, though it can be a pain to get the old one off.

The airbag is not an issue. Just unplug it. The FSM has the entire process.

I'm already on my second wheel.