2005 BMW Z4 complaints

CAR'S STEERING STICKS ON CENTER POSITION MAKING NORMAL STEERING CORRECTIONS NOTICEABLY DIFFICULT. AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF FORCE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY STEERING CORRECTION WHICH CAN CAUSE AN OVER-CORRECTION. ONCE OFF CENTER, IT IS THEN DIFFICULT TO RETURN THE WHEEL TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS IN WARMER WEATHER OR IF THE CAR HAS BEEN OUTSIDE IN THE SUN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. *TR

CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN CAR IS WARM AND DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CAR ACTS AS IF THE STEERING IS STICKING OR LOCKING UP> YOU HAVE TO PULL ON THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO LEFT OR RIGHT TO GET THE WHEELS TO TURN. YOU MUST BE VERY CARE AND KEEP YOUR MIND ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING AT ALL TIMES OR YOU COULD BE IN CRASH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 10/31/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKY AND IT EXTREME EFFORT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM, THE ENTIRE STEERING COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 4 HOURS IN 85 DEGREE WEATHER. UPDATED 11/12/13

CAR'S STEERING STICK ON CENTER POSITION MAKING NORMAL STEERING CORRECTIONS NOTICEABLY DIFFICULT. AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF FORCE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY STEERING CORRECTION WHICH CAN CAUSE AN OVER-CORRECTION. ONCE OFF CENTER, IT IS THEN DIFFICULT TO RETURN THE WHEEL TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPETITIVELY, MOST OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER. DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND WHO DOES REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, OR SO THEY SAY. BMW USA HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM; AND, THEIR RESPONSE WAS "TAKE IT TO THE DEALER." BY WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I AM READY TO SEEK ADVICE FROM MY ATTORNEY. *JB

DRIVING MY 2005 BMW Z4 HAS BECOME A NON OPTION WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 85. THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES RESISTANT TO TURNING LEFT, OR RIGHT FROM CENTER. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IT BACK TO CENTER AS IT WILL STAY IN THE TURNED POSITION. THIS IS A REAL SHAME, I DON'T KNOW IF THEIR ENGINEERS REALIZE THIS, BUT CONVERTIBLES ARE FOR WARM WEATHER. I WOULD EXPECT THIS FROM A GM OR FORD PRODUCT, BUT NOT FROM BMW WHO TOUTS AS BEING "THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE". THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND CAN NOT BELIEVE IT HASN'T BEEN ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 55 MPH AND COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT. VERY DANGEROUS. SAME CONCERNS AS OTHERS WITH THIS MODEL. WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS THESE CARS WILL CRASH AND HURT SOMEONE. PLEASE E-MAIL WITH SOME SORT OF A PLAN IN PLACE PLEASE. *TR

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

AFTER THE CAR RUNS FOR A LITTLE, THE STEERING GETS VERY STICKY. IT'S VERY CHALLENGING TO STEER PROPERLY AND WHEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE TURNS, I MUST JOLT THE WHEEL TO MOVE PASSED THE STICKINESS, RESULTING IN AN OVER CORRECTION. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY DRIVE, MANEUVER OR CONTROL THE STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE STEERING GETS VERY STICKY ON WARM DAYS, ABOVE 75 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. IT RESTRICTS THE STEERING TO THE POINT THAT IT IS HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM IS DEFINITIVELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

STEERING BECAME STICKY WHEN TRYING TO DO MINOR CORRECTIONS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT WITHOUT EXERTING CONSIDERABLE FORCE IN BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT DIRECTIONS. PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80F AND STEERING IS "NORMAL "WHEN CAR IS COLD. SUBSEQUENTLY, STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT EASILY RETURN TO CENTER, OCCASIONALLY CAR WILL PULL IN EITHER DIRECTION, NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL GO LEFT AND WHEN RIGHT. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN FOR $3500. REPLACEMENT IS OEM PART SO NO DEALER GUARANTEE THAT REPLACEMENT WILL NOT PERFORM THE SAME WAY. *TR

