My RL is 1 year old and the volume button and vr button are showing wear. They seem to be treated with a clear coat of some kind. This top coat is wearing off and the texture/sheen of the button is changing in these "wear" areas.

Did that happen to anyone else or do I have a defective steering wheel?

 

Yep, Mikey,,,

My MID and Stereo Controls have that issue. The clearcoat is peeling away.

I noticed the new RLs have more a hard finish over our soft touch. But my dealer offered to replace them, which will be done on my upcoming oil change. When I asked if they could be replaced with the newer finish, he said no because the newer controls are wired differently.

I can imagine this being a bigger issue for ladies with long fingernails (and big hair).

On the flip side, all the center stack controls show NO wear whatsoever. But I don't think I have ever touched them.

 

I cleaned my buttons with some 303 and they seem to look better. I have also noticed some scratches on the edges. But you have to look close in the right lighting so it is no big deal.

 

Mine too after a year, they were replaced under warranty.

 

I have an '05 and yes, wear is very evident on both the steering wheel buttons and for some reason, my memory seat buttons. Which is weird because I really don't use those buttons as often as the steering wheel ones.

 

Hmm, thanks for everyone's quick comments. I was hoping I had a bad wheel but doesn't seem to be the case. Little disappointed in the material quality. Not very Acura-like. Seems something like this shouldn't be happening in the first year. Maybe after 4 years.

I suppose I could argue to get a new one installed but why bother, it will just happen again in another 11 months. The writing hasn't started wearing off yet but I'm suspecting that will happen with time.

 

After almost two years mine still look great.

 

When you guys say you wanted to replace with newer finish do you mean 2006 up? I have a 2008 and am wondering if in a years time mine will also show the wear on the buttons.

 

That changes things a bit. How many miles have you put on the car in 2 years? On top of it only being 11 months since I purchased my RL, I also do low mileage. Currently I only have 10k on the car. Maybe I SHOULD try to replace the wheel in hopes it won't happen again so soon

 

Over 30K. I think 31K, and I ALWAYS use the steering wheel buttons.

 

You do to replace the wheel, just the control switches. I'd expect your dealer would do it as a warrsanty. Mine is.

 

Has anybody considered borrowing some of your wife's clear nail polish and re-coating the buttons? Yeah, you can probably get them replaced under warranty, but some clear nail polish seems like a lot easier solution.

(As with anything, try this on some non-vital area before covering them all, just in case it looks bad or dissolves the plastic or something. )

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I don't think so Mike. Can't imagine that working, plus, if it doesn't look good you'd really have no recourse to have them replace the buttons.

Its not a disaster, but based on what I heard here today, I think I'll point it out at my next oil change and ask them to order new buttons (like TampaRL suggested). Since it never happened to GoHawks, maybe it was a bad manufacturing process that they've now corrected Worth a shot.

 

Hawks wears soft white gloves when he drives his RL.

 

My 05 is the same. Noticed it over about the last year. Never thought to have the dealer replace them. It is on my list now for the next service.

Kris

 

I finally inspected my steering wheel buttons. No wearing at all, and I've been in my car virtually every day over the 18 months and 23k miles I've owned the car. I use the volume, channel, and phone control buttons every single day, without a thought to gentleness. I guess I'm a lucky one.

 

Hardly, but I'm a chronic nail picker so I don't have any real finger nails to speak of and that may be a reason.

 

Better a nail picker than a ......ummmm,,,,errrr....well you know.

 

Dude!!

By the way, I spent the last 2 days in Tampa. What the hell is going on with 275? I hate that stretch, but unfortunately everything is there. I stayed at the Hilton off of West Shore.

Later,

 

That is one block from my office.

Tampa has every major artery under construction. Don't get me started. I travel 6 miles to work. It took me 1 hour and 17 mins this morning and 1 hour 44 minutes this afternoon.

All I can say is the RL is a lot less stressful to be stuck in traffic with.

 

Tell me about it. I dropped off my RL today to get the door handles fixed.... AGAIN.

We got a big snowstorm here last night. By the time I got my driveway cleared, I was a little late getting to the dealer. As a result, instead of getting an MDX or a TL, I ended up getting a TSX. I'm sorry, but whoever says that the RL is an Accord has their head up their arse.

I don't mean to rag on the TSX. Relatively speaking it's a good car, but there is no way that the TSX (which is a European Accord) comes close to matching the refinement that the RL has. PERIOD.

The TL (my last loaner) is quite a bit closer, but still not in the same league.

At least the TSX has a Nav in it.

