2003 BMW Z4 complaints

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH STEERING HAS DEFINITE STICKING SPOTS CREATING HAZARDOUS CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT PREDICTABLE SOMETIMES DRIVES FINE OTHER TIMES WITH NO WARNING PROBLEM OCCURS, MAKING THE SAFETY ISSUE EVEN MORE GRAVE. FEAR OF LANE SWERVE AND POSSIBLE COLLISION. BMW SERVICE COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM AND SAYS THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM EXISTING. UPON INVESTIGATION IT SEEMS I AM IN A LARGE GROUP OF BMW Z4 OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS STEERING PROBLEM. I URGE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT, MAIMED OR EVEN KILLED. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM ON MY Z4. THIS BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY IN THE STEERING HAS BEEN INCREASING FROM MONTH TO MONTH AND WHERE IT NOW IS BEGINNING TO FEEL UNSAFE. THE STEERING STICKS WHILE NAVIGATING THROUGH CURVES AND DOES NOT ALWAYS RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION. OTHERTIMES, IT STICKS AND ONE NEEDS TO PULL IT BACK TO CORRECT THE STEERING. IT IS QUITE UNSAFE AND MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED, NOT ONLY FOR OUR SAFETY, BUT ALSO OTHERS WHO MAY BE VICTIMIZED BY HEAD ON COLLISIONS. AFTER CHECKING OUT MY COMPLIANT WITH MY BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC, HE TELLS ME THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM ON THIS CAR AND CHECKING THROUGH THE MECHANIC'S WEB SITE, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO ONE THAT KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM, SHORT OF TAKING OUT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND REPLACING WITH A NEW ONE. THE COST OF THIS WOULD AMOUNT TO $3,000.00 OR MORE. THE MECHANICS FEEL THIS IS A POOR STEERING DESIGN AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY BMW. HE TOLD ME TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR IT IS POSSIBLE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM COULD BREAK DOWN AT ANY MOMENT. *TR

STEERING IS STICKING BADLY. INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND TOLD IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. WITH THE VEHICLE UNDER 20,000 MILES THE MECHANIC SAID IS CLEARLY A DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 03/21/12 *BF UPDATED 05/11/12

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND 3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT WITH A LOT OF RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THIS "STICKING" STEERING WHEELS MAKES THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND HARD TO KEEP FROM WANDERING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE STEERING MECHANISM WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. SEVERAL YEARS LATER AND NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, I NOTICED THIS SAME PROBLEM STARTED BACK UP. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I WOULD RARELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE ONLY PUT 4000 MILES SINCE 7/06) THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AT THIS POINT, I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSE AS THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INCREASES. THIS DEFECT MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE THE VEHICLE TENDS TO WANDER BACK AND FORCE DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING. THE REPAIR IS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND I HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR A RECALL SINCE I HAVE READ OF MANY OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 IS VERY ERRATIC. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO TURN ITSELF LEFT OR RIGHT, AND OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT IS FIGHTING ITSELF TO TURN. WHEN DRIVING OVER THE SLIGHTEST UNEVEN ROAD, THE STEERING WILL PULL AND SWERVE ON IT'S OWN. AT SLOW SPEEDS, IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT HAS BECOME A WHITE KNUCKLED SCARY EXPERIENCE. UNDER BREAKING, THE CAR WILL SWERVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

WHEN THE CAR STAY OUTDOOR FOR A LONG TIME ON HOT SUNNY DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME VERY HARD TO TURN. IT IS NOTICEABLE AT ANY SPEED. HIGHWAY SPEED IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR IS HARD TO KEEP ON A STRAIGHT LINE. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM USA BUT I LIVE IN CANADA. THE ADDRESSEE THAT I WROTE IS WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW. SORRY FOR MY POOR ENGLISH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER IN A STRAIGHT POSITION WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MOST OFTEN WHEN DRIVING IN WARMER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED ON THE CAR MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. LUCKILY IT FAILED WHILE ON A STRAIGHT PART OF AN INTERSTATE AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THIS SEVERELY FRIGHTENED HER. SHE DID NOT OVERREACT AND WE TOOK APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS ISSUE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA IN 2010 BUT CAN NOT FIND ANY INDICATION THAT AN ACTUAL RECALL IS IN PLACE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE WITH A LOT OF WINDING ROADS (TENNESSEE). I PURCHASED THE CAR USED LAST YEAR AND ALSO HAD A WATER PUMP FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A BLOWN ENGINE. I WISH THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED ALSO AS I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES READING INCORRECTLY. I READ THAT ONE OWNER WAS CONTACTED BY BMW NORTH AMERICA AFTER THEY FILED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE POWER STEERING WITH NHTSA AND BMW VOLUNTARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THE OWNER. I HOPE I HAVE THE SAME LUCK AFTER POSTING THIS COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP WAS LOOSE AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V032000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

