2003 BMW Z4 complaints

STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD STICK OR BECOME HARD TO MOVE THE WHEEL. THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK IN ANOTHER POSITION AND BECOME HARD TO TURN AGAIN. THIS DID NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME BUT ENOUGH TO BE ANNOYING. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND TOWN, I NOTICED THE STEERING BECOMING"STICKY". IT WAS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR IN MY LANE. THIS CONTINUED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW REPAIR SHOP AND WAS GIVEN THE NEWS THAT I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN WITH POWER ASSIST AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ABOUT $3800. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN IGNORE. AFTER SEEING ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING ASSIST I AM DUMBFOUNDED AS TO WHY BMW HAS NOT BROUGHT THIS TO OWNERS ATTENTION. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE ASTRONOMICAL!!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS. BMW SHOULD MAKE OWNERS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND FIX IT. THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE MY FIRST AND LAST BMW.!!!!!!! *TR

POWER STEERING DID NOT MOVE SMOOTHLY. ON HOT DAYS THE STEERING BINDS UP. THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN. A DEFINITE DETENT IS FELT IN THE STEERING, THIS DETENT REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO OVERCOME, COMMONLY CAUSING OVERSTEER AND A BACK AND FORTH TRACK DOWN THE ROAD. AS CAR ROLLS DOWN HIGHWAY THE SMALL MOVEMENTS TO GO STRAIGHT ARE UNATTAINABLE AS THE STEERING IS HARD TO TURN AS AREAS OF HIGHER RESISTANCE REQUIRE EXTRA FORCE UPON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND WHEN THE RESISTANCE IS OVERCOME THE CAR STEERS TO FAR IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION AND WHEN A CORRECTION IS ATTEMPTED THE SAME SITUATION OCCURS. WHEN THE CAR IS HOT AND THIS ISSUE IS PRESENT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN A SMOOTH STRAIGHT DIRECTION. IN ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL I HAVE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BEEN NEARLY OR SLIGHTLY OFF THE ROADWAY AND NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. *TR

WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE THE STEERING BECOMES ROUGH, AWKWARD, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. IT HAPPENS AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 30 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BECOME "STUCK" IN A CERTAIN POSITION AND REQUIRES GREATER THAN NORMAL FORCE TO MOVE FROM THAT POSITION. USING GREATER FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE "STUCK" POSITION CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR OVER-STEERING. *TR

STEERING HAS BECOME LOOSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD AND FIND THAT OVER CORRECTIONS ARE HAPPENING. WAS TOLD MUST REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3200.00. IT IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM THAT BMW SHOULD FIX. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A MODERATE SPEED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES THE STEERING BECAME "STICKY" AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THIS INCIDENT. IT APPEARS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. IN READING VARIOUS BMW FORUMS I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 Z4'S AND THE NHTSA HAS OR IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION. I UNDERSTAND BMW HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON LATER MODELS. THIS REALLY CREATES A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION AND I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING THIS CAR. IS THERE ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN BY THE NHTSA OR BMW? I HAVE CONTACTED BMW BUT THEY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

APPARENTLY THERE IS A BEARING INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT IS NOT A SEALED BEARING (POOR DESIGN). THE GREASE LEAKS OUT OF IT AND IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND DANGEROUS. THE BEARING IS NOT REPLACEABLE SO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3,000 TO $4,000. THE WARMER THE TEMPERATURE THE HARDER THE STEERING. I WON'T EVEN LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR SHE WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I EVEN HAVE TROUBLE KEEPING IT ON THE ROAD AT TIMES. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SINCE BUYING IT 5 YEARS AGO. HAD IT AT A BMW REPAIR STORE THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THE STEERING COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $ 3000 PLUS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS BMW. WHY HAS BMW NOT ISSUED A RECALL? THIS COULD BE A SEVERE PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND DEATH WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I'M HAVING A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING BEING STICKY. IT IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND REQUIRES REASONABLE FORCE TO CORRECT. THIS, IN TURN, CAUSES OVER-STEERING CONSTANTLY MAKING THE CAR VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR IS LOW MILEAGE: UNDER 36,000. *TR

