Owners of 2015 Ford F-150s are upset over steering wheels that are peeling

An angry owner of a 2015 Ford F-150 started the conversation complaining that the leather-like finish on his steering wheel was disintegrating. Tenacious from Florida wrote “More falls off everyone time I drive, it's happening in a few spots. Anyone else have this happening?”

A driver who goes by Bleda agreed. “Not surprised, the leather on my steering wheel is probably the worst quality leather I've ever had in a vehicle. I honestly thought it was vinyl.”

An owner from Colorado was stunned. Platinum said “Are you wearing Gloves that might be abrasive? The wear looks unusual. I've owned many Leather F150 steering Wheels & never had a problem.”
A driver from Maine tried to help, “It's vinyl coated leather. The vinyl is flaking off. It's a covered repair under warranty if you take it in to your dealer.”

A Canadian driver is similarly angry, “Mine isn't peeling but it sure looks shiny and crappy, considering how fake and terrible the leather is I'd expect it to wear better.”

A woman from Colorado says her husband is having the same problem on his Ford Explorer, “Hubby has a Ford Explorer and it's doing the same thing... not leather. Definitely vinyl on steering wheel. Should be covered under warranty.”

A driver from Texas has noticed exactly the same thing with his 2015 Ford F-150, “I have a '15 XLT 302A as well and mine is doing the exact same thing...off to the dealership tomorrow.”

Surprising, another Ford owner says the problem isn’t limited to just trucks and SUVs. “Sadly it's not only a truck problem...The steering in my wife's 2015 Mustang with the imitation leather steering wheel is doing the exact same thing...Sooo I guess it's a trip to the dealer.”

Another trucker named Corey says “my 15 XLT had the same issue, took it to the dealer at 35,995k on the odometer and they got the approval to replace it. Back ordered till 2017 tho.”

Tenacious took his truck to the dealer and was approved for a new wheel. Because it was back-ordered it took several weeks to arrive. In the meantime a number of the other truck owners who were already out-of-warranty started ordering new, better made leather steering wheels from the dealer. Apparently most of them are easy to install and simply plug into the current wiring. There are questions about adaptive cruise control and heated steering wheels and what happens if the truck isn’t equipped properly.

One owner posted that he had purchased and installed a new wheel built for the Limited trim level and was very pleased. “Done like dinner! Easy peasy. Took half an hour from start to finish. Everything plugged in no problem and works perfect. What an upgrade!! This is the way it should've been.” The change is expensive, about $400. If you have the dealer install it, it can add over $100 in labor.

Follow Mary Conway at @maryconwaymedia and send her car news tips for future stories. Read more of Mary's stories at Torque News Ford coverage.