STEERING BECOMES INTERMITTENTLY "STICKY". FIRST SYMPTOM IS THAT WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL NORMALLY NOTHING HAPPENS. AS A RESULT, I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL MORE AND THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR TURNS. IMMEDIATELY, I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL BACK THE OTHER WAY TO AVOID GOING OFF THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM IS REPEATED WHEN I TURN BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND I ESSENTIALLY END UP WEAVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE SYMPTOM COULDN'T BE REPRODUCED BY THE SERVICEMEN WHO LOOKED AT IT. IN RETROSPECT, I'VE REALIZED THAT I WAS ALWAYS HAVING THE CAR CHECKED WHEN IT WAS COOL OUT (MORNINGS & I LIVED NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR), BUT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR ONLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE (OVER 70 TO 80 DEGREES). SINCE I COULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, I HAVE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED MY DRIVING WITH THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER RECENTLY MOVING TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE COUNTRY, I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO A NEW SERVICEMAN LAST MONTH. HE SAID THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE Z4 STEERING BEARINGS. AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM (INCLUDING TO THIS WEBSITE). I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE; IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME THIS IS SOME SORT OF DESIGN FLAW. IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE STEERING BEARINGS WEARING OUT DUE TO NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR" WITH ONLY 34,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE ASAP AND FORCE BMW TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFO

AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS IN THE SUN ON A HOT DAY (OVER 80 DEGREES) THE STEERING STICKS. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE FINE ADJUSTMENTS SO IT IS HARD TO HOLD THE CAR IN A LANE. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS A PREDICTABLE PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGH AND THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V247000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000 .

THE STEERING MECHANISM AND WHEEL SEEM TO STICK. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT TRAVEL SMOOTHLY WITHIN THE NORMAL STEERING RANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ON A STRAIGHT LINE... SUDDENLY, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT, WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT AND TYPICALLY CAUSES THE CAR TO MOVE ERRATICALLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO KEEP THE CAR CENTER ON THE DRIVING LANE. DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS HAS BECOME A BATTLE TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. OVER CORRECTIONS ARE INEVITABLE AND THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENTS/COLLISIONS. *TR

IN HOT WEATHER THE POWER STEERING GETS EXTREMELY STICKY AND WHEN MAKING A TURN SUCH AS ON AN EXIT RAMP THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE PULLED TO RETURN IT TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION WHICH RAISES THE DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT THE CAR COULD GO RIGHT OFF THE RAMP IF NOT CAUGHT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES SWERVING WHEN MAKING SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR CAN SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE. DEALERS ARE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THE ON-LINE Z 4 FORUM INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM APPARENTLY DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. *TR

I HAD THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE GET WORSE ON THE INTERSTATE AFTER I FILED THE FIRST COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED BMW USA AND TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALER. I WAS TOLD BY BMW USA THAT MY PROBLEM WAS THE DEFECT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR ANY OF THESE VEHICLES UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FEW MORE FATAL CRASHES FOR THE SOMEONE TO STEP UP AND FORCE THIS MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? EVEN THOUGH I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, IT WAS PURCHASED IN FLORIDA WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO ENJOY A CONVERTIBLE. HOWEVER, THIS FAILURE OCCURS AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 77 DEGREES. NOW THAT I KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, HOW CAN I PASS IT ON TO ANOTHER WHO MIGHT NOT BE AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND JOIN BMW IN BEING THE INSTRUMENT OF THEIR DEATH. *TR

WHEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR STEERING IS VERY HARD TO HOLD STRAIGHT, VEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I ONLY HAVE 32,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT STILL HAPPENS. SERVICE REPS VERIFY THAT ALL STEERING COMPONENTS ARE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. *TR

1.VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE; UNABLE TO MAINTAIN STEERING OR KEEP VEHICLE ON THE ROAD SAFELY. 2.VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 3.MANUAL GEAR BOX; SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS NOT SMOOTH, NOT ENGAGING SMOOTHLY 4.WATER LEAKING INSIDE OF VEHICLE TRUNK AND REAR SEAT AREAS. VEHICLE TRUNK AREA WAS SATURATED WITH WATER AFTER RAINING; FILLING WATER OVER THE BATTERY BOX AND CARPETS, SHORTING OUT ELECTRONICS. 5.OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE; PLASTIC COMPONENTS EARLY DETERIORATION; FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA BLACK PLASTIC COWL AND ANTENNA. INSIDE OF VEHICLE BLACK PLASTIC COVER FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP 6.RAIN SENSOR INOP 7.DOOR LOCKS INOP/INTERMITTENT 8.WINDOWS REGULATORS PLASTIC BROKEN. *TR