MY STEERING COLUMN TURNS SIMILAR TO THE FAN CONTROL SWITCH ON THE Z4 FROM DETENT TO DETENT AND NOT SMOOTHLY LIKE A VOLUME CONTROL ON A RADIO. IF YOU REACH FORWARD TO THE FAN CONTROL CONSOLE AND TURN IT YOU WILL NOTE THAT IT DOES NOT TURN SMOOTHLY IT GOES FROM STOP TO STOP TO STOP ABOUT EVERY 5 DEGREES. EACH STOP IS CALLED A DETENT. SO AS YOU TURN THE KNOB IT STARTS IN A DETENT THEN AS YOU TURN IT CLICKS INTO THE NEXT DETENT AND STOPS THEN YOU HAVE TO TWIST A BIT HARDER TILL IT CLICKS INTO THE NEXT DETENT. THAT IS HOW MY STEERING COLUMN ACTS WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. IT CLICKS INTO ONE DETENT AND THAT POSITION MAY NOT KEEP YOU DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. YOU TRY TO CORRECT IT AND IT WILL NOT TURN UNLESS YOU PUSH EXTRA HARD THEN IT GOES PAST THE POINT THAT WOULD KEEP YOU GOING STRAIGHT DOWN HE ROAD INTO THE NEXT DETENT AND YOU ARE PROGRESSIVELY HEADED OFF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS YOU TRY TO CORRECT IT BY TURNING BACK, IT WILL NOT SMOOTHLY TURN BACK, IT RESISTS TILL YOU PUSH EXTRA HARD THEN IT GOES PAST THE POINT THAT WOULD KEEP YOU GOING STRAIGHT AND STOPS IN THE NEXT DETENT AND NOW YOU ARE HEADED OFF THE ROAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. *TR

THE STEERING STICKS MEANING IT BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AND REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT ON MY PART TO MOVE IT AGAIN. I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE IT ELSE IT STICKS AND I LOSE CONTROL FOR ABOUT A SECOND. VERY SCARY AT HIGH SPEEDS. BASICALLY IF GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND I WANT TO TURN IT IS NOT SMOOTH AND I HAVE TO ALMOST FIGHT WITH IT TO TURN. *TR

CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BEING STICKY WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM OR WHEN THE CAR SITS IN THE HOT SUN. THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN HELD STEADY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SEEMS TO STICK IN AN EXACT POSITION AND IF THE WEATHER IS VERY WARM THE STICKINESS IS SUCH THAT WHEN THE CAR NEEDS STEERING CORRECTION TO STAY IN THE DRIVING LANE THAT SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO UNSTICK THE POSITION OF THE STEERING DIRECTION. ONCE THE DRIVER'S PRESSURE CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME UNSTUCK THE WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY VEER IN THE DIRECTION THE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED, IE. TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR TOWARDS THE DITCH UNTIL THE DRIVER CAN QUICKLY COUNTERACT THE SUDDEN RELEASE OF THE UNSTUCK STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THE WEATHER IS PARTICULARLY WARM THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE FOR FEAR OF LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND DRIVEN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BY MY WIFE SINCE NEW. *TR

I BOUGHT MY USED BMW Z 4 THREE YEARS AGO FROM A PRIVATE PARTY WITH 13,500 MILES. CAR IS IN SHOWROOM CONDITION BUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES AND THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN, I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING AND LOCKING. I FIND MYSELF CONSTANTLY FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL IN HOT WEATHER AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE STEERING CAPABILITY OF MY VEHICLE. MY LAST EPISODE WAS LAST WEEK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 80'S AND THE CAR SAT OUT IN THE SUN ALL DAY WHILE I WAS AT WORK. THIS CAR HAS UNDER 19,000 MILES ON IT AND I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT BMW WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND DO A RECALL IMMEDIATELY TO ADDRESS THIS COMMON PROBLEM. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A FATALITY TO OCCUR BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THIS STEERING MALFUNCTION. *TR

STEERING GOT STUCK, AND CAR SLID LEFT TO RIGHT. *TR

DATE LISTED IS AN APPROXIMATION... I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND DURING THE HOT WEATHER THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT WAS STICKING. NOW THAT I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS I CAN TELL THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LEFT IN THE HOT SUN THE STEERING "STICKS" WHICH CAUSES IT TO MOVE ERRATICALLY. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER THE SPEED AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. DUE TO THE STICKING I AM VERY WARY DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT AND THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN. I READ THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE AND WANT TO INCLUDE THAT MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS LISTED IN THE INVESTIGATION. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE BMW TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT ENOUGH EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE TO CONFIRM THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED A JERKING MOTION WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY IN HOTTER WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECAME STICKY AND IMPACTED THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,650.

AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 75 DEG THE STEERING GETS STIFF AND FEELS STICKY. AFTER MAKING A TURN THE WHEELS DO NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION ON THEIR OWN BUT REQUIRE DRIVER TO TURN STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION BECAUSE THE STEERING BINDS AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVERSTEERING IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THE STIFFNESS. *TR

ALL SENSORS LIT UP AND WILL NOT GO OFF: TIRE PRESSURE, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AIR PRESSURE, AIRBAG, ETC. SENSORS. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STICKS (STILL DOES AS OF MARCH 30, 2013) AND VEHICLE BECOMES HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I I RECENTLY PURCHASED. I NOTICED THE "STICKY" STEERING FOR THE FIRST TIME THE NIGHT I PURCHASED IT. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS OF Z4 OWNERS HAVE THIS SERIOUS STEERING ISSUE. THE STEERING IS NOT SO BAD IN COOL WEATHER, BUT WARMER TEMPERATURES HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON KEEPING THE CAR ON THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE 1 MONTH THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. YESTERDAY I ALMOST LOST CONTROL GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON A CURVE DRIVING AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. Z4 OWNERS ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THIS STICKY STEERING ISSUE. I DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK HARD ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THIS ISSUE WIDE-SPREAD AND HAS BEEN GROSSLY IGNORED. I WAS ALSO SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF AFFECTED CARS, WITH NO ACTION BY BMW OR OUR GOVERNMENT. WHAT ARE THE POWERS AT BE WAITING FOR? A DEATH BECAUSE OF THE STEERING ISSUE. THE CAR NEEDS A RECALL FOR A REPLACEMENT STEERING COLUMN OR A BULLETIN TO SIMPLY BRING THE CAR TO A DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. BMW IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY STEERING COLUMNS. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN FIXED YET? PLEASE DO SOMETHING! *TR

THE STEERING FEELS 'STICKY'. DRIVING AT ROADSPEED, ESP ON INTERSTATE WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT LINE, WHEN YOU NEED TO MAKE SLIGHT STEERING ADJUSTMENTS, THE STEERING STICKS AND WHEN YOU GIVE IT ENOUGH EFFORT TO 'UNSTICK' IT, YOUR CAR MOVES ERRATICALLY. BASICALLY, WHEN IT 'UNSTICKS' IT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVER-CORRECT AND OVERSTEER. IT DOES THIS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN ON WARM DAYS, I.E OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPS OVER 80 DEGREES F. *TR

POWER STEERING BROKE DOWN. I READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE TRYING TO RESEARCH WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCES OTHER OWNERS HAD AND THERE ARE TOO MANY ISSUES WITH STEERING WITH THESE CARS TO BE IGNORED. THANK GOD THAT MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AT A LOW SPEED, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH? I HAD "STICKY" STEERING IN THIS CAR FOR YEARS BUT THIS TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

STEERING WHEEL GOES BACK & FORTH ON ITS OWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY SCARY ! NOT SAFE! FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONTROL. I PAYED A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR

STEERING WHEEL GOES BACK & FORTH ON ITS OWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY SCARY ! NOT SAFE! FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONTROL. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STICKS THEN RELEASES CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

DRIVING SOUTH ON SANTA BARBARA ATTEMPTED TO TURN RIGHT ONTO DAVIS BLVD. AS I WAS TURNING THE STEERING STUCK. THAT SURPRISED ME AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. IT TOOK A HEAVY EFFORT TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION OF THE CAR.THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR AT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR OVER 1 YEAR NOW. WHEN I CALLED BMW NA TO INQUIRE WHETHER THIS ISSUE WAS COVERED UNDER THE 04V247000 RECALL, I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT ONE OF THE VIN NUMBERS COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THE NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED BY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE AIR BAG MODULE OF THIS VEHICLE. BMW NA NEVERTHELESS HAS RESPONDED WITH THE SAME ANSWER "YOUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF AFFECTED VIN NUMBERS." IN CASE AN INJURY, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING AIRBAG SYSTEM, IS SUSTAINED BY MYSELF OR ANY OTHER COMPLAINING OWNER, BMW NA SHOULD BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN PLACED ON ACTUAL NOTICE OF THE DEFECT AND SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR ITS INTENTIONAL DISREGARD OF A KNOWN HAZARD. *TR

