2004 BMW Z4 complaints

STEERING STICKS NORMALLY IN A STRAIGHT LINE DRIVING SITUATION. ONE HAS TO APPLY FORCE TO UNSTICK STEERING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE EPS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ UPDATED 02/29/16.*JB

THE CAR HAS A DANGEROUS STICKY STEERING PROBLEM. VERY NOTCHY STEERING, DIFFICULT TO KEEP ON THE ROAD. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED.

FOR ABOUT THE LAST FIVE THOUSAND MILES, MY STEERING HAS DEVELOPED THE DANGEROUS STEERING CONDITION( DESCRIBED BY LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS IN BLOGS AND VARIOUS POSTINGS-JUST DO A SEARCH FOR "Z4 STEERING PROBLEM") THAT EXISTS IN 2003-2005 BMW Z4 ROADSTERS. AT FIRST, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ONLY ON VERY HOT DAYS (AS DESCRIBED MY MANY OTHERS). NOW, IT AFFECTS ALL ASPECTS OF DRIVING, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. STEERING REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER. I HAVE REPLACED TIRES TWICE AND HAD SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS WITH NO EFFECT. IF EVER THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL THIS IS IT. THE DEAD STEERING DESCRIBED IS MOST EVIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50-70MPH)

REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO YOU IN 2006--ODI 10496814- STICKY STEERING-WHICH CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO JERK THE WHEEL HARD AND LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE- I HAVE READ THERE ARE WELL OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM- BMW HAS, SOME AT MY COST, REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE AND NOW WHAT TO DO THE 3RD TIME, AT MY COST. THIS WOULD MAKE FOUR COLUMNS, COUNTING THE ORIGINAL ONE, AND THIS CAR ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES. THERE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THERE ENGINEERING ON THIS PROBLEM. MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE IS A UNSEALED BEARING INSIDE THE COLUMN THAT FAILS. YOU CANNOT REPLACE THE BEARING-BMW DOES NOT LIST THIS AS A PART. IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT NHTSA FIND A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY IS HURT OR KILLED. IN 2010 THE USA REPORTED OVER 107 COMPLAINTS AND ONE CRASH.

THE STEERING SYSTEM (EPS) IS MAKING THE STEERING VERY "NOTCHY" "STICKING" AND MAKES THE CAR VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I'VE READ FORUMS THAT SAY THE PROBLEM YEARS ARE FROM 2003 - 2005 BUT BMW WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM THEREFORE NO RECALLS WERE MADE. NOW I CAN'T EVEN SELL THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM

AFTER CRANKING MY 2004 Z4 IN THE DRIVE WAY, MY WIFE IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THE TIME, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF FOR NO REASON. HAD JUST PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK IT UP AND THEN "POW" SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT GOING OFF. I LOOKED OVER TO SEE MY WIFE PANICKED AS SHE WAS STUNNED THAT THIS WENT OFF RIGHT IN HER FACE. IT SCUFFED HER ARM A BIT AND GOT THE POWDER RESIDUE IN HER FACE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN VERY LITTLE, ONLY ABOUT 6000 MILES A YEAR ROUGHLY. THIS KIND OF THING SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. THE CAR HAD NOT EVEN MOVED IT WAS JUST PUT INTO REVERSE AND THEN IT UNEXPECTANTLY EXPLODED. I HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE CAR IN TO CHECK ON A RECALL THEY HAD ON SOME VEHICLES FOR THE AIRBAG MAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE, WAS TOLD THAT MY MODEL WAS NOT EFFECTED. I THINK THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A LIE, AND IF WAS NOT A LIE THEN IT CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

STEERING STICKS AND ALMOST CAUSE ACCIDENT. CAR IS LIKE NEW AND IT A SHAME I CANT ENJOY CAR BECAUSE STEERING ISSUE WITH BMW Z4 STEERING. I CANT AFFORD THE DEALER PRICE TO FIX A CAR DEFECT.

