2004 BMW Z4 complaints

2004 BMX Z4, STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. OVER CORRECTION TO REGAIN CONTROL NARROWLY AVOIDING TRAFFIC AND CENTER DIVIDER. AT SLOWER SPEEDS IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO STEERING FLUID IN CAR. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. BMW DEALER HAD REPLACEMENT STEERING COLUMN IN STOCK IT TOOK 2 DAYS TO REPLACE AT A COST OF $2942.02. *TR

I OWN A BMW Z4 AND RECENTLY HEARD THE NEWS OF POSSIBLE STEERING PROBLEMS. I AM EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS NOW. MY CAR HAS 26000 MILES AND THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK AND RELEASE AS I TURN THROUGH GRADUAL TURNS. THE FEELING IS VERY NOTICEABLE. *TR

I AM STUCK WITH A 2004 Z4 WITH THE STICKY STEERING SYNDROME. AFTER IT IS WARMED UP THE STEERING STICKS IN POSITION AND IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM POINT TO POINT. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 OR 60 MILES WITH THE TOP DOWN AND THE HEATER ON SO THE ENGINE WAS WARMED UP. THAT IS WHEN THE ISSUE FIRST APPEARED AND WE ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 101 SOUTH OF CANNON BEACH, OREGON. THE SYNDROME SEEMS TO APPEAR ONLY AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP. WE BOUGHT THE Z4 ONE YEAR AGO AT ABOUT 37000 MILES AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42667. BMW REGIONAL MANAGEMENT HAS DECIDED NOT TO SUPPORT ANY REDUCTION OF THEIR $3259.00 CHARGE TO REPLACE THE STEERING MECHANISM WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE STICKY STEERING SYNDROME IS WELL KNOWN AS A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE NHTSA SITE AND ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT TO THIS DATE. THIS LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER TOYOTA LIKE SAFETY ISSUE. IS THE NHTSA LISTENING OR DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED? *TR

STICKY STEERING IN WARM WEATHER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

AFTER THE CAR SITS IN THE HOT SUN (ANYWHERE ABOVE 75 DEGREES) THE STEERING STARTS BINDING/LOCKING UP AT ALL SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE THE STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AS IT SHOULD NOR IS IT EASY TO GET THE CAR TO STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT. I HAVE TO FORCE IT BACK TO CENTER WHICH USUALLY ENDS UP CAUSING ME TO OVER CORRECT AND MOVE CLOSE TO OR IN THE OTHER LANE. I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM LAST SUMMER, BUT SINCE I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR ON WEEKENDS I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT LAST SUMMER. IT WAS FINE DURING THE WINTER, BUT GOT SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE WHEN IT GOT WARM THIS YEAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO BMW OF NASHVILLE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. (I'M CURRENTLY WAITING ON THE REPLACEMENT COLUMN TO COME IN AND BE REPLACED) AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM I'VE FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER Z4 OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND BMWNA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I CONTACTED BMWNA MYSELF AND ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS A PROBLEM, THEY DID OFFER ME A 10% DISCOUNT ON THE $3900.00 REPAIR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE CAR AND THAT THEY ALL SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF THERE HAVEN'T ALREADY BEEN FATAL ACCIDENTS. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE Z4 USED WITH ~60K MILES. AS THE WEATHER HAS WARMED UP IN NJ RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED THE STEERING BECOME STICKY. THE WARMER IT IS THE MORE PREVALENT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE STEERING LOCKS IT IS NECESSARY TO JERK THE WHEEL TO BREAK THE LOCK RESULTING IN AN OVER CORRECTION. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED IN THE LANE AND I'M WORRIED THIS WILL RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

IN WARM WEATHER (> 75 DEGS F)STEERING BECOMES STIFF. DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR ON STRAIGHT TRACK. STEERING WILL NOT SELF-CENTER. SAFETY CONCERN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A BMW Z4, 2004 APPROX. 43,000 MILES. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ONLY OCCASIONALLY AT LOWER SPEED, THE STEERING BINDS WHEN I ATTEMPT TO TURN INTO ANOTHER LANE. THE DEGREE OF BINDING VARIES, I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED A POSITIVE LOCK; I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FORCE THE STEERING FREE TO EXECUTE THE TURN. THE INCIDENT DATE IS MERELY THE MOST RECENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STUCK WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 50 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY IF THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 65 DEGREES. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT AND THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000.