THE POWER STEERING BECOMES DANGEROUS WHEN THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO HEAT 80+ DEGREES/SUN. THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" IN CERTAIN SPOTS AND IS HARD TO MOVE. IT WILL RANDOMLY STOP "STICKING" GIVING AN UNEXPECTED PUSH IN ANY GIVEN DIRECTION. LOOKS TO BE A FREQUENT COMPLAINT. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE HEAT. *TR

BMW Z4 STEERING - NO POWER STEERING, CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN MANAGING & STEERING CAR. *TR

THERE IS A CATCH OR BINDING FEELING IN THE STEERING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A WHILE AND IS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE (GETS WORSE WHEN WARM). I NOTICED THIS AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT A FEW MILES; IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO TRACK ON ITS OWN AS IF IT WAS FOLLOWING A RUT IN THE ROAD EVEN THOUGH IT IS ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT AND THE WHEEL HAS TO BE FORCED BACK IN THE A STRAIGHT LINE. IT HAPPENED TO ME AS I ENTERED AN INTERSECTION AND THE STEERING STUCK, TURNING ME INTO THE ON-COMING LANE. I WORRY THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE IS DRIVING AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF IT WERE TO TIGHTEN UP UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR

ON MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK, AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE, I EXPERIENCED "STICKY STEERING." JUST LIKE THE COMPLAINTS FROM INVESTIGATION PE10020 AND COUNTLESS INTERNET POSTS OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT WAS STUCK IN PLACE AND REQUIRED EXTRA FORCE, THEN IT WOULD RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING ME TO OVER-CORRECT. WORSE THAN JUST HEAVY STEERING IS THE FACT THAT IT NEEDS EXTRA FORCE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL "UNSTUCK" BUT THEN THE ASSIST KICKS IN AND YOU'RE OVER-COMPENSATING WHICH CAUSES ZIG-ZAGGING. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN MY LANE ON THE INTERSTATE AND AT ONE POINT I DROPPED TWO WHEELS ON THE SHOULDER. I HAVE NOW CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE AND THEY TELL ME THEY'RE BEING GENEROUS BY REPLACING THE KNOWN-FAULTY STEERING RACK -- SO LONG AS I PAY $1,000+ IN LABOR. I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS WRONG THAT THIS KNOWN DEFECT COSTS THE CONSUMER ANY MONEY TO REPLACE. BMW SHOULD COVER PARTS AND LABOR. THEY KNOW THIS PART IS FAULTY, EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO SAYS "OH, THE Z4, YEAH I'VE SEEN THIS STEERING PROBLEM ON LOTS OF THEM" BUT THEY'RE QUICK TO REMIND ME THAT IT WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL SO THEY AREN'T OBLIGATED TO DO ANYTHING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR A MANDATORY RECALL (YOU KNOW, LIKE THE ONE THEY ARE DOING ON CURRENT MODELS WITH SIMILAR POWER STEERING FAILURES!). *TR

STICKY STEERING CAUSES OVER STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE PLAY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OUT OF ITS LANE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THERE WAS A FRONT END WHEEL ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE BALANCED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V247000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE CENTERED POSITION AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT SPECIALIZED ON BMW MANUFACTURED VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,300.

DRIVING 35 MPH STRAIGHT. LOST POWER STEERING. PULLED OVER SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED ENGINE POWER STEERING RETURNED. LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN WITHIN ONE MILE. RETURNED HOME. *TR

THE STEERING SEEMS TO LOCK UP MAKING IT HARD TO STEER. SEEMS RATHER DANGEROUS SINCE YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE WHEEL HARD EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. WONDERING WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS. *JS

