I’ve noticed that the steering wheel on my Scala sits slightly to the right when driving straight. It’s been like this almost since I bought the car — it had around 4,000 km on it at the time.

I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing? Could this just be a common quirk of the model, or should I have the wheel alignment checked?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Couple of things, either the wheel alignment has been set with the steering wheel off centre.

Or the wheel alignment needs checking, or the steering wheel was fitted not quite right from new.

Is there evidence of unequal wear on the tyres?

If it wasn't like that when you first bought it, something has changed - or possibly you are now driving on roads that are more cambered.

Have you checked steering position when the road surface is completely flat?

Even on a completely flat road, it’s the same. What I’ve noticed is that the left front tire has a tread depth of 5.4–5.4 mm, while the right front tire is 5.1–5.3 mm.

Just take it to your local alignment specialist to get the car fully laser aligned. The car could have been bumped up and down a high kerb, hit a speed bump too fast or a pot hole before you bought it.

I changed the track rod ends on my Superb earlier this year because one of them had a small split in the rubber boot. I accurately measured the length of the threads to get them as close as possible, but the steering wheel was very slightly off centre. Took it to a wheel alignment specialist, they reset it and the steering wheel was then spot on.

Edited 19 October, 202519 Oct by moley
Typo

Yes!

Noticed it as soon as I drove off the forecourt (new car) and booked it straight back in to be ‘fixed’

Cue three more visits to the dealer and the alignment checked and adjusted three times and steering wheel removed/refitted and it’s still no different. The dealer reckons it fine and the brand new Scala I had as a courtesy car had exactly the same issue.

All tyre pressures constantly checked and all spot on, no uneven wear so no logical reason I can find for it. I’ve sort of given up on it now as I CBA going back and forth to the dealers and Škoda. It’s all very disappointing to be honest but as there’s no uneven wear on the tyres I just live with it now against my better judgment.

15 hours ago, Modders said:

Yes!

Noticed it as soon as I drove off the forecourt (new car) and booked it straight back in to be ‘fixed’

Cue three more visits to the dealer and the alignment checked and adjusted three times and steering wheel removed/refitted and it’s still no different. The dealer reckons it fine and the brand new Scala I had as a courtesy car had exactly the same issue.

All tyre pressures constantly checked and all spot on, no uneven wear so no logical reason I can find for it. I’ve sort of given up on it now as I CBA going back and forth to the dealers and Škoda. It’s all very disappointing to be honest but as there’s no uneven wear on the tyres I just live with it now against my better judgment.

That's interesting.

My brother has a 23 plate Scala and has not mentioned a problem. Mrs Moley's 23 plate Kamiq is the same platform as the Scala and we've had no issues with steering / tracking either.🤷‍♂️

15 hours ago, Modders said:

Yes!

Noticed it as soon as I drove off the forecourt (new car) and booked it straight back in to be ‘fixed’

Cue three more visits to the dealer and the alignment checked and adjusted three times and steering wheel removed/refitted and it’s still no different. The dealer reckons it fine and the brand new Scala I had as a courtesy car had exactly the same issue.

All tyre pressures constantly checked and all spot on, no uneven wear so no logical reason I can find for it. I’ve sort of given up on it now as I CBA going back and forth to the dealers and Škoda. It’s all very disappointing to be honest but as there’s no uneven wear on the tyres I just live with it now against my better judgment.

When the dealer checked / adjusted the alignment do you know if it was with an optical set up on the front wheels only or a full four wheel laser alignment?

Thanks for the replies. The official dealership is a rip-off… they quoted $180 for the alignment, while an independent garage can do it for about $45. :O

Hi all, I bought a new Scala in August this year and mine is the same just a tiny amount down to the right.

I retired 8 years ago from 49 years working on all types of vehicles the last 32 my own business but that aside I can say I have remedied this many times on earlier vehicles simply by adjusting the track rods evenly.

To even up the steering wheel the r/h side needs to screw in and the l/h side needs to screw out, this will pull the steering wheel back to centre position.

I would initially undo the r/h lock nut 2 flats and screw the track rod in till the nut is back to the track rod end then lock it up. Then on the l/h side just unlock the lock nut enough so the track rod can move then watching the nut screw the track rod out exactly 2 flats then re-lock the nut.

This way means you have centered the steering wheel but haven't altered the tracking.

I will mention this at my first service which is paid for in advance and if no joy from them I will do it myself.

Is it necessary to calibrate the steering angle sensor as well?

I would think so, as I said I have done this on earlier vehicles but a few years ago now.

I will look into it but I'm sure it will have to be reset. VCDS should be capable I think.

On 19/10/2025 at 12:14, moley said:

When the dealer checked / adjusted the alignment do you know if it was with an optical set up on the front wheels only or a full four wheel laser alignment?

It was a full four wheel alignment.

I'm not sure that many places do offer just carrying out a front wheels toe check/correction, even KwikFit seems to have a Hunter bench, this sort of annoyed me maybe 6 years ago when I replaced the front suspension and some other parts on my older daughter's SEAT Ibiza 1.4 SC, it came as shock to find that I was hit for roughly £65 and ended up with a print out for the front and rear camber and toe, and some nonsense figures for the front castor - which I put down to KwikFit not following the instruction from the bench to turn the steering side to side.

Moving forward 6 years, I replaced all the front suspension on my old 2011 Audi S4, so handed it into a proper German Car Specialist Indie for an alignment check/adjust, it also has a Hunter bench but I think that they know how to use it, got a before and after print out of front and rear camber and toe, but all the castor rough data was "*" and on the chart, castor was greyed out.

Anyone know why that was?

Before handing my wife's 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI in for a tracking check, as the steering wheel is slightly out since I worked on the front suspension last year, I'll be making a few phone calls to check up on local pricing, there is a Black Circles approved workshop 12 miles away and again it is a Hunter bench that they use.

Edited 21 October, 202521 Oct by rum4mo
accidentally wrote 4 years instead of 6 years!