MY STEERING WHEEL LIGHT GOES ON THEN THE CAR HANDLING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE PROBLEM STARTED ONE DAY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WHEEL WAS SUDDENLY HARD. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY: WHEN I START THE CAR AND AT ANY RANDOM TIME WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK (BEFORE THE NEXT FAILURE). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE NOTHING IS TELLING ME WHEN THE NEXT ISSUE IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M ALWAYS SCARED TO MAKE A TURN OR TO CHANGE LANES. *TT

BMW Z4 DEVELOPED A NOTCHY OR STICKY FEEL AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS IN PLACE AND EXTRA EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE THIS OCCURS. PROBLEM WAS VERY SPORADIC AT FIRST BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AS I MY DRIVING TIME INCREASES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW Z4 ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ROUGHLY 65MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING BECAME VERY NOTCHY AND STIFF, THE CAR FELT AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKING AND NOT TURNING TO CENTER FREELY. DRIVING LIKE THIS THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN YOUR LANE, A VERY SCARY FEELING WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL I RETURNED HOME AND WAS STILL NOTICEABLE AT CITY SPEEDS, WHEEL STILL STICKING AROUND TURNS AND NOT RETURNING TO CENTER POSITION AFTER COMPLETING A TURN. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN,NOT GIVING ME A GOOD SENSE OF SECURITY WHEN DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM ONLY STARTS TO HAPPEN AFTER OR WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. I'M CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF BMW Z4 OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR SAFELY PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING DEVELOPS REGARDING A RECALL OF ANY FAULTY STEERING EQUIPMENT ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO RESET. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LASTED FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE IS STICKY AND IS DIFFICULT TO TURN AFTER IT IS IN PLACE FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS. THIS CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE DRIVING DIRECTION OF THE CAR AND IN MANY CASES CAUSES AN OVERCOMPENSATION IN STEERING. *TR

2003 BMW Z4 (21,000 MILES) - STEERING BECOMES DANGEROUSLY STICKY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS WARM (ABOVE 80 DEGREES OR SO AND ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN). THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T RETURN TO CENTER AND THE CAR JERKS SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE STEERING UN-STICKS AS THE DRIVER TRIES TO MAKE SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS. THIS RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS SWERVING OF THE CAR SIDE-TO-SIDE WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, PARTICULARLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TT

2003 BMW Z4 9500 MILES, WHEN HOT THE STEERING LOCKS IN POSITION AND EXCESSIVE FORCE IS NEEDED TO CORRECT THE STEERING, CAUSING A JERK MAKING THE CAR JERK TO THE SIDE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO RECORRECT. HAPPENS AT HIGH AND LOW SPEED. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE CENTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT TEMPERATURES UNDER 45 DEGREES AND OVER 75 DEGREES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ UPDATED 11/02/11

IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 45 F AND ABOVE 75 MY STEERING HANGS UP JUST OFF CENTER SO WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE FREEWAY IT LOOKS LIKE I ZIGZAG FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND AROUND TURNS IT BECOMES ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN IT CATCHES I HAVE TO USE A BIT MORE FORCE TO UN JAM IT AND AT HIGH SPEEDS IT ALMOST THROWS ME INTO A SPIN OR CRASH INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM BUT SAYS HE RARELY DROVE THE CAR IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM. I CANNOT AFFORD THE 2600- 3600 PRICE TAG FOR THE REPAIR AND SINCE BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2003 AND HAS FAILED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM MYSELF ALONG WITH SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF OTHER BMW Z 4 OWNERS DESERVE A FREE CORRECTION FOR THIS PROBLEM.. INSTEAD BMW IS FLEECING THE POOR FOOLS WHO HAPPEN TO OWN A Z4 MODEL ,, DO I HAVE TO DIE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS CAR BEFORE BMW DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY KEPT IN THE GARAGE. AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN IN TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 85 DEGREES, THE CAR STEERING WAS HARD TO OPERATE. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE STEERING WAS MANUAL -- HARD TO TURN ON A CURVE AND HARD TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR SITS OUTSIDE IN HOT WEATHER. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED BY MY MECHANIC. *KB

