2003 BMW Z4 complaints

I HAVE STEERING PROBLEM ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I. I BOUGHT IT ONLY A YEAR AGO ON MAY 2018 WITH 58,000 MILES ON IT. DROVE ONLY SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES AND STARTED GETTING THE STEERING PROBLEM. IT KEEPS PULLING EITHER TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. I CONSTANTLY STRUGGLE TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS SO I CAN DRIVE STRAIGHT. SOMETIMES THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK. I ALREADY SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS REPLACING THE FRONT END SUSPENSION BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE STEERING PROBLEM. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IN THE FOLLOWING BLOG: - HTTP://WWW.BMWCOOP.COM/2010/07/06/STEERING-PROBLEMS-FOR-BMW-Z4-IN-THE-U-S/ IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 2003 BMW Z4 HAS VERY TIGHT STEERING WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, AND I NOTICE THE PROBLEM IS MORE COMMON ON WARMER DAYS. LAST WEEK AS I WAS DRIVING ON A WARM DAY, I NOTICED I HAD TO REPEATEDLY PUT SIGNIFICANT EFFORT IN ORDER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ON A TURN ON THE FREEWAY, AS THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT STICKING. WHENEVER I'VE APPLIED THIS SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO GET AROUND THIS ISSUE, THE STEERING UNSTICKS AND THEN TURNS TOO MUCH. ON THAT DAY, I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME, CAUSING THE CAR NEXT TO ME TO SWERVE A BIT AS WELL TO AVOID ME. IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ME WITH THIS CAR, AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID IT'S A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE BMW, WHICH PRIDES ITSELF IN THE QUALITY OF IT'S VEHICLES, SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, AS IT'S A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE. JUST BY DOING A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH, IT'S VERY APPARENT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH EARLY YEAR Z4'S.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 80 DEGREES, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE DEALER (THE BMW STORE, 6131 STEWART RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45227, (513) 271-8700) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IN HOT WEATHER, APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES AND OVER, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. WHEN IT FINALLY TURNED, IT JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUXURY IMPORTS OF BOWLING GREEN (325 THREE SPRINGS RD, BOWLING GREEN, KY 42104, 270-745-0001) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED FOR THE ELECTRIC STEERING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILED. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS RESET SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FRONT PASSENGER SENSOR MAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

STEERING WHEEL IS VERY STIFF AND JERKY AND DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN TO CENTER. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON HOT DAYS ABOVE 80 F, ESPECIALLY IF THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE SUN FOR A FEW HOURS.

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 2003. WHEN THE WEATHER WARMS UP, THE STEERING GETS STIFF AND JERKY. THIS CAR HAS QUICK STEERING AND MAKING IT JERKY INCREASES THE RISK OF RUNNING INTO SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY. I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THIS TO BE A PROBLEM AND MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY WITH NO HELP. AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. WE HAD A WARM DAY OVER THE WEEKEND AND I TOOK THE CAR TO WORK. WHEN LEAVING, THE CAR FELT DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS DURING THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING ON A WARM DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS STIFF LIKE THE POWER STEERING ISN'T WORKING. WHEN YOU APPLY MORE STEERING FORCE, THE STEERING SUDDENLY JERKS QUICKLY AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL WITH THE CAR, YOU OVERSTEER.

SINCE OWNING THE CAR IN FLORIDA I NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WILL GET STICKY WHEN LEFT I THE SUN ON HOT DAYS.WITH OUT USING A SUN SHIELD IN THE WIND SCREEN. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM NOW A STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT NEEDS A COLUMN COSTING $5000.

WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS, LIKE INTO PARKING SPOTS, THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP, CUT POWER TO HEAD LIGHTS, RADIO. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. FIRST STARTED AT 70K MILES, NOW AT 90K MILES THE STEERING COLUMN IS PRETTY MUCH DEAD. ALSO AFTER THESE HICCUPS HAPPEN MY CAR WONT TURN OVER WHEN I TRY TO START IT UP. I WAIT A COUPLE MINUTES AND IT'LL START UP THEN . STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR OR ANY EARLY MODEL BMW WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. BMW ALSO DOESN'T WANT TO OWN UP TO THEIR LACK OF ENGINEERING AND RECALL THIS TOTAL PILE OF CRAP...TISK..TISK.

