2004 BMW Z4 complaints

THE VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS STEERING PROBLEM. THE STEERING STICKS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT FROM THE DRIVER TO CORRECT WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND MAY APPEAR AT ANY TIME. THE TIME IT APPEARED, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONDITION DID NOT EXIST AT FIRST BUT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WAS STUCK AS IF THE STEERING HAD A "DETENT". THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT OUT OF LANE AND INTO THE LANE NEXT TO ME. THIS REQUIRED ME TO ABRUPTLY APPLY MORE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. EVENTUALLY THE STEERING BROKE FREE AND THE VEHICLE OVER COMPENSATED AND DRIFTED TO THE OTHER SIDE LANE. I IMMEDIATELY REDUCED SPEED TO THE MINIMUM ALLOWED ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ON EITHER SIDE OF ME WHEN THIS OCCURRED, ELSE I WOULD HAVE SURELY COLLIDED WITH THEM BOTH. *TR

AFTER DRIVING MY Z4 ON A HOT AFTERNOON I NOTICE THE STEERING FEELING VERY NOTCHY. YOU HAD TO PUT IN A LOT OF FORCE TO GET THE WHEEL BACK TO WHERE YOU WANTED IT. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS FINE. BUT I HAVE NOTICE ANY TIME THE CABIN TEMP GETS ABOVE 88 THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. IT PRODUCES A REAL JERKY FEELING IN THE WHEEL AND ITS VERY UNNERVING TO DRIVE. *TR

DRIVING ON CURVY MOUNTAIN ROADS STEERING STICKS REQUIRING EXTRA FORCE TO STEER RESULTING IN OVER CORRECTION AND RUNNING OFF ONTO SHOULDER. WITHOUT A SHOULDER IN THE MOUNTAINS THIS IS A POTENTIAL SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

WHEN I AM DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, MY STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS MOVING SMOOTHLY, AS I WOULD EXPECT FROM A PRECISION-ENGINEERED BMW. IN FACT, IT STICKS TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS IT IS JERKED FORCEFULLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS JERKING IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM WHEN I AM DRIVING AT 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. HOWEVER, WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 40 OR MORE MILES PER HOUR, THE STICKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN I JERK THE WHEEL AS HARD AS I HAVE TO IN ORDER TO UNSTICK THE STEERING, THE CAR SWERVES SO DRAMATICALLY THAT I COULD EASILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT ANOTHER CAR, ESPECIALLY IN RAIN OR OTHER PRECIPITATION, AND CAUSE PROPERTY, OR WORSE BODILY, DAMAGE TO OTHERS OR MYSELF. WHAT I FIND RIDICULOUS ABOUT THIS IS THAT I AM EXPECTED TO PAY $5K TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEE THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL LAST ANY LONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL PART, AT WHICH TIME I WILL HAVE TO PAY $5K YET AGAIN. *TR

HAVE HAD THE CAR ABOUT 8 MONTHS. HAVE DRIVEN IT 268 MILES. TOOK THE CAR TO WORK 5/30/14. IT WAS FINE DRIVING IN THE MORNING. AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN ALL DAY, THE STEERING STUCK BADLY ON THE WAY HOME.IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE RIDING ON A RAIL.HAVE TO KEEP MOVING STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP CAR GOING STRAIGHT. FEEL RESISTANCE IN STEERING. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2003-2005 Z4'S. I WISH I KNEW THAT BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR

STEERING IS VERY STICKY AND HARD TO STEER IN WARM WEATHER. *TR

THE STEERING BECOMES "STICKY" WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM. WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT IT RESISTS TURNING AND ONCE TURNED TRIES TO STAY TURNED AND THE CAR TENDS TO VEER UNINTENTIONALLY. THE STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER WHEN THE WHEEL IS RELEASED AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER SMOOTHLY ON THE FREEWAY AND REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION. WHEN IT IS COLD IT STEERS FINE AND TRAVELS DOWN THE FREEWAY PERFECTLY WITH NO HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND CORRECTIONS CAN BE MADE WITH ONLY TINY EFFORT. WHEN IT IS HOT AND STICKY IT TAKES BOTH HANDS AND A FAIR AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO STEER. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW RESULTING IN A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW SHOULD FIX UNDER WARRANTY REGARDLESS OF AGE. *TR