[XXX] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0I. THE PUMP FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY , COMPLETE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING, NO PREVIOUS SIGN OF MALFUNCTION THE CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *KB

DIFFICULTY STEERING THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING STICKS. THE WARMER THE TEMPERATURE, THE STEERING FEELS STUCK AND WITH THE LEAST MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT LOSES CONTROL. IT IS FINE IN THE MORNING AND WHEN IT IS COOL BUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 80, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING. NO ACCIDENTS YET!!!!! IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. *KB

VEHICLE STEERING STICKS AROUND CENTER WHEN WEATHER IS HOT AND IS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHICH INCREASES THE DANGER FOR LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY AT ANY TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

DURING WARMER WEATHER THE STEERING IS JERKY AND THE CAR DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT CAUSING THE CAR TO WANDER BACK AND FORTH ON THE ROAD. IF THE ROAD HAS A CROWN IT CAUSES THE CAR TO PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER SENDING IT TOWARD THE ONCOMMING TRAFFIC OCCASIONALLY. THE STEERING ALSO FEELS 'CENTER LOCKED' SO THAT AN AMOUNT OF FORCE GREATER THAN NORMAL IS REQUIRED TO CHANGE COURSE OF THE VEHICLE, THEN ONCE IT STARTS TURNING (SHOULD BE GRADUAL AS FOR COURSE CORRECTIONS), THE CAR LUNGES IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GRADUALLY TAKE. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS OCCURS IN WARMER WEATHER AND IS NOT AS NOTICIBLE IN COOLER WEATHER. *TT

THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 2.5L IS VERY STICKY. IT FEELS AS IF THERE IS PINE-TAR IN THE LINKAGE. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO NOT OVER CORRECT OR ELSE RISK RUNNING OFF A BRIDGE OR INTO THE CAR IN THE NEXT LANE. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. I ONLY DRIVE THIS CONVERTIBLE ON SUNNY DAYS, SO I COULDN'T SAY IF WEATHER HAS ANY AFFECT. *KB

BMW Z4 ROADSTER, STEERING WHEEL PLAY AND STICKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY MAKE A TURN WHICH CAUSED HER TO SWERVE INTO THE NEXT LANE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE HOT WEATHER WAS A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BMW SPECIALIST WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

THE STEERING IN THE 2003 BMW Z4 IS EXTREMELY NOTCHY, OR STICKY. THE ISSUE IS CONSIDERABLY WORSE ON WARMER DAYS, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT LIMITED TO ONLY HAPPENING IN WARM WEATHER. RECENTLY, THE STEERING HAS BECOME MUCH WORSE, ALMOST LOCKING IN PLACE WHILE TURNING. EVEN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE MINOR CORRECTIONS IN STEERING DUE TO CURVES IN THE ROAD, THE WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND THEN JERK THE CAR VIOLENTLY WHEN IT DOES ALLOW THE CORRECTION TO BE MADE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ISSUE CAUSES A FATALITY. BMW HAS DENIED ANY ISSUE OR RECALL AND HAS REFUSED TO COMMENT REGARDING OTHERS' COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TT

BMW X4 2003 60,1000 MILES- ELECTRONIC POWER STERING IS STICKY- ERATIC - SAFETY CONCEN= HAD PROBLEM TO CONTROL HE CAR- ENVIRONMENTAL CONDICTIONS ARE VERY HOT. *TT

POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE STICKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS, 45 AND ABOVE ON MY 2003 Z4. CAR ONLY HAS 42000 MILES, ITS NEW TO ME. *TR

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4. I CONSTANTLY MUST KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL CENTERED AS IT STICKS TO ONE SIDE THEN THE OTHER AS I DRIVE. IT WANTS TO GO RIGHT OR LEFT AND I NEED TO TRY TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT. *TR

SOMETIMES WHEN I GO OVER A DEPRESSION OR ROUGH AREA IN THE ROAD THE CAR WILL VEER INTO THE OTHER LANE. (CROSS THE CENTER LINE) I ALSO FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING. YOU CAN TURN THE WHEEL TO LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE IN THAT DIRECTION EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH OR WHEN DRIVING IN HIGH TEMPERATURES ABOVE 80 DEGREES THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. UPDATED 09/26/11

STICKY STEERING WHEEL ON 2003 BMW Z4. FEELS AS IF ITS HARD TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN. ITS ALMOST LIKE A MAGNETIC RESISTANCE. THE FORCE REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL IS 3-4X NORMAL AND IS INTERMITTENT SO IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM IMO. IF YOU ARE IN A CORNER AND DON'T EXPECT IT, IT CAN BE QUITE HARD TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS ON THE WHEEL, AND POSSIBLY CAN OVERCORRECT. *TR

