My 2026 BMW i7 eDrive50 developed significant steering-wheel surface deterioration within approximately three months of ownership and 6,000 miles of driving. The steering-wheel material is deteriorating, becoming sticky, and transferring a glue-like residue onto my fingers during normal driving. This is not simply a cosmetic concern. The sticky surface creates a potential safety hazard because it can interfere with the driver's ability to maintain a consistent grip, release and reposition the hands smoothly, and react quickly during emergency steering maneuvers. I am concerned that the steering-wheel material or surface coating may be defective and that continued deterioration could compromise safe vehicle operation. This condition developed unusually early in the vehicle's life. The vehicle was presented to Pacific BMW for evaluation. BMW of North America subsequently denied warranty coverage, stating that the condition was not warrantable under its New Vehicle Limited Warranty. However, BMW offered to provide a replacement steering wheel valued at $2,657.68 as goodwill, while requiring me to pay $319.44 in labor. Despite written correspondence and photographic documentation, BMW has not provided me with a specific technical explanation identifying the cause of the deterioration or addressing the potential safety implications of the sticky residue. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this steering-wheel surface deterioration represents a potential material defect affecting safe steering-wheel handling and determine whether similar complaints have been reported on BMW vehicles.
- NHTSA ID
- 11771532
- Incident
- Sep 7, 2026