I know that I will sound paranoid... [:0] Nevertheless I'll tell you what's bothering me recently. Even though it's only 6 months since I bought my car I have noticed that the plastic cover of the airbag on the steering wheel (I have a leather steering wheel), it's starting wearing out in two places: one close to the FIAT logo and another one in the middle of the steering wheel. It's very small but someone like me can see it . It's like that a couple of the little bumps on the rough surface of the plastic are opening and the plastic bit is sticking out (sorry I can't describe it better in English, probably not even in my mother tongue!). Isn't it a bit early for Stilo's plastic to fail? Is there anyone else that experienced something similar? I guess that I can't do anything about it, because if I go to the dealer and tell them, they'll probably call the "nice guys" with the white lab coats to take me in

Grigoris

3-Door Black Stilo 1.8 Dynamic, 17" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Spoiler

Grigoris... could you post a picture of the stearing wheel where its wearing out?


Seems way way too suddern for that part to wear out, I just had a look and poke at mine and the plastic covering the airbag seems fairly thick ok around 4-5mm.. plus if I got the area correct its not really a part of the wheel I have ever touched apart from issuing a loud toot on the horn!



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2.4 Abarth ( Manual ) Black ... nothing else to say really.

How on earth did you manage to wear the plastic on the airbag cover?

53 plate, Stilo 3-door, Sassy grey, Alloys to follow, 1.2 Active, 5-Disc CD-Changer -- 45mpg!

The steering wheel has a part of the rubber a lot thinner than the rest. This part usually around the centre is for when the airbag goes off it can easily come out of the steering wheel. This can become more noticable if it is rubbed hard when cleaning. If you press on it to hard it can acually tear.

Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera so I can't post a picture... It is not wear and tear it is simply just failure of the material. I am extremely careful with my car to the limits of obsession and I have done nothing to cause that. Simply a couple of these little bumps on the rough surface of the plastic are opening. It's only on the surface, not deep. It is miniscule at the moment but I'm afraid that it'll get worse with time! But definitely it's not because of use. I'm so careful that I hardly touch it and I haven't beeped the horn more than twice in 6 months

Grigoris

3-Door Black Stilo 1.8 Dynamic, 17" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Spoiler

I believe there are some sections that have the airbag behind them that are designed to split when the airbag deploys. Sounds like these bits maybe a bit too thin and already splitting perhaps?

Paul

Stilo Abarth 3dr, Broom Yellow (Nov '03)