Bought an 08 EL last summer
I love the steering wheel with the wood section on top, the wood is very smooth....until recently.

It has started to get tiny tiny cracks, you can barely see them but you can feel the imperfections with your finger tips. They kinda look like small white cracks in the finish that have 'puffed' up a enough for you to feel. There's about 20-30 of them.

Its not a huge concern, the wood is not splitting apart of falling off.. and someone one else might not even notice.

Anyone else experienced deterioration on the wood section?

 

Can you post a pic? It's probably the clear coating crazing from UV. I have seen it happen on other cars/trucks. Do you have any warranty left?

 

You're probably right about the clear on the wood.
I will get a picture.