Just picked up a new 2009 TL. Drove it for a couple of hours on the highway and I don't like the steering. I find it hard to make very small adjustments in steering direction due to the back pressure designed in, resulting in slight zigzaging.
Does anyone else feel the same?
Will take in to the dealer next week to see if there is any adjustments for this.

 

did you test drive the car b4 you bought it?

 

Nothing here. Are you driving AWD or FWD? I'd highly advise you NOTa messing with anything at the dealership, they could really mess something up, I think your not use to your new car, that's all? What car are you coming from before the TL?

 

It's the FWD with Tech package. This is the 4th TL I've had, 00, 02 Type S and then an 04.

 

I find the 4G 09 TL FWD steering very numb and overly boosted/sensitive, the AWD is much better, but still not as good as the steering in my 08 Type-S.

 

Well going back to what CRXB stated, did you guys test drive it or what?

 

May also be the new tires. New tires will often give that sensation.

 

I've been driving a 2009 TL w/Tech for the past week while my 2007 TL is in the shop for more rattles. I agree with the OP the steering is not near as good as previous TLs. Little or no feedback, does not reduce the boost as speed increases, hard to keep in a straight line, especially at highway speeds. I thought it was a problem with the loaner so I swapped for a 2nd loaner TL and it did the same thing. The service manager and I went for a drive in the 2nd 2009 TL and mine and he too commented on the difference in the steering feel (he prefers and owns a 2007 TL).

 

When I wake up from phasing out for a second, Im already in a different lane.

The steering is really good for making U-turns though. It makes super sharp u-turns
and I never had to back up once.

 

With my AWD, I call this phenom 'steering response'. It's gotten even better since I swapped out the OEM Michelins for some Pilot Sport A/S. The feel is amazing, but I've heard the FWDs aren't the same.

 

sorry to be redundent...did you do a test drive?

 

Before buying my '10 TL awd stick shift I test drove both an atuomatic and a manual. I found the manual's steering to be much more precise and direct - in fact this responsiveness was one of the factors in favor of the stick shift. Since the power assist is electric, I assume this difference is due to software (which would be consistent with the firmer suspension of the stick shift compared with the automatic): if this is the case, it ought to be possible to flash the stick shift program back to an automatic.

 

I have a 10 TL FWD and the steering feels to be very inconsistance. At times it is perry robust and they are other times that it is very sensitive. I thought it is possibly related to the road. But I have expreinced the inconsistancy exists on the same road.

Has anyone else experience this as well? If so is there any solution?

 

i luv my AWD

 

Wow, really glad to hear I'm not the only person who thought there was something off about the steering. I have a 2010 AWD auto and feel at highway speeds I find myself making tiny zig-zags as I try to constantly readjust the steering to keep things straight. I really don't know what the cause could be, but it is annoying and distracting and in some ways, tiring because I have to constantly focus on the steering and making all those tiny adjustments.

And yes, I did do a test drive, but only down one street and back, I wasn't able to get onto a highway.

 

Agreed - FWD 09 Tech here, the steering always needs to be slightly kept in check, I have done 2 trips to NYC so I have really got to notice this

 

I have had my car 30 days now and notice that the electric steering wheel has to be constantly corrected because of the car slight zig zag traveling. This happens only on the highway. In the city it seems ok though.

 

I feel the steering needs some adjustems or somtehing. This zig zaging drives me nuts.

 

The steering assist changes dramatically between low and high speeds. This is one of the advantages of electric power steering, there can be a huge difference in the amount of assist of provided that they can program in, it's completely disconnected from engine speed.

 

Ziggy-zaggy....notice the same thing here. It's part of the new and "improved" drive by wire steering.

 

Kingmeow, I seem to recall that you have an automatic? if that's correct, you, and the other forum memebrs who also have automatics, might want to explore the possibility of flashing the updated software used by Acura for the 2010 manual: I find the steering very precise and quick, with none of the zig-zagging you report. This software is quite different from that of the auto, by Acura's own admission (see the article on the stick shift in the lates issue of their magazine to Acura owners).

 

i dont have any zig zag in my steering...however, its very light compared to my type s which had very heavy steering which i liked...very sporty...i find my sh is not as sporty as my type s was, but its sportier then the standard tl....

 

no zig zag on the highway here

 

I have a SH-AWD with Tech and I love my steering! It's just the right weight, road feedback and feel. No problem here at all.