I OWN A SUSPECTED Z4 WITH A NHTSA REPORTED "STICKY STEERING" ISSUE I CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE MORE ABOUT IT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BOOST. WHEN THE CAR GETS HOT (SUMMER HOT) THE STEERING GETS NOTCHY IN THAT WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN A SLIGHT TURN, LIKE CHANGING LANES OR GOING AROUND A SLIGHT CORNER, THE STEERING LITERALLY STICKS IN THAT POSITION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO APPLY OPPOSITE PRESSURE TO "BREAK" THE WHEEL LOOSE FROM THE TURN FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER STICK WHEREVER THE WHEEL IS BROUGHT BACK TO. PROBLEM IS THAT IT CAUSES MASSIVE OVER STEERING ISSUES AT HIGH SPEED UNLESS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IT. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! BMW KNEW ABOUT IT AND RELEASED MULTIPLE PUMAS (THEIR EQUIVALENT OF A TSB) AND EVEN REDESIGNED THE SUSPECT COLUMN, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE OLDER ONES OUT OF WARRANTY. THESE ARE $3000 BEFORE LABOR AND BMW HAS FLAT OUT TOLD ME THAT THEY WON'T COVER A SINGLE DOLLAR OF IT. I GUESS WE WILL SEE NHTSA FORCES THEIR HAND! I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE I HAD TO JERK TO OUT OF ANOTHER LANE SEVERAL TIMES AND YOU MUST WORK EXTREMELY HARD TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

THIS PROBLEM APPEARS WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE GETS ABOVE 70, OR MY VEHICLE SITS IN THE SUN ALL DAY. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AT ALL SPEEDS - THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT "STICKS" IN ONE POSITION AND I HAVE TO FORCE IT BACK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO CORRECT THE COURSE I'M ON. THEN IT "STICKS" IN THAT POSITION AND I HAVE TO BE VERY VIGILANT WITH EVERY CURVE IN THE ROAD. IT SCARED ME LAST WEEK BECAUSE IT WAS THE WORST IT HAD BEEN SINCE IT FIRST BEGAN DOING THIS LAST YEAR. I LIVE IN THE FOOTHILLS OF CALIFORNIA AND CURVY ROADS ARE THE REASON I LOVE DRIVING MY Z4. LAST WEEK, THE STEERING PROBLEM SEEMED TO TAKE MORE ENERGY AND MORE CORRECTIONS TO FORCE THE WHEEL BACK IN THE DIRECTION I NEEDED THE CAR TO BE MOVING. WHEN THE WEATHER IS COOLER, THE STEERING IS PRECISE AND EFFORTLESS. I WAS SHOCKED TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH CORRECTING THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR EACH CURVE! IT WAS AN EXHAUSTING RIDE HOME; I DON'T FEEL SAFE WHEN THE CAR PERFORMS LIKE THIS. *TR

PASSENGER'S AIRBAG INDICATION LIGHT IS MALFUNCTIONED. THE INDICATION LIGHT OF PASSENGER'S AIRBAG SHOWS ALWAYS OFF. THEREFORE IT CAN'T TELL THE AIRBAG IS ON OR OFF. *TR

STEERING STICKS WHEN VEHICLE GETS HOT OR SITS IN THE SUN. *TR

AS I BEGAN TO PULL OUT FROM PARKING LOT ONTO ROADWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. I MANAGED TO BACK STRAIGHT DOWN THE HILL AND READ ABOUT THE ISSUE (IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING). I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. IT WORKED FINE. I'VE SINCE READ ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON SEVERAL BLOGS AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IS A REPEATING ISSUE. THANKFULLY I WASN'T IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR

STEERING BECOMES DANGEROUSLY SLOPPY AND TWITCHY AT SPEEDS OVER 35MPH. CORRECTING THE STICKY STEERING CAUSES AN OVER-CORRECTION AND WEAVING ON THE HIGHWAY MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS, YET NOTHING SEEMS TO BE IN THE WORKS TO ADDRESS. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HAD TO TURN DUE TO A CURVE IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. I HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING BACK TO CENTER. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER CAR. THE STEERING IS VERY JERKY,, IT STICKS IN ONE SPOT. UNTIL YOU FORCE IT WHERE YOU NEED IT TO BE. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS NOW HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND IS GETTING WORSE. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE, THE HOTTER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 222,000.

SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2004 BMW Z4 ON MARCH 13, 2013 I HAVE EXPERIENCE VERY ANNOYING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY UNSAFE ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLES STEERING ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE ALIGNMENT BUT AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE AND BMW FORUMS IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE E85 (2003-2005) BMW Z4 ROADSTERS. "NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN TO FIX "STICKY STEERING" PROB WITH THE EPS @ $3,300. MY 2004 Z4 IS A "PLEASURE" CAR WITH 17,000 MILES. NOT A PLEASURE TO FIGHT THE STEERING ON THE ROAD." -TAKEN FROM ONE OF THE FORUMS. FORTUNATELY I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE I DRIVE DAILY AND DON'T HAVE TO COMMUTE DAILY IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER WHEN I DO DRIVE IT IT'S DEFINITELY NOTICEABLE NOT ONLY BY ME BUT MY PASSENGERS, IT'S SCARY EVEN. I PURCHASED MY CAR WITH 69,500 MILES WHICH REALLY IS QUITE LOW CONSIDERING THE YEAR AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND SOMETHING THAT HAS COST ME SO MUCH TO OBTAIN GIVES ME AN UNEASY FEELING EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT. WISH I COULD AFFORD TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BUT BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT I SIMPLY DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA $3,000+ TO SPARE TO SPEND TOWARDS THE REPAIR. ANYWAYS HOPING ENOUGH GRIEVANCES WILL BE FILED AND EVENTUALLY BMW WILL OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND BE WILLING TO WORK WITH ITS MANY UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS WHO ARE LITERALLY HAZARDS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THIS "STICKY STEERING" PROBLEMS AT HIGH SPEEDS. THANK YOU *TR

MY BMW 2004 Z4 DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE HANDLES WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BEGAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS LOCKED INSIDE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO GET OUT. *TR

EPS(ELECTRIC POWER STEERING), DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE STEERING BINDS INTERMITTENTLY,AND ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT CAN THROW THE VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER LANE OR INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON A CURVE. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 PURCHASED USED IN 2011 WITH JUST OVER 60K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AT JUST UNDER 70K MILES THE DRIVER NOTICED STEERING SEEMED STIFF AND WHEN ENTERING A CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FREEZE IN LOCKED POSITION UNTIL MANUALLY CORRECTED UPON WHICH TIME IT WOULD FEEL AS IF THE FRONT WHEELS WERE ON A PATCH OF BLACK ICE MOMENTARILY! OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. DID A SEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE NO ACCIDENTS. HOWEVER IT WAS DISCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS (242) ON THIS OR SIMILAR STEERING PROBLEMS. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND SPOKE TO A PUBLIC RELATIONS REP. WHO INFORMED ME THAT BMW WAS UNAWARE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR MODEL STEERING. I REPLIED THAT THIS SEEMS ODD SINCE I HAD JUST LOOKED AT 17 PAGES OF SUCH PROBLEMS ON-LINE? I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED WITH ONE OF THEIR TECHNICIANS! HE CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE AND THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR I ALSO TRANSFERRED OVER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT A COST OF $1,000.00. SO I WILL ONLY BE OUT MY $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. PARTS AND LABOR WILL BE IN EXCESS OF $4,000K IF A DEALERSHIP TECH IS AWARE OF SUCH PROBLEMS WITH A PARTICULAR MAKE OR MODEL YOU WOULD SURELY THINK THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THE SAME SUCH FINDINGS! SOMETHING SMELLS AND ITS NOT GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE!

STEERING WAS STICKING AND FEELING FUNNY. SEEMED TO TAKE MORE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. IT FELT MAGNETIC IN THE CENTER OR RIBBED LIKE. THEN IT WOULD SUDDENLY GO WHEN TURNING. HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FIND THAT THE BMW Z4'S HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING COLUMNS IN THE 2003, 2004, 2005 AND SOME 2006 YEAR CARS. HAS TO DO WITH THE METAL WORM GEAR CLEARANCE IN THE NYLON COG GEAR BEING A POOR DESIGN. ON HOT DAYS THE CLEARANCE GOES TO ZERO MAKING THE GEARS TO TIGHT. ALSO NYLON ABSORBS MOISTURE AFTER A WHILE WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE NYLON GEAR TO INCREASE IN SIZE DECREASING THE CLEARANCE EVEN MORE. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND NOW AM SOMEWHAT AFRAID TO DRIVE IT OR LET MY FAMILY DRIVE IT. BMW HAS REPLACED MANY OF THESE. I HOPE MINE CAN BE REPLACED AS RIGHT NOW I'M NOT SURE WHAT MY RECOURSE MAY BE.

