# Will The Radio Buttons On My Steering Wheel Control An Aftermarket Radio **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 2, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824 "2022-05-02T17:10:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824/1 "2022-05-02T17:10:56Z")
My car ('06 Buick LeSabre) has buttons on the steering wheel that control the volume and band on the factory radio that came installed in the vehicle. Mrs. H and I would like to replace that with an XM-ready aftermarket radio. Would the buttons on the steering wheel still work with the aftermarket radio? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824/2 "2022-05-02T17:13:35Z")
Can be done, though I would assume this is not guaranteed in all cases: > **[Steering wheel audio control adapters](https://www.crutchfield.com/S-kbft4V1qPKU/learn/steering-wheel-control-adapters.html)** > > Get a new stereo and keep your steering wheel controls > **[How to Connect Your Car’s Steering Wheel Audio Controls to an Aftermarket Radio](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/connect-cars-steering-wheel-audio-controls-aftermarket-radio/)** > > Installing an aftermarket radio in your car is pretty easy. But having that radio work with the car's OEM steering wheel audio controls can be tough. Here is how to make it work. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824/3 "2022-05-02T17:18:17Z")
It can be done; but you’d need to look at the specific radio you want to put in. I’d suggest looking at [Crutchfield](https://www.crutchfield.com/); they’re real good with that type of thing, they even have custom install kits to fit most vehicles, ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824/4 "2022-05-02T19:11:02Z")
My car – 2011 Dodge Caliber – required an adapter module since apparently some of its controls were contained in the radio. The module used depended on whether the car had steering wheel mounted controls (mine didn’t). YMM, of course, V. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824/5 "2022-05-03T19:40:03Z")
The two car radios I’ve purchased have cables marked for steering wheel control, and have adapters available by make and year of car. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824/6 "2022-05-03T19:50:15Z")
I have an older Volvo where the kid who owned it before had a aftermarket stereo put in, and no, the steering wheel buttons don’t work. 😧 ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2022, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824/7 "2022-05-03T20:00:47Z")
I recently installed a new Boss stereo in my wife’s 2004 Prius, and like the others say, I had to get a separate adapter module to connect the steering wheel buttons to the new stereo. Not a big deal, just make sure you get the right adapter for your car and stereo. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824/8 "2022-05-03T21:39:26Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > My car – 2011 Dodge Caliber – required an adapter module since apparently some of its controls were contained in the radio. The module used depended on whether the car had steering wheel mounted controls (mine didn’t). YMM, of course, V This was the same for my 2012 Dodge. There were functions such as “low fuel indicator” controlled by the radio CPU and replacing the radio made the car lose that function. And to use the buttons on the steering wheel, an additional module that sat behind the radio head was needed.