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SUN WITH TEMPERATURES OVER 88 DEGREES. AT 2 PM, I DROVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH WHILE ROUNDING A SLIGHT BEND TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN UNDER A SLIGHT EFFORT SO I MADE AN ADDITIONAL EFFORT. SUDDENLY, THE RESISTANCE IS COMPLETELY ABSENT RESULTING IN A SHARP VEER TO THE LEFT CHANGING LANES. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER CAR IN THE LEFT LANE. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED AND RETURNED TO MY ORIGINAL LANE. WITHIN 15 TO 20 SECONDS, THE SITUATION REPEATS. I TRIED TURNING ON THE SPORT FEATURE WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO PROVIDE MORE RESISTANCE BUT THE SAME EVENT OCCURS. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE SUN FOR 4 OR MORE HOURS AND IT IS ABOVE 88 DEGREES. IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE, I DRIVE IN ONE GEAR LOWER, SAY 4TH, AND CONSTANTLY SHIMMY THE WHEEL TO AVOID LOSS OF CONTROL. IT'S SIMILAR TO SNOW SKIING WITH THE VEHICLE CATCHING AN EDGE OR GROOVE IT DOES NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF. IT CONTINUES TO DRIVE IN THE SAME PREVIOUS DIRECTION AS YOU APPLY ADDITIONAL EFFORT. SUDDENLY, THE WHEEL GIVES AND IT'S AS IF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY AMPLIFIED, WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY NEED AT 5MPH, NOT 60MPH. AS YOU FINISH THE BEND, IT CONTINUES TO STAY LOCKED IN THE TURNING POSITION. SO, ADDITIONAL EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLE AND AGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL FIGHTS YOUR EFFORTS ONLY TO SUDDENLY GIVE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. YOU STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE CAR IN YOUR LANE THE ENTIRE TIME AND FROM THE REA

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING GETS VERY HARD TO STEER. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH SHE COULD FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING AND IT BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. SHE ALSO STATED IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,800 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 12,200 UPDATED 07/13/12*LJ BMW AGREED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FREE OF CHARGE. UPDATED 07/18/12

OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, THE STEERING IN MY BMW Z-4 HAS FELT LIKE I HAVE TO FIGHT TO STAY ON THE ROAD. IT IS JERKING & PULLING THE CAR OFF CENTER MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND FEEL SAFE. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO "STICKS" RATHER THAN ROTATING SMOOTHLY WHEN I TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS CONDITION IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE LAST WEEK AT APPROX. 55 MILES/HOUR AND SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR SWERVED HARD PULLING ME INTO THE NEXT LANE OF TRAFFIC COMING VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *JS

THE STEERING STICKS AND IS HARD TO CONTROL. THE STEERING SEEMS TO HAVE LOBES/STICKING POINTS IN THE STEERING AND STICKS AT CERTAIN POINTS AND THEN LETS GO MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STEER AND HAS JERKY CATCHING POINTS AS YOU MOVE THE WHEEL WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 90 DEGREES MY STEERING STICKS AND YOU HAVE TO JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO UNSTICK. IT ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU ARE TAKING A GRADUAL CURVE AND YOU TRY TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS LIKELY THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT CHECKED. IT IS SO DANGEROUS THAT I WILL NOT DRIVE IN HOT WEATHER UNTIL I GET IT FIXED... I JUST CAN'T AFFORD SEVERAL THOUSAND IN REPAIR BILLS. BTW, THERE ARE ONLY 23,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I HAVE HAD IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO STICK AND JERK TO THE SIDES ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10020 (STEERING:COLUMN STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION, THE ELECTRIC STEERING BINDS OR GETS STUCK WHILE IN CENTER POSITION AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT OR IMPAIRS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. ON THIS OCCASION, I WAS TRAVLING AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED AND WAS CHANGING LANES AND BECAUSE OF THE STEERING PROBLEM I JERKED THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CAR IN THE OTHER LANE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES AND GETS WORST IN THE WARM TO HOT WEATHER. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW IN BOTH MASSACHUSETTS AND FLORIDA WITH NO HELP FROM DEALERS. MY VEHICLE HAS 79,000 ON IT NOW WHICH ISNT A LOT OF MILES FOR A 2003. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL WILL STICK TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT IN WARM WEATHER. IT CAUSES THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. *JS

BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUNE 2011 WITH APPROXIMATELY 86000, SO IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THE PROBLEM HAD SHOWN UP PRIOR TO THIS DATE/MILEAGE. DURING VERY HOT DAYS, THE STEERING "STICKS" AND IS DIFFICULT TO START MOVEMENT, RESULTING IN JERKINESS AND SWERVING ON THE ROAD. ONCE MOTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS INITIATED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE MOVEMENT SMOOTHLY. BUT WHEN YOU STOP MOVEMENT, IT WILL STICK AGAIN. THIS MAKES IT VERY TEDIOUS AND ANNOYING AND POSSIBLY EVEN UNSAFE TO MAKE EVEN JUST THE NORMAL CONSTANT MINOR ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. OFTEN TIMES, JUMPING FROM ONE SIDE OF MY LANE TO THE OTHER, AND BACK. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

DPS FAILURE. LIGHT STAYS ON AND STEERING IS IMPOSSIBLE. DEALER SAID 3,000.00 TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN. *TR