THE STEERING HAS BECOME STICKY OR NOTCHY AND OVER TIME HAS GOTTEN WORSE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND AS A RESULT I WAS FORCED TO EITHER SELL THE CAR ON TO AN UNSUSPECTING BUYER, OR FIX IT. I CHOSE THE LATER AS I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAMILY IN DANGER. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE IN HEAT OVER 80 DEGREE'S AS THE STEERING WAS TIGHT, AND WOULD STICK IN POSITION CAUSING EXCESS FORCE TO MOVE IT, AND CAUSE SEVERE OVERSTEER SITUATIONS. AFTER HAVING TO COMPLAIN TO BMW FOR WEEKS, THEY DIRECTED ME TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED (FOR $180) AND THEN DECIDED THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE COST TO REPAIR THEIR ENGINEERING ISSUE. WHILE I FOUND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ADMIT A MISTAKE AND COVER HALF THE REPAIR A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, I JUST DON'T THINK ITS ENOUGH. A NEW STEERING COLUMN WAS QUOTED AT $3750, AND I PAID ALMOST $1800 PLUS DIAGNOSTICS FEES. I WASN'T GOING TO BOTHER WITH THIS COMPLAINT, AS THE NHTSA HAS SHOWN IT IS NOT INTERESTED IN HOLDING BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS WIDE SPREAD ISSUE (UNLIKE TOYOTAS STICKY GAS PEDALS), BUT AN INCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY THIS WEEK CHANGED MY MIND. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE CROSSING A MAJOR RIVER, AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SWERVED TOWARD THE GUARD BARRIER. I HAD MILLISECONDS TO REACT TO THE STEEL GARBAGE CAN SET IN THE CENTER OF THE LEFT LANE, WITH A 18 WHEELER TO MY RIGHT. I SWERVED AS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME DID, TOWARD THE GUARD BARRIER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND SAFELY NEGOTIATED THE CAN. THANK GOD I HAD THE STEERING FIXED, AS IT ST

I LEFT MY BMW IN THE SUN ALL DAY AND NOW MY LOCKS WONT WORK. MANY RESOURCES LINK THIS PROBLEM TO THE GM5 WHICH CONTROLS THE LIGHTING AND LOCKS. BAD LOCKS CAN BE A SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUE ON PARKED CARS BUT ALSO FOR MOVING CARS AS CHILDREN MAY OPEN VEHICLE DOORS IN TRAFFIC.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

CAR HAS BEEN HAVING STICKY STEERING PROBLEMS FOR AWHILE NOW. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE THIS SUMMER . WHEN THE WEATHER IS ABOVE 70 OR THE LONGER I DRIVE THE WORSE IT GETS. PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ANY LONGER. STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO HAVE A FLAT SPOT IN THE MIDDLE AND CAUSES YOU TO OVER STEER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. VERY DANGEROUS. WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE AROUND 3000 DOLLARS TO FIX?? IT IS A GREAT CAR BESIDES THAT!! TO BAD IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT THIS TIME. JUST SITTING IN GARAGE. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF A NEW STEERING COLUMN.

THE STEERING COLUMN FREEZES IN POSITION AND HOLDING THE STEERING IT WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT'S BEING HELD BY A MAGNET MUCH LIKE A DC MOTOR FEELS IF YOU TRY TO ROTATE IT. FOR EXAMPLE AFTER ROUNDING THE BEND OR TAKING THE CORNER THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STAY IN POSITION AND YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER IT'S LIKE IT'S STUCK THERE BY MAGNETIC FORCE. I CALLED MY BMW DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THEN HE ASKED THE SERVICE FORMAN AND WAS TOLD IT'S A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT $3600-4000. IF THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THEN WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. AND WHY ISN'T BMW TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DESIGN FLAW.