STICKY STEERING WHEN THE CAR IS WARM OR AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS GREATER THAN ABOUT 75 OR 80F. AS THE TEMPERATURE INCREASES, THE CAR IS MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER SMOOTHLY. IT EXPERIENCE A STICK/SLIP BEHAVIOR WHICH CAUSES CONTINUAL OVER CORRECTIONS. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE FOR YEARS. I HAVE NOTICED THE STEERING ISSUE SINCE BUYING IT SECOND HAND IN 2007. BMW DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT MY EXPENSE. I WON'T LET ANYONE DRIVE THE CAR IN WARM WEATHER.

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. STALLS AT OR IN TRYING TO MOVE THROUGH INTERSECTIONS

TAKATA RECALL AS I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME ON HIGHWAY THE STEERING WAS STIFF OR HARD, IT MAKES IT HARD TO STEER TO DIFFERENT ROAD OR A EXIT BUT WHEN IM DIVING ON LOW SPEED UBER 20MPH IT SEE LIKE NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND I SEE MANY, MANY PEOPLE ALSO HAVE THEE SAME PROBLEM.

GARBAGE! ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE THE STEERING ISSUE ON MY Z4. FROM TJE UNSEALED BEARING IN THE STERRING COLUNN TO THE UN- HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINEERING FOR TJE OVERALL STEERING SYSTEM FOR THE ENTIRE CAR. WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY PUTTING POWER ASSIAT STEERING ON THIS LITTLE SHORT CAR ANYWAY... HENCE WHY ITS NOT ON THE M SERIES. MY GRANDFATHER'S 1965 TRUCK RAN TRUER THAN THIS DEATH TRAP. ITS A SHAME TO HAVE A GREAT CAR AND SCREW IT UP WITH THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, TJE MOST IMPORTANT PART😤😡😠. CAR DARTS ALL OVER THE ROAD, CONSTANT CORRECTIONS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY IN JEOPARDY. THIS IS A TRAVESTY IN DEED!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4 ROADSTER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON HOT DAYS AND WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE DEALER (BMW OF CHARLOTTESVILLE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, 434-270-8664) AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.

TAKATA RECALL. 2003 BMW Z4 AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID SEAT BELTS LOCK WHEN CAR HIT A TRACTER TRAILER WHO SUDDENLY STOPPED SHORT ON THE HIGHWAY. BMW WAS MOVING AT APPROX 80 MPH WHEN DRIVER HIT BREAKS UPON SEEING TRAILER STOP SHORT.

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON WARM DAYS (80 OR ABOVE) THE STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN SMALL ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE. THE STEERING FEELS "STICKY" OR "NOTCHED" REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO RE POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY ON THE ROAD. TIRE PRESSURES ARE IN SPEC AS IS THE ALIGNMENT.

STICKY STEERING WHEN IT IS HOT WEATHER. IT IS HARD TO STEER AND WILL NOT STRAIGHTEN UP. CONSTANT STEERING PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 20MPH) STEERING IS VERY LIGHT AND SMOOTH, NO ISSUES AT ALL. AS SPEED INCREASES, THE STEERING GETS HEAVIER (AS IT SHOULD) BUT DEVELOPS A "DETENT" AT STRAIGHT CENTER. THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE DETENT RESISTANCE, TO THE POINT THAT IT BECOMES EASY TO OVERSTEER THE CAR. THIS CAN BE REAL SCARY DURING AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS AND QUICK LANE CHANGES.

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING STICKS AND IS VERY STIFF. NOT FLUID STEERING BUT JERKING AND IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A DANGER ON ROAD.

STEERING GETS "STUCK" WHILE DRIVING. FEELS LIKE YOUR IN A RUT. 35K ON THE VEHICLE AND THE BMW DEALER SAID THE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED FOR $4538.41. I READ ON THE INTERNET THE ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ISSUES FOR CARS 2003-2005. MANY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AND BMW HAD NO RECALLS ON THE CARS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO DRIVE THE CARS. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHSTA AND WONDERING WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE ISSUE. I ONLY DRIVE 1500 MILES PER YEAR AND IT STARTED LATE LAST SUMMER AND IS NOW UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS MORE PRONOUNCED DURING WARM TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING OPEN FACED BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. UPDATED 06/02/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 08/29/2017*JS

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WHILE IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS RESULTED IN INCORRECT AMOUNTS OF STEERING PRESSURE BEING APPLIED BY TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS & NEAR ACCIDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DATE IS APPROXIMATE FOR FIRST OCCURRENCE.