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4 WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH WHAT I WILL CALL STICKY STEERING. WHEN HOT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BIND AND REQUIRE EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE, RESULTING IN OVER STEERING IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE STICKING. AT ALL SPEEDS THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS CAN BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS AND IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED. I AM TOLD IT WILL NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE BMW HAD FOR A COUPLE YEARS ON THESE MODELS. *TR

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WE NOTICED DIFFICULTY STEERING THE CAR. THE STEERING IS VERY STICKY AND ERRATIC. IT IS ACTUALLY SCARY TO DRIVE. HAS A TENDENCY TO VEER OFF AND POSSIBLY WRECK. I JUST HOPE IT DOES NOT TAKE X NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS/DEATHS FOR THE MANUFACTURE (WHO IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM) TO FIX THIS UNACCEPTABLE STEERING PROBLEM. MY PERSONAL RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THERE ARE MANY MANY OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF ANY INFORMATION IS NEEDED OR IF YOU WISH FOR ME TO ELABORATE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL OR CALL ME. THANK YOU. *TR

ONCE THE CAR HAD WARMED UP I NOTICED THE STEERING WOULD "STICK"AND I HAD TO USE FORCE TO GET IT TO STAY ALIGNED WITH THE ROAD. *TR

THE STEERING BECOMES "NOTCHY" OR "MAGNETIC" DURING HOT WEATHER. IT GETS STUCK IN A POSITION AND REQUITES FORCE TO MOVE IT FROM THAT POSITION. THIS OFTEN HAPPENS TURNING THE VEHICLE AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES, FOLLOW A CURVE, OR MAKE A TURN. IT IS DANGEROUS AND CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THE STEERING IS THE ONLY PROBLEM BUT YOUR WEB SITE INSISTS ON MY SELECTING AT LEAST 3 AFFECTED PARTS. IN ANY CASE, THE STEERING RECENTLY BECAME JERKY AND NOTCHY WHILE DRIVING. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF THIS, I TOOK IT MY LOCAL FOREIGN CAR REPAIR SPECIALIST AND THEY DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. ULTIMATELY, THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST TO ME OF $4100. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION MAKING MY CONTROL OF STEERING TENUOUS AT BEST AND ONE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY STEERING BECAME VERY STICKY, WHEEL WOULD JUST JERK BACK AND FORTH WHENEVER I TRIED TO SWITCH LANES. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY WHO SAID, OH YEAH THAT'S JUST STIFF STEERING. WHEN I EXPLAINED IT MORE, HE FESSED UP THAT OH YEAH HE HAD HEARD OF THAT TOO AND IT WAS A POWER STEERING ISSUE AND NOT A GOOD THING AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. HE SAID THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, THE QUOTED WAS $4100 TO FIX IT! AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON LINE I'M FLABBERGASTED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS THIS IS A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE FOR MOST PEOPLE AND THEY PROBABLY HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT ENOUGH YET TO FIND OUT THIS WILL OCCUR. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL NO COMPANY SHOULD GET AWAY WITH PUTTING OUT A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND MAKING THE OWNERS PAY FOR IT LATER. *TR

MY 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING IS CHOPPY AND STICKS EVEN WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. MAKING NORMAL DRIVING MANEUVERS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AWKWARD. NOTE, THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 36000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND WITHOUT EVEN TAKING IT INTO THE SHOP TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, THE MAINTENANCE CREW TOLD ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. THE UPPER POWER STEERING MECHANISM IS FAULTY, WHICH BMW HAS A RECALLED FOR CERTAIN VINS BUT NOT OURS. ITS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THIS IS AN ACROSS THE BOARD BMW PROBLEM AND SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE COAXED INTO DOING THE RIGHT THING. SO I GO ON THE WEB TO THIS SITE AND I FIND 233 COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN JUST THIS YEAR ALONE. WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR BMW TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. STEERING BECOMES STICKY AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 75 DEGREES F., AND IS JERKY AND DIFFICULT TO STEER. BMW DEALERSHIP STATE IT WAS THE TIRES. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE. *TR

FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE IN 2009 AFTER A LONG DRIVE ON A VERY WARM SUMMER DAY IN NEW YORK. STARTED NOTICING A "STICKY/CHOPPY" REACTION TO THE AUTOMATIC STEERING WHICH BECAME PRONOUNCED WHILE ON A CURVE, AND REQUIRED QUICK ACTION TO "RIGHT" THE WHEELS TO AVOID A CROSSOVER TO THE OPPOSITE LANE. I BECAME MORE AND MORE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS IT SEEM TO RELATE TO LONG DRIVES ON HOT DAYS. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY DRIVEN IN THE SUMMER TIME, I CAN NOT TESTIFY TO THIS STEERING PROBLEM IN THE COLDER WINTER MONTHS. HOWEVER, I AM CONSTANTLY VIGILANT TO THIS ISSUE NOW. CONTACTED BMWNA TO CHECK FOR RECALLS, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE STEERING WAS FAULTY. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN CONTACTING THEM. THANKYOU *TR

THE STEERING ON THE CAR BECOMES NOTCHY AND TWITCHY, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND IN WARM WEATHER. THE STEERING WHEEL HANGS UP LIKE THERE IS A FLAT SPOT SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. IT TAKES EXTRA PHYSICAL EFFORT TO MOVE THE STEERING OFF THAT FLAT SPOT. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP RESPONDING TO DRIVER INPUT FOR A SHORT RANGE. THEN SUDDENLY START WORKING AGAIN AFTER EXTRA APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL. WHEN THE STEERING IS IN THE NOTCHY/TWITCHY CONDITION IT WILL PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION BECAUSE YOU ARE CONSTANTLY CORRECTING THE STEERING TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THE PROBLEM IS GREASE ON A BEARING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE BEARING IS NOT SEALED AND THE GREASE IS EXPOSED TO HOT TEMPERATURES. THE PROBLEM CAN BE REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE BEARING WITH A NEW IMPROVED VERSION, BMW DOES NOT OFFER THE BEARING ON IT'S PART LIST, BUT DOES RECOMMEND REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $4000.00. *TR

STEERING IS STICKING PULLS TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD SUDDEN JERKING OF CAR WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS BUT CAR DOESN'T TURN WITH THE TURN YOU HAVE TO FORCE THE TURN AND THEN YOU GET PULLED IN OTHER DIRECTION VERY VERY UNSAFE! FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BE PULLED INTO A CRASH! THESE STEERING COLUMNS NEED RECALLED AND FAST! *TR

I HAVE A STICKY STEERING PROBLEM ON MY '04 Z4. I TOOK MY Z4 TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZES IN BMW'S, I ASKED HIM TO LOOK AT THE STEERING PROBLEM. HE TOOK THE STEERING COLUMN APART AND FOUND A BEARING THAT IS ANYTHING BUT GOOD ENGINEERING. THERE IS A BEARING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT IS NOT SEALED. WITH TIME AND WITH HEAT THE LUBRICANT GETS DRY AND CAKES UP. HE TOLD ME THIS IS WHAT IS MAKING THE STEERING STICKY. HE CLEANED OUT THE BEARING AND PUT IN NEW LUBRICANT AND MY Z IS FUN TO DRIVE AGAIN. NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS: HE TOLD ME IT IS A TEMPORARY FIX, THE RESULT OF LOUSING ENGINEERING/DESIGN. THE BEARING IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IT IS NOT A SEALED BEARING. THE BEARING IS NOT REPLACEABLE. BMW DOES NOT LIST IT AS A PART - YOU HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY (PARTS AND LABOR OVER $3500). I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF BLOGS ON THIS SUBJECT IN WHICH OTHER Z-4 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. SEVERAL THINGS THAT I NOTICED WHILE READING THESE BLOGS: ANYONE THAT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE. IT IS FUNNY THAT EACH BLOG STATED THE EXACT SAME STATEMENT FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. THE SECOND THING WAS THAT THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BE REPLACED. IF THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEN HOW CAN THEY ASSUME THAT REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN IS THE CORRECT REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM, BMW SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND RECALL ALL Z-