THE STEERING STICKS IN PLACE AND YOU NEED TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO SLIGHTLY TURN. AFTER JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL, YOU HAVE NOW OVER CORRECTED AND MUST JERK IT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGHER. IN TIGHT CONFINEMENTS OR TRAFFIC, THERE IS MANY TIMES NOT ADEQUATE ROOM FOR THE VEHICLE TO DART IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS BECAUSE OF THE STICKING STEERING. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STICKS, MOSTLY WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES BUT STATES "NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, SIMPLY A NUISANCE" THIS IS NOT TRUE. WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE WHEEL STICKS CAUSING DRIVER TO EXERT MORE PRESSURE, WHEN THE WHEEL FREES, THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE LEFT, OCCASIONALLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CROSS THE CENTER LINE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND ONGOING!! *TR

BOUGHT THE 2005 Z-4 BMW USED FROM A DEALER IN HIGH POINT NC. DROVE IT AND ENJOY DRIVING UNTIL THE WARM WEATHER. THE STEERING STICKS TO A POINT OF BEING DANGEROUS. TO COMPENSATE, I STEER TO THE LEFT AND CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT THEN I BRING THE STEERING BACK TOWARDS THE CENTER AND FEEL IT STICKING SO I COMPENSATE BY STEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE WHOLE TIME DOWN THE HIGHWAY I FEAR FOR MY LIFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I REALLY HAD TO CONCENTRATE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM STEERING OFF THE ROAD AND I'M SURE IT APPEARS I'M DRIVING ERRATICALLY TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE WARM WEATHER WILL SOON BE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND I'M JUST SCARED TO DRIVE IT. THE CAR OTHERWISE IS BEAUTIFUL. BUT IF I'M GOING TO BE A REPEAT CUSTOMER TO THE BMW LINE I NEED TO GET THIS FIXED OR THEY SHOULD RECALL IT AND I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND SOUNDS LIKE MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FROM WHAT MY RESEARCH SHOWS ME. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. SERIOUSLY I'M SCARED ! I CONTACTED BMW IN OHIO AND THEY NEED ME TO VALIDATE THE PROBLEM THROUGH A DEALER WHICH I WILL DO BUT I HAVE TO WAIT TIL THE WEATHER IS WARM AGAIN. LUCKILY I AM EMPLOYED AND WILL BE ABLE TO PAY THE $125.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED EVERY TIME SHE RODE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE RADIO WOULD SHUT OFF AND THEN COME BACK ON AT RANDOM TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY LOOSE WIRES. ALSO, THE OIL FILTER HOUSING WAS LEAKING AND AN OIL LEAK SEPARATOR WAS SAUING AIR TO DISPEL INTO THE E

STEERING JERKS TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR WILL DRIFT. WHEN YOU CORRECT, IT JERKS EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. A FEW TIMES ALMOST VEERING INTO THE NEXT LANE OF TRAFFIC. BROUGHT INTO BMW OF FT. MYERS. *TR THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. $3,487.60 PLUS $153.44 TO CALIBRATE, PLUS TAX. VERY, VERY DISAPOINTED IN BMW NOT HAVING A RECALL ON THIS. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ASIDE FROM SPEDING A LOT OF MONEY TO PURCHASE A "QUALITY????" CAR.

VEHICLE WOULD RUN FINE IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE DAY HEATED UP. AT NOON, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK AND MORE FORCE THAN USUAL HAD TO BE APPLIED WITH BOTH HANDS TO OPERATE THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, THERE ARE TIMES THE CAR WILL JERK LEFT OR RIGHT UPON BREAKING. IF THE ROAD IS SLIGHTLY UNEVEN, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED IN CASE THE CAR JERKS IN ANY DIRECTION. I HAVE TRIED UPGRADING THE VEHICLES SUSPENSION SYSTEM TO NO AVAIL. MAKES THE CAR FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT I WOULD LIKE THESE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR

ORIGINAL OWNER NEW 2005 Z4 BMW 18475 MILES STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING FEELS LIKE IT MAY NOT COME BACK WHEN YOU TURN WHEEL KIND OF LIKE FLAT SPOT ON COLUMN HARD TO EXPLAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, CAR TENDS TO "DART" BACK AND FORTH. THIS ISSUE TENDS TO BECOME MORE NOTICABLE AS THE DAY GETS WARMER. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