STEERING SEEMS RANDOMLY UNRESPONSIVE. YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL AN THERE IS A LAG. FEELS LIKE I DONT ALWAYS HAVE CONTROL OF MY CAR.

STEERING IS TOO UNSTABLE ON STRAIGHT DRIVING. A SUDDEN PULL TO THE RIGHT/LEFT AND STEERING IS NOT CENTERING. STEERING IS STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL.

TAKATA RECALL. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW Z4 2003 THE STEERING WHEEL IS GETTING NOTCHY AND SOMETIMES IT GETS STUCK IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT POSITION. I REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT STILL DOING THE SAME THING. NEED HELP.

STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE GETS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD TO TURN AND TURN BACK STRAIGHT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT SPEEDS HIGHER THEM 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING IS STICKY ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUT. IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT WITHOUT CONSTANTLY MOVING THE WHEEL RIGHT AND LEFT AND YOU CAN FEEL THE GAP IN THE MOVE. YOU FEEL A SKIP IN THE MOVE. IT MAKES IT FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO JUMP TO FAR RIGHT OR LEFT. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS THE LAST 3 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. MY TIRES ARE NEW AND WELL BALANCED SO IT IS NOT THE TIRES. IT DID THIS WITH THE OLD TIRES AND NOW CONTINUES TO DO IT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME AND DRIVE IT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION AND TRYING TO DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD. WHEN MAKING A REASONABLE TURN IT IS FINE.

WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS, NORMALLY IN HOT WEATHER, THE STEERING GETS STICKY AND FEELS CATCHY. THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, AT ANY SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AFTER LETTING SIT FOR A COUPLE HOURS IT IS FINE. DRIVE FOR ANOTHER FEW HOURS AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN, REPEATABLE. HAPPENS GOING STRAIGHT, TURNING IS FINE.

MY CAR IS EVERY LOW MILLAGE (13,000) AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN STORED IN A GARAGE AND WELL CARED FOR. WHEN I TURNED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IT WOULD NOT GO OFF WHEN I TURN THE AIRBAG BACK ON. THE BMW DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS A PROCESSOR IN THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS A $1400 REPAIR. I FOUND A NHTSA RECALL # 04V247000 FOR THE 2003 Z4 THAT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE. BMW DOES NOT SHOW MY VIN NUMBER UNDER THAT RECALL. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

MY NAME IS [XXX] , I JUST RECENTLY OWN A 2003 BMW Z4. IT IS ABOUT 65K CLEAN TITLE. I HAVE JUST NOTICE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I RESEARCHED THIS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MOST RELATE TO ISSUES IN HOT TEMPERATURES AND TO SPEED. PROBLEM WAS VERY NOTICEABLE LAST EVENING AT 70 DEGREES. HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS... AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 20MPH) STEERING IS VERY LIGHT AND SMOOTH, NO ISSUES AT ALL. AS SPEED INCREASES, THE STEERING GETS HEAVIER (AS IT SHOULD) BUT DEVELOPS A "DETENT" AT STRAIGHT CENTER. THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE DETENT RESISTANCE, TO THE POINT THAT IT BECOMES EASY TO OVERSTEER THE CAR. THIS CAN BE REAL SCARY DURING AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS AND QUICK LANE CHANGES. THE HOT WEATHER JUST MAKES IT WORSE. FROM WHAT I KNOW FROM RESEARCH, THE WAY TO FIX THIS IS DO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. I M SINCERE ASKING FOR HELP. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT CHANGE ON MY OWN WHEN IS IT MORE LIKE BMW' ENGINEER PROBLEMS. I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT GET TOO SERIOUS. THANKS IN ADVANCE. PLEASE CALL OR CONTACT ME THROUGH MY EMAIL AT [XXX] OR MY NUMBERS AT [XXX]. (BEST TO CALL ME) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE STEERING STICKS OFTEN ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY FORCING ME TO OVERCOMPENSATE TO STEER THE CAR. CONSTANTLY FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO ADJUST THE DIRECTION THE CAR IF GOING. NOTICED THE PROBLEM DURING WARM/HOT TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE. UNSAFE CONDITION AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR. CONDITION CAUSING THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN.

SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR 2 YRS AGO. THE STEERING GETS "STICKY". IT IS HARD TO CENTER AND HARD TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL THEN IT OVER ADJUSTS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT WHEN IT IS ABOVE 80, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE

STEERING IS SHIFTY AT ALL SPEEDS AND STICKS REQUIRING EXTRA FORCE TO REDIRECT IT MAKING THE POSSIBILITY OF CROSSING INTO OTHER LANES OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC A RISK. MAKES GROANING NOISE IN SLOW SPEED TURNS.

STEERING WHEEL STICKS AND RESULTS IN ERRATIC DRIVING TO MOVE IT FROM THE STUCK POSITION. HAPPENS IN CITY AND THE HIGHWAY.

I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ON APRIL 2, 2016 AND NOTICED THE CONDITION ON THE FIRST WARM DAY (75F OR HIGHER) ON OR AROUND MAY2, 2016. THE CAR EXHIBITS STICKY STEERING DURING WARM WEATHER. THIS CONDITION MAKES THE STEERING FEEL AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS STICKING WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS BUT IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT MAKES IT HARD TO GO STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE THE STEERING FEELS "NOTCHY".

STEERING STICKS AFTER TEMPERATURE GETS WARMER. WILL ALMOST OVER STEER ON CURVES OR NARROW ROADS. HARDER TO STEER AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WHEN FIRST STARTED STEERING FEELS PRETTY NORMAL, BUT GETS HARDER TO STEER THE FURTHER YOU GO. WILL NOT MY FAMILY MEMBERS DRIVE, COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. HAPPENS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WET OR DRY.

THIS CAR HAS BEEN EXHIBITING STICKY STEERING WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 70-75 DEGREES. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, AND I ATTRIBUTED IT TO TIRE PRESSURES ETC. HAVING NOW EXPERIENCED IT MORE SEVERLY I DID SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE ABILITY TO SAFELY ADJUST THE STEERING WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS LIMITED, AND THE CAR CAN EASILY OVERSTEER AND CAUSE UNEXPECTED LANE CHANGES. IT IS SURPRISING THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REFERENCES TO THIS ISSUE IN ONLINE FORUMS SUCH AS THESE: HTTPS://WWW.BMWCCA.ORG/FORUM/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/STICKING-STEERING-UNSOLVED-MYSTERY.5921/ HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?1055032-STICKY-STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER SIDE TO SIDE AND AS A RESULT, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE ON THE LEFT LANE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNKYARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. CAR HAS 23,256 MILES. I STORED THE CAR FROM OCTOBER 10, 2015 UNTIL MARCH 27, 2016. TOOK THE CAR OUT ON EASTER SUNDAY FOR ABOUT 10 MILES, CAR RAN FINE. PULLED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE ON MARCH 29, 2016 AND STEERING ASSIST FAILED COMPLETELY. DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON THE ROAD. CALLED MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR APRIL 14, 2016.

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION FINES BMW $40 MILLION FOR FAILING TO MEET SAFETY REQUIREMENTS NHTSA 53-15 MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2015 CONTACT: [XXX] , [email protected] FINE IS AUTO COMPANY'S SECOND SINCE 2012 WASHINGTON ' THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS IMPOSED A $40 MILLION CIVIL PENALTY AND A SERIES OF PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO AUTOMAKER BMW NORTH AMERICA FOR A SERIES OF VIOLATIONS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT AND NHTSA REGULATIONS. ******************************************************************************************************************************** NHTSA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THE ISSUE OF STICKY STEERING. FOR BMW TO SAY IT IS JUST A NUISANCE STEERING IS TOTALLY NOT TRUE. WITH YOUR LATEST FINE FOR BMW YOU KNOW BMW RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE IS JUST ANOTHER SMOKE SCREEN OF THE ISSUE. IF STEERING OF A VEHICLE IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THEN THE NHTSA NEEDS TO ELEVATED WHAT IS SAFETY. THEIR WILL BE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS THEN LAW SUITS THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN AND ONLY A RECALL CAN SOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

STEERING BECOMES VERY STICKY WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES BECOME HOT. VEHICLE SEEMS UNSAFE WHEN ON HIGHWAY AND LANE CHANGES ARE DIFFICULT TO MAKE AS STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION !

MY Z4 HAS ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST GOT IT BACK IN 6/20015 AND I NOTICED WHEN STEERING THERE IS A SORTA STICKING PROBLEM WITH IT AND IT KIND A WANT TO DRIFT SIDE TO SIDE ? NOW THE STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND ITS LIKE A OLD TYPE STANDARD STEERING CAR. AND WHEN RESTARTED IT WORKS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DOES IT ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS WOULD BE A REAL PROBLEM FOR A OLDER PERSON IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN , MAY CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT . I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SOLO EVENT FOR ME. I DID ASK MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL I AM THE 2ND OWNER ?

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IN THE CITY, MY BMW Z4'S STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK, PULLS TO THE LEFT & RIGHT AND NEEDS HARD FORCE TO RELEASE IT. I'VE ALMOST WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS! I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S TOO DANGEROUS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THOUSANDS OF BMW Z4 OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB OR THE INTERIOR SWITCH. ALL OTHER LOCKS RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. THE DOOR WILL OPEN MANUALLY WITH THE INTERIOR HANDLE. I REPLACED THE LOCK ACTUATOR WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. I AM NOW TRYING TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL RELAY. THE DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER. I HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

SUDDENLY UNABLE TO STEER. WHEN MOVING IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IT WAS AGAIN UNABLE TO STEER. BUT AGAIN WAS VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN MOVING AS WELL. STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. GETTING WORSE. TURN OFF AND RESTART ENGINE AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT WHILE THEN RETURNS. SEEMS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE.

AFTER SITTING IN HOT DIRECT SUN FOR OVER TWO HOURS, THE STEERING ON THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. THE STEERING GETS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND YOU HAVE TO HOLD TIGHTLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR FROM SWERVING. THERE IS NO ISSUE ON A COOL DAY, NOR IS THERE AN ISSUE ON A HOT DAY IF THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE SHADE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS TO MY 2003 Z4. THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND STORED IN THE WINTER. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE RAIN OR SNOW AND IS WELL-MAINTAINED. AS OF SEPTEMBER 2015, THE CAR ONLY HAS 12,000 MILES, SO IT SHOULD NOT BE A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 300 COMPLAINTS FILED ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 2003. THE INVESTIGATION DONE IN 2010 WAS CLOSED IN 2011, AND YET HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REMAIN UNANSWERED. IT SHOULD BE CONFIRMED WHETHER OR NOT THE INVESTIGATION INCLUDED TESTING THE CARS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE DIRECT SUN ON A HOT DAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. IF THE TESTING WAS NOT COMPLETED UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE TEST WOULD BE FLAWED AND THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE REOPENED. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALL HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, AND A SAFETY ISSUE, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS.

STEERING BECOMES VERY STICKY AND JERKY IN HOT WEATHER. STEERING IS SO BAD IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN WEATHER IS HOT. THIS IS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE AND REPORTED BEFORE BUT NOTHING GETS DONE ABOUT A RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN STEERING ISN'T A FACTOR FOR RECALL BY NTHSA. BMW LAWYERS APPARENTLY OUT SMARTED THE NTHSA. I INVITED ANY HTHSA OFFICIAL TO COME DRIVE MY 2003 Z4 AND PUT HIS LIFE AT RISK. BMW NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE UNTIL NTHSA ISSUE A RECALL.

GETTING INTO THE CAR AFTER SHOPPING IT WAS SUDDENLY UNABLE TO STEER. WHEN MOVING IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IT WAS AGAIN UNABLE TO STEER. BUT AGAIN WAS VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN MOVING. I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR YEARS WITH THE STEERING STICKING WHEN DRIVING BUT THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT ISSUE. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR LIKE THIS.

STICKY OR JERKING STEERING WHILE DRIVING BMW 2003 Z4, FIRST ATTEMPT WAS TO TAKE THE CAR TO AUTHORIZED BMW DEALER IN JULY 2013 , MILEAGE 27,756. SUGGESTED RESULT WAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. 2ND ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE PROBLEM, APRIL 2014 MILEAGE 28,844. LUBRICATE UPPER STEERING WHEEL BEARING. 3RD ATTEMPT, MAY2015, MILEAGE 31,098. INSTALLED GREASE FITTING INTO STEERING COLUMN. NOW AT 32,000 MILES CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. BMW NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE WITH Z4 MODELS FROM 2003 -JUNE 2006 PRODUCTION.

THERE WAS NOT AN INCIDENT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE BODY SHOP TO HAVE THE ERROR RESET AND IT SAID TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID NOT AND IT IS STILL ON. WAS THERE A RECALL ON THIS.