They told me they want to keep my RL a few days to make sure they get it right this time.

I sure will appreciate it when I get it back.

 

UPDATE: Finally brought my RL by the dealer last week to show them the buttons. They agreed that shouldn't be happening after 11 months and agreed to order me new buttons.

It's kind of a gray area because it's a wear item. Requires the Service Manager to sign off on it and agree it's not due to anything caused by the owner. However, if this is happening to anyone else, I'd suggest you bring the car in to be inspected.

 

Mine were replaced when I had the AcuraLink usit replaced. I am going for The Six Million Dollar RL! (while under warranty).

I thought they were only replacing my Stereo and MID buttons (the buttons I use the most). They replaced the whole set. The Stereo and Cruise buttons do feel like a different finish, not vinyl coated. The HFL and MID buttons do seem to be the same as the original a softer, coated feel.

One note: I find the new HFL buttons a little faster to respond. Compared to my TL, the RLs HFL buttons were much slower to respond.

 

Hmmm, I was assuming they just replaced the button. Maybe it's an integrated part and they replace the whole underlying switch. I'll see if it responds or feels any different when they install it.

 

Thread revival!

Mine started to exhibit the peeling "soft-touch" coating on the "mode" button. First, it was the coating on the driver's side door lock lever. Then 2 days later what looked like a fuzzball appeared on the Mode button (which I never even touch). When I went to wipe it off, it ended up being the coating, so now part of the button is shiny. When the door lock button started peeling, I thought I'd leave that -- it is out of the line of sight. But with the steering whel button going, I'm going to have yet another item to bring up to the dealer (in addition to mentioning the flattened center consol armrest padding). The car is a 2006, but has only 22000 miles, so its a little bit of a bummer. I'm half wondering if I just paint over the shiny part with some "matte" finish enamel that I use on my model airplanes.

 

I had my RL for nearly three years and 36k miles with no issues of this type. I again think I was lucky.

Definitely a dealer issue for warranty as this is certainly premature wear on both counts (buttons AND center console).

 

Any idea on how much it costs to replace the buttons?

 

Dealer in Chicago (Rizza) refused to replace my worn steering wheele buttons while under warranty. I got a 2005 RL used in May 08. Said it was not a covered item. But they offered to replace for $1000. I laughed pretty good at that one.

 

these buttons are covered under warranty cause they are obviously not due to wear and tear and i made that clear when i came across this problem with my 05. I had them replace the steering wheel buttons all of them the gas and trunk and my side mirror adjustments. The steering wheel buttons come complete and are a pricey parts plus labor so they may hesitate to warranty that out for you. Id call Honda corporate and complain cause theyll usually recommend you the best rated honda in your area, get it taken care of before its too late

 

Mine are in pretty bad shape.

 

i saw the buttons on the steering wheel worn off on a couple RLs i saw when i was shopping for one.. i was like wtf did the person just leave their sweaty thumb on the button all car ride long? ha

 

$1000 for buttons + labor? I'd have laughed, too.
I'll have to go through my thread on steering wheel removal. I seem to recall that the buttons were easily accessible once the steering wheel was off.....

 

Is that right? I can get a new wood steering wheel for a cheaper price than a few proprietary buttons!?!

 

I too feel that it's crazy to pay for the buttons only when you can buy the whole wood steering wheel for $400. Why would you pay 1000 just for buttons????

To me the buttons are not that big a deal, but it is something I will bring up to my dealer next service.

Acurod

 

When you buy the wood look wheel, it is just the rim and hub. It does not come with the airbag center assembly or the wheel spoke trim and button modules. You would need to reused them onto the wood look wheel.

 

I have an '05 RL with 33K, and have scratches on the steering wheel buttons, seat memory buttons, even the turn signal stem. I think the original owner was a woman with nails. Dealer wants over $200 for the steering wheel buttons. They come in a one-piece assembly - it's all or nothing. You can see it here.

Looks to me like the underlying part is actually a translucent material that allows for the illumination of the labeling. Then it is coated with something to provide the color (although it is probably produced the other way - solid color, remove finish for labels), so it would not be possible to simply paint them, how ever well done, without loosing the labeling.

I bought a set from a salvage yard for $35. Some buttons are better, some are worse, but since the whole thing has be replaced, it's kind of a wash. I may fool around with removing the buttons from one harness and putting them on the other. Have to pull the wheel to replace harness.

I'm out of warranty (months), so I guess I'll live with it for a while.

-Dennis

 

new_hampster, welcome to AZ and thanks for your information!