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE ENGINE WAS IN OPERATION AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO WATER LEAKING INTO THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE STEERING ON THE CAR BECOMES 'NOTCHY' AND 'TWITCHY' ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WARM WEATHER. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP RESPONDING TO INPUT FOR A SHORT RANGE OF INPUT, THEN SUDDENLY START WORKING AFTER A LIMITED RANGE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THE STEERING WILL SUDDENLY PULL TO ONE SIDE REQUIRING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS HELD STRAIGHT VERY FIRM OR THE CAR WILL LUNGE TO THE SIDE. THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO DIFFERENT BMW REPAIR SHOPS. BOTH CONCLUDED THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS FAILING AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS JUST UNDER $4,000. *TR

THE VEHICLE TUGS ON UNEVEN ROAD OR WHEN TURNING N HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEED. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR STEERING STRAIGHT. JUST BOUGHT THIS AS A USED VEHICLE WITH NO CRASH HISTORY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR DURING EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 7/26/13 *CN

THE STEERING WOULD TAKE A "SET" MEANING IT WOULD TAKE EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL. THE TEMP THAT DAY WAS ABOVE 80 DEGREES (THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING WITH THIS VEHICLE). NO SMOOTH MOTION TO COMPENSATE FOR STEERING ADJUSTMENT. CONTINUAL COMPENSATION WITH BOTH HANDS AS NOT TO OVER CORRECT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT ASAP. *TR

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE NINETY DEGREES THE STEERING BECAME 'CATCHY' MEANING WHEN I TRIED TO DO NORMAL CORRECTIONS IT WOULD 'STICK' LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN SOME KIND OF GROOVE, REQUIRING ME 'FORCE' IT PAST THE STICKING POINT, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN AN OVER CORRECTION, WHICH IN TURN WOULD REQUIRE ME TO CORRECT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION - RESULTING IN A WEAVING IN THE LANE. THE ISSUE CONTINUED AND ON OCCASION, SEEMINGLY RELATED TO TEMPERATURE, WAS BAD ENOUGH TO FORCE ME OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ON TO SURFACE ROADS WHERE THE SPEED WAS LESS. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE COLD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM. THIS OCCURS EVERY YEAR WHEN IT GETS HOT AND THE LAST TIME I WAS AT THE DEALER HE SAID THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4,000. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WITH THIS CAR AND OTHER Z4'S FROM 2003 ON, SOME WITH MILEAGE LESS THAN THE 29,000 MILES I HAD ON MY VEHICLE WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED. I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THE DEALER DISCOVERED WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

MY WIFE WAS PASSING THROUGH A TOLL BOOTH WHEN THE STEERING SUDDENLY PULLED TO ONE SIDE, SHE WAS ABLE TO CORRECT AND AVOID HITTING THE CONCRETE BARRIER. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND IS ALWAYS THE SAME. CAR WILL PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON VARIOUS ROAD SURFACE TYPES FROM SMOOTH TO GROOVED. WE HAVE THE FACTORY TIRES ON THE CAR AND NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR. FRONT END ALIGNMENT IS CORRECT. WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER WITH 58,789 MILES IN MAR 2013. *TR

WHEN TEMPERATURE REACHES ABOVE 75 DEGREES, THE STEERING STICKS WHEN DRIVING. IT STICKS TO WHICH IT MAKES IT HARD TO STEER THE WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS ON THE WAY HOME. *TR

YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE INCIDENT DATE ONLY ALLOWS FOR ONE DATE. THE KNOTCHY ,STICKING STEERING WHEEL HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES HIT 75 DEGREES. THIS STEERING MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES ONLINE IN BMW Z4 FORUMS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PULL UP Z4 STEERING ONLINE TO READ A MULTITUDE OF CONCERNS AND EXAMPLES OF BMW STONEWALLING. THIS STEERING ISSUE ON 2004 Z4S IS VERY SERIOUS!!! THE CORRECTION NEEDED WHEN THIS HAPPENS CALLS FOR A QUICK JERK OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY STRAIGHT. UNUSUAL EFFORT IS NEEDED TO KEEP THE CAR IN IT'S LANE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. SIX MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE RECENT FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 6/25/13*CN UPDATED 7/1/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER BY ITSELF. UPDATED

THE STEERING IS VERY STICKY AND JOLTS LEFT AND RIGHT. I HAVE FOUND THROUGH SOME RESEARCH TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 2003-2005 BMW Z4 OWNERS. IT IS NOT SAFE TO BE CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY JOLTING BACK AND FORTH. *TR

STEERING HAS A RUBBING AND SCRAPING NOISE WHEN CAR IS BARELY MOVING, SUCH AS IN DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT. AT SPEED, STEERING BECOMES STICKY AND JERKY. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH 2013 AND IT HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE CAUSED OR AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE. I AM TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO LET MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE STEERING SHAFT LUBRICATED, BUT THAT DID NOT HELP ANYTHING. *TR

STEERING BECAME SOMEWHAT UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT WAS AS IT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKING. REDUCING SPEED DID NOT SEEM TO HELP, TEMP OUTSIDE WAS 71 DEGREES AND SUNNY. CHECKING WEB FORUMS, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. BOUGHT THIS USED APPROX 4 WEEKS AGO, CONCERNED THAT IF STEERING CONTINUES TO FUNCTION THIS WAY, COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS YOU TRY TO OVER COMPENSATE FOR STICKING ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE THIS ABNORMALLY HIGH RESISTANCE WAS OVERCOME, THE INTENDED ADJUSTMENT WOULD BECOME EXCESSIVE AND REQUIRE IMMEDIATE CORRECTION. THIS CORRECTION WOULD IN TURN BE EXCESSIVE, RESULTING IN ZIGZAGGING WHILE SIMPLY TRYING TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD REMAIN IN ITS ROTATED POSITION UPON RELEASE WHEN EXITING A TURN, RATHER THAN NATURALLY RETURNING TO CENTER, THUS REQUIRING DELIBERATE EFFORT TO BRING THE CAR STRAIGHT AGAIN. THIS BEHAVIOR IS UNNERVING UNDER ORDINARY CONDITIONS AND COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS, PARTICULARLY IN SITUATIONS INVOLVING SKIDS OR EMERGENCY MANOEUVERS. SOON AFTER THE INITIATION OF THE 2010 NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL BMW DEALER WHO CLAIMED TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PREVALENT ISSUE AND WHO WAS REPORTEDLY UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. SINCE THEN I FIGURED OUT IT CAN REPLICATED SIMPLY BY SETTING THE HEATER TO FULL BLAST AND LEAVING THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP FOR 20-30 MINUTES TO ALLOW THE HEAT TO SOAK INTO THE ELECTRIC-ASSIST STEERING COLUMN: THIS ISSUE OCCURS IF THE STEERING COLUMN GETS WARM BY ANY MEANS: PARK IN DIRECT SUN ON A HOT DAY, PARK IN SHADE ON A VERY HOT DAY, RUN THE HEATER ON HIGH FOR A WHILE, ETC. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT BMW DEALER ON A MODERATE DAY IN MARCH 2013 AND REPLICATED IT USING THE HEATER WHILE THEIR SERVICE FOREMAN DROVE IT; HE WAS ASTONISHED BY ITS PERVERSE HANDLING CHARA

MY 2004 BMW Z4 EXHIBITS SEVERE STEERING ISSUES WHEN DRIVEN DURING WARM (=> 75 DEGREES) TEMPERATURES. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE CAN BECOME VERY UNPREDICTABLE TO DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2012 AND AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK I'VE EXPERIENCED INCIDENTS WHERE THE INABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY STEER THIS VEHICLE HAS LED TO SEVERAL 'CLOSE CALLS' WHICH NEARLY RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLE. WHILE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT PLAGUES HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BMW Z4S PRODUCED IN THE EARLY TO MID 2000S, BMW HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. IT ALSO APPEARS THE WHILE THE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM THEY RULED THAT A 'SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED'. HOW CAN THIS BE?! HOW CAN A MANUFACTURER ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR VEHICLES WITH A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE? HAS THERE EVER BEEN A MORE APPLICABLE CASE FOR A RECALL?! FURTHER, HOW CAN THE NHTSA, AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 'DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN MOTOR VEHICLE AND HIGHWAY SAFETY' PERMIT THIS TO HAPPEN? THIS VERY WELL-KNOWN DEFECT HAS RENDERED MY Z4 UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I FEEL IT'S BMW'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SO THAT IT NO LONGER EXISTS. I WOULD ALSO URGE THE NHTSA TO REEXAMINE THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ISSUE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES (AND DRIVERS) IF EFFECTS. *TR

LOSS OF ELECTRICAL ASSISTED STEERING/STEERING WHEEL VERY SLUGGISH. *TR