MY 2003 BMW Z4 AUTOMOBILE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE. THE STEERING MECHANISM "STICKS OR PARTIALLY LOCKS WHEN DRIVING. ON OCCASION IT TENDS TO PULL TO THE LEFT AT MOST SPEEDS CAUSING CONCERN REGARDING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER 2003 Z4 OWNERS. IN SOME CASE THERE WERE CLOSE CALLS IN AVERTING HEAD ON CRASHES WHEN DRIVING ON TWO LANE HIGHWAYS DUE TO THE STEERING PULL TO THE LEFT SIDE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO THE 2003 Z4 SERIES WHICH HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING. IT APPARENTLY GETS WORSE WITH TIME. MY Z4 HAS LESS THAN 21,000 MILES. *TT

MY SON AND I PURCHASED A USED 2003 BMW Z4 WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON IT . IT HAD A SLIGHT PULL TO THE RIGHT SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT DONE . THE BMW DEALERSHIP THAT WE TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OK AND THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR WAS PROBABLY GOING BAD. THEY WANTED $ 3,500.00 TO REPAIR IT. SINCE THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT WAS VERY SLIGHT I ASKED IF THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE SINCE IT MY SON THAT WILL DRIVING THE CAR. THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER ARRIVING HOME WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH OUR SERVICE ADVISER AND HE ACTED LIKE HE WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF IT BEING A PROBLEM AND AGAIN ASSURED US THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE. ON THE WAY HOME FORM WORK MY SON WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAD A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE STEERING HAD A DEAD SPOT AT THE CENTER POSITION. I THEN DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THESE CARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM MY SON IS HAVING WITH HIS CAR. I TALKED TO OTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY WON'T EVEN GET INVOLVED IN REPAIRING THIS BECAUSE THE CARS STILL HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER BEING REPAIRED. I THEN CALLED THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND ASKED HIM IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED OR ARE THEY JUST INSTALLING A NEW PART THAT IS THE SAME AS THE OLD PART AND WILL FAIL AGAIN. HE SAID HE WOULD GET BACK TO ME. AND SURPRISE HE HAS NOT. WE WOULD NOT MIND SO MUCH AS TO SPEND $3500.00 TO HAVE A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM FI

2003 BMW 2.5L Z4 STEERING LOCKS AND REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WORSE ON HOT DAYS. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION TO DATE. *TR

2003 BMW Z4 STICKY STEERING. WHEN I DRIVE MY 2003 BMW Z4 DURING WARM WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS. IT IS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS LEADS TO VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AS IT FEELS LIKE IT IS STICKY/STUCK. *TR

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 THAT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH HAS 27,000 MILES ON IT AND THAT I?VE HAVE HAD SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE CAR HAS NEVER DRIVEN IN WINTER AND KEPT IN A HEATED GARAGE. I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM BMW SERVICE AND REPAIR. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW, EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE THE STEERING WOULD GET STICKY OR NOTCHY, AND EXTRA FORCE WOULD HAVE TO BE USED TO BREAK THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND TURN THE WHEEL. IT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENED VERY INFREQUENTLY WHEN NEW; HOWEVER, THE LAST YEAR OR SO IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND HAPPENS WHENEVER THE CAR IS DRIVEN. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR AND GOT IT BACK YESTERDAY. THE DEALER REPLACED PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF OVER $3,000.00. IT SEEMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING AND ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST AND THEY BASICALLY GAVE ME THE FINGER BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FROM READING ON-LINE THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS, OTHERWISE SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. I DON?T UNDERSTAND WHY BMW WON?T ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS AND STEP UP TO PLATE WHEN IT COMES TO THE REPAIR? THESE ARE NOT INEXPENSIVE KIAS!!! BMW IS REALLY HURTING THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN THESE CARS. I KNOW THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS DAMAGED THEIR REPUTATION WITH ME. MY WIFE OWNS A FORD EDGE AND WE WERE THINKING OF REPLACING IT WITH A NEW X3 NEXT SPRING

THE STEERING BEGINS TO FEEL STICKY. IT IS HARD TO MAKE STEERING CORRECTIONS DURING NORMAL DRIVING WITHOUT JERKING THE WHEEL EITHER LEFT OF RIGHT. THIS APPEARS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN DURING WARM WEATHER. I NOTICED IT LAST NIGHT DURING THE COOL OF THE EVENING, HOWEVER. IT WAS UNDER 60 DEGREES AT THE TIME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED TEMPORARILY WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.