V60 weak steering wheel vibration warning
 

I've noticed recently that the steering wheel vibration warning function on my V60 is very weak. I'm talking about the vibration warning you get from the lane keeping aid and also when the steering assist disables on the pilot assist. In my old V40 the vibration was strong, which is why I think there may be an issue on my V60. I'm wondering whether anyone else can tell me whether they think theirs is so weak as to be almost imperceptible or whether I may have a problem.

On a few occasions recently the steering assist has disabled without me being aware of it, which seems like a safety issue for me. Of course I have my hands on the wheel but if the steering assist turns off I want to know about it, what if it disables half way round a corner? I'm surprised there's not an audible warning for this.

To test it I tried changing lanes a few times without indicating (naughty I know) and while I think there was a vibration it was hard to feel even when I was actively waiting for it.

I asked the garage to look at it when it went into service recently and they said they couldn't repeat the problem, but I don't know whether testing this function is part of the service and I doubt they went out of their way to repeat it. The service in general was terrible, they even returned my car with a part missing, which they still haven't replaced 3 weeks later.

Anyway, if anyone has an opinions I would be grateful to read them.

Normal, I would say.

Can you not change the 'level'? I know you can on our Mazda, it has 3 levels and the same for audio warnings.
Worth a dig around in the online manual.

Mine is the same, I am sure it used to be more noticeable when new, my setting is on high.

Yes, I agree, I did used to notice mine more than I do now although it was never as strong as in the V40. I also think its getting less noticeable over time, but it didn't go in for a service before it happened so it cant be the result of an intentional change.

The only setting I can find is "Steering Force" but this seems to be related to the power steering so I don't think it'll make a difference in this case.

Sounds like its not unique to mine anyway, so thanks for the replies.

I think you are looking at this and the other AIDS the wrong way .. you seem to be depending on them which is wrong ..
YOU are the person steering and driving the car at all times, no one or nothing else is ..

The AIDs come in when you are failing in your duty to control the car properly for whatever reason . In normal use a good driver NEVER has the AIDs engage .
It's like City Safety, you drive along and don't brake expecting the AIDs to do it for you and stop you hitting the car in front ? NO of course not , it should be the same with the other AIDs ...

Like many others I suspect, it is turned on but only comes on if changing lanes when there is no need to use the indicators. (When no traffic or pedestrians to indicate for) and not being activated due failing in one's duty.
I am sure "everyone" who has this driver aid turned on has felt it kick in doing this.
Oddly, I tried this the other day deliberately after replying to the OP and it felt like it did when I first got it back to normal.
(after last service)

It just shows how complicated cars are these days, with so much kit on board (driven by safety/economy/technology leaps) to go wrong.....didn’t have issues like this on my first car (1970 ford escort) but I remember having so much fun in that .

If I bought a car with these additional safety features I want to know they're working as advertised. I've found the vibration warning to be useful in the past, especially on my old V40 where I could actually feel it, which is why if there's an issue in my current car I want to know about it and get it fixed. Except the garage are telling me it's ok, and I don't agree with them.

One particular use case, if I'm driving on pilot assist and the steering assist disables because the car loses track of the lane markings, clearly I want to know about this. I don't want to find out steering assist has turned off as the car fails to take the corner as expected, because then I have to overcompensate, even if my reaction is only a second delayed. It's an important safety feature. I'm not depending on AIDS, but for then to be of any value at all they have to actually give you the feedback they're supposed to.

The Owners manual clearly states :-

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL132.../414459038.jpg

On the few occasions I have used Steering Assist via Pilot Assist I don't recall the wheel ever shaking, it does give warning in the driver display. However when Lane Keeping Aid is activated and you cross the lane lines without indicating the wheel certainly shakes and tries to steer the car back, it will also give a audible warning. There are various settings available in the menu for which warnings you can receive.