STEERING STICKS, USUALLY DURING WARMER WEATHER, 70 AND ABOVE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4 AND IT EXPERIENCES THE SAME 'STICKY' STEERING IN HOT TEMPERATURES THAT ARE DESCRIBED ON THIS FORUM URL HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.COM/BMW/FORUMS/E85/5246978-1.HTML. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WHEN IT GETS HOT OUTSIDE, THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS FOR A MOMENT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WHILE IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

MY 2004 BMW Z4 IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BECOMING STICKY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN OUTSIDE IN THE SUN IN SUMMER WEATHER. THE STEERING LOCKS IN A POSITION SUCH THAT IT TAKES EXTRA PRESSURE TO TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN SUFFICIENT PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO BREAK OUT OF THE STICKY POSITION, IT RESULTS IN A SUDDEN JERK IN THE STEERING, LIKE AN OVERCORRECTION. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS ISSUE IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY A FATALITY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT; IT IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM. IF ONE GOOGLES "STICKY STEERING Z4" THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF HITS RETURNED. YET BMW HAS YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM.

BMW Z4 2004 STICKING STEERING. THE STEERING GETS KNOTCHY, STICKY, OR LOCKING WHEN TRYING TO MAKE MICRO-STEERING ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS(60-70). THE PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN THE AMBIENT OUTSIDE TEMP IS GREATER THAN 60 DEGREES. THE STEERING LOCKS AND HAS TO BE BUDGED TO CHANGE STEERING DIRECITON. IT GETS WORSE WITH HOTTER WEATHER. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND WITH ALL THE OTHER REPORTED CLAIMS OF THE SAME ISSUE, THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FOR A RECALL. BMW DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BEING THE EPS MODULE BEING DEFECTIVE AND SAID THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A $3400 FIX. THE CAR HAS ~46K MILES. I WOULD NOT EXPECT STEERING TO BREAK WITHIN 46K MILES AND READING OVER OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS IS A MUCH WIDER ISSUE THAN THIS ONE Z4. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS.

2004 BMW Z4 (E85) 3.0I MANUAL WITH SPORT PACKAGE - STEERING BECOMES SLUGGISH AND HARD TO INITIATE A TURN - ONLY OCCURS AFTER RADIANT HEAT IS APPLIED (IE.....LEFT IN THE SUN FOR AN HOUR) - DOES NOT CHANGE IF SPORT SUSPENSION IS ENGAGED - HUMIDITY IS NOT RELEVANT, ONLY DIRECT SUNLIGHT - GUESS IS A BUSHING/BEARING HEATING UP IN THE RACK ASSEMBLY - HAPPENS DURING SUMMER MONTHS IF LEFT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT - DIRECTLY RELATED TO AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (80 DEGREES LESS NOTICEABLE THAN 100 DEGREES) - AT 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AND IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR AN HOUR, SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL (SAFETY HAZARD) - DEALER REPORTED SUMMER 2009 AND THEY SAID "SYMPTOMS NOT REPRODUCIBLE" - CONTACTED BMW USA AND THEY MADE A NOTE, BUT ADVISED OF NO RECALL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE STEERING STARTS TO LOCK UP AND ITS HARD TO MAKE THE GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE CAR STEERING STICKS LIKE TIRES ARE IN A STRONG GROOVE. TAKES A SIGNIFICANT PULL TO BRING BACK TO CENTER. THIS COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT DUE TO STEERING DEFECT. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 PURCHASED BRAND NEW OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. PRACTICALLY FROM THE BEGINNING, NOTICED UNUSUAL HANDLING OF THE STEERING UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES. LIVING IN TAMPA, FL THIS PRESENTS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM. I'VE OWNED Z 3'S AND Z 4'S SINCE 2001. SITTING IN HOT TEMPS, DRIVING WITH HEATER THERMOSTAT ON HIGH, CAUSES THE STEERING TO "NOTCH"....OR STEER ERRATICALLY. PRESENTED THIS TO REEVES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH NO RESULTS. SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN NO FIRES, NO ACCIDENTS, NO DEATHS, BMW AND REEVES CHOOSE TO DO NOTHING. I CONCUR WITH THE OTHER 44 "COMPLAINTS" LISTED ON THIS REPORT. APPARENTLY ONE OR TWO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. IN LIGHT OF THE TOYOTA SITUATION, BMW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE HAS BEEN NO CLASS ACTION. I INTEND TO START ONE. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 PURCHASED USED IN JULY 2009 WITH APPROXIMATELY 69000 MILES. NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN TEMPS ABOVE 75 AMBIENT, OR WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN SUN FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, STEERING BECOMES VERY "STICKY" OR NOTCHY WHEN MAKING SLIGHT TURNS SUCH AS LANE CHANGES OR SLIGHT CURVES. STEERING SEEMS TO WANT TO STICK WHEREVER THE DRIVER PUTS IT AND NEEDS TO HAVE PRESSURE APPLIED TO BREAK THE POSITION. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH A BMW KNOWN FIX BEING A COMPLETE REPLACE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE FIX TOO EXPENSIVE. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. EMAIL SENT WITH BMWNA WAS NEVER RESPONDED TO. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE "AIR BAG" WARNING WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT AND AIR BAG SENSOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,400. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. IT BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD; THEREFORE; HE DOESN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATE COST OF $3,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