The car that I had a big problem with during a test drive was the 2010 Audi A4. The steering was very light and then after turning it did not bring the steering wheel back to the central position automatically - I had to do that manually and I found that rather disconcerting.

 

Yes, auto but would the dealer do that? As someone in the software industry, I don't really want to do that myself not knowing what else would be different.

BTW, what magazine? Next month will be one year of ownership and no magazine, nor travel mug!

 

I find the AWD steering very precise and intuitive to use at any speed. No problems with zig-zag or oversteer.

 

Yes, definitely something that the dealer should do. You need to find a service manager who is both an enthusiast and willing to check with Honda tech if it is possible. Based on other forum members' post, it seems the issue is limited to 09 models and has been taken care of for the 10 model year, probably wiht updated software. The magazine is sent 2-3 times/year to all Acura owners - I forget the title but will check at home tonight. If you do not receive it you may want to go to http://owners.acura.com/ and register your vehicle.

 

I was at Las Vegas this past weekend. Going up there I drove on the 15 north...approx 70-80 mph. I did not notice any issues and the car was driving nice and straight...but on the way back with stop and go traffic then a burst of no traffic I noticed I started zig zagging a bit and had to compensate.

 

no zig zags here either.

 

Thanks, I'll check to see if I can get it flashed.

BTW, I am registered on that website but no magazine yet and it's just about a year of ownership by now shy 2-3 weeks.

 

have an 09 sh-awd on the 18's. def notice the zig zaging on the expressway. I must constantly make adjustments to steering. This is more pronounced on certain road surfaces. it's almost like the electric steering over does the small steering adjustments the driver makes which result you making another "correction" hence the zig zagging.

It seems like the people posting they dont have the zig zag problem have 19s or afermarket wheels or tires.

Perhaps the stock tires exagerate the problem.
Regardless...it is annoying and should not be present in a 40+ grand car.

There has to be a fix

 

I've heard the FWD had very numb steering with a dead center. The AWD is a bit better, but you can tell they tweaked it even more on the 6MT. There are many articles about electric steering, the key thing being that it's not an acura problem or $40k car problem but something that many car manufacturers deal with. I do not believe there is a fix other than a different car.

 

i came from a type s, and didnt really like the light feel of the electric steering, but 1500 miles into it, i dont mind it...and no zig zag or any problems with the steering...

 

I'll agree to that. At first I thought it was a bit strange coming from the TL-S, but I've now gotten used to the touchy nature of it.

 

^Same here. I don't know if it was the new tires getting a few miles on them or my getting used to the steering, but this has ceased being an issue for me.

I'll say this - the steering is very precise. The car goes exactly where you point it!

 

Not complaining about turn in response at all.
Problem is keeping it in a straight line...and yes i test drove the car prior to purchasing but impossible to notice every detail of a car's characterstics during a test drive.

It gets tiring having to make small adjustments all the time.

Tires are broken in by now. They 15,000 miles on them.

 

I have to echo what gifto76 is saying. It's not a question of precision, the steering is unquestionably precise and amazing in turns, it's the straightaways that are problematic. I have a 2010 with the stock 19s, so I don't think this is only a 2009 issue. My two thoughts are that A) it's too light at high speeds. Like, power steering vs power assist that only operates at low speeds. The car/computer seems to not be increasing the tension enough as speed increases. It might be possible to correct that with a software update if Acura ever thought it important enough. I'm not holding my breath. B) I'm gripping the wheel too tightly. I notice that I often grip the wheel fairly tight so I feel and respond to very small changes in direction which develops into many many small constant corrections. I've noticed that if I hold the wheel with a looser, more relaxed grip the issue tends to dissipate... as long as I remain relaxed. Unfortunately, maintaining that level of relaxation takes a lot of concentration, so that can be tiring/distracting as well.

Clearly I am far too complicated to be driving. :p

 

from my experience, TL sh-awd steering wheel is over sensitive and too light.

 

so....i have 2010 sh-awd tl as a loaner with just over 1000 miles. it doesn't seem to zig zag like the 2009. i'm wondering if they addressed this for 2010 model. perhaps, just like any car, they ironed out some bugs in the second year. I also noticed that the driver's door lines up properly now with the drivers side rear passenger door along the chrome trim and panel (right next to driver's door handle)

 

Horrible on center feel, especially with HPT. But I’m a chronic wheel position adjuster, so I don’t care. Wife however, complains weekly about it. Additionally, just dialed in 1.5 neg. camber as tires are almost gone anyhow.