Customer Reviews

Type S SW12750-6 Black Heated Steering Wheel Cover

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I love this thing! Those who don't live in really cold climates and say things like, "Wear gloves" or "Turn on the heater", don't understand how the steering wheel can feel like solid ice despite using gloves and the car heater. This cover heats up awesome, and very quickly, too.

Apparently this heated cover is designed for the Honda S-type vehicles. Thanks to the earlier reviewer who mentioned the diameter of his steering wheel, I was able to deduce that this item would probably fit my own steering wheel, and it does, perfectly. (I have an '06 Jeep Liberty.) It was a little difficult to get it on, but of course you want it to fit really, really snug; if it was loose, it could be dangerous.

Also, you truly don't want to leave it plugged in while driving; once, I thought I'd cheat a bit, and leave it plugged in just until I got out of my low-traffic neighborhood. Just turning the wheel enough to back out of the driveway and then straighten the car out got the cord tangled around the wheel and actually was caught on the turn-signal lever, pulling the lever so it was turning my brights on!

The cool thing is that the cover stops that holding-a-block-of-ice feeling for the entire trip, even if you've barely bothered to heat it up first; I guess it's just something about the material and/or design of the cover. So even if I don't want to wait the extra minute to heat it up before embarking, it's still an improvement. I am so glad to have it.

I have had minor problems with the plug. Second attempt at using, the round threaded end-piece came off, and because it was dark out and such a small piece, I couldn't find it until the next day in daylight. I presume it had been partially unscrewed, because since screwing it back on, I've had no further trouble with that piece. Another time the little "prong" that extends out of the plug fell out. I was able to easily push it back in place. Sure, it's a bit annoying, but so far, no further plug problems. I guess I might take a half-star off my rating for the plug problems, but each has been easily resolved, and I am so happy with the overall performance of the product.

If you get one, I'd offer one suggestion. Because it's not so easy to put the cover onto the steering wheel, let alone take it off and put it on a second time, I'd recommend that you position the little plug inlet on the cover on the right side of the wheel, around what might be considered the 4 o'clock position. I put my cover on with the inlet at the very bottom of the wheel, like 6 o'clock position. In winter I wear a big puffy coat, so sometimes it's a bit of a struggle to access the inlet because my coat gets in the way! I wish I'd installed it off to the side a bit, but so far have not wanted to bother trying to remove and re-install the cover. I'll probably reposition it for next winter.

Tried this on a Olds Alero and Mazda Miata. While it does eventually get warm, the 10 minutes it takes is too long. Sure, it gets a little warm right away but is no match for a cold steering wheel. Any benefit I got was from the layer of air created between the steering wheel and my hands. The cover is made of a cushioned mesh that does a pretty fine job of insulating. Overall, it never got hot enough to make a difference for me.

More often then not, I wouldn't bother with the excessively long heating period. I would just drive with the cover. You can score a mesh cover by Bell (same material I swear) at Target for $10.

As for installation, no instructions are included. This is a shame. Steering wheel covers go on like this: heat the cover all over with a hair dryer. Then take it outside and install it. If you've warmed it up enough, it will stretch over your wheel. As it cools, it will contract and become very snug. You may have to heat it again to remove it. If it seems like it won't fit, that's because you have to heat it up.

I contacted the manufacturer to get this method.

I was able to use this product only once. The problem is with the charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter. It is very cheap. First time i tried to unplug it from the lighter, the top of the charger seperated from the body of the adapter and as I type is stuck in the cigarette lighter. This just happened and I have not attempted to contact the company to talk to them about returning it or to see if they have a better quality adapter. Very unsatisfied with the product.

It fit my 2003 Honda Civic. I measure it around 15.5 inches. It was snug and required effort to get over the steering wheel. It gets a little to hot but that's okay because you unplug it. The plug sticks out on the side so when the wheel spins it hits your hand. I see why they say don't drive with on because the cord would wrap around the steering wheel column.

So i ordered this thing even thought he reviews were bad because it was the only one i could find. Well the reviews were right. It is cheaply made. You have to move the power outlet around to get a good contact, the cord get wrapped around the steering wheel while driving (granted it does say to not drive with it plugged in), and just after a couple weeks the heating pad has stopped heating in some places. After saying that, It does heat up pretty fast (in the places it actually heats). So if your looking for something fancy and durable don't buy this. If you willing to be careful only have it work is some places then go ahead. My girlfriend is still happy that i bought it for her.

The socket where you plug the power cord into the heated cover is on the outside perimeter. As you allow the wheel to slip through your hands when coming out of a turn, the socket hits your hands! They should have done something like moved the socket onto the steering wheel fork, or recessed it somehow.

I would try to move it myself, but they really didn't make that viable. I might also have tried cutting the cover, so that it slips on and off easily. This is so you would just do that instead of unplugging it. But, I don't know where the heating wires are, and didn't want to cause damage that would prevent me from being able to return it.

I plugged the unit in to make sure it worked before putting over my steering wheel and, sure enough, it heated up nice and toasty. So I was disappointed when I found it was too small to fit my particular wheel. I wish they made more than one size. This seems to be the only company that makes these.

This product works great, when it actually works. I plugged it into the lighter to heat it up before I tried to install over my steering wheel, it heated up quickly and was fairly easy to install. The first one lasted about eight days. Then the plug end continued to blow fusses. Never was able to correct the problem. They did send a new one and it lsted one day. Same problem. To their credit they send another one, and it did the same thing in another week. It appears that the plug end is not sufficient to heat the cover for more than a few times.

My girlfriend bought me this gift after I gave her the measurement of my mustang steering wheel. I was thrilled, it took both of us to get it on, but once it was on worked like a charm. Since I live in a rather rural town, I was able to drive with the cord still plugged in, though it is not a good idea if you live in a congested city or have curvy roads. After using it for only three times, however, my products true craftsmanship showed and my cigarette lighter, as another reviewer has said, is left with bits and pieces of a defective *completely useless* product. I strongly urge anyone looking into buying this product to go another route. Yes it worked well, but for only three uses.

Heated steering wheel cover works well. It gets warm to the touch quickly but be careful not to drive with it. I plug it into a switched cigarette lighter outlet(only on when car is running) so that when I remote start my car the wheel cover has warmed up somewhat by the time I get to the car.