STICKY STEERING SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED IN THIS DATABASE. MORE EVIDENT IN HOT WEATHER, BUT HAS BEGUN HAPPENING IN COLD WEATHER. STEERING "STICKS" IN ONE LOCATION MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE CARS TRACK. STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER BY ITSELF. A DANGEROUS AND TIRING DRIVING CONDITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 45-50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED A NOTCHY SENSATION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING COLUMN . THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 01/12/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/13/10

STEERING FEELS "STICKY" SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS FILED, PREVIOUS ODI CASE NUMBER 10288772 REPORTED 06/30/09. ON 11 NOVEMBER 09 MILEAGE 82,745, ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING (EPS) FAILED COMPLETELY, WARNING LIGHT ON DASH, CAR STILL DRIVABLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING FOR LIMITED DISTANCE TO DEALER. CAUSE FOUND TO BE CODE 611C3 FAILED EPS UNIT. REPAIR WAS STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT & REPROGRAMMING IAW SIB32-06-05. ALL PREVIOUS PROBLEMS ARE GONE, CAR STEERS LIKE BRAND NEW, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I'D BEEN MISSING. REPAIR COST WAS $50 DEDUCTIBLE UNDER EXTENDED BMW FACTORY WARRANTY, NO IDEA OF ACTUAL RETAIL COST. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN SOUTH FLORIDA THE STEERING BOUND, (TIGHTENED) MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN GOOD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE PERSISTENT IN HOTTER TEMPERATURES WHILE LESS EVIDENT WHEN THE CAR IS COOLER. *TR

STEERING IS "STICKY" AND HAS MOMENTARY FAILURES WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT HIGH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES (OVER 80F). CONTINUOUS FAILURES AS STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. DEALERSHIP DENIES KNOWING OF PROBLEM, OR CANNOT DUPLICATE FAILURES. THIS AN EXTREME HAZARD. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS YET. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 CURRENT MILEAGE 81K BOUGHT USED WITH 35K IN 2008. BEGINNING IN SUMMER 2008, STEERING FEELS "STICKY" IN SLOW TURNS TO RIGHT/LEFT SUCH AS ON /OFF RAMP. WITH DIFFERENT TIRES, SYMPTOMS EASED, BUT STILL EVIDENT, ESPECIALLY AT AMBIENT TEMPS 70 DEG F OR ABOVE. AT 71K CAR IN FOR SERVICE INCLUDING THIS COMPLAINT. DEALER NOTED "BINDING/NOISY LOWER COLUMN JOINT" & REPLACED LOWER SECTION OF STEERING COLUMN JOINT "PER SIB 32 03 06", BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. PROBLEM NOT AS SEVERE AS THAT NOTED IN SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS ON LINE BUT SIMILAR IN PERSISTENCE AND ANNOYANCE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN A CORNER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE LAST INCIDENT NEARLY RESULTED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I NEARLY STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL WHILE THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND PROPERLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, THEY SAID THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, SAYING THE VEHICLE BEHAVES THIS WAY, BECAUSE IT'S ELECTRONIC STEERING? I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND MANY Z4 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS A EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

