2017 Tacoma Steering Wheel Rub

Well here's a new one. Today my steering wheel started rubbing when turning to the right (or left making over a full rotation). No idea what's causing it. Anyone else have an issue like this or know what's going on?

 

Take it to the dealer, let them sort it out.

 

lol wut? what is happening with toyota?

 

Seems to be related to the box immediately behind the wheel. I can push up on it and the noise doesn't happen. I just can't make it stay.

 

My 2016 has the same rub, dealer told me I was crazy, has slowly started to go away in the almost year of driving.

 

^^ because you're essentially sanding down the back of your steering wheel every time. Did some crawling around under there and the box that houses the blinkers, wipers, etc is canted downwards and making contact with the steering wheel as it rotates. My temporary fix was to hold the back of that box up and tighten the two screws behind the steering wheel. It has stopped it for now, but I will have the dealer take a look at it when I can make it by.

 

Well my temporary fix lasted all of 18 miles. It's rubbing again

Not sure when I'll be able to make it to the dealer though. It sucks.

 

My 2016 does this when the inside cab gets very hot. I fear the wizards munchkins messing with it so i push down on the lower plastic piece and drive on. 15 years from now when I buy a new truck again I may make better choices.

 

Try tightening the screws behind the wheel.

 

Unless you've got a tab busted, you've just got to futz with that cover back there. It's actually clamshell in two pieces (upper and lower) and it can end up tweaked a little such that it sticks into the wheel.

I know this because I've had my covers off a few times for the SR wiper switch upgrade. It's an annoying little thing to check when you put everything back together.

Really, it's just a matter of loosening the screws up and giving it a push in the right direction, if I remember right a firm push on the bottom half up (like towards the roof) and forward (towards the engine) was what popped it into the right position, then I ran the screws back down. That was just for me though, YMMV.

If it's really got you stumped take it to the dealer.

 

That's what I have done now (twice) first time it reappeared within 20 miles. Second time it's been good for 100+. If it comes back again, it'll go to the dealer.

 

I went through this with my 2016 Toyota Tacoma limited.

Turns out there is a bad bushing in the right front that doesn't align right when mounted at the factory and it cuts one side to the metal.

It's an easy fix.. They loosen the mounting bolt, slide out the old and slide in the new bushing, slide bolt back in and no more problems.

Toyota s aware of it but doesn't address it unless there us a complaint.

 

Mine did when brand new then went away after a few months

 

mine did that when I replaced those covers after installing a remote start. There are two screws behind the steering wheel (you have to turn the wheel to get it out of the way to access the screws... i imagine you've seen them). Remove those and that box should come apart pretty easily, the sides of it are clipped together if memory serves. When mine started doing it, I just took it off again, put it back on, tightened everything up, and it went away.

If you arent so adventurous this would be something I would trust the dealer to sort out. It's a simple interference with the plastics, nothing complicated.

 

My 2018 did the same thing. I hit the lower column cover with file & sand paper til enough material was removed so it doesn’t rub. A lil ugly but I can’t see it 90% of the time.


UPDATE** figured out the cause - When the column is adjusted to its highest position the dust boot between the gauge cluster and column pushes down throwing the whole piece out of alignment.

This causes the bottom retaining clip to pop loose. Just push up and once the clip is back in place it won’t rub anymore.