MY 2005 Z4 3.0I HAS AN INTERMITTENT STEERING PROBLEM. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL MALFUNCTION OR WHEN IT WILL CORRECT ITSELF. IT DOESN`T SEEM TO BE EFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE OR HUMIDITY. ROAD SURFACE OR ANY CERTAIN SPEED,WHEN IT BINDS UP IT REQUIRES BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT DOWN A FREEWAY, WHEN IT WANDERS TO THE LEFT I MUST USE EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND IT OVERSTEERS AND I HAVE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE LEFT SO I JUST WIGGLE MY WAY DOWN THE ROAD. ON A THREE HOUR TRIP, BOTH ON FREEWAY AND TWO LANE ROADS, MY SHOULDERS AND HANDS WERE SO TIRED I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND REST AND I WAS ONLY TWENTY FIVE MILES FROM RETURNING HOME. SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM DOESN`T OCCUR BUT I ALWAYS MUST BE VIGILANT BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS I HAD BETTER BE PREPARED, IT COULD BE SO EASY TO LOSE CONTROL OF THIS CAR. IT IS A REALLY NICE CAR IF NOT FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY WISH IS FOR BMW TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION VOLUNTARILY OR HAVE A NHTSA RECALL ON ALL (AND THERE ARE A LOT OF Z4`S WITH THIS CONDITION), THESE CARS BECAUSE THIS IS A GLARING SAFETY ISSUE, BESIDES BEING A REAL PAIN TO DRIVE. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF, LIKE PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING BESIDES THREE INSPECTIONS AT A BMW DEALERSHIP, TWO OF WHICH I PAID THE GOING SERVICE RATE. ALSO A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHICH DIDN'T HELP AT ALL. Z4 OWNERS NEED SOME HELP FROM SOMEWHERE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING TIGHTENED AND SEIZED, CAUSING THE CONTACT DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,500.

STEERING VERY HARD TO CONTROL AND STCKS TO ONE SIDE OR OTHER. PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN SUN FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND 95+ DEGREE HEAT. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUNE 2012. STEERING HAS A NOTCHED FEEL AND WILL NOT CENTER. PULLS TO ONE SIDE AND REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO TURN, BUT OVER CORRECTS AND PULLS TO OTHER SIDE. VERY DANGEROUS. WILL NOT LET ANY OF THE WOMEN IN MY HOUSEHOLD DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD TO TURN IN THAT CONDITION. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL AFTER A NIGHT IN MY GARAGE, BUT RETURNS TO DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR DRIVE HOME AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN ALL DAY. *TR

2005 BMW Z4. CONSUMER STATES WITH VEHICLE STEERING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IT REQUIRED EXTRA EFFORT TO RETURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND SOMETIMES HE FOUND HIMSELF APPLYING TOO MUCH EFFORT AND THE RESULT WOULD BE OVER STEERING. HE ALSO STATED THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS MUCH WORSE DURING WARMER WEATHER. *JB

WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR FOR A DISTANCE IN HOT WEATHER THE STEERING GETS HARD AND STICKS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THAT IN HOT WEATHER. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR

STEERING STICKS WHEN HOT, HAS BECOME MUCH WORSE THAN WHEN FIRST IDENTIFIED AND REPORTED TO BMW. MY FIRST REPORTS WERE DURING THE FREE YEAR 3 AND YEAR 4 SERVICES AND IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. NOW WHEN DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD, THE CAR WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT AND SWERVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN ITS LANE. MY FEAR IS THAT THE STEERING WILL GET SO HARD THAT IT MAY SIDE SWIPE AN VEHICLE IN THE NEXT LANE. MY BMW DEALER HAS VERIFIED THE PROBLEM BUT BMW REFUSES TO FIX IT. *TR

THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH STICKY STEERING DURING WARM WEATHER. IT TAKES GREAT EFFORT TO RECENTER THE STEERING WHEEL ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS 40 TO 60 MPH. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM ISOLATED TO JUST MY CAR BUT A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. EVERY BMW BLOG IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR AT THE VERY LEAST A TSB RELEASED SO OWNERS CAN HAVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 5/26/12.DRIVING HOME, I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL FELT AS IF IT WAS STICKING. UPON ARRIVING AT HOME, MY HUSBAND WHO HAD BEEN IN FRONT OF ME ON THE WAY HOME, SAID I HAD BEEN WEAVING. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO HIM AND HE LOOKED IT UP ONLINE. I HAVE FOUND THIS WEEK THAT WHEN THE CAR IS COOL, THE STEERING IS GREAT. IT'S ONLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN AND BEEN HEATED. ON COOL MORNINGS OR EVENING, THE STEERING IS FINE...FLUID, RESPONSIVE,JUST AS IT SHOULD BE. BUT WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN, IT FEELS AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES VERY HARD, SOMETIMES LIGHTER, BUT IT MAKES STEERING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT. AS I PULLED OUT OF MY BUSINESS YESTERDAY I VEERED OVER ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO IT STICKING. IT IS REALLY DISTURBING AND WORRISOME SINCE THERE'S NO WAY TO PREDICT WHAT IT WILL DO. *TR

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN ANY DEATHS IN THIS FAULTY STEERING PROBLEM BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TAKE MY BMW Z4 OUT BECAUSE THE STEERING CAN BE SO STICKY I'M AFRAID FOR HER LIFE, BMW SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE 2003-2005 Z4'S BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT. COME ON BMW SUCK IT UP!! THANKS *TR

STEERING STICKS WHEN OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE 60 DEGREES F. *TR

THE STEERING STARTED STICKING ON MY Z4 BMW LAST JULY AND IS GETTING WORSE. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT LAST MARCH WITH 62000 MILES NOW HAS ABOUT 66,000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. BMW NEEDS TO FIX THIS. *TR

DROVE FROM ALABAMA TO PA. TO BUY MY Z4. TEST DRIVE WAS FINE BUT AS CAR WARMED UP AND I GOT TO HIGHWAY SPEED I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT BY GOING ONLINE THAT 03 TO 05 Z4'S COMMONLY HAVE A PROBLEM CALLED STICKY STEERING. YOU HAVE TO FORCE THE CAR TO TURN. I HAVE WRITTEN BMW CORPORATE AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO GO TO TOM WILLIAMS BMW IN BIRMINGHAM WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3180. THIS CAR HAS 55,000 MILES AND OBVIOUSLY IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I HAVE ALL THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH CORPORATE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD TO YOU. THIS PROBLEM ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK MY CAR THREE WEEKS AGO AND ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS TIME THAT SOMETHING IS DONE. FOR A $40,000 CAR TO HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM IS JUST RIDICULOUS. PLEASE HELP US FORCE BMW TO RESOLVE THIS DEADLY PROBLEM! THANKS.

THE STEERING COLUMN IS DEFECTIVE AS WAS DETERMINED BY TOM WILLIAMS BMW OF BIRMINGHAM AL. I HAVE BEEN ON A BMW FORUM WEBSITE AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IT RESULTED IN A NEAR ACCIDENT 3 WEEKS AGO, AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THESE VERY PRICEY CARS. THE PRICE QUOTED ME TODAY WAS 3100.00$ BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT SO IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART! SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED AND IT WAS ALMOST ME! *JS

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

STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICED THIS SEVERAL TIMES. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ON 11/2/11, IT HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. ON DRIVING HOME FROM PURCHASE, NOTICED THAT THE STEERING STICKS WHILE TURNING AT TIMES. INITIALLY THOUGHT THIS MIGHT JUST BE TRIM PARTS RUBBING ON EACH OTHER, BUT IT TAKES SOME SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO GET THE WHEEL TO TURN WHEN IT IS IN A STUCK POSITION. WHEN THE STEERING STICKS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT TURNING EFFORT TO MOVE PAST THE STICKING POINT WHICH COULD RESULT IN OVERSTEER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

I BOUGHT THE Z IN JULY, DURING THE DEALER TEST DRIVE IT HANDLED GREAT. THE TEST WAS ABOUT 20 MINUTES LONG. AFTER WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON MY FIRST TRIP HOME , ABOUT 35 MILES ,ON A HOT SUMMER AFTERNOON , I NOTICED THE STEERING SEAMED TO FREEZE UP AND WOULD NEED EXTRA EFFORT TO MAKE A STEERING CORRECTION. ONCE YOU TURNED OFF CENTER IT WOULD FEEL OK UNTIL YOU NEEDED TO MAKE ANOTHER STEERING ADJUSTMENT. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SENT IT DOWN THE STREET TO A VERY REPUTABLE BMW DEALER WHO TEST DROVE THE Z AND REPORTED BACK "NO PROBLEM ". THERE IS A STEERING PROBLEM AND IT IS A VERY SERIOUS ONE. WHILE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT ONE MUST ALWAYS ANTICIPATE THE PROBLEM , IF YOU FORGET, YOU COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT BY OVER STEERING WHILE USING EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO CORRECT YOUR DIRECTION. *TR

STEERING STICKS AND WILL NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT OVER CORRECTING. APPEARS TO HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED AFTER THE CAR IS HOT OR HAS BEEN SITTING IN SUN FOR AWHILE. NO ACCIDENTS BUT HAVE COME CLOSE TO GOING INTO OTHER LANE OR OFF THE ROAD WHILE CORRECTING. *TT

2005 BMW Z4 32000 MILES STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING.VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP VEHICLE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE.VERY DANGEROUS. *TT

I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH 'STICKY' STEERING ON MY 2005 BMW Z4. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN WARMER WEATHER BUT IS THERE AT ALL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WHERE NOT MUCH TURNING OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REQUIRED THERE IS A 'STICKING' IN THE WHEEL THAT CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO JERK THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO CONTINUE A SMOOTH DRIVE. THE DATE LIST OF THIS INCIDENT IS THE LAST TIME IT OCCURRED BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

MY 2005 BMW Z4 3.0 ROADSTER HAS DEVELOPED A POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING EXHIBITS A NOTCHY FEEL WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE INSUFFICIENT POWER TO ASSIST THE STEERING WHEN INPUT IS APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. AS YET I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE WHICH HAS 43K MILES AND BRAND NEW MICHELIN TIRES. THE NEW TIRES DIDN'T CORRECT THE ISSUE AND THE FRONT END COMPONENTS AND ALIGNMENT ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I FOUND THAT THE NHTSA HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE FOR POTENTIAL RECALL. MY CONCERN IS THAT WILL LEAD TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE SMUG DEALER SAID THAT A NEW STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE $3400! WILL THIS BE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS OR HAS THE SYSTEM BEEN UPGRADED AFTER MY 2005 WAS BUILT? I SEE THE PROBLEMS ARE WITH 03 TO 05 Z4'S. *TR

DRIVING ON FREEWAY, GOING ABOUT 72 ON A WARM DAY, ABOUT 86DEGEES. FELT CAR SLOW DOWN, LIKE TIRES WERE STUCK TO PAVEMENT AND COULD NO LONGER STEER CAR. STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY TIGHT, AND CAR WAS HARD TO HANDLE, AND HARD TO TURN. *TR

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THIS CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS LEFT AND RIGHT AND NEEDS FORCE TO COMPENSATE TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD !! I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW SERVICE AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS OK! I WENT HOME AND CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THERE LOADS OF COMPLAINTS ! ! AND NHTSA WANTS TO RECALL THESE CAR 300,000 UNITS PLEASE RECALL THESE CARS IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM MY CAR HAS 13,000 MILES AND I CAN'T EVEN SELL WITH THIS CONDITION AND BMW WON' DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT !!!!!!

2005 BMW Z4 WITH STICKING STEERING PROBLEMS. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. YOU HAVE TO MAKE CONSTANT CORRECTIONS TO THE STEERING WHEEL. HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WISH TO SEE A RECALL FROM BMW BEFORE ANYONE GETS KILLED OR DISABLED. THANK YOU *KB

STEERING PROBLEM. HOT WEATHER THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO FREEZE IN A POSITION, TAKES EXTRA EFFORT TO MAKE STEERING CORRECTIONS. ONCE THE STEERING BEGINS CHANGING, THE FRICTION FORCE DIMINISHES TO A NORMAL FORCE, RESULTING IN AN OVER CORRECTION IN DIRECTION. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS RESULTS IN VERY DANGEROUS SWAYING AND SWERVING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BECAUSE OF THIS STEERING PROBLEM. I HAVE LIVED WITH THIS AS LONG AS I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THE RECENT HEAT WAVE HAS BROUGHT ON THE CONDITION AS STRONG AS EVER BEFORE. TODAY I DECIDED TO USE THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHER CAR OWNERS WERE REPORTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL CAR. I JUST READ THAT NHTSA HAS DISMISSED SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I INVITE YOU TO COME TEST DRIVE MY CAR, AND TELL ME IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MY 2005 BMW EXHIBITS STIFF AND ERRATIC STEERING AS FOLLOWS: STEERING WHEEL IS VERY TIGHT, AND DOES NOT TURN UNLESS INORDINATE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THIS MAKES STEERING VERY STRANGE AND QUICK MOVEMENT IS DIFFICULT TO ENACT. A RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS JULY 24, 2011 ON HIGHWAY 101 IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME UNEXPECTEDLY, AND AT FIRST THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN. THIS DELAYED MY ACTION TO STEER AND FORCED A MORE VIOLENT MOVEMENT FROM ME. THIS THEN CAUSED MY PASSENGER TO SHIFT SUDDENLY IN HER SEATING, AND CUT HER LEG ON THE DASHBOARD CUP HOLDER WHICH HAD BEEN EXTENDED. THE MALFUNCTION APPEARED SOON AFTER I PURCHASED VEHICLE. HOWEVER IT IS ONLY PRESENT AT OVER 40 MPH, AND IS PRONOUNCED DURING HOT WEATHER. MOST OF MY USE FOR THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN FOR SHORT LOCAL TRIPS (ONLY 1800 MILES ON ODOMETER CURRENTLY). I NOW RECOGNIZE HOW SEVERE THIS STEERING MALFUNCTION IS, AS I HAVE BEEN USING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY MORE OFTEN.

STEERING "STICKINESS". STEERING INTERMITTENTLY BECOMES HARDER, THEN "RELEASES". IT FEELS LIKE THE POWER STEERING FAILS TEMPORARILY, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO APPLY MORE FORCE TO THE TURN. THEN WITHOUT WARNING, THE POWER STEERING RE-ENGAGES ,AND THE CAR WILL TURN MORE RAPIDLY. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO USE EXTRA FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,500. STEERING WHEEL IS STICKY WHEN TURNING TRYING TO MAKE MIRROR CORRECTIONS TO STEER. THIS SOMETIMES LEADS TO SLIGHT OVER CORRECTION TO STEERING DIRECTION. UPDATED 09/14/2011 *LN UPDATED 12/05/11 *TR

STEERING MALFUNCTIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS HOT (AMBIENT TEMP 80-90 DEGREES). THE STEERING WHEEL FORCE REQUIRED TO TURN INCREASES DRAMATICALLY. ALSO STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT DEFAULT TO CENTER WHEN TURNED (EVEN IN A CURVE). WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED ONLY WAY TO HAVE IT RETURN TO 0 IS TO TURN IT BACK THE OTHER WAY. CAR DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT AND CONTROLLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. IN COOL TEMPS THERE IS NO PROBLEM AS STEERING FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. LOSS OF CONTROL SEEMS QUITE LIKELY AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

THE STEERING APPEARS TO STICK WHEN TEMPS REACH 70 & ABOVE AND IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING AT 60+ SPEEDS. THE STEERING WANTS TO LOCK UP (STICK OR CATCH)AND BECOME JERKY WHEN DRIVING AND IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER SLIGHT TURNS TO KEEP VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

2005 BMW E85 WITH ONLY 9,000 MILES. DRIVING IN STRAIGHT LINE, STEERING WHEEL HAS UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF 'PLAY' WHERE NO WHEEL DIRECTION CHANGE WILL OCCUR. WHEN EXCEEDING THE 'PLAY' AN AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE IS ENCOUNTERED FOLLOWED BY AN ABRUPT WHEEL DIRECTION CHANGE. AT 40 MPH CAR WILL SUDDENLY MOVE 1-2 FEET IN LANE. VEHICLE REQUIRES CONSTANT, JERKING CORRECTION. THIS CONDITION HAS EXISTED SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE 2 MONTHS AGO BUT IS MUCH WORSE ON HOT DAYS SUCH AS THE CURRENT 85 DEGREE WEATHER. IN A CLOSE CLEARANCE SITUATIONS AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR VERY HOT DAYS, THIS COULD BECOME VERY DANGEROUS REGARDLESS OF DRIVER EXPERIENCE OR DILIGENCE. GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, I WONDER IF IT WILL REQUIRE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WITH A SEATBELT ON, A WARNING BELL WOULD SOUND IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,400.

THE STEERING SEEMS TO "STICK" AND RELEASE SUDDENLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A WHILE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING TO DATE BUT THE ISSUE DOES SEEM WORSE ON SOME DAYS. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 BMW Z4 3.0I WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE STEERING STICKS WHEN I DRIVE IT. I HAVE READ THAT THIS ISSUE HAS TURNED INTO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER OWNERS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE THE INITIAL STEERING ISSUE TOO. *TR