Heated Steering Wheel..... HOT !!

21GMC · December 5, 2023

I recently traded in my 2021 for a 2023 model 1500 Sierra.

One thing I have noticed immediately is the heat my refreshed Sierra's steering wheel is putting out.

It is significantly hotter to the touch than my previous truck. Infact, I turn it off fairly quickly after starting it compared to the older gen which I just left on continuously.

Anyone else have a similar experience? Not really a complaint but certainly a noticeable difference for me. Heated seats seem roughly the same as before.

corvette43056 · December 5, 2023

I'm in agreement with you,I've noticed the same thing 2021 to 2023 also.But silverado to sierra.

Gangly · December 5, 2023

I have to turn mine off after a few minutes as well, but I am HAPPY with that. I would rather have that issue than one that needed to run constantly

DSW1519 · December 5, 2023

I went from a 21 to a 23 also and have noticed the same thing with the heated steering wheel being much hotter. I prefer this as my 21 was just warm at best.

ember1205 · December 5, 2023

I've noticed three things in particular about the heated wheel on my '24...

- It gets noticeably warmer overall.

- Anywhere that you hold your hands at least briefly seems to not get "as hot" as if you didn't touch that area at all while it's one. As I drive away from the house and make a handful of turns, I find that the temp of the wheel sort of "evens out" at a more moderate temp which is quite comfortable.

- There are some definite "dead spots" where the wheel is quite cold still.

MrMagloo · December 5, 2023

I was very happy when the temps got down in the teens. I think it works great as is. When it gets comfortable in the truck I turn them off.

21GMC · December 5, 2023

1 hour ago, ember1205 said:

I've noticed three things in particular about the heated wheel on my '24...

- It gets noticeably warmer overall.

- Anywhere that you hold your hands at least briefly seems to not get "as hot" as if you didn't touch that area at all while it's one. As I drive away from the house and make a handful of turns, I find that the temp of the wheel sort of "evens out" at a more moderate temp which is quite comfortable.

- There are some definite "dead spots" where the wheel is quite cold still.

Very similar here. I haven't had it on long enough to see if it evens out but shall try,

At least i know its operating normally now !!

Dunn · December 6, 2023

kinda funny, owning more than a few T1 designs the heated wheel was bit different in all of them, believe my sierra was the warmest though, I dont care too much but have noticed

redwngr · December 7, 2023

I've also noticed the steering wheel heat increase in the 23 vs the 21.

Seats also heat hotter and faster.

Truck arrived late spring. I'm wondering about how the performance will be in Jan/Feb.

Not sure about all trims but this truck they automatically turn on when the truck is started on a cold day.

The '21 didn't do that. (like they have for many years, the worked under remote start, but needed to be turned on again after getting in and enabling/starting the truck)

Wife drives a 2020 Acadia Denali. It had the automatic steering and seat heaters.

I found it surprising that the feature wasn't on a '21 Sierra Denali.

21GMC · December 7, 2023

55 minutes ago, redwngr said:

Not sure about all trims but this truck they automatically turn on when the truck is started on a cold day.

The '21 didn't do that. \

Yes, my 21 didn't do it either.

55 minutes ago, redwngr said:

Wife drives a 2020 Acadia Denali. It had the automatic steering and seat heaters.

I found it surprising that the feature wasn't on a '21 Sierra Denali.

My wife's non GMC branded SUV from 2013 has automatic steering and heat warmers when the temperature hit below 40.

I always thought that was a neat option that we had not seen since.

Edited December 7, 2023 by 21GMC

Jus Cruisin · December 7, 2023

I haven't kept mine on long enough to find out how warm/hot it gets. Once comfortable on my hands I turn it off. The seats get warm enough for me to turn off, too. The seat rarely turns off on its own. I don't like wearing gloves driving so the heated steering wheel is a must since moving north. I have supercruise so it takes a bit for the top of the wheel to warm up.

ember1205 · December 7, 2023

9 hours ago, redwngr said:

Not sure about all trims but this truck they automatically turn on when the truck is started on a cold day.

The '21 didn't do that. (like they have for many years, the worked under remote start, but needed to be turned on again after getting in and enabling/starting the truck)

Setting in the infotainment, I believe. The '21 referred to it as "Auto Heated Seat" and they would heat according to the cabin temp settings. This is how the ones in my '24 seem to work as well... As the cabin temp comes up, the heated seat setting tapers down until it finally turns off.

In other words, it appears your '21 should have had it but it may have been off by default..

redwngr · December 7, 2023

5 hours ago, ember1205 said:

Setting in the infotainment, I believe. The '21 referred to it as "Auto Heated Seat" and they would heat according to the cabin temp settings. This is how the ones in my '24 seem to work as well... As the cabin temp comes up, the heated seat setting tapers down until it finally turns off.

In other words, it appears your '21 should have had it but it may have been off by default..

Hmmm.

I am/was thinking that "Remote Start Auto Heat Seats" was the setting available on a '21.

ember1205 · December 7, 2023

26 minutes ago, redwngr said:

Hmmm.

I am/was thinking that "Remote Start Auto Heat Seats" was the setting available on a '21.

Not sure. Attached is in the 2021 manual. It tells you to turn it on or off in the personalization, but the personalization section of the manual makes no mention of this feature - only that for Remote Start.