2006 BMW Z4 complaints

PURCHASE THE LISTED VEHICLE IN POMPANO BEACH, FL WHICH IS OVER 250 MILES FROM OUR HOME. TEST DROVE AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE WORKING IN A NORMAL MANNER. ABOUT 50 MILES FROM HOME, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON LOCATED ON THE CONSOLE, AS WELL AS ON THE DASH. THE DEALER WHERE THE PURCHASE WAS MADE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THEM OR ONE OF THEIR OTHER FACILITIES, THE NEAREST ONE OVER 100 MILES AWAY. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD STILL DEPLOY PROPERLY EVEN WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON. ON 06/18/14, I WENT ONLINE TO SEE HOW THE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR COULD BE REPLACED. LO AND BEHOLD, I FOUND A LETTER FROM NHTSA STATING THAT THE SEAT SENSORS COULD CRACK AND AFFECT THE PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. MY VEHICLE YEAR AND MODEL WAS LISTED AS AN AFFECTED MODEL. WE VISITED THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN OCALA, FL TODAY AND SHOWED THE NHTSA LETTER TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND HE STATED HE HAD NO HISTORY OF A RECALL. BMW WANTS TO USE THE VIN # AS A DETERMINING FACTOR. ALTHOUGH THE NHTSA LETTER DOES NOT SAY A WORD ABOUT VIN'S, BUT RATHER, JUST YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. IT ALSO CLEARLY INDICATES THAT ALL SEAT SENSORS COULD CRACK AFFECTING THE SAFETY OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN, NOT THAT IT HAS HAPPENED. BMW DOES NOT WANT TO DO A THING ABOUT IT UNLESS I PAY THEM $159.95 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND I CONSIDER THIS AS BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AS A RESULT OF BEING A 79 YE

I PICKED UP THIS CAR USED WITH 57000 MILES ON IN MAY 2013. THE STEERING HAS ALWAYS BEEN 'TOUCHY' BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A SPORTS CAR. WHEN DRIVING CAR IN TEMPERATURES AROUND 85 AND UP THE STEERING GETS REALLY 'JERKY' . THIS STARTED IN JUNE 2013 AS THE WEATHER WARMED UP. IT'S MY 2ND CAR SO DON'T DRIVE IT EVERY DAY AND DID NOT NOTICE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THE WEATHER TURNED HOT . HIGH 80'S INTO THE 90'S. I DIDN'T USE IT MUCH DURING THE REALLY HOT WEATHER LAST YEAR. BUT THE PROBLEM WAS THERE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES, HAD THEM CHECKED AND HAD NO ISSUES. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT IN THE SPRING. THESE PAST FEW DAYS THE WEATHER HAS TURNED REALLY WARM. I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK, LEFT AT 4PM YESTERDAY WITH THE TEMP OVER 90 AND THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT! THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT GLIDE SMOOTHLY LEFT OR RIGHT. IT'S LIKE IT GETS STUCK, YOU PULL IT BACK CAUSING YOU TO OVERSTEER, YOU PULL IT BACK THE OTHER WAY. I FOUGHT THIS ALL THE WAY HOME FOR 23 MILES. THE TEMPERATURE AND THE ERRATIC STEERING WAS SO BAD YESTERDAY THAT I WILL NOT DRIVE IT. IT IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE TODAY. I CALLED THE DEALER, TOM BUSH BMW IN JACKSONVILLE FL, TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE SERVICE BULLETINS I FOUND AND THIS WEBSITE WHERE OTHERS ARE REPORTING IT. I ALSO CALLED BMW NA AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER FIRST. I HAVE LEFT 2 MESSAGES AND I HAVE A FEELING I WILL HAVE TO KEEP CALLING. THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. YOU CANNOT KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT WITHOUT JERKY I

THE INDICATOR FOR "PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DEACTIVATED" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE "AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WARNING LAMP ON THE DASH CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. THIS OCCURRED ON THE FIRST START OF THE DAY AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE WITH NO ISSUES. I DID NOT, AND HAD NEVER TURNED THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS OFF. I SUSPECT THIS IS DUE TO A FAILED SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, SIMILAR TO WHAT INITIATED THE RECENT RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS VERY ISSUE THAT IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER BMW MODELS OUTSIDE THE RECALL IS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY CAR. I NOW HAVE WHAT I SUSPECT IS A KNOWN SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY THAT I MUST RESOLVE ON MY OWN. *TR

AT 5PM I DROVE THE CAR TO MARKET. STEERING FELT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OR NULL POINT. IT TOOK SOME FORCE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL PAST THE STUCK FEELING AND THEN THE SAME EFFORT TO RETURN TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 80+ DEGREES F. IT IS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE PROBLEM AS THE CORRECTION CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR THE SWALE OR CURB. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE ENGINE AS HAVING LOW COMPRESSION AND HE HEARD THE TIMING CHAIN FLAPPING. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THE DEALER TAKING A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE BOLTS HOLDING THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD SHEARED OFF. UPDATED 07/15/14

GOT IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT AND THE LIGHT FOR THE POWER STEERING CAME ON AND WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. WENT HOME AND LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN LOOKING IN TO IT. PLAN TO CALL THE DEALER TOMORROW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

VEHICLE HAS A FLAT SPOT IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED AS IT IS NOT AS SEVER AS WHEN IT IS A COOL DAY. THE STEERING SEEMS TO LOCK UP IN THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. *TR

REFERENCE DEFECT INVESTIGATION EA08001, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000; PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY PAD CRACKED CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT THAT REMAINS ON. UNCLEAR WHICH (IF ANY) AIRBAGS ARE OPERATIVE. REFERENCE CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME ISSUE DID NOT INCLUDE THIS YEAR VEHICLE. BMW PROVIDED FOR EXTENDED 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON 2004-2005 Z4 VEHICLES AS PART OF THE RESOLUTION TO REFERENCE CAMPAIGN. *TR

ON HOT DAYS (85F+) THE STEERING SEEMS TO "STICK" REQUIRING MORE THAN NORMAL FORCE TO "BREAK" THE STICK AND RESUME NORMAL STEERING. THIS CAN BE VERY DISCONCERTING AS IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE. THIS ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR IN THE WINTER. *JS

ON MY 2006 BMW Z4 3.0I, WHILE REPLACING A BLOWN HEADLIGHT BULB I DISCOVERED THAT THE INSULATION ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WIRING WAS CRUMBLING OFF AND IN PARTS HAD BARE COPPER WIRE SHOWING. AS THIS IS THE MAIN HEADLIGHT WIRING AND BOTH THE + AND - WIRES WERE SHOWING BARE COPPER A SHORT CIRCUIT AND OR FIRE COULD BE POSSIBLE. THIS WIRING IS WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING IT'S SELF. UPON DOING RESEARCH ONLINE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON AFFECTED. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER WHO SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME AND I COULD CALL BMW NA. I CALLED BMW NA WHO REPEATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND SAID THEY WOULD MAKE A NOTE OF IT BUT OFFERED NO OTHER HELP. *JS

STEERING IS JERKY FROM CENTER POSITION. EXTRA EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO MOVE STERRING WHEEL FROM CENTER POSITION CAUSING OVER CORRECTION IN EITHER DIRECTION. SOMETIMES THIS EXTRA EFFORT PUTS THE CAR INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR THE DITCH. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AN I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. BMW WANTS TO REPLACE THE STEERING SYSTEM (EXPENSIVE). THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS ITEM BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR FELL OF MOUNT. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO THE MIRROR MOUNT. I HAVE CHECKED BMW WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT IT IS DUE TO POOR GLUE/GLUING. THIS DEFECT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO FLYING GLASS, AND IMPAIR DRIVER'S REAR VIEW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS 2006 BMW HAS THE "STICKY STEERING" PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO THE NHTSA. THE PROBLEM OCCURS 100% OF THE TIME. WHEN DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN WITHOUT APPLYING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO "UNSTICK" THE MECHANISM AND HAVE THE STEERING WHEEL, AND IN TURN, THE CAR STEER PROPERLY. THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AS IS. THERE CAN BE A DELAY WHEN REACTING TO CORNERS, ON COMING TRAFFIC OR ANY NUMBER OF NORMAL DRIVING HAZARDS. *TR

WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN ON A WARM DAY, THE STEERING BECOMES VERY RIGID AND STIFF. WHEN DRIVING AND TRYING TO MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS IN THE LINE OF DIRECTION, THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND. THE ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED AND THE TIRES REPLACED. SOMETHING IS CLEARLY WRONG WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM AND THE CAR BECOMES HARD TO MANAGE. ACCIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WHEN THE DRIVER CAN'T MAKE TIMELY ADJUSTMENTS TO COURSE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ALL SERVICE AND REPAIRS OF THIS CPO PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP. FIRE CAUSED TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION MELTING INTERIOR AND NEARLY BURNING DRIVER-DAMAGE MOST SEVERE ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE AND EXTENDS TO THE CAR EXTERIOR. FIRE STARTED WHILE VEHICLE MOVING ON HEAVILY USED PUBLIC ROAD SHORTLY AFTER WARNING SYMBOL FOR BLINKERS ACTIVATED AND BLINKERS ON PASSENGER SIDE INCREASED IN SPEED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE BECAUSE ONCE THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO NORMAL SPEED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE GRADUALLY AT A HIGHER SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THAT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN TEMPS ARE ABOVE 90 DEGREES. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE THERE IS A QUICK OVER STEER AT THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO TRY AND CORRECT WHICH THEN CAUSES A REVERSE OVER STEER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNERS TO NHTSA AND BMWNA BUT IGNORED OR VIEWED AS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I BEG TO DIFFER. I'VE EXPERIENCED FIRST HAND THE CAUSE AND AFFECT OF THIS STEERING ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO AVOID AN OBJECT ON THE HIGHWAY THAT ONLY REQUIRED A RELATIVELY EASY TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE "STICKY STEERING" THE MINOR MANEUVER BECAME A MAJOR CONTROL ISSUE TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO A NORMAL STEERING PATH. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN THROUGHOUT BMW Z MODEL OWNERS AS "STICKY STEERING". I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. IT IS JUST TOO DANGEROUS. WHY IS THIS ISSUE NOT BEING ADDRESSED. IT IS SO WIDE SPREAD AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP AT HIGHER SPEEDS (50-70 MPH). USUALLY THE ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 85 DEGREES. *TR

STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO 'DETENT' IN ONE POSITION UNTIL MOVED TO ANOTHER POSITION. STEERING RESPONSE IS NOT SMOOTH AND LINEAR. VEHICLE STEERING IS 'DARTY' AND UNPREDICTABLE - MORE PRONOUNCED ON CROWNED ROADS. LANE CONTROL IS DIFFICULT AND REQUIRES CONSTANT STEER / COUNTER STEER TO PREVENT LANE EXCURSIONS. HIGHER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES TEND TO COMPOUND / AMPLIFY PROBLEM. VEHICLE BUILD DATE IS 05 / 2006. *TR

THE STEERING PSEUDO-LOCKS (HAS A "TICK") AND ITS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. ONE IS CONTINUALLY FIGHTING THE STEERING TICK/LOCK TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATION LIGHT ALWAYS ON (SINCE 20,000 MILES APPROX) TOGETHER WITH DASHBOARD AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. GARAGE DIAGNOSED FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT PRESSURE MAT AND ADVISED PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. BMW NORWELL MA, WHO SOLD THE CAR TO US, STATED NO RECALL ON 2006 MODEL (CONVERSATION WITH THEIR SERVICE DEPT. OF 10/21/2011) ALTHOUGH ALL Z4S UP TO 2005 WERE RECALLED FOR MAT REPLACEMENT. BMW WERE CLEARLY STILL FITTING DEFECTIVE PRESSURE MATS IN THE 2006 MODELS AND WOULD APPEAR TO BE NOT ONLY JEOPARDIZING OUR SAFETY BUT ALSO AVOIDING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. *TR

ON HOT DAYS, THE STEERING ON MY BMW "STICKS." THIS IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE OF A PROBLEM. I JUST DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE MECHANIC ON A 60 MILE TRIP. THE PROBLEM CAUSES ME TO HAVE OVERSTEER AND OVER-CORRECT WHEN CHANGING LANES. IT'S INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE, I NOW DRIVE WITH MY FOREARMS COMPLETELY TENSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM WHICH RESULTS IN UNDUE FATIGUE. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED TAT THE ONLY REMEDY IS AN ENTIRELY NEW STEERING RACK, IN EXCESS OF $2,000. THE CAR ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES THOUGH IT IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE, INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SOME TIME (AT LEAST 25,000 MILES) BUT I'M BEGINNING TO FEEL AT MORE AND MORE OF A RISK. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER WHEN IT FIRST BEGAN HAPPENING, WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG. *TR

SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA INVESTIGATION PE 10-020 "STICKY STEERING" OCCURS DURING PERIODS OF HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. THE CAR DARTS AND WANDERS. IT IS EXTREMELY DISCONCERTING AND REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION. AN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT TYPICALLY OCCURS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS AT THE CENTER POSITION AND THEDRIVER ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SMALL STEERING ADJUSTMENTS. THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME INCIDENT SO "APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE" IS INAPPROPRIATE. IT IS CONSTANT. ALSO NOT SURE WHY THE INVESTIGATION YOU CONDUCTED LISTS ONLY '03-05 WHEN IT CLEARLY STATES IN THE INVESTIGATION THAT BMW DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL JULY 2006. MY CAR IS A 2006 WITH A JUNE 2006 BUILD DATE, JUST PRIOR TO THE FIX OF THE ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW ROADSTER Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 70 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO CONTINUE MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN OIL SEPARATOR TO AVOID A YELLOW LIQUID FROM FORMING WITHIN THE OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY... IS NOT SENSING WHEN MY WIFE IS SEATED... LM ALWAYS NERVOUS THINKING THAT MY WIFE IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WHEN WE ARE IN THE CAR. DID A RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT A LOT BMWS WENT TO RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS...CALLED BMW 1800 NUMBER... AND THEY SAY MY CAR IS NOT IN THAT RECALL... THE SITUATION IS REALLY BAD AND THE DEALERS SAYS TO FIX THE PROBLEM...WILL BE AROUND 2000 USD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING PULL TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CURB CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT FENDER AND SIDES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THE STEERING PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED HE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

THIS REPORT CONCERNS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH A 2006 BMW Z4 WITH A 3.0 ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT BEGAN EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN ACCELERATING WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND WILL SOMETIMES MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED WHEN THE FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE ACCELERATOR. IT WILL ACCELERATE WELL PAST 100MPH WITHOUT STOPPING. THE THREE WAYS THAT STOP THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS TO 1. APPLY THE BRAKES, 2. PUT THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL, OR 3. TAP THE 'OFF' POSITION ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER. CRUISE CONTROL HAS NEVER BEEN UTILIZED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THERE ARE NO FLOOR MATS IN THE VEHICLE THAT COULD IMPEDE THE FUNCTIONING OF THE ACCELERATOR. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. A TECH WORKING ON THE VEHICLE STATED THAT HE BELIEVED IT WAS A CRUISE CONTROL SENSOR, BUT THE SHOP FOREMAN DETERMINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INSPECTED THE CAR AND HAVE STATED THAT 'THEY WILL STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND THAT NO DEFECT EXISTS.' I HAVE PROVIDED VIDEO DOCUMENTATION OF THIS ISSUE TO BMW. *TR

WHEN CORNERING IN MY 2006 BMW Z4 THE ELECTRIC STEERING WILL SEEM TO STICK IN ONE POSITION THEN REQUIRING FORCE TO RELEASE, NORMALLY HAPPENS ON RAMPS AND OFF RAMPS WHEN CORNERING, CAR THEN WILL DART WHEN YOU FORCE THE WHEEL, COULD BECOME A STICKY SITUATION IF IT GETS WORSE. *TR

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 100 DEGREES. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO STICK IN ONE PLACE, REQUIRING MORE THAN USUAL EFFORT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

POWER STEERING STICKING, NOTCHY FEELING, TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER REPLACED STEERING COLUMN UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

2006 BMW Z4 3.0SI ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM REQUIRES REPEATED CORRECTIONS TO STAY GOING STRAIGHT DOWN ROAD. IT'S AS IS IT WILL ONLY STEER 3 DEGREES OR MORE IN EACH DIRECTION, BUT NEVER IN 1 DEGREE INCREMENTS. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON VERY HOT DAYS AFTER BEING PARKED OUTSIDE IN SUN. *TR

IN HOT WEATHER (OVER 90 DEGREES F), AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN, STEERING WILL BIND OR STICK WHEN TURNING. IT REQUIRES MORE FORCE THAN NORMAL AND DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AS EASILY. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO TAKE CORNERS SMOOTHLY. SITUATION GETS BETTER AS CAR INTERIOR COOLS. *TR

THE STEERING IN MY CAR SEEMS A LITTLE ODD AT SPEED. THE CAR WANTS TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH WHEN TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I THOUGHT IT MY BE THE ROAD CONDITIONS BUT I AM NOT TOTALLY CONVINCED THAT THE STEERING SHOULD BE BAD ENOUGH THAT YOU MANY NEED TO SLOW DOWN IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY STEERING CORRECTIONS AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS ME AS O HAVE READ POST AFTER POST TO THE PROBLEM WHILE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS. I HAVE TRIED BUYING NEW TIRES AND THAT SEEMS TO CUT IT DOWN SOME BUT IT DID NOT GET RID OF WHAT SOME CALL TRAMLINING. I AM CALLING IT SWAYING AS I MAY NOT KNOW THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY. I HOPE THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE SO THAT WE CAN TRULY FIND THE ISSUE SO THAT A FIX CAN BE PUT INTO PLACE SO THAT THESE CARS ARE MORE SAFE. *TR

I HAVE HAD A RECURRING SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING INPUT EFFORT, ESPECIALLY WHEN HOT OUTSIDE. THE STEERING SEEMS VERY HEAVY AND STICKS WHEN CLOSE TO THE ON-CENTER POSITION, AND IS VERY HEAVY AND DIFFICULT TO RETURN BACK TO THE ON-CENTER POSITION. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR MY WIFE AND I NOW FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SERVICE VERY FREQUENTLY SINCE APRIL OF 2010. IT IS IN SERVICE FOR THE FORTH TIME NOW REGARDING THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE THIS TIME HAS BEEN IN NOW FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. *TR

TODAY I EXPERIENCED A STEERING PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 BMW Z-4. THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS APPROX 86 DEGREES. I NOTICED THE STEERING (WHICH IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED) BECAME VERY HEAVY AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE. TWICE THE VEHICLE JUTTED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING ME TO RIDE ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD (HITTING THE GRINDERS) - IT TOOK BOTH HANDS AND A TIGHT GRIP TO MAINTAIN CENTER. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM LAST SUMMER - STEERING IS NORMAL AT COOLER TEMPS BUT TODAY IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER LAST SUMMER AND THEY FOUND NO FAULT CODES, BUT THIS IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM AND BMW IS VERY AWARE OF IT. *TR

BMW 2006 Z-4 3.0 SI POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED TO OPERATE AT VEHICLE START UP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER (BMW LONG BEACH CA) WHERE THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE MECHANIC. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE UNIT BY THE DEALER THE UNIT BEGAN TO OPERATE WITH NO FURTHER FAULTS FOUND, AN ADDITIONAL THREE DAYS OF TESTING AND TROUBLESHOOTING BY THE DEALER FAILED TO IDENTIFY OR REPEAT THE ORIGINAL FAULT WITH THE UNIT-- NO PARTS WERE REPLACED. *TR

THIS CONCERNS MANY BMW Z4 EPS (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING) WHEN THE CAR SET IN HOT WEATHER AND THEN I GO TO DRIVE IT, THE STEERING BECOMES VERY TIGHT AND DOES NOT ALWAYS RETURN TO CENTER. ALSO THERE IS A LAG IN STEERING TURNING OR NULL SPOT OF ALMOST NO RESPONSE FOR UP TO ONE INCH OF STEERING WHEEL TURN. THIS TIGHT SLUG EST RESPONSE TO IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE IN COOL WEATHER WHEN THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN STEERING RESPONSE. *TR

HI, MY DESCRIPTION IS TOO LONG , I WILL EMAIL IT SEPARATELY TO NHTSA. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD RUN FLAT TIRES AND THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, ONE OF THE TIRES SUDDENLY COLLAPSED AND SHREDDED. BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE RUN FLAT, THE CONSUMER STATED HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE 50 MILES AFTER LOOSING PRESSURE, YET IT GAVE WAY COMPLETELY IN AN INSTANT. EVEN AFTER THE BLOWOUT, THE TPMS DID NOT INDICATED THAT THE TIRE WAS LOW EVEN AFTER THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM WITH ZERO PRESSURE. IT WAS LATER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A NAIL IN THE BLOWN TIRE PROVING THAT IT HAD BEEN LOOSING AIR FOR SOME TIME AND WAS DRIVEN ANYWAY DUE TO THE TPMS NOT WORKING. UPDATED 04/04/08