DaveM Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 While looking at my window sticker I noticed that it claims on my FFH that I have a leather wrapped steering wheel. Well it is stitched something but if it is leather it must have come off a plastic cow. It don't look or feel like leather. How about the rest of ya. Do you feel as I do? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarleyJoel Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 The wheel on my MMH appears to be leather. I've had a leather-wrapped wheel in my last four cars and it doesn't appear much different than the others. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oman Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 It is definitely leather. That junk you can buy at the auto parts store feels nice and soft at first but then it gets all sticky and crusty. The leather on the wheel is tanned and sealed to make it more durable while still giving good leather grip. Jon The wheel on my MMH appears to be leather. I've had a leather-wrapped wheel in my last four cars and it doesn't appear much different than the others. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamgolf Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Its definitely leather and I like it. It "feels" better to me than the awesome "looking" wood steering wheel on Lincoln Navigator and Lexus (which I used to own). Its probably personal taste and preferences. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveM Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share Posted October 20, 2009 I'm going to have to stop at the dealer and see if I can check it against another Fusion with leather wrap as mine feels just like soft plastic/vinyl and looks like the stuff the dash is made from and feels just like it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarleyJoel Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Do you think that maybe it's because they aren't broken in yet? I know that they coat the leather with some sort of coating. Maybe you got a defective batch or something like that. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcD Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 (edited) Hello. I've brought this thread back to the top because over the past couple of weeks a small section of my steering wheel has scraped away. I don't wear a ring but it appears to be in the exact spot where I usually place my hand while I drive. I'll try and take some pictures of it but I was wondering if anyone else out there had any problems with their steering wheel shredding. I don't know much about leather or vinyl but something like this shouldn't happen on a new car and when it does happen, it makes me believe that it's NOT LEATHER ! ! ! Marc Edited August 14, 2010 by MarcD 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveM Posted August 14, 2010 Author Share Posted August 14, 2010 Hello. I've brought this thread back to the top because over the past couple of weeks a small section of my steering wheel has scraped away. I don't wear a ring but it appears to be in the exact spot where I usually place my hand while I drive. I'll try and take some pictures of it but I was wondering if anyone else out there had any problems with their steering wheel shredding. I don't know much about leather or vinyl but something like this shouldn't happen on a new car and when it does happen, it makes me believe that it's NOT LEATHER ! ! ! Marc I still don't believe it is real leather. More like a fake plastic leather. Having driven many G.M. vehicles with leather steering wheels this is the poorest excuse for a leather wheel in all my years of driving. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcD Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 I still don't believe it is real leather. More like a fake plastic leather. Having driven many G.M. vehicles with leather steering wheels this is the poorest excuse for a leather wheel in all my years of driving. Here's three pictures. Hope they're clear enough. Question? Would something like this be under warranty? Marc 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogo88 Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Here's three pictures. Hope they're clear enough. Question? Would something like this be under warranty? Marc I would expect so. It bumper to bumper, 3year/36,000 miles. Dan 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullied Posted August 15, 2010 Share Posted August 15, 2010 Here's three pictures. Hope they're clear enough. Question? Would something like this be under warranty? Marc That looks like genuine leather to me. That's the finish that's been rubbed off of your wheel. I'd definitely say that they should replace that because it shouldn't have peeled so soon (unless you're constantly rubbing it with a tough grip or something). The wheel is leather wrapped though. I can't believe this is even a topic of discussion. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfruth Posted August 15, 2010 Share Posted August 15, 2010 On a semi related note my center arm rest is beginning to turn white from sunscreen from my arm - so far have used nothing but a damp cloth to wipe it off but it needs more - just plastic so clean it as such ? (the steering wheel is fine ((I wipe my hands & arms off)) but the sunblock mixes with my sweat & ends up on the center arm rest) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpoffen Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Here's three pictures. Hope they're clear enough. Question? Would something like this be under warranty? Marc My '98 Mustang Cobra also came with a leather steering wheel, but the coating that colors the leather wore off after about 50K miles. This was a common complaint. Ford had (I think you can still get them for the Mustang) an FR500 steering wheel as part of their Motorsports accessories. It was a direct replacement, just move over your airbag module and steering wheel switch module (cruise control). This wheel is 200% better quality than the stock one. Not sure if there is anything similar for the newer cars. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgbabe Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 Here's three pictures. Hope they're clear enough. Question? Would something like this be under warranty? Marc I've actually wondered if the top sector (from about 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock) is vinyl since it feels different than the rest of the steering wheel cover. It doesn't bother me too much since I don't place my hands there normally. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buster1 Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 Mine is "like" leather...I would call it "Pleather." Like plastic-leather. Definitely not like the leather wrapped steering wheels in my other two cars. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschool1962 Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 Maybe........ the once, thought to be extinct Nauga is back. Thought the 70's wiped out that animal for it's prized "Naugahyde".. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upstream Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 Mine is leather. It isn't soft (like the seats); it is a hardened leather. But it is still leather, and as a natural material, it doesn't get blistering hot in the sun like the plastic parts of the dash 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinetics Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Hello. I've brought this thread back to the top because over the past couple of weeks a small section of my steering wheel has scraped away. I don't wear a ring but it appears to be in the exact spot where I usually place my hand while I drive. I'll try and take some pictures of it but I was wondering if anyone else out there had any problems with their steering wheel shredding. I don't know much about leather or vinyl but something like this shouldn't happen on a new car and when it does happen, it makes me believe that it's NOT LEATHER ! ! ! Marc 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinetics Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Hi, The same thing is happening to my "leather steering wheel" - the surface in scraping away. My dealer refused to cover it under warranty because it was "normal"wear. I called corporate relations and they made a deal with the dealer to replace the steering wheel if I would pay one half of the $500 cost. I have had 40 plus ford products with leather wheels and none melted away. I cannot believe this is leather but some plastic substiute. It is a shame that such a great vehicle should have peeling steering wheels. I will not pay $250 to fix an obvious warranty problem but will bad mouth the product. Good luck trying to get it covered! Disgusted Ford retiree. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oman Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 My cell phone holder took a small chunk out of the bottom (when centered) of the wheel. It is small but deep. I can say for certain that it is leather, as the chunk that is hanging out clearly has leathery fibers. The exterior of the wheel looks just like the pictures you are showing. My guess is that the quality of the leather is poor and that the outside "skin" is thin. This is likely corrected grain or split leather. Split leather has a synthetic outer layer applied. Both are real leather but it is disappointing that Ford would use them as they don't wear well. Jo Hi, The same thing is happening to my "leather steering wheel" - the surface in scraping away. My dealer refused to cover it under warranty because it was "normal"wear. I called corporate relations and they made a deal with the dealer to replace the steering wheel if I would pay one half of the $500 cost. I have had 40 plus ford products with leather wheels and none melted away. I cannot believe this is leather but some plastic substiute. It is a shame that such a great vehicle should have peeling steering wheels. I will not pay $250 to fix an obvious warranty problem but will bad mouth the product. Good luck trying to get it covered! Disgusted Ford retiree. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveM Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 My cell phone holder took a small chunk out of the bottom (when centered) of the wheel. It is small but deep. I can say for certain that it is leather, as the chunk that is hanging out clearly has leathery fibers. The exterior of the wheel looks just like the pictures you are showing. My guess is that the quality of the leather is poor and that the outside "skin" is thin. This is likely corrected grain or split leather. Split leather has a synthetic outer layer applied. Both are real leather but it is disappointing that Ford would use them as they don't wear well. Jo Leather is most likely made like a chicken McNugget, all the leather scraps are molded into leather and then wrapped around the wheel. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dark-side Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Resurrecting a really old thread, but I just bought a 2014 and everything is in great condition other than the top of the steering wheel is peeling. Has anybody been successful with a warranty claim on this? Still under the original 3/36 warranty (well, 3/60 in Canada). I'll give it a shot either way, but curious about the precedent. And it's funny that people say the "coating" on the leather is peeling, and not the leather itself. Real leather doesn't have a coating. What it looks like is extremely cheap bonded leather (AKA scraps of cow hide mixed with glue in a blender to make a paste, and spread out in a thin layer over a rubber substrate) which is entirely coming loose. This is leather in name only; it has no characteristics of actual leather. Honestly I'd prefer fabric seats and synthetic steering wheel, but it's hard to find those on nice cars. More premium models too often include leather whether you want it or not, especially on the used market. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolder Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Here's a link to a forum that's slightly more active: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/ and a link to steering wheel cover rot: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/9759-steering-wheel-rot/?hl=%2Bleather+%2Bsteering+%2Bwheel&do=findComment&comment=92999 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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