STEERING OF THE CAR SEEMS TO BIND, THAT IS, AFTER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER TO LEFT OR RIGHT, IT DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER IN A SMOOTH OR LINEAR FASHION, AS IF THE POWER ASSIST IS INCONSISTENT. ALTHOUGH MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED,OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL REPORT THE SAME EXPERIENCE. REPLACING THE EPS UNIT DOES NOT SEEM TO HELP, NOR DOES REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS INCONSISTENT STEERING RESPONSE COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 85 DEGREES. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS AND DRIVE NORMALLY WITHOUT VEERING INTO ANOTHER LANE AND LOOSING STEERING CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR THE STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS $3,400. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE AND LET HER KNOW IF THEY WILL ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,938. UPDATED 10/5/09 *CN UPDATED 10/07/09

2004 BMW Z4 WITH 26K MILES. WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS INTHE 90S OR ABOVE, THE STEERING, PARTICULARLY ON THE HIGHWAY, DEVELOPS A NOTCHY OR STICKINESS THAT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO TRACK STRAIGHT. CAUSES YOU TO JERK THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT OF WAY. THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS COMPONENT FOR 2003-04 MODEL YEARS. INDEPENDENT BMW MECHANIC HAS INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND STATES THAT THE CONTROL MODULE/ELECTRIC MOTOR/STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. HE STATED THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE A TREND ON THIS. *TR

WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL PRODUCE ABNORMAL RESISTANCE REQUIRING CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO RETURN TO CENTER. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE REQUIRING FURTHER NHTSA INVESTIGATION. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 STEERING WHEEL BINDS WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE AUTO HAS SAT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR SEVERAL HOURS OR THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 85 DEGREES. ONCE THE CAR IS ALLOWED TO COOL IN THE SHADE OR THROUGH EXTENDED DRIVING, THE STEERING WILL RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE CAR TO BE UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS CONDITION SEVERAL TIMES TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE THE TIRES 'STICKING' TO THE ROAD. THIS CONDITION WARRANTS A RECALL. THE STEERING IS NOT SAFE WHEN IT IS HOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. SINCE 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WOULD LOCK UP. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE WORSENED DUE TO THE HOT WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 9/1/09 *CN UPDATED 09/09/09*JB

WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GETS HARD LIKE IT WILL GOING LOCK UP WHEN DRIVING. *TR

2004 BMW Z4-STEERING STICKS OR CATCHES AT CENTER WHEN TURNING WHEEL WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. CAUSES VEHICLE TO SWERVE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *TR

STEERING ISSUES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A SUNNY, SUMMER DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS "TENSION" AND "STICKINESS" WHILE TRYING TO ROTATE IT. THIS CAUSES ABRUPT AND IMPRECISE STEERING CORRECTIONS DUE TO THE STICKINESS CAUSING JERKY STEERING. *TR THIS DEFECT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO RETAIN A STRAIGHT DRIVING PATH, AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STAY WITHIN A LANE ON THE LOCAL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. THE STEERING ALIGNMENT ALSO BECOMES OUT OF A STRAIGHT LINE, THUS COMING OUT OF "CENTER", AND FURTHER MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A SAFE DRIVING COURSE.

