Tech Tips
Date: November 22, 2013

TT 44-13-04
2012-2014 Jetta/Sportwagen, Golf/GTI, Passat/CC, Tiguan,
Touareg, Routan
Steering Wheel Off Center

This Tech Tip was established to explain the influence the adjustable steering column tilt position has on
the steering wheel being off center and to provide information on checking for steering wheel off center.
Influence of the Steering Column Tilt Position
Due to the design of the adjustable steering column, a level steering wheel can vary up to 2.4 degrees in
total from the level position depending on the tilt adjustment of the steering column. In the full up steering
column tilt position, the steering wheel is set approximately 1.2 degrees off center to the right and
accordingly, 1.2 degrees to the left in the full down tilt position. When the steering column is in the center
tilt position the steering wheel is level.
When checking if the steering wheel is level (centered), make sure that the steering column
adjustment is in the center tilt position.
If the steering wheel is off center when the steering column is in the center tilt position, perform vehicle four
wheel alignment to correct the steering wheel level position. See TT 44 13 03 – Four Wheel Alignments.

Note:
DO NOT remove the steering wheel from the steering column to correct steering wheel off center.

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© 2013 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual
property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Service Information
Please note that in some cases while driving the tilt of the road surface (road crown) will cause the steering
wheel to be slightly off center. Also note that while the vehicle is stationary the steering wheel can appear
to be off center because of the shape of the instrument panel. Below are some important tips on how to
check steering wheel off center.
•
•

•
•

Steering wheel off center should only be checked after driving straight ahead for at least 10ft on a
flat surface
Steering wheel off center should only be checked sitting in the driver’s seat looking directly at the
steering wheel. If the wheel appears to be off center, use an object (cardboard) to block the
instrument panel and recheck.
If steering wheel only appear slightly off center, always get a second opinion before performing any
adjustments
If available use a steering wheel level (Figure 1) to determine if the steering wheel is off center.
See steps below.

Using Steering Wheel Level to Check for Steering Wheel is Off Center

Figure 1

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© 2013 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual
property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Service Information
•
•
•

Check that the front wheels are straight
ahead
Mount the steering wheel level VAS 6458 or
similar tool to the steering wheel
Slowly turn the steering wheel to the position
when the level indicator (bubble) is centered.

Figure 2

•

Place a piece of masking tape on the
steering wheel trim and on the steering
column trim and use a marker (Sharpie) to
draw a line across the two pieces of tape.
Ensure that the level indicator is still
centered when the line is drawn.

•

The steering wheel is level when the two
lines are together. These lines now provide
a reference point to determine how much the
steering wheel is off center.

Figure 3

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© 2013 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual
property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Service Information
•
Figure 3

Steering Wheel Off
Figure 4

Remove the level and then drive the car in a
straight line on a flat surface for 10ft with
both hands on the steering wheel. Stop the
car and while holding the steering wheel in
place make a dashed line on the masking
tape on the steering column trim to line up
with the line on the steering wheel trim. The
distance between the dashed line and the
solid line is how much the steering wheel is
off center.

Tip:

The reference lines can also show how much the
steering wheel is off center due to road crown.
When driving straight on the right crown of a road
the reference line on the steering wheel trim will be
to the left of the line on the steering column trim and
vice versa when driving on the left crown

Note:
PID 4485 is to be used for claims regarding the Steering wheel being off center.
PID 4810 is only to be used for claims related to steering wheel damages or Defects.

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© 2013 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual
property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these
materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.