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Transaction No.: 2080200

Technical Service Bulletin

/1

48-26-01 - Leather Steering Wheel: Assessment Aid for Optical Damage to
Leather

Condition
Applicable Vehicles
VW Model(s)

Year

Eng. Code

Trans. Code

VIN Range
From

VIN Range To

All

2019-2026

All

All

All

All

Revision Table
Instance Number

Published Date

Version Number

Reason for Update

2080200/1

1/20/2026

48-26-01

Original Publication

Customer statement:
•

Optical complaint on the leather steering wheel.

Workshop findings:
•

The customer statement can be reproduced.

Technical Background
The most frequent complaints are due to mechanical impacts through jewelry or other objects, such as
through rings, with which the leather or the steering wheel seam get damaged or badly worn (examples, see
figure 1).

figure 1)
Example left: Squashing/pressure points
Example right: Chatter marks

Passing on objects from the passenger seat (such as bags) can in unfavorable cases also knock against and
damage the steering wheel. Optical complaints include, for example: Scratches/cuts or pressure points
(examples, see figure 2).

figure 2)
Example left: Scratches/cuts
Example right: Pressure point

If the steering wheel seam is damaged, the cause can be a burning cigarette. The end of the thread has
scorching/heat damage (example, see figure 3).
NOTICE
In most cases, this damage goes unnoticed at the time and later a material defect is suspected.

figure 3) example:
Damage to the steering wheel seam due to heat

Dirty steering wheels, for example, due to hand care products or skin abrasion give the appearance of
surface damage (example, see figure 4).
NOTICE
Dirt on the surface of the leather can be removed with soapy water and a sponge, for instance.

figure 4) example:
Deposits

NOTICE
Leather steering wheels damaged in this way (see figures 1-4) do not represent a manufacturing defect in
the sense of warranty. Therefore leather steering wheels damaged in this way cannot be accounted under
warranty.
– 100% of received damaged parts are checked - a groundless replacement under warranty will be
redebited.

Production Solution

N/A.

Service
N/A.

Additional Information
All part and service references provided in this Technical Bulletin are subject to change and/or removal.
Always check with your Parts Dept. and Repair Manuals for the latest information.
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