THE DAY I PURCHASED MY USED 2004 BMW Z4, I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKING". I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL WITH THAT PARTICULAR CAR. OVER THE YEARS, THERE ARE DAYS THAT IT DRIVES NORMALLY WITH NO STEERING PROBLEMS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS REALLY STICKING WHEN THE CAR IS GOING OVER 20 MPH OR I SHOULD SAY, IT'S HARDER TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AT A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 20-25 MPH. THE BMW DEALER WHERE I LIVE NOW TOLD ME THAT IT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR OFTEN ENOUGH. AND IT'S TRUE THAT I DON'T DRIVE VERY OFTEN - I JUST ROLLED OVER 50,000 MILES AND THE CAR IS 14 YEARS OLD. I HAVE MANY TIMES HAD TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY OR DRIVE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO STAY WITHIN MY LANE DUE TO THE STEERING PROBLEM. I GET FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE ANYWHERE EXCEPT THE CITY STREETS NEAR MY HOME WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS UNDER 40 MPH. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALER HERE IN OK AGAIN AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO FIX THIS ISSUE ONCE AND FOR ALL BECAUSE MY CAR HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN A NORMAL FASHION.

I HAVE NOTICED ON WARM DAYS THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY AS IF THE POWER STEERING IS COMING ON AND OFF. THIS CAUSES A OVER CONTROLLING OF THE CAR AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I FELT VERY UNSAFE. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW ROADSHOW AT MEMPHIS AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRIC STEERING UNIT AND WILL COST $4000 TO REPAIR. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND WAS SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS GOING BACK AS FAR AS 2009. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. BMW KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS CORRECT IT IN LATER MODELS AND THEY KNOW HOW IT FIX THE ISSUE. IT APPEARS THIS IS AN AGE RELATE ISSUE, NOT MILEAGE, AND THESE CARS,2003-2005 ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. IN MY RESEARCH I SEE THAT NHTSA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS CLOSED THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE REOPENED.

THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. I JUST HAD THE FRONT STRUTS AND OTHER FRONT END WORK DONE FIGURING IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, IT DIDN'T. IN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND TALKING WITH OTHER BMW Z4 OWNERS, THIS HAPPENS ON ALL 2003-2005 BMW Z4. THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS A HIGH SPEED. WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE (LONGER THAN 1 HOUR, MOST LIKELY HEAT RELATED), THE STEERING BECOMES VERY, VERY STIFF AND FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, AND TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL YOU MUST EXERT AN EXTRAORDINARY FORCE TO MAKE IT MOVE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS UNTIL THE CAR SITS AWHILE (COOLS OFF). AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS CAN MAKE YOU OVER CORRECT AND FORCE YOU OUT OF YOUR LANE. IF I EVER COME UP AND AN OBJECT IN MY LANE (I.E. TIRE FRAGMENT FROM A TRUCK) AND I HAVE TO MOVE OUT THE WAY AND THERE IS ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE NEXT LANE, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE I COULD SIDESWIPE THAT VEHICLE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE DEFECT HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN OTHER VEHICLES BY INSTALLING A NEW STEERING COLUMN FROM EARLIER YEAR BMW Z4 (2008 OR EARLIER), SO IT SEEMS THAT BMW KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS CORRECTED THE DEFECT. BMW JUST NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT WITH ALL THE VEHICLES EFFECTED. I KNOW FROM RESEARCH THAT THIS HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BEFORE (2010 OR 2011) BY THE NHTSA, BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. THIS NEEDS TO BE REOPENED AND A RECALL IMPLEMENTED. THESE ARE LOW MILEAGE AND WELL MAINTAINED CARS, AND WILL STILL BE ON TH

STEERING WAS NOTICED TO BE "NOTCHY" WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEEMS LIKE STEERING IS CAUGHT ON SOMETHING THEN BREAKS FREE. INITIALLY THOUGHT IS WAS LOW POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT DISCOVERED THIS VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING. FURTHER TESTING SHOWED IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. THE STEERING CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND OVER-CORRECTIONS OCCUR WHEN IT BREAKS FREE. FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN WARM WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO TURN INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,352. UPDATED 09/01/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/27/2015*JS

MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR FOR A DRIVE AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE LUCKILY WITH NO WARN THE STEERING ELECTIC MOTOR FAILED. THE BMW DEALER SAYS THE EPS IS BAD BUT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN AT A LOW DISCOUNTED PRICE OF 3750. NOT SURE WHY BMW CAN'T JUST REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN IN VERY BAD ACCIDENT IF THIS EVENT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY OR EVEN ON THE REGULAR ROADS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SERVO COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,500.

I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW Z4 CONVERTIBLE 2 MONTHS AGO. FOR THE FIRST MONTH, THE CAR DROVE PERFECTLY. THE LAST MONTH, THE CAR HAS BECOME UNDRIVEABLE DUE TO A "STICKY STEERING WHEEL" AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING (THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE). I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS QUITE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THE MOMENT AND AFTER READING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE, IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE IN WHICH A FACTORY RECALL WAS SET TO BE RELEASED.

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING CONSTANTLY GETS STUCK ON THE LEFT SIDE AND YOU HAVE TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR BY PULLING THE WHEEL FIRMLY TO THE RIGHT CAUSING OVER CORRECTION. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY FIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS AND IRRITATING.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

STEERING GOT STICKY IN A MIDDLE OF A 90 DEGREE TURN NEARLY RESULTING IN A CRASH AS POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED TEMPORARILY. WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS PARTICULAR BMW VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. TODAY IT WAS AROUND 85 DEGREES F. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, LIKELY BECAUSE THIS IS THE HOTTEST DAY SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. WE UNDERSTAND THAT BMW HAS RECEIVED ALMOST 50,000 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT NHTSA HAS SEEN IT FIT TO CLOSE THEIR INVESTIGATION. WE ARE BAFFLED BY THIS DECISION AS STEERING PROBLEMS CAN BE FATAL AND OBVIOUSLY THE DEFECT LIES IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY BMW BEFORE FATALITIES START TO OCCUR. *TR

STEERING BECOMES TIGHT AND STICKY ,HARD TO MAKE IT TRACK STRAIGHT. WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER MAKING A TURN. *TR

STEERING IS STICKY, MEANING EXTRA ENERGY IS NEEDED TO STEER THE CAR AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK DOWN THE HIGH WAY IN A NORMAL MANNER... *TR

VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MAKES DRIVING VERY STRESSFUL. CALLED BMW AND THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD BE REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A PERMANENT FIX SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURS DURING WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ON WARM DAYS, VEHICLE STEERING IS STICKY, HARD TO TURN. FEELS LIKE LOSE OF POWER STEERING. VEHICLE ALSO PULLS EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT DEPENDING ON LAST MOVEMENT. HARD TO STEER BACK TO CENTER. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, BUT NO ACTION OR RECALL HAS BEEN TAKEN. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

DRIVER SIDE MIRROR FELL OFF AND HANGED BY ELECTRICAL WIRES AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY. SIDE MIRROR WOBBLES WHILE DRIVING AND MAKE JUDGMENT DIFFICULT. POOR WORKMANSHIP, DESIGN OR ASSEMBLY IS PROBABLY THE CAUSE. *TR

ON A WARM DAY STEERING IS STICKY, NEEDS A LOT OF EFFORT AND CAR FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

WHEN TURNING STEERING, THE STEERING STACKS. NOT ALL THE TIME BUT IT GOT WORSE RECENTLY SO THAT IT BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

THE VEHICLE STEERING DEVELOPED A STICKY AREA THAT WAS VERY HARD TO GET PAST. THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. IT CONTINUED AND I SLOWED SO ANOTHER ACCIDENT DOES NOT OCCUR. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED AT LOW SPEEDS ,BUT NOT AS BAD. I JUST GOT THE CAR AND WAS DRIVING HOME. *TR

TAKATA AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND MAKES A TICKING NOISE. *TR

PASSENGER AIR BAG EXPLODED AND BUSTED WIND SHIELD. *TR

THE STEERING HAS A HESITATION. I HAVE NOTICED IT THIS SUMMER AROUND TOWN, THINKING THE STEERING IS JUST VERY TIGHT SINCE IT IS A SPORTS CAR. BMW DID SOME REBUILDING OF THE FRONT END LAST FALL AND THERE WAS NO ISSUE IN THE STEERING AT THAT TIME. ON 9/06/14 I REALIZED AT HIGHWAY SPEED I WAS PUSHING HARD OCCASIONALLY IN A CURVE TO ACTIVATE THE STEERING. BMW GAVE THE DIAGNOSIS ON 9/24/14 THAT THE STEERING COLUMN/ELECTRIC MOTOR R&R PROGRAM EPS (STEERING UNIT) -ALL, FOR AN ESTIMATED FEE OF 3551.63. SO BMW TELLS ME THEY ARE SORRY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR AND THEY OFFER ME NO ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE BMW COMPANY. I AM NOT READY TO PAY THIS EXPENSE AT THIS POINT. IF THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE OR TO THE POINT I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY, THEN I WILL HAVE A REPAIR MADE, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, I KNOW I NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR HARD STEERING ON OCCASION. *TR

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED LATE SUMMER 2013. UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED WE DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. WE WERE TOLD BY MULTIPLE RESOURCES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW. WE REPLACED THE SPRINGS. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL. OTHER BRAND/MODELS WITH CRACKED/BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE HAD RECALLS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HIGH SPEED CORNERING COULD CAUSE SPRINGS TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. *TR

THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO STICK AT TIMES AND YOU HAVE TO JERK IT BACK TO CENTER TO KEEP IT IN LINE ON THE ROAD. ONCE IT STARTS, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I AM REAL CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING SINCE IT IS HARD SOMETIMES TO JERK IT BACK IN LINE OR STRAIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MANY MONTHS NOW AND I AM VERY CONCERNED AND DON'T DRIVE IT AS MUCH NOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 10/07/14*LJ UPDATED 3/23/2015 *JS

STEERING STICKS WHEN TEMPERATURE IS WARM. WHEN DRIVING HAVE TO PULL STEERING BACK TO CENTER WHEN STEERING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. USUALLY OCCURS ONCE TEMP IS ABOVE 75 DEGREES. DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR ON ROAD, HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHEN ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND HAVE LIMITED MY DRIVING OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE DANGER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I LOST CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING AND IT FELT LIKE MY STEERING LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED A BIT AFTER CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE THAT I HAD GOOD POWER STEERING FLUID AND THE BELTS WERE GOOD. I TURNED ON THE CAR AGAIN AND STILL HAD NO POWER STEERING. SINCE I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME I CAREFULLY DROVE HOME FIGHTING MY STEERING ALL THE WAY. I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE REPAIR WAS EXTREMELY COSTLY. I DID NOT REALIZE HOW AWARE THEY WERE UNTIL I FURTHER RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED TO SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. I SAW REPORTS OF MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED ON THIS ITEM. IT IS ABSOLUTELY MIND BOGGLING THAT SUCH A DEFECT IS LEFT TO THE CONSUMER TO PAY WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. DOES A DEATH HAVE TO INCUR FOR A RECALL? AREN'T PREVENTATIVE MEASURES JUST AS IMPORTANT FROM THE NHTSA TO HELP AVOID FUTURE ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE INJURIES? *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" AT VARIOUS AND UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. IT WILL STICK AND RESIST GOING INTO A CURVE, THEN HOLD THE CAR IN THE CURVE AND NEED TO BE UNSTUCK TO BRING THE CAR OUT OF THE CURVE. THE STICKING IS NOT EXAGGERATED OR IMPOSSIBLE TO CORRECT, BUT SOME SMALL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO UNSTICK THE WHEEL FROM ITS DIRECTIONAL COURSE. BECAUSE IT HAPPENS AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES IT IS UNSETTLING AND FEELS VERY UNSAFE ON CURVES OR WHEN MAKING LANE CHANGES. I'VE BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BMW DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THEY CLAIMED THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON SEVERAL VISITS. ON THE MOST RECENT VISIT THE DEALERSHIP CONCEDED THE FAULTY STEERING COLUMN, BUT ARGUES THAT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE MAKES IT INELIGIBLE FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. I BELIEVE THAT FAULTY STEERING COLUMNS ARE A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON Z4 ROADSTERS FROM 2003 - 2005. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 22,500 MILES ON IT. CLASSIFYING THE PROBLEM AS RESULTING FROM AGE OR WEAR IS IRRESPONSIBLE. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DESIGNED OR MANUFACTURED WITH THIS FAULT, AND BMW SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT ITS EXPENSE BEFORE NEEDING TO RECORD ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. *JS

MY PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG LITERALLY "EXPLODED" AS I WAS WALKING UP TO MY CAR THIS MORNING. OF COURSE, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS WHAT IT WAS UNTIL I UNLOCKED MY CAR AND OPENED THE DOOR. THE AIRBAG WAS EXPOSED AND THERE WAS "SMOKE" IN THE CAR. IT APPEARS WHAT HAPPENED IS THE EXACT REASON GIVEN FOR RECALLING THE 3 SERIES VEHICLES DUE TO THE TAKATA AIRBAG PROBLEM, THE REASON GIVEN ARE INCIDENTS SUCH AS THIS OCCUR IN FLORIDA AND PUERTO RICO DUE TO THE HIGH HEAT AND HUMIDITY. SEE USA TODAY ARTICLE: HTTP://WWW.USATODAY.COM/STORY/MONEY/CARS/2014/07/16/BMW-TAKATA-SHRAPNEL-NHTSA-RECALL/12729929/ !....UPDATED 07/31/14 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ UPDATED 09/17/2014 *JS

ON DAYS OVER 75 DEGREES F, DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, IF I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY AND RELEASE IT, STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO TOP DEAD CENTER. INSTEAD, THE Z4 CONTINUES TO TURN ON IT'S OWN UNTIL I STEER THE CAR BACK TO A STRAIGHT LINE. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO THE STRAIGHT-AHEAD POSITION WHEN I RELEASE IT. A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH IS REQUIRED TO STEER AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. POWER ASSIST DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK OVER 75F AND THE STEERING FEEL IS NOTCHY. ON COOL DAYS, THE STEERING IS FINE. THIS STEERING FAILURE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IT IS GETTING WORSE AND IS NO LONGER SAFE. THE DEALER IS NOT HELPFUL. IT IS A US CAR AND I LIVE IN CANADA. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS IN FORUMS. THE CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON HOT DAYS. INTERIM SOLUTION IS: DON'T DRIVE MY Z4 ROADSTER ON HOT DAYS?! SO MUCH FOR THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE. *TR

IN WARM WEATHER HAS A STICKY STEERING PROBLEM AS IT SEEMS TO STICK WHEN YOU TRY AND TURN THE WHEEL. AND THAN RELEASES WITH PRESSURE AND THAN YOU OVER STEER. HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. ONLY TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES AND ACCIDENT. *TR

JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. DIDN'T NOTICE BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK BY EITHER USING THE KEY FOB OR THE CENTRAL LOCKING/UNLOCKING SWITCH INSIDE. DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE GM-5 BOARD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I ALSO HEARD THAT THIS GM-5 CAN CAUSE FAILURE ON OTHER FUNCTIONS WITH THE CAR - WIPERS, LIGHTS ETC. THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD BUT ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT. THIS PART SHOULD NOT FAIL SO QUICKLY. *TR