Heated Steering Wheel Issues

[RamblinGarage]

Does anyone have any issues with their heated steering wheels? Everyone I hear from says their hands basically burn and they need to turn it off after a while.

My 2020 with 25k miles on it is the opposite, I'm lucky to feel that it's on at all. Sometimes when I do feel that it's on, it's primarily at the bottom and it's still not very warm. The top is always nearly non-existant.

I took it into the dealership for this and a bunch of other items, as my bumper to bumper runs out the day after Christmas. They told me that this was normal and that some steering wheels are hot and some just aren't. I then compared it to the Jeep Cherokee loaner that I had, which quite literally was almost burning my hands. I was told "different manufacturers of parts".

I wasn't super content with that response so I reached out to Ram Corporate and they basically told me that they can't go against what the dealers analysis was and told me that I should take it to another dealer for a second opinion. That second dealer is about a half hour away, so I haven't rushed to do that. I did get a case number though, incase my warranty expires in the meantime.

This is a little frustrating because my dad has a 2021 that he bought new, my brother has a 2019, both say their steering wheels almost burn their hands. My mom has a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee, hers gets very hot as well. I had a 2017 before this and it wasn't scorching, but I could tell it was on and it actually warmed my hands.

So long story short.. heated steering wheel does not get hot, dealer told me it's normal, I have a case open. Anyone have any experience with this and getting it warrantied?

Any help is appreciated!

Pic of truck for viewing pleasure (don't mind my rear window ventshades missing, thanks to one of my dogs. lol)

 

[Fatherof3]

I would try the 2nd dealer because mine gets hot and so did my last Ram .

 

[crusher]

i would bring it back in to the dealer, not normal, insist they change the steering wheel, if they says normal, then ask them to go with you and try one of the truck in the lot

, if not then i would go to the 2nd dealer

 

[SD Rebel]

From what I understand there is a sub setting that the dealer can access with their OBD equipment that we cannot without something like a Taser. It has two setting levels, warm and hot essentially, and yours could be set on warm.

I would ask another dealer to look at it and see what they say.

Mine is not that warm, but not was low as you described yours, but I would like it warmer. I don't like dealing with the dealership, but I may have to take my own advice soon.

 

[Eighty]

Just chiming in with another “mine gets crazy hot”. I’d like a high/low option, but instead it’s just “off” and “too hot to be comfortable within 2 minutes”.
In my opinion, there’s definitely something wrong if yours isn’t hot - especially if it’s inconsistent between the top and bottom of the steering wheel.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Mine was crazy hot too but I was able to go into the settings using AlfaOBD and set mine to a med setting.
Although, even if set low, you still should have an even temp around the circumference. If you have zones with no heat, I wonder if you don't have a bad connection and not all zones are working.

Options in Alfa OBD are,
Memory-Heated Steering Wheel Present = Yes/No
Memory-Heated Wheel Material Type = Wood Leather/Full Leather
Seats A -Heated Wheel Levels = Default/2 Level Hi/Lo/Off/3 Level Hi/Med/Lo/Off

IIRC, mine was set to default from the factory and I enabled 3 Level Hi/Med/Lo/Off

 

[RamblinGarage]

Thanks all for the info! I've been putting off buying AlphaOBD for a while now, maybe this is my sign to just buy it. I already have the Bluetooth OBD dongle.. Ill try that and see what the dealership says if it doesn't help. Thanks again!

 

[Darksteel165]

Although, even if set low, you still should have an even temp around the circumference. If you have zones with no heat, I wonder if you don't have a bad connection and not all zones are working.

That's not how mine works.
The middle sides get hot first then bottom cornors, then lastly after it's all hot the top middle gets hot.
It's never been even for me, but it's always burning hot no matter the setting, I kind of find it a gimmic. I do love the heated seats though.