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN AN AN AREA THAT WAS NOT IN THE SHADE LOT FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE AIR TEMP. WAS ABOUT 80. WHEN I DROVE OFF I COULD FEEL THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT REACTING TO MY INPUT AS IT HAD IN THE COOL MORNING. THE STEERING WAS JERKY AND WOULD NOT TRACK AS I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT LAGGED A FEW MOMENTS. I HAD AN 80 MILE DRIVE WHERE I HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL IN A ZIG-ZAG MANNER TO KEEP THE CAR TRACKING IN THE DIRECTION I WANTED TO GO. WHEN THE CAR COOLED OFF OVERNIGHT THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. *TR

AFTER WINTER STORAGE I TOOK MY 2004 BMW Z4 OUT OF STORAGE TO FIND THE STEERING STICKS. AFTER CORNERING, I MUST JERK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. THIS CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD FOR A BRIEF MOMENT WHILE I GATHERED CONTROL OF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THAT IS JUST BY LUCK. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS DESPITE HAVING THE CAR AND TIRES CHECKED OUT. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE AT HIGHER AMBIENT TEMPS. *TR

2004 Z4 - I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN WARM WEATHER 70 DEGREES OR MORE WERE MY CAR STEERING LOSES "TENSION". IN OTHER WORDS THE STEERING WILL BECOME LOOSE. WHEN TURNING STEER LEFT OR RIGHT, THE CAR HESITATE TO REACT FOR APPROX. 2 TO 3 SECONDS. IT CONTINUES STRAIGHT UNTIL SECONDS LATER IT WILL "ENGAGE". *TR

2004 BMW Z-4 , STEERING PROBLEM. FEELS LIKE STEERING LOCKS UP OR BINDS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FORCE MUST BE APPLIED TO OVERCOME LOCK-UP. IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE CAR SMOOTHLY, CHANGE LANES, PASS OTHER CARS. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED WITH ONLY 21,000 MILES, BUT WARRANTY WAS UP IN 6/2008, PURCHASED IN 8/2008. TOM BUSH BMW OF JACKSONVILLE SAYS CAR NEEDS A STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $2575.08 COST TO ME. I FEEL PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON THE CAR SINCE PURCHASED NEW. CAR CAME FROM OFF LEASE IN OHIO AND DRIVEN ONLY LIMITED AMOUNT. STEERING LOCKUP MORE NOTICEABLE ON WARM TO HOT DAYS, WHICH IS WHEN WE DRIVE THE CAR HERE IN FLORIDA. PLEASE OFFER ASSISTANCE. CAR SEEMS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

STEERING SYSTEM IS SOMEWHAT NON-RESPONSIVE WHEN WEATHER IS HOT. *TR

I HAVE A HEAT-RELATED STEERING PROBLEM WITH MY CAR THAT HAS BEEN NOTED ON OTHER BMW Z4S. NORMALLY THE CAR HANDLES QUITE NICELY AND IS VERY RESPONSIVE. HOWEVER, WHENEVER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT A HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (HIGH 80S OR ABOVE), WHEN DRIVEN, THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY NON-RESPONSIVE-STICKY AND DOESN'T TRACK BACK TO CENTER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN SINCE SO MUCH FORCE IS REQUIRED ON SUCH A SMALL CAR TO MAKE WHAT SHOULD BE MINOR CORRECTIONS WHILE DRIVING THAT SEVERAL TIMES I'VE ALMOST ENDED TURNING INTO AN ADJACENT LANE ON THE FREEWAY WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE A STRAIGHT LINE. I AM VERY HESITANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON WARM DAYS (WHICH MEANS MOST DAYS HERE IN THE SOUTH) DUE TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE DEFECT. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NEED TO USE MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO BMW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DESPITE THIS, MY DEALER PROFESSES CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT COULD BE HAPPENING AND HAS TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN FOR A TEST RUN (NOT ON THE FREEWAY AND NOT DURING A WARM DAY), IT'S HANDLED FINE. MEANWHILE, I'M LEFT DRIVING WHAT CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED A DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE CAR THAT COULD QUITE EASILY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL, EVEN CAREFUL, CONDITIONS. *TR

WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ARE HIGH (E.G. >85-90F) (COMPOUNDED BY CAR BEING IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT), THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. SPECIFICALLY, NORMAL STEERING WHEEL INPUT TRANSLATES INTO ERRATIC, JERKY MOVEMENTS ON THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER AND THE CAR GENERALLY IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL (I.E. MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT COURSE, REQUIRING CONSTANT AND EXAGGERATED STEERING WHEEL INPUT). THIS CONDITION IS TRANSIENT (I.E. STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE DROPS); HOWEVER, DRIVING WHEN THE STEERING IS COMPROMISED AS DESCRIBED ABOVE IS UNNERVING AND WITHOUT A DOUBT INCREASES THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING DUE TO A POTENTIAL LOSS OF DRIVER CONTROL (E.G. ON WET ROADS, MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC). WHEN THIS OCCURRED A SECOND TIME, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP TO REPORT IT. THE BMW DEALERSHIP SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND DIAGNOSED A FAILED STEERING COLUMN UNIT. BMW NA HAS OFFERED TO PAY FOR 50% OF THE REPAIR WITH THE OTHER 50% BEING OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY (CAR WAS APPROX. 2.5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY). JUDGING FROM THE PROPORTION OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA ON THE Z4, THIS ISSUE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ISOLATED AND WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *TR

IN WARM WEATHER ABOUT 75 AND UP STEERING GETS STICKY AND CANNOT CORRECT SMOOTHLY.*TR

I BOUGHT A BMW Z4 USED IN AUGUST 2007 WITH NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS. THIS YEAR (2008), THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW HEAT WAVES IN JUNE AND JULY IN NY AND I NOTICED THAT IF THE CAR SITS OUT IN THE SUN FOR A FEW HOURS, THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY, JERKY AND HARD TO CONTROL. AFTER BEING IN THE SHADE TO COOL DOWN THE STEER BECOMES SMOOTH, CONTROLLED AND NORMAL. I'VE STARTED RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND MANY ONLINE FORUMS WITH OWNER COMMENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE APPEARS TO BE A FIX FROM BMW BUT MY CAR IS NOW OFF WARRANTY AND WILL ENTAIL ME PAYING FOR THESE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. THIS APPEARS TO ME TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED UNDER A RECALL (EITHER MANDATORY OR VOLUNTARY) LONG BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN '07. I HOPE THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND CAN TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO HAVE IT CORRECTED BY BMW. THANK YOU. *TR

MY BMW Z4 WHICH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY HAS DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR THEM. BMW USED AN INFERIOR TYPE OF PLASTIC WHICH IS CLOUDING OVER AND PREVENTING THE HEADLIGHTS FROM WORKING CORRECTLY. PLEASE RECALL THESE VEHICLES SO THAT BMW WILL REPAIR THE LIGHTS AND MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AGAIN. *TR

I OWN A BMW Z4, AND IT IS MY SECOND ONE I OWN, AND IT HAS A STICKY STEERING COLUMN THAT ACTS UP IN HOT WEATHER, AND IT CREATES FOR VERY UNSAFE STEERING. I HAVE HAD MY ENTIRE STEERING RACK REPLACED IN MY LAST Z4, AND NOW MY SECOND CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING, BUT BMW OF FREMONT CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT MODERATE SPEEDS, THE STEERING HAS A TENDENCY TO LOCK UP EITHER TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND LEFT CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER OUT OF THE LANE SPONTANEOUSLY. THERE IS NO RETURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO CENTER AND CONSTANT PRESSURE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IS REQUIRED TO AVOID COLLISION WITH ADJACENT VEHICLES. THIS OCCURS ON SLIGHT CURVES ON THE ROAD AND OCCASIONALLY ON STRAIGHT ROADS UNDER ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.

STEERING PROBLEM AT 45+MPH WITH VEHICLE, STEERING IS VERY STICKY GOING STRAIGHT, CONSTANT CORRECTIONS CAUSE OVER STEERING, STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION ON CURVES LEADING TO DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, TESTED TO 75 + MPH, GETS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS OF FREEWAY DRIVING. JUST TOOK POSSESSION OF USED VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR