ZF North America, Inc.: Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
ZF North America, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Aug 28, 2019 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 614. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
ZF Group North America Operations (ZF) is recalling certain Lemförder Steering Center Rods sold as aftermarket parts for 1996-2004 BMW 5-Series (E39) vehicles. The steering center rods may have an insufficient ball pin pull force that may allow the rods to detach from the steering knuckle.
The risk
If the steering rod detaches from the steerable wheel knuckle, it can cause sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
ZF has notified the parts distributors, instructing them to inform the end customer. ZF will reimburse them for the affected parts. The recall began August 28, 2019.
9 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 BMW 5 Series | 64 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
| 2003 BMW 5 Series | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 BMW 5 Series | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 BMW 5 Series | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 BMW 5 Series | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 19E058000.
Full record for the 2004 BMW 5 Series → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →