2003 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

Steering is binding up, very hard to steer and control. Car starts out running fine after parked in hot weather and restarted it is almost uncontrollable. Looking for corrective action. Only 39,920 miles on car. Would like to use it or sell it, can do neither in current condition. Steering column needed or components

When outside temp is 80degrees or higher it becomes difficult to maintain the vehicle in the correct driving lane due to a stickyness in the steering wheel. I will not allow anyone to drive the vehicle when the temp is over 80 degrees ... sucks to have a convertable that you can't drive in warm weather!

My girlfriend, [XXX] , purchased a used 2003 BMW z4 2.5i. It is pristine with 47K original miles. Always maintained, garaged and never driven in foul weather. I, [XXX] , drove it home for her and noticed the steering to be "sticky". This showed on the highway traveling at 65 MPH. It was very unsettling to feel the car want to track in a direction that i could not control. I used "more force" to pull the steering wheel to get tracking correctly and stay in my travel lane. Lucking I did not overcorrect and lose control or cause and accident. Once it happened it continued to happen the balance of the drive on the highway and back roads. I've owned and driven many different makes and models of vehicles from Dodge, Renault, Toyota, GMC, Chrysler, Volvo, Geo, etc. and never has "steering" been an issue. Once we got home I looked up "sticky steering" issue for the 2003 Z4 and this is a known issue. Driving this BMW was unsettling and unsafe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Upon starting the car, power steering does not work making car unmanueverable.

The steering in this BMW Z4 gets "sticky" in warm or hot weather. It drives fine in cold weather. The steering has to be constantly corrected as it pulls to the left. It will not track in a straight line and needs constant corrections from side to side to compensate for the problem. If you do not pay close attention and correct the steering input, you will go off the road. On a warmer day after driving for a while I suddenly experienced a unexpected binding of the steering and almost ended up steering into oncoming traffic. This car is not safe to drive. The 2003 model has electric power steering. There are no codes or warning lights. I took the car to the local mechanic and he was easily able to reproduce the issue when he drove it less than 1 mile. This issue not only puts me at risk but others because of the constant correction of the steering to keep a straight. If you drive this car in warm or hot weather distances more than 20 miles then shut if off, then attempt to restart there is no steering at all. Please view the 2 websites listed below from BMW owners. https://automotivesblog.com/e85-e86-bmw-z4-steering-problems-how-to-fix/ https://www.carproblemzoo.com/bmw/z4/steering-problems.php One website had almost 700 complaints with the steering. I dare not let my kids behind the wheel of this car. It is not a question of "if" someone gets killed, but "when." BMW North America would only say there are no recalls. When I asked if there have been issues reported, they declined to give me that information. Please help. It would be interesting to know how many accidents were listed with the steering being the cause of the MVA. I would gladly allow someone with the NHTSA drive this car in warm weather. Then you would see how dangerous the steering is in these vehicles.

Sticky steering steering wheel hard to turn and stops intermittently when outside temperature is hot

STICKY STEERING AFTER CAR WARMS UP. STEERS LIKE A BOAT. DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR WINDING ROAD.

The contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds in hot weather, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and would also jerk the vehicle into the next lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the battery to be replaced. The dealer replaced the battery however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

Mileage: 24,000

During very warm days in the summer the steering wheel tends to stick during turns. It requires extra force to continue to turn the wheel which becomes problematic during a tight turn or on highway on-ramps.

Car has 15,000 miles and always stored in climate controlled garage. Drove it today and within 1/2 mile the electronic power steering failed making it very, very hard to steer. Shut vehicle off and restart and the problem goes away but only for a minute or two and then returns.

I purchased this BMW Z4 from a private seller on Thursday (3/10/22) located in Myrtle Beach, SC. On the way home (187 mile trip), about ¾ of the trip, I was driving about 55 mph on 701 North and the steering felt as if it was sticking to the point where moving the wheel took a effort to unstick it which put me into oncoming traffic in the other lane. I almost was involved in a head-on collision! The vehicle has only 39K miles on it. The previous owner had this issue in April of 2008 and took it to a BMW dealer who advised them that the repair would cost $2,950.00. The previous owner declined the repair because they couldn’t afford it and the dealer told them that BMW will probably issue a recall AS HUNDRES OF Z4 OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. The vehicle also drifts to the left and attempts by the previous owner to have the vehicle aligned to correct this have failed. The vehicle had only 13K on the odometer at the time BMW advised of the faulty steering column.

On hot days the steering becomes sticky like there is a catch. It will also pull to one side or the other making it very dangerous to drive especially on the interstate.

I JUST PURCHASED Z4. DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM DURING TEST RIDE. ON MY WAY HOME DURING PURCHASE STEERING BECAME AN ISSUE. THE CAR WOULD BE DRIVING FINE THEN WHAT I WOULD A DEAD SPOT WOULD APPEAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY SHIFT LEFT OR RIGHT WHAT SEEMS A FEW INCHES. THIS CAUSES DRIVER (ME) TO COMPENSATE TO AVOID GOING IN DITCH OR CROSSING A LANE OR GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES ON MY 70-MILE TRIP HOME.

Mileage: 93,000

THE FIRST ISSUE IS THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE MAKING THE WHEEL HARD TO TURN. ADDITIONALLY, AT RIGHT ABOUT THE STRAIGHT POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL THE STEERING WILL STICK (CONSISTENTLY FIGHTING THE WHEEL TO STAY CENTERED). STAYING STRAIGHT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AS YOU CONSTANTLY BATTLE THE RESISTANCE BACK AND FORTH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IT IS QUITE DISCONCERTING AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN ME SIDE SWIPING ONCOMING VEHICLES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT BMW NEVER ADDRESSED. RESEARCHING THE MATTER I'VE LEARNED THAT A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AND LABOR WOULD BE IN THE $3000-4500 RANGE AND THE PROBLEM WOULD LIKELY REOCCUR IN THE FUTURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. WORSE, AS MOST PEOPLE IN MY POSITION ARE UNABLE TO PERFORM A REPAIR AT THAT COST, I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE MANIPULATING THEIR STEERING COLUMNS WITH MIXED SUCCESS ULTIMATELY CREATING AN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS POTENTIAL SITUATION. THESE METHODS INCLUDE DRILLING INTO THE STEERING COLUMN AND ADDING GREASES AND LUBRICANTS THAT WERE NOT DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM, WITH NO SHORTAGE OF RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS ESTABLISHING THIS ISN'T A "IF IT HAPPENS", BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS. DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM, I DARE YOU, AND TELL ME IT IS NOT A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. DISAPPOINTED. I'D APPRECIATE IF BMW WOULD REACH OUT TO ME AND REMEDY THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A STEERING WHEEL, ONE OF THE MOST BASIC AND NECESSARY SYSTEMS ON A CAR TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO BE DEFECTIVE WITH NO REMEDY AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY BY BMW AND "DO IT YOURSELF" REMEDIES WILL UNDOUBTEDLY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY. BMW SHOULD PROVIDE A FIX FOR THOSE Z4S AFFECTED STILL ON THE ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.

Mileage: 85,000

I HAVE A 2003 Z4 WITH 25K MILES. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. SPOKE WITH A BMW MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE COST IS $3000. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL??

AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION MY Z4 IS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING 'STICKY WHEEL' EVIDENTLY THIS WAS FOUND IN MANY Z4'S IN OR AROUND MY YEAR OF CAR. I WAS SURE THAT I WOULD SEE A RECALL FOR MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE BUT NEVER RECEIVED ONE. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS, BUT THE BMW DEALERSHIPS SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. WHEN I LEARNED OF THIS RASH OF 'STICKY WHEEL' ISSUES WITH MANY Z4'S ... I QUESTIONED BMW. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE (BASED ON MY VIN #) WAS NOT RECALLED WHILE OTHERS WERE. I ONLY USE THE CAR AROUND TOWN AT SLOW SPEEDS AS I AM IN FEAR TO USE IT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT ALL TIMES WHEN STEERING BUT IS WORST AS SPEED INCREASES. I FEAR THAT I COULD EVEN LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AT SOME POINT.

Mileage: 30,000

FROM DAY ONE I HAD AIRBAG PROBLEM FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. AIR BAG NEVER WORKED. BMW HAD RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS, BUT THEY DON'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY STEERING COLUMN HAS PROBLEMS TOO

Mileage: 24,000

WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP OR HAS BEEN IN THE WARM SUN THE STEERING STICKS. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS ISSUE WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL POP OVER RATHER THAN SMOOTHLY TURNING. THE PROBLEM CREATES AND OVERSTEERING THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPREED AND IN TRAVERSING CORNERS.

Mileage: 48,000

AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE SUN FOR 4 HOURS, THE CAR WAS HARD TO STEER. THE STEERING WAS STICKY AND MADE IT FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL BMW Z4.

Mileage: 36,575

I JUST PURCHASED THIS 2003 Z4 FROM A DEALER ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WHEN I TEST DROVE IT, IT DROVE FINE AND THE STEERING WAS SMOOTH AS YOU'D EXPECT. IT WAS A LITTLE CHILLY AS IT WAS STILL IN THE MORNING. BY AFTERNOON, DURING MY 6HR DRIVE HOME FROM THE DEALER, IT GOT HOT OUTSIDE, AS IT IS SUMMER AND ALL, AND THE STEERING STARTED TO BECOME VERY JERKY, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH IN THE LANES. IT HAS NOW BECOME A DANGEROUS CAR. THE INITIAL DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED FROM PLAYED DUMB AND SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. BEFORE BUYING THIS CAR, WHICH HAS 57K MI ON IT, I DID MY RESEARCH. SEEMED LIKE NO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT. NOT UNTIL AFTER I PURCHASED IT, AND SPECIFICALLY SEARCHED 'STEERING PROBLEMS' DID I DISCOVER THIS HAD BEEN A BMW DESIGN FLAW FROM THE BEGINNING AND COUNTLESS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ALMOST FROM THE GET GO. NO RECALL HAD BEEN MADE, AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH A DANGEROUS CAR. GOING FORWARD, I HAVE NOTIFIED FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THAT SHOULD I GET KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, START LITIGATION AGAINST BMW, AS THIS IS NOW DOCUMENTED BY MYSELF, AS WELL AS COUNTLESS OTHERS.

Mileage: 57,000

OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS I'VE NOTICED STICKY STEERING BUT AM JUST REPORTING NOW. AT MOST SPEEDS I'VE HAD THE STEERING STICK AND NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL. OFTEN NEEDING TO REACT OR OVERCORRECT. I'VE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN OCCURRENCE AND SEVERITY THE WARMER THE AMBIENT TEMP IS. WHEN STEERING AROUND A CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T WANT TO COME BACK TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT CORRECTIVE ACTION. THIS AFTERNOON THE AMBIENT TEMP WAS ABOUT 90F AND WITH OCCURED AT EVERY MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I FEAR THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT AND REALLY TAKES AWAY FROM THE ENJOYMENT OF DRIVING THIS CAR. I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE. OTHER REPORTS I'VE READ STATE THAT THE DEALERS RECOMMENDED REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3000-$4000.

Mileage: 60,000

RIGID STEERING WITH OVER CORRECTION, USUALLY DURING WARM WEATHER. IF GOING AT HIGHWAY/FREEWAY SPEED, EASY TO LOOSE CONTROL AND MAY CAUSE MAJOR INJURY. EXPERIENCED THIS TODAY DRIVING SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH AND DECIDED TO SOUND OFF. I HOPE BMW IS NOT WAITING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM UNTIL SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SAME MODEL CAR, AND POSSIBLY ALL, ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT COMPLAINING. IT TOOK TODAY'S EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO WRITE.

Mileage: 60,000

FOR SEVERAL YEARS MY Z4 HAS HAD STEERING STICKING ISSUES. I THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR UNTIL I JOINED A NATIONAL BMW Z4 OWNERS CLUB AND DISCOVERED THAT THE YEARS 2003 THROUGH 2005 ALL HAVE THIS ISSUE WHEN THE WEATHER IS VERY WARM . THE STEERING WILL BE AFFECTED AND WILL BE DIFFICULTY TO MANAGE STEERING ON THE HIGHWAYS. I WAS TOLD BMW IS AWARE AND OPTED TO IGNORE. MY GRANDAUGHTER DROVE MY CAR IN NEW YORK AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 80 DEGREES AND SHE OVERSTEERED AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO OVERSTEERING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THE EXPRESSWAY. SHE WILL NOT DRIVE MY CAR NOW DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS CARS MUST BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED. HOW CAN WE PROCEED TO REPAIR THIS WITHOUT AN EXPENSE THAT THAT IS MORE THAN THE CAR'S WORTH AND NOT RELATED TO MISUSE. I HAVE DONE A SURVEY AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND ADVISE MY HOW TO SHARE WITH MY FELLOW BMW Z4 OWNERS HOW TO PROCEED AS IT APPEARS IT IS A SAFELY ISSUE AND DUE TO DEFICITS WITH MANUFACTURING OF OUR VEHICLES. I AFFECTS THE STEERING AND WILL PASS INSPECTION AS THE CAR IS NOT ALWAYS DRIVEN IN HOT WEATHER AT SPEEDS TO NOTICE THE DEFECT. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE THAT COULD AFFECT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AND THEIR SAFETY.

Mileage: 30,000

STEERING JERKS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET OR ON HI WAY.

Mileage: 65,000

ON WARM DAYS THE STEERING AT HIGHER SPEED GETS HARD TO STEER ; TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSTEADY. AT LOWER SPEEDS AND COOLER TEMPS THE HARD STEERING CAN BS HANDLED BUT IS STILL TROUBLESOME. NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO BMW.

Mileage: 21,201

2003 BMW Z4 STEERING I EXPERIENCE SUDDEN JERKS IN THE STEERING WHEEL, MORE SO AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AROUND 60MPH AND ABOVE.THE JERKS ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND CAN BE EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. IT MAKES THE CAR REALLY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN AT THESE HIGHER SPEEDS! I BELIEVE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED TO CORRECT IT! FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT REQUIRES A COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AND IS VERY COSTLY. BMW SHOULD STEP UP AND COVER THIS VERY DANGEROUS STEERING SITUATION.

Mileage: 110,000

I EXPERIENCE SUDDEN JERKS TO THE LEFT, OT TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS SLEGHTINGLY UNEVEN. I CAN NEVER PREDICT WHICH WAY THE CAR PULLS ME. I STRUGGLE A LOT TO KEEP THE STEERING CENTERED WHEN STOPPING AT ANY RED LIGHT. ALSO MAKE A WEIRD SOUND WHEN A TRY TO TURN RIGHT

Mileage: 99,900

STICKY STEERING WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED AS CAUSED BY A POORLY DESIGNED BEARING IN THE STEERING COLUMN ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR $3500. A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEED. POWER ASSIST IS ELECTRICAL ON STEERING.

Mileage: 94,000

STEERING GETS STICK AND ITS HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 10

CAR IS HARD TO STEER WHEN DRIVING AND BMW KNOWS THIS ISSUE, CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE

STICKY STEERING ISSUE. KNOWN ISSUE AMONG COUNTLESS OTHER BMW Z4 OWNERS. PRESENTS CONSIDERABLE DANGER AS STEERING WILL JERK EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING. UNBELIEVABLE THAT NO RECALL EXISTS FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT AS IT CLEARLY PUTS DRIVERS AND THOSE AROUND THEM IN CONSTANT DANGER.

Mileage: 44,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 4 TO 40 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KELLY BMW (614-471-2277, LOCATED AT 4050 MORSE RD, COLUMBUS, OH 43230) AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED DEALER AND MANUFACTURE MADE AWARE OF RECENT FAILURE. 01/03/19. DEALER MADE REPAIRS AT CONSUMERS COST 1/11/19. EPS STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. *JB

Mileage: 145,000

AT 3844 MILES IN DECEMBER 2017 I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR STANDARD SERVICE AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND I MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING AT TIMES WAS STICKING AND IT WOULD TAKE FORCE TO GET IT OUT OF THE LOCKED POSITION WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS OF SERIOUS CONCERN. THE BMW SERVICE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT $5,200. WITH ONLY 3,844 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD HAPPEN. I AM FILING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AND BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $1,911.96 TO REPLACE SENSORS AND FAULTY STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. AFTER THE REPAIR THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE WITH THE STICKING STEERING PROBLEM.

Mileage: 3,844

2003 BMW Z4 STEERING IS BINDING UP AND DIFFICULT TO STEER. PROBLEM GETS WORSE AS THE TEMP INCREASES. NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND NO RECALL. WHY? BMW WILL DO NOTHING , NOT EVEN A COST REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH SEEMS TO FIX THE ISSUE.

ON JULY 2018 BMW ISSUED AN IMPORTANT LIMITED WARRANTY INFORMATION NOTICE RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE. BMW WOULD COVER REPAIRS TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY FOR THE SRS/AIR BAG SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY THIS WARRANTY REPAIR WILL NOT COVER MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE 15 YEAR PERIOD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE THAT WAS PUT INTO SERVICE IN JANUARY 2003. I BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD COVER ANY 2003 BMW Z4 RATHER THAN CUTTING OFF THOSE MADE IN THE PRIOR 6 MONTHS. BMW REFUSES TO COVER. THE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE RELATES TO THE SERVO MOTOR/ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL UNIT. RECENTLY THIS FAILED AND I NOTE THAT OTHER BMWS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM TOO. I BELIEVE YOUR AGENCY SHOULD DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THIS WARRANTS A RECALL TOO. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING CEASES TO FUNCTION. PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED. IN MY CASE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT. THE SHOP HAD NOTICED THE STEERING SEEMED TIGHT AND TOLD ME THE UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4,000. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND THE STEERING IS BACK TO NORMAL. RESEARCH ON THE WEB INDICATED THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH NUMEROUS OTHER BMWS.

Mileage: 80,500

CAR SUFFERS FROM STICKY STEERING MAKING IS SO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR INCAPABLE OF DOING SMOOTH LANE CHANGES.

Mileage: 94,000

SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR NEW IN 2003, AND SINCE, THE STEERING GET VERY "TIGHT" OR "STICKY" MAKING THE CAR ALMOST UNDRIVABLE. IN HPOT WEATHER IF IS WORSE. IT BECOMES VERY HARD TO STEER THE CAR AS IT REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT OR TURN THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO STAY IN A LANE OR TURN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET AND BMW SITES WITH THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE BMW Z4S.

Mileage: 20

THE STEERING STICKS AT WARM OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES AND CREATES A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS SAME AS MINE ONLINE. NO ACCIDENT YET.

Mileage: 28,000

THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 43,000

I HAVE STEERING PROBLEM ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I. I BOUGHT IT ONLY A YEAR AGO ON MAY 2018 WITH 58,000 MILES ON IT. DROVE ONLY SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES AND STARTED GETTING THE STEERING PROBLEM. IT KEEPS PULLING EITHER TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. I CONSTANTLY STRUGGLE TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS SO I CAN DRIVE STRAIGHT. SOMETIMES THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK. I ALREADY SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS REPLACING THE FRONT END SUSPENSION BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE STEERING PROBLEM. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IN THE FOLLOWING BLOG: - HTTP://WWW.BMWCOOP.COM/2010/07/06/STEERING-PROBLEMS-FOR-BMW-Z4-IN-THE-U-S/ IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 64,000

MY 2003 BMW Z4 HAS VERY TIGHT STEERING WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, AND I NOTICE THE PROBLEM IS MORE COMMON ON WARMER DAYS. LAST WEEK AS I WAS DRIVING ON A WARM DAY, I NOTICED I HAD TO REPEATEDLY PUT SIGNIFICANT EFFORT IN ORDER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ON A TURN ON THE FREEWAY, AS THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT STICKING. WHENEVER I'VE APPLIED THIS SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO GET AROUND THIS ISSUE, THE STEERING UNSTICKS AND THEN TURNS TOO MUCH. ON THAT DAY, I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME, CAUSING THE CAR NEXT TO ME TO SWERVE A BIT AS WELL TO AVOID ME. IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ME WITH THIS CAR, AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID IT'S A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE BMW, WHICH PRIDES ITSELF IN THE QUALITY OF IT'S VEHICLES, SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, AS IT'S A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE. JUST BY DOING A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH, IT'S VERY APPARENT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH EARLY YEAR Z4'S.

Mileage: 26,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 80 DEGREES, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE DEALER (THE BMW STORE, 6131 STEWART RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45227, (513) 271-8700) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

Mileage: 42,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IN HOT WEATHER, APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES AND OVER, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. WHEN IT FINALLY TURNED, IT JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUXURY IMPORTS OF BOWLING GREEN (325 THREE SPRINGS RD, BOWLING GREEN, KY 42104, 270-745-0001) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED FOR THE ELECTRIC STEERING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

Mileage: 21,000

STEERING WHEEL IS VERY STIFF AND JERKY AND DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN TO CENTER. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON HOT DAYS ABOVE 80 F, ESPECIALLY IF THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE SUN FOR A FEW HOURS.

Mileage: 33,000

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 2003. WHEN THE WEATHER WARMS UP, THE STEERING GETS STIFF AND JERKY. THIS CAR HAS QUICK STEERING AND MAKING IT JERKY INCREASES THE RISK OF RUNNING INTO SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY. I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THIS TO BE A PROBLEM AND MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY WITH NO HELP. AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. WE HAD A WARM DAY OVER THE WEEKEND AND I TOOK THE CAR TO WORK. WHEN LEAVING, THE CAR FELT DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS DURING THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING ON A WARM DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS STIFF LIKE THE POWER STEERING ISN'T WORKING. WHEN YOU APPLY MORE STEERING FORCE, THE STEERING SUDDENLY JERKS QUICKLY AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL WITH THE CAR, YOU OVERSTEER.

Mileage: 107,000

SINCE OWNING THE CAR IN FLORIDA I NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WILL GET STICKY WHEN LEFT I THE SUN ON HOT DAYS.WITH OUT USING A SUN SHIELD IN THE WIND SCREEN. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM NOW A STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT NEEDS A COLUMN COSTING $5000.

WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS, LIKE INTO PARKING SPOTS, THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP, CUT POWER TO HEAD LIGHTS, RADIO. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. FIRST STARTED AT 70K MILES, NOW AT 90K MILES THE STEERING COLUMN IS PRETTY MUCH DEAD. ALSO AFTER THESE HICCUPS HAPPEN MY CAR WONT TURN OVER WHEN I TRY TO START IT UP. I WAIT A COUPLE MINUTES AND IT'LL START UP THEN . STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR OR ANY EARLY MODEL BMW WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. BMW ALSO DOESN'T WANT TO OWN UP TO THEIR LACK OF ENGINEERING AND RECALL THIS TOTAL PILE OF CRAP...TISK..TISK.

Mileage: 70,000

STICKY STEERING WHEN THE CAR IS WARM OR AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS GREATER THAN ABOUT 75 OR 80F. AS THE TEMPERATURE INCREASES, THE CAR IS MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER SMOOTHLY. IT EXPERIENCE A STICK/SLIP BEHAVIOR WHICH CAUSES CONTINUAL OVER CORRECTIONS. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE FOR YEARS. I HAVE NOTICED THE STEERING ISSUE SINCE BUYING IT SECOND HAND IN 2007. BMW DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT MY EXPENSE. I WON'T LET ANYONE DRIVE THE CAR IN WARM WEATHER.

Mileage: 8,000

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. STALLS AT OR IN TRYING TO MOVE THROUGH INTERSECTIONS

Mileage: 52,000

TAKATA RECALL AS I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME ON HIGHWAY THE STEERING WAS STIFF OR HARD, IT MAKES IT HARD TO STEER TO DIFFERENT ROAD OR A EXIT BUT WHEN IM DIVING ON LOW SPEED UBER 20MPH IT SEE LIKE NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND I SEE MANY, MANY PEOPLE ALSO HAVE THEE SAME PROBLEM.

GARBAGE! ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE THE STEERING ISSUE ON MY Z4. FROM TJE UNSEALED BEARING IN THE STERRING COLUNN TO THE UN- HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINEERING FOR TJE OVERALL STEERING SYSTEM FOR THE ENTIRE CAR. WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY PUTTING POWER ASSIAT STEERING ON THIS LITTLE SHORT CAR ANYWAY... HENCE WHY ITS NOT ON THE M SERIES. MY GRANDFATHER'S 1965 TRUCK RAN TRUER THAN THIS DEATH TRAP. ITS A SHAME TO HAVE A GREAT CAR AND SCREW IT UP WITH THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, TJE MOST IMPORTANT PART😤😡😠. CAR DARTS ALL OVER THE ROAD, CONSTANT CORRECTIONS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY IN JEOPARDY. THIS IS A TRAVESTY IN DEED!!

Mileage: 17,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4 ROADSTER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON HOT DAYS AND WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE DEALER (BMW OF CHARLOTTESVILLE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, 434-270-8664) AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.

Mileage: 37,000

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON WARM DAYS (80 OR ABOVE) THE STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION WHEN SMALL ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE. THE STEERING FEELS "STICKY" OR "NOTCHED" REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO RE POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY ON THE ROAD. TIRE PRESSURES ARE IN SPEC AS IS THE ALIGNMENT.

Mileage: 9,025

STICKY STEERING WHEN IT IS HOT WEATHER. IT IS HARD TO STEER AND WILL NOT STRAIGHTEN UP. CONSTANT STEERING PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 46,570

AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 20MPH) STEERING IS VERY LIGHT AND SMOOTH, NO ISSUES AT ALL. AS SPEED INCREASES, THE STEERING GETS HEAVIER (AS IT SHOULD) BUT DEVELOPS A "DETENT" AT STRAIGHT CENTER. THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE DETENT RESISTANCE, TO THE POINT THAT IT BECOMES EASY TO OVERSTEER THE CAR. THIS CAN BE REAL SCARY DURING AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS AND QUICK LANE CHANGES.

Mileage: 64,000

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING STICKS AND IS VERY STIFF. NOT FLUID STEERING BUT JERKING AND IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A DANGER ON ROAD.

Mileage: 14,000

STEERING GETS "STUCK" WHILE DRIVING. FEELS LIKE YOUR IN A RUT. 35K ON THE VEHICLE AND THE BMW DEALER SAID THE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED FOR $4538.41. I READ ON THE INTERNET THE ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ISSUES FOR CARS 2003-2005. MANY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AND BMW HAD NO RECALLS ON THE CARS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO DRIVE THE CARS. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHSTA AND WONDERING WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE ISSUE. I ONLY DRIVE 1500 MILES PER YEAR AND IT STARTED LATE LAST SUMMER AND IS NOW UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES.

Mileage: 34,800

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS MORE PRONOUNCED DURING WARM TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING OPEN FACED BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. UPDATED 06/02/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 08/29/2017*JS

Mileage: 25,000

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WHILE IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS RESULTED IN INCORRECT AMOUNTS OF STEERING PRESSURE BEING APPLIED BY TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS & NEAR ACCIDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DATE IS APPROXIMATE FOR FIRST OCCURRENCE.

Mileage: 58,000

STEERING SEEMS RANDOMLY UNRESPONSIVE. YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL AN THERE IS A LAG. FEELS LIKE I DONT ALWAYS HAVE CONTROL OF MY CAR.

STEERING IS TOO UNSTABLE ON STRAIGHT DRIVING. A SUDDEN PULL TO THE RIGHT/LEFT AND STEERING IS NOT CENTERING. STEERING IS STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL.

Mileage: 97,000

TAKATA RECALL. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW Z4 2003 THE STEERING WHEEL IS GETTING NOTCHY AND SOMETIMES IT GETS STUCK IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT POSITION. I REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT STILL DOING THE SAME THING. NEED HELP.

STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE GETS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD TO TURN AND TURN BACK STRAIGHT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT SPEEDS HIGHER THEM 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 29,000

WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING IS STICKY ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUT. IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT WITHOUT CONSTANTLY MOVING THE WHEEL RIGHT AND LEFT AND YOU CAN FEEL THE GAP IN THE MOVE. YOU FEEL A SKIP IN THE MOVE. IT MAKES IT FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO JUMP TO FAR RIGHT OR LEFT. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS THE LAST 3 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. MY TIRES ARE NEW AND WELL BALANCED SO IT IS NOT THE TIRES. IT DID THIS WITH THE OLD TIRES AND NOW CONTINUES TO DO IT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME AND DRIVE IT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION AND TRYING TO DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD. WHEN MAKING A REASONABLE TURN IT IS FINE.

Mileage: 40,000

WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS, NORMALLY IN HOT WEATHER, THE STEERING GETS STICKY AND FEELS CATCHY. THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, AT ANY SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AFTER LETTING SIT FOR A COUPLE HOURS IT IS FINE. DRIVE FOR ANOTHER FEW HOURS AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN, REPEATABLE. HAPPENS GOING STRAIGHT, TURNING IS FINE.

Mileage: 30,000

MY NAME IS [XXX] , I JUST RECENTLY OWN A 2003 BMW Z4. IT IS ABOUT 65K CLEAN TITLE. I HAVE JUST NOTICE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I RESEARCHED THIS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MOST RELATE TO ISSUES IN HOT TEMPERATURES AND TO SPEED. PROBLEM WAS VERY NOTICEABLE LAST EVENING AT 70 DEGREES. HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS... AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 20MPH) STEERING IS VERY LIGHT AND SMOOTH, NO ISSUES AT ALL. AS SPEED INCREASES, THE STEERING GETS HEAVIER (AS IT SHOULD) BUT DEVELOPS A "DETENT" AT STRAIGHT CENTER. THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE DETENT RESISTANCE, TO THE POINT THAT IT BECOMES EASY TO OVERSTEER THE CAR. THIS CAN BE REAL SCARY DURING AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS AND QUICK LANE CHANGES. THE HOT WEATHER JUST MAKES IT WORSE. FROM WHAT I KNOW FROM RESEARCH, THE WAY TO FIX THIS IS DO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. I M SINCERE ASKING FOR HELP. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT CHANGE ON MY OWN WHEN IS IT MORE LIKE BMW' ENGINEER PROBLEMS. I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT GET TOO SERIOUS. THANKS IN ADVANCE. PLEASE CALL OR CONTACT ME THROUGH MY EMAIL AT [XXX] OR MY NUMBERS AT [XXX]. (BEST TO CALL ME) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY NAME IS [XXX] , I JUST RECENTLY OWN A 2003 BMW Z4. IT IS ABOUT 65K CLEAN TITLE. I HAVE JUST NOTICE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I RESEARCHED THIS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MOST RELATE TO ISSUES IN HOT TEMPERATURES AND TO SPEED. PROBLEM WAS VERY NOTICEABLE LAST EVENING AT 70 DEGREES. HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS... AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 20MPH) STEERING IS VERY LIGHT AND SMOOTH, NO ISSUES AT ALL. AS SPEED INCREASES, THE STEERING GETS HEAVIER (AS IT SHOULD) BUT DEVELOPS A "DETENT" AT STRAIGHT CENTER. THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE DETENT RESISTANCE, TO THE POINT THAT IT BECOMES EASY TO OVERSTEER THE CAR. THIS CAN BE REAL SCARY DURING AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS AND QUICK LANE CHANGES. THE HOT WEATHER JUST MAKES IT WORSE. FROM WHAT I KNOW FROM RESEARCH, THE WAY TO FIX THIS IS DO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. I M SINCERE ASKING FOR HELP. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT CHANGE ON MY OWN WHEN IS IT MORE LIKE BMW' ENGINEER PROBLEMS. I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT GET TOO SERIOUS. THANKS IN ADVANCE. PLEASE CALL OR CONTACT ME THROUGH MY EMAIL AT [XXX] OR MY NUMBERS AT [XXX]. (BEST TO CALL ME) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE STEERING STICKS OFTEN ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY FORCING ME TO OVERCOMPENSATE TO STEER THE CAR. CONSTANTLY FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO ADJUST THE DIRECTION THE CAR IF GOING. NOTICED THE PROBLEM DURING WARM/HOT TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE. UNSAFE CONDITION AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR. CONDITION CAUSING THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 28,500

SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR 2 YRS AGO. THE STEERING GETS "STICKY". IT IS HARD TO CENTER AND HARD TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL THEN IT OVER ADJUSTS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT WHEN IT IS ABOVE 80, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE

Mileage: 80,000

STEERING IS SHIFTY AT ALL SPEEDS AND STICKS REQUIRING EXTRA FORCE TO REDIRECT IT MAKING THE POSSIBILITY OF CROSSING INTO OTHER LANES OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC A RISK. MAKES GROANING NOISE IN SLOW SPEED TURNS.

Mileage: 167,000

STEERING WHEEL STICKS AND RESULTS IN ERRATIC DRIVING TO MOVE IT FROM THE STUCK POSITION. HAPPENS IN CITY AND THE HIGHWAY.

Mileage: 16,000

I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ON APRIL 2, 2016 AND NOTICED THE CONDITION ON THE FIRST WARM DAY (75F OR HIGHER) ON OR AROUND MAY2, 2016. THE CAR EXHIBITS STICKY STEERING DURING WARM WEATHER. THIS CONDITION MAKES THE STEERING FEEL AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS STICKING WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS BUT IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT MAKES IT HARD TO GO STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE THE STEERING FEELS "NOTCHY".

Mileage: 40,000

STEERING STICKS AFTER TEMPERATURE GETS WARMER. WILL ALMOST OVER STEER ON CURVES OR NARROW ROADS. HARDER TO STEER AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WHEN FIRST STARTED STEERING FEELS PRETTY NORMAL, BUT GETS HARDER TO STEER THE FURTHER YOU GO. WILL NOT MY FAMILY MEMBERS DRIVE, COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. HAPPENS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WET OR DRY.

Mileage: 25,000

THIS CAR HAS BEEN EXHIBITING STICKY STEERING WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 70-75 DEGREES. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, AND I ATTRIBUTED IT TO TIRE PRESSURES ETC. HAVING NOW EXPERIENCED IT MORE SEVERLY I DID SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE ABILITY TO SAFELY ADJUST THE STEERING WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS LIMITED, AND THE CAR CAN EASILY OVERSTEER AND CAUSE UNEXPECTED LANE CHANGES. IT IS SURPRISING THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REFERENCES TO THIS ISSUE IN ONLINE FORUMS SUCH AS THESE: HTTPS://WWW.BMWCCA.ORG/FORUM/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/STICKING-STEERING-UNSOLVED-MYSTERY.5921/ HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?1055032-STICKY-STEERING

Mileage: 72,000

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. CAR HAS 23,256 MILES. I STORED THE CAR FROM OCTOBER 10, 2015 UNTIL MARCH 27, 2016. TOOK THE CAR OUT ON EASTER SUNDAY FOR ABOUT 10 MILES, CAR RAN FINE. PULLED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE ON MARCH 29, 2016 AND STEERING ASSIST FAILED COMPLETELY. DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON THE ROAD. CALLED MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR APRIL 14, 2016.

Mileage: 23,000

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION FINES BMW $40 MILLION FOR FAILING TO MEET SAFETY REQUIREMENTS NHTSA 53-15 MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2015 CONTACT: [XXX] , [email protected] FINE IS AUTO COMPANY'S SECOND SINCE 2012 WASHINGTON ' THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS IMPOSED A $40 MILLION CIVIL PENALTY AND A SERIES OF PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO AUTOMAKER BMW NORTH AMERICA FOR A SERIES OF VIOLATIONS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT AND NHTSA REGULATIONS. ******************************************************************************************************************************** NHTSA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THE ISSUE OF STICKY STEERING. FOR BMW TO SAY IT IS JUST A NUISANCE STEERING IS TOTALLY NOT TRUE. WITH YOUR LATEST FINE FOR BMW YOU KNOW BMW RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE IS JUST ANOTHER SMOKE SCREEN OF THE ISSUE. IF STEERING OF A VEHICLE IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THEN THE NHTSA NEEDS TO ELEVATED WHAT IS SAFETY. THEIR WILL BE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS THEN LAW SUITS THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN AND ONLY A RECALL CAN SOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

Mileage: 59,000

STEERING BECOMES VERY STICKY WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES BECOME HOT. VEHICLE SEEMS UNSAFE WHEN ON HIGHWAY AND LANE CHANGES ARE DIFFICULT TO MAKE AS STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION !

Mileage: 95,000

MY Z4 HAS ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST GOT IT BACK IN 6/20015 AND I NOTICED WHEN STEERING THERE IS A SORTA STICKING PROBLEM WITH IT AND IT KIND A WANT TO DRIFT SIDE TO SIDE ? NOW THE STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND ITS LIKE A OLD TYPE STANDARD STEERING CAR. AND WHEN RESTARTED IT WORKS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DOES IT ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS WOULD BE A REAL PROBLEM FOR A OLDER PERSON IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN , MAY CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT . I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SOLO EVENT FOR ME. I DID ASK MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL I AM THE 2ND OWNER ?

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IN THE CITY, MY BMW Z4'S STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK, PULLS TO THE LEFT & RIGHT AND NEEDS HARD FORCE TO RELEASE IT. I'VE ALMOST WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS! I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S TOO DANGEROUS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THOUSANDS OF BMW Z4 OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

Mileage: 78,000

SUDDENLY UNABLE TO STEER. WHEN MOVING IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IT WAS AGAIN UNABLE TO STEER. BUT AGAIN WAS VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN MOVING AS WELL. STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. GETTING WORSE. TURN OFF AND RESTART ENGINE AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A SHORT WHILE THEN RETURNS. SEEMS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE.

Mileage: 84,665

AFTER SITTING IN HOT DIRECT SUN FOR OVER TWO HOURS, THE STEERING ON THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. THE STEERING GETS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND YOU HAVE TO HOLD TIGHTLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR FROM SWERVING. THERE IS NO ISSUE ON A COOL DAY, NOR IS THERE AN ISSUE ON A HOT DAY IF THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE SHADE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS TO MY 2003 Z4. THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND STORED IN THE WINTER. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE RAIN OR SNOW AND IS WELL-MAINTAINED. AS OF SEPTEMBER 2015, THE CAR ONLY HAS 12,000 MILES, SO IT SHOULD NOT BE A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 300 COMPLAINTS FILED ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 2003. THE INVESTIGATION DONE IN 2010 WAS CLOSED IN 2011, AND YET HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REMAIN UNANSWERED. IT SHOULD BE CONFIRMED WHETHER OR NOT THE INVESTIGATION INCLUDED TESTING THE CARS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE DIRECT SUN ON A HOT DAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. IF THE TESTING WAS NOT COMPLETED UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE TEST WOULD BE FLAWED AND THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE REOPENED. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALL HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, AND A SAFETY ISSUE, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS.

Mileage: 6,000

STEERING BECOMES VERY STICKY AND JERKY IN HOT WEATHER. STEERING IS SO BAD IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN WEATHER IS HOT. THIS IS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE AND REPORTED BEFORE BUT NOTHING GETS DONE ABOUT A RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN STEERING ISN'T A FACTOR FOR RECALL BY NTHSA. BMW LAWYERS APPARENTLY OUT SMARTED THE NTHSA. I INVITED ANY HTHSA OFFICIAL TO COME DRIVE MY 2003 Z4 AND PUT HIS LIFE AT RISK. BMW NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE UNTIL NTHSA ISSUE A RECALL.

Mileage: 56,000

GETTING INTO THE CAR AFTER SHOPPING IT WAS SUDDENLY UNABLE TO STEER. WHEN MOVING IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IT WAS AGAIN UNABLE TO STEER. BUT AGAIN WAS VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN MOVING. I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR YEARS WITH THE STEERING STICKING WHEN DRIVING BUT THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT ISSUE. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR LIKE THIS.

Mileage: 84,000

STICKY OR JERKING STEERING WHILE DRIVING BMW 2003 Z4, FIRST ATTEMPT WAS TO TAKE THE CAR TO AUTHORIZED BMW DEALER IN JULY 2013 , MILEAGE 27,756. SUGGESTED RESULT WAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. 2ND ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE PROBLEM, APRIL 2014 MILEAGE 28,844. LUBRICATE UPPER STEERING WHEEL BEARING. 3RD ATTEMPT, MAY2015, MILEAGE 31,098. INSTALLED GREASE FITTING INTO STEERING COLUMN. NOW AT 32,000 MILES CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. BMW NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE WITH Z4 MODELS FROM 2003 -JUNE 2006 PRODUCTION.

Mileage: 27,756

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND TURNING INTO CURVES THE RETURN STEERING STICKS REQUIRING FORCE TO OVERCOME THE STICK. WHEN THE STICK IS OVERCOME IT CAUSES AN OVERSTEER CONDITION AND REQUIRES RAPID CORRECTION. THIS IS INTERMITTENT ALTHOUGH WITH A HIGH RATE OF OCCURENCE.

Mileage: 39,000

STEERING WHEEL ROTATION INHIBITED, WOULD NOT TURN SMOOTHLY, EXTRA FORCE NEEDED TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE IN STEERING WHEEL ROTATION, VERY HEAVY CENTER DETENT. CAR SWERVES VIOLENTLY WHEN EXTRA FORCE ON WHEEL IS USED TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE IN STEERING WHEEL ROTATION. UNABLE TO MAKE COMMON MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, RESULTANT OVERSTEERING CAUSES ERRATIC MOVEMENTS. CAR NEARLY GONE OFF ROAD SEVERAL TIMES. HEAT RELATED. HAPPENS WHEN CAR CABIN TEMPERATURE ELEVATED BY SUNSHINE OR EXTENDED DRIVES/USE. >=2.5HRS. CAR IS UNSAFE. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES CAUSE RELATED TO STEERING COLUMN/GEARS BUT REFUSES TO RECALL/FIX. PLEASE HELP BEFORE MORE ARE KILLED.

Mileage: 115,000

THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN OCTOBER OF 2005. I REPORTED TO DEALER AND SEVERAL MECHANICS SINCE THEN, THAT THE STEERING STICKS WHEN CAR IS HOT OR ON A HOT DAY AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. THEY ALL INDICATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER INSPECTION. THIS CONTINUES TO PLAGUE MY VEHICLE AND CAUSES ME TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER WRAPS ON HOT DAYS (WHICH IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IN FLORIDA) BECAUSE IF I START TO ADJUST STEERING AS I DRIVE, THE WHEEL APPEARS TO LOCK AND CONTINUE IN THAT DIRECTION. I HAVE TO FORCE IT TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. IT'S A NUISANCE AND A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHEN I INITIALLY REPORTED THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THAT BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. SHAME ON THEM. I HAVE OWNED 4 BMW'S AND THE Z4 IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE. I LOVE THE VEHICLES BUT AM SADDENED THAT I CAN'T TAKE MY Z OUT FOR A NICE SUMMER DRIVE FOR FEAR OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 10,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ISSUES ONCE THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING AWHILE. THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS, NOISES, OR WARNING LIGHTS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. MA 10/14 UPDATED 10/19/2017*CN

Mileage: 45,000

ON HOT DAYS(>75 F) THE STEERING IS VERY STICKY. I FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY, BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THE CAR WILL LOCK ON ME. REPLACING THE ENTIRE COLUMN IS BIT TOO EXPENSIVE SO I LIMIT MY DRIVING TO COLDER DAYS ONLY, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHEN YOU HAVE CONVERTIBLE. IT SEEMS LIKE MANY OWNERS OF 2003 BMW Z4 HAVE SIMILAR ISSUE. I'VE BEEN HOPING FOR YEARS THAT BMW WILL HAVE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS SUCH A NICE CAR, AND AT THE SAME TIME HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT IF IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE AND LACK OF RESPONSE FROM THE BMW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 35,000

ON WARM DAYS THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE STICKY. ITS NOT A FLUID AS IT IS WHEN CAR IS IN COOLER WEATHER. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THERE APPEARS TO BE MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH 2003-2005 MODEL BMW Z4 WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS I SEE THIS WAS NEVER RECALLED.

Mileage: 50,500

POWER STEERING DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING WITH EPS LIGHT ILLUMINATING.

Mileage: 101,000

STEERING WHEEL WILL STICK IN THE CENTER POSITION WHEN HOT OUTSIDE. THIS CAUSES AN OVER CORRECTION WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 57,300

THE POWER STEERING QUIT I LOST THE POWER STEERING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED THEY HAD BEEN REPLACING THEM FREE OF CHARGE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BUT I WAS OUT OF LUCK BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE GIRL I SPOKE WITH SAID SHE WOULD TALK TO HER SUPERVISOR AND SEE IF THEY COULD HELP. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BACK. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME THE PUMP FAILED IT DEFINITELY COULD HAVE BEEN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 41,021

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A HOT DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS IN THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. WHEN YOU NOTICE THIS AND USE THE STEERING WHEEL TO CORRECT IT FEELS A LOCKED. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RESPOND. WHEN IT DOES RESPOND, BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FORCE BEING USED, IT CAUSES A CHANGE OF COURSE THAT COULD TAKE YOU INTO ANOTHER LANE. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM HAS LED ME TO FIND THAT NOT ONLY DOES BMW KNOW OF THE PROBLEM THEY REFUSE ANY ACTION AND PUT THE $3500 BILL SQUARELY ON THE OWNER. IN MY MIND THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THE RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

STEERING LOCKS UP.. IF SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IT RELEASES.. WENT TO GET GAS.. SHUT OFF.. STARTED.. SAME THING WITH ADDITION OF AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON.. SHUT OFF SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO GET GOING BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR

Mileage: 940,024

STEERING LOCKS UP.. IF SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IT RELEASES.. WENT TO GET GAS.. SHUT OFF.. STARTED.. SAME THING WITH ADDITION OF AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON.. SHUT OFF SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO GET GOING BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR

Mileage: 94,024

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR 245 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO PULL THE WHEEL TO STRAIGHTEN IT AND IS WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS UP TO TEMPERATURE. IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL CAUSE A FATALITY IF IT IS NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE READ THAT NHTSA CALLS THIS A "NUISANCE". IT IS NOT A NUISANCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY THE CAR MANUFACTURER. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 45 YEARS AND I HAVE DISSECTED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE ISSUE IS THE TOP BEARING IN THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN. IT IS AN OPEN BEARING AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SEALED BEARING. THE LOWER BEARING AND THE MEDIUM BEARING ARE FINE. THE ISSUE IS YOU CAN'T FIND THIS BEARING ANYWHERE; DEALERS TELL YOU THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3,000 TO $3,600. SHAME ON BMW! I JOIN THE OTHERS WHO HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS IN ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 23,545

THE STEERING PULLS ERRATICALLY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND BECOMES STUCK. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION TO CORRECT THE ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF THE STEERING. IT HAS SUDDENLY PULLED IN EACH DIRECTION AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND I HAVE HAD TO PULL BACK HARD TO AVOID CROSSING INTO TRAFFIC OR SIDESWIPING THE CAR NEXT TO ME. THIS IS NOT TIRES OR RUTTED ROADS CAUSING THIS. IT IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE BMW Z4. PLEASE PUSH FOR A RECALL.. THE BEARING IN THE COLUMN IS UNSEALED AND NOT ABLE TO BE LUBRICATED SO IT DRIES OUT AND CAUSES THESE ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

CAR STEERING HARD TO CENTER , STEERING STICKS TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT , WHEN TEMPERATURE OUT SIDE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES OR WHEN YOU DRIVE A LONG WAYS AND THE CAR BEGINS TO PRODUCE HEAT.VERY HARD TO DRIVE OR TAKE A LONG TRIP IN.VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 66,300

STEERING GOT TIGHT, HARD TO STEER, BUT CAR WAS CONTROLLABLE. TURNED WHEEL AND I NEEDED TO TURN IT BACK TO CENTER, IT WOULD NOT RETURN ITSELF. *TR

Mileage: 37,980

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, WITH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AROUND 95, THE STEERING RESPONSE OF THE CAR BECAME VERY STICKY OR NOTCHY. IF YOU WERE TO TURN THE WHEEL A FEW DEGREES AS REQUIRED BY EXITING OFF A HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. WITH SLIGHT ADDITIONAL FORCE IT DID. WITH GENERAL DRIVING THE WHEEL REQUIRED MORE FORCE TO TURN TO OVERCOME THE "STICKY OR NOTCHY" SENSATION FELT THROUGH OUT THE STEERING WHEEL. VERY UNSAFE FEELING. *TR

Mileage: 27,532

DURING HOT TEMPERATURES WHEN MAKING TURNS IN THE Z4 THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT SMOOTHLY ROTATE, IT IS KNOTCHY AND SOMETIMES SUDDENLY PULLS TOWARDS A CERTAIN DIRECTION WHILE GOING INTO OR OUT OF A TURN. THIS BEHAVIOR IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN RESULT IN AN UNWANTED MANEUVER AT HIGH SPEED. CONSIDERING THIS IS A SPORTS CAR PEOPLE TEND TO GO ON SPIRITED DRIVES THAT ARE NOT FORGIVING TO SUCH STEERING WHEEL PULL IN UNWANTED DIRECTIONS. *TR

Mileage: 94,000

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 OVERSTEERING ISSUES AT HIGH SPEED. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! BMW KNOWS ABOUT IT AND RELEASED MULTIPLE PUMAS (ONE OF WHICH IS 4515500-06 - EQUIVALENT OF A TSB) BUT HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

WHEN THE CAR GET WARM UP THE STEERING BEGINS TO STICK IN ON PLACE. THIS MAKES A PLEASURE CAR SEEM MORE LIKE A NIGHTMARE AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE. THEIR NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING SOON THERE IS GOING TO BE A ACCIDENT AND THEN THEY'LL BE DEALING WITH LAWSUIT AT THAT POINT. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO THE STEERING ON MY Z-4 BEGAN STICKING WHEN THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD. ON THE ADVICE OF A REPAIR SHOP I HAD THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND TO GOT THE BMW DEALER TO CHECK THE WORK AND PROVIDE A FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THIS DID NOT HELP.. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSENING AND IS WORSE DURING HOTTER TEMPERATURES. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS MY BMW DEALER HAD SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH STEERING. NOW LAST WEEK THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE AN EPS ASSEMBLY IN THE STEERING SYSTEM FOR A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $3500. I HAVE BEEN CHECKING SEVERAL BMW OWNERS CHAT ROOMS AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2003 - 2005 Z-4S. *TR

Mileage: 32,000

STEERING WILL GO FROM VERY TIGHT TO VERY LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. WILL PULL TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WILL INITIALLY RESIST AND THEN GIVE WAY TO EITHER DIRECTION. SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN WARMER WEATHER CONDITIONS. FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONTROL IN THE STEERING OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT DO TO MY CAR STARTED TO FILL UNSAFE WILL NOT STAY CENTER AND CONTINUES TO PULL ON BOTH DIRECTIONS ITS A STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD KNOWING THAT AT ANY MOMENT WILL TROW YOU TO EITHER SIDE PLEASE REVIEW MY CLAIM. *TR

I BOUGHT THE 2003 BMW Z4 3.0 L. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012. I LIVE AND DRIVE THE CAR IN PORTLAND OREGON WHERE THE WHETHER IS RATHER MODERATE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS BUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES ABOVE 90 F THE STEERING GETS SO TIGHT THAT AT HIGHWAY SPEED ESPECIALLY I HAVE TO FIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR ON TRACK. STEERING GETS SO TIGHT DUE TO OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES THAT DRIVING BECOMES SCARY AND UNSAFE. WHEN THE WEATHER IS PREDICTED WITH TEMPERATURES 90 F. AND ABOVE I CHOOSE TO DRIVE MY OLD BMW 528 WHICH IS THE TRUE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE. SAFE AND RELIABLE. BMW MUST RECOGNIZE AND ADMIT THE ENGINEERING FLAW BUILT IN THE Z4 BMW AND RECALL BEFORE SERIOUS FATAL ACCIDENTS HAPPEN! PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 41,150

STEERING BECOME - NOTCHY/STICKY. THIS MAKES SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS VERY DIFFICULT DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED IN MY CASE. WITH COLDER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES, THE BEHAVIOR IS DELAYED UNTIL THE A LONGER DRIVING DURATION HAS OCCURRED. THIS PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT WITHIN ONE YEAR OF MY PURCHASE. I DID NOT NOTICE IT VERY OFTEN, SINCE I WAS ONLY DRIVING TO AND FROM MY WORK, LOW MILEAGE AND SHORT TIMES. AS I HAVE NOW BEEN DRIVING THE CAR MORE OFTEN, I HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM EVIDENT ON ALL TRIP. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR (NEW). THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD NEED A COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE (APPROXIMATELY $4000). THE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE. I DID AND BASICALLY GOT A NULL RESPONSE. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, NO ACCIDENTS, PARKED IN A GARAGE AND HAS LESS THAN 57000 MILES. THE WARRANTY OF COURSE HAS EXPIRED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THE SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM IS DUE TO ANY TYPE OF NORMAL WEAR AND AGE. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THERE ARE NOW NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME STEERING ISSUE. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE, HOWEVER WITH EXTREME CAUTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ISSUE IS CONTROL OF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - WHEN CHANGING LANES OR EVEN ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT PATH WITHIN THE LANES. AS THE TEMPERATURES INCREASE IN LONGER DRIVES, THE STEERING DIFFICULTY BECOMES WORSE. WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTS, THE SMALLEST CONTROL CORRECTIONS FOR THE STEERING IS MORE THAN 5 DEGREES. THIS CAUSES A LARGE EFFECT ON THE CARS PATH AND MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STAY IN THE DRIVING LANE. I WOULD LIKE BMW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE. IN MY VIEW, THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT INTRODUCED BY BMW. *TR

BASICALLY THE STEERING BECOMES STIFF IN WARM WEATHER. THE STIFFNESS OCCURS IN MY CAR AFTER A HALF AN HOUR OR SO OF DRIVING AT TEMPERATURES OVER ABOUT 75 TO 80 DEGREES. I BELIEVE IT'S DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND AM VERY SURPRISED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL SO FAR. IT ALSO TAKES MOST OF THE PLEASURE OUT OF DRIVING IN WARM WEATHER WITH THE TOP DOWN, WHICH IS THE REASON I BOUGHT THE Z4 IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

Mileage: 4,000

LOST OF POWER STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

STEERING IS STICKY DURING WARMER WEATHER AND STICKS ON CENTER AND IS DIFFICULT TO TURN FROM CENTER. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES IS "STICKING" WHILE DRIVING MAKING TURNING A LITTLE MORE LABORED THAN NORMAL. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

SAME PROBLEM AS ALL OTHER 2003 BMW Z4 STEERING COMPLAINTS. VEHICLE STARTED STICKING WHEN MAKING EVEN SLIGHT STEERING ADJUSTMENTS. ALWAYS STARTS THIS ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO A DRIVE. HAS CONTINUED TO THIS DATE IN MARCH 2014 BUT NOW IN ADDITION TO STICKING GET A LOUD SQUEAL WHEN TURNING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS "STICKY" STEERING. IT OCCURS MOSTLY AT HIGH SPEEDS IN HOT WEATHER. MANY BMW FORUMS OUT LINE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 Z4. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO BE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND HAVE THE STEERING BECOME SO STIFF YOU CAN HARDLY STEER THE CAR. BMW WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED. I AM SURE YOU HAVE RECEIVED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND I HOPE WILL DO SOMETHING TO FORCE BMW TO CORRECT THIS ENGINEERING DEFECT AND REPAIR THOSE CARS WHICH ARE AFFECTED.

Mileage: 48,000

ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE 2003 BMW Z-4 I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING, BMW REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $3600.00. IT IS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION, THAT I DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA FUNDS TO REPAIR. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE WEB IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS AN ALL AROUND ISSUE WITH THE Z4 BMW FOR YEARS 2003-2005. THIS SHOULD OF BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED AT BMW'S EXPENSE MANY YEARS AGO AND HAS GONE WITH OUT THE PROPER RECALL FOR FAR TO LONG. THIS ISSUE HAS NEARLY CAUSED MANY ACCIDENTS FOR ME SINCE HAVING THE VEHICLE. I CAN NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR, I CAN NOT CONSCIOUSLY SELL THE VEHICLE IN THE CONDITION IT IS CURRENTLY IN, AND I CAN NOT AFFORD AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE THE LOSS OF LIFE. I AM STUCK WITH A NON DRIVABLE VEHICLE, MAKING $350.00 PAYMENTS FOR NOTHING. PLEASE NHTSA HELP RECTIFY A STICKY SITUATION (LITERALLY, NO PUN INTENDED) BEFORE ALL THESE Z-4'S CAUSE MANY DEATHS. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

MY 2003 BMW Z4 IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, WHILE I AM ON FLAT SURFACES TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY THE STEERING WHEEL ALL OF A SUDDEN WILL PULL TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT CONSTANTLY AND I HAVE TO CORRECT IT EVERY 2 SECONDS AND SOMETIMES IT JUST LOCKS INTO A LEFT TURN POSITION WHEN I AM ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL I AM TRYING TO DO IS KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY. AT THIS POINT I AM AFRAID AN ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE AND I HAVE BEEN READING THOUSANDS OF POSTS ON THE WEB WITH PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME CAR. AT WHAT POINT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO ACTIVATE A VEHICLE RECALL TO FIX THE STEERING COLUMN DESIGN, PERHAPS AFTER I EITHER GET INTO AN ACCIDENT OR I OR A FAMILY MEMBER GETS KILLED, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, I AM BEGGING YOU PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THE FLAWED DESIGN OF THE STEERING OF THIS CAR .....!!!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 68,000

INSERT THIS LINK TO READ THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/BMW/Z4/STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

WHEN STEERING SHARPLY OR TURNING THE WHEEL FREQUENTLY LIKE TO PARALLEL PARK FOR EXAMPLE, THE ELECTRICAL SUDDENLY COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN IN MY CAR. THE CAR'S POWER COMPLETELY DIES AND I LOSE ABILITY TO STEER. SOMETIMES THIS IS WHILE MAKING A QUICK TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING QUICKLY. I MUST STOP TURNING, WAIT FOR THE POWER TO TURN BACK ON, AND RESUME DRIVING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 109,000

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE. THE PROBLEM IS DEFINITELY WORSE WHEN CAR IS "WARMED UP" AND IS ALSO WORSENED BY INCREASED OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. MY DEALER CHARGED ME $104.00 FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND TOLD ME TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED. THIS HAS HAD NE EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

I HAVE HAD MY 2003 BMW Z4 FOR SEVEN YEARS. THE STEERING HAS A TIGHT PLACE AT DEAD CENTER. IT TAKES EXTRA FORCE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT UNTIL YOU PASS CENTER. IT IS REAL TRICKY ON A CURVED ROAD. I ONLY DRIVE IT ON SPECIAL DAYS; BUT, I NOTICED IT REALLY STARTED STICKING BAD THIS SUMMER. I DO NOT HAVE $3200 TO FIX A DEALER RELATED PROBLEM . I AM MAKING THIS REPORT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME DANGEROUS FOR ME AS WELL AS FOR ALL Z4 OWNERS. I TRUST AND HOPE BMW STANDS UP AND DOES SOMETHING TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I LOVE MY Z4. IT USE TO BE FUN TO DRIVE. IT IS HAS BECOME A BIT SCARY TO DRIVE AND A GREAT WORRY FOR ME WHEN MY WIFE TAKES IT OUT I HATE FILLING THIS FORM OUT; BUT, I FEEL THAT IT IS NECESSARY OR NOTHING WILL GET DONE. IF YOUR HAVING THIS PROBLEM ; ALSO, I PRAY THAT YOU JOIN IN AND FILL OUT YOUR COMPLAINT BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY HURT THANKS, D. IN TEXAS. *TR

ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I NOTICED THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEAD SPOT OR CATCH IN THE STEERING. YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT VERY MUCH AND ITS LIKE YOU HAVE TO PULL HARDER TO GET IT TO TURN. BY THEN YOU HAVE PULLED TOO HARD AND THE CAR JERKS TO WHICHEVER WAY YOU WERE TURNING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. I CAN BE DRIVING ALONG AND FORGET ABOUT IT STICKING AND TAKE A CURVE AND IT HAPPENS. VERY UNNERVING. *TR

Mileage: 21,545

THE STEERING IN THE Z4 STARTS TO GET "STICKY" WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GETS HOT (~ >85 DEG F). IT DOESN'T RETURN BACK TO CENTER ON IT'S OWN AND IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE DEAD SPOTS IN THE STEERING WHERE YOU HAVE TO FORCE THE WHEEL BACK TO MAKE IT MOVE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS COOL - THE WHEEL TURNS AND RETURNS TO CENTER NORMALLY. IT ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN HOT WEATHER. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

THIS VEHICLE HAS ELECTRIC STEERING AND IT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THE WHEEL TO STAY IN YOUR LANE. VERY DANGEROUS ! *TR

Mileage: 33,000

THIS IS FOR A 2003 BMW Z4 WITH JUST OVER 25,000 MILES. AS SOON AS I BEGAN DRIVING ON AN ACCESS ROAD AND THEN A COUNTY ROAD, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT TURNING THE WHEEL. THERE WAS SOME PLAY IN THE STEERING AND THE WHEEL FELT STIFFER THAN NORMAL WITH A STICKY FEELING A FEW DEGREES LEFT OR RIGHT. AS I DROVE DOWN THIS STRAIGHT ROAD, THE CAR CONTINUED TO PULL TOWARDS ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER AND CONTROLLING IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. FROM BEHIND, IT WOULD APPEAR AS THOUGH I WAS SWERVING WHILE TRYING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I FELT LIKE I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SO I DROVE AS SLOWLY AS POSSIBLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND THEY TOOK THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE HEAD MECHANIC TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS. AGAIN I PROVIDED MORE DETAILS ABOUT HOW THE VEHICLE FELT WHILE DRIVING AND THEY REQUESTED PERMISSION TO ROAD TEST IT. AT FIRST THEY THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BUT UPON FURTHER TESTING THEY REALIZED IT WAS MORE THAN THAT. THE STICKY STEERING COLUMN APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DAMAGED, THE MOTOR DRIVE FOR THE POWER STEERING. I WAS QUOTED $3,176 TO REPLACE. I SPOKE WITH THE HEAD MECHANIC, AND EXPRESSED MY DISPLEASURE WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A QA OR DESIGN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND THE FACT I FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS LAUNCHED INTO THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE Z4. IN MY OPINION THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD BE REASON ENOUGH FOR A RECALL GIVEN THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS CREATED BY THE MALFUNCTION OF A RELATIVELY NEW/UNUSED PART. BMW'S INSISTENCE THAT I COVER THE COST OF THIS PART IS ALSO UNREASONABLE, AS I DOUBT THEY CAN ATTRIBUTE THIS MALFUNCTION TO TYPICAL WEAR AND TEAR GIVEN THE LIGHT USE OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE THE CAR HANDLES AS IT SHOULD. HOWEVER, WHEN AN ADJUSTMENT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP UNTIL ENOUGH FORCE IS USED TO JERK IT FREE. WHEN THIS IS DONE THE CAR OVERSTEERS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. AS THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE THE CAR IS JERKING MORE VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FINALLY LETS THE STEERING ADJUST TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. TAKING THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP, THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE ENTIRE STEERING MECHANISM INCLUDING THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. FIELDS BMW IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA IS THE DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED FOR $85.00. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM FURMAN CHEVROLET IN TAMPA, THEY CLEVERLY FORGOT TO WRITE IT INTO THE CONTRACT EVEN THOUGH I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMALL HANGUP OF THE STEERING WHEEL AT THAT TIME AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT THEY WOULD FIX IT. NOW I AM GOING TO TAKE WHAT I CONSIDER A VERY UNSAFE CAR BACK OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE TO DRIVE A PIECE OF JUNK FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL FOR THEIR POOR ENGINEERING OR, WORSE YET, LOUSY PARTS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE BMW EMBLEM AT $35.00 IS A HOT SELLER AND THAT THE CUP HOLDERS AT $55,00 EACH ARE IN GREAT DEMAND AS IT SEEMS BMW CAN'T ENGINEER THOSE TO LAST EITHER. I CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR THE NEXT FAILURE. NO WONDER THEY HAD NO Z4S ON THE LOT FOR RESALE. I IMAGINE THEY ARE STAYING AS FAR AWAY FROM THESE AS POSSIBLE AS THEY MUST KNOW THEY ARE CUTE CARS, BUT REALLY JUST JUNK! *TR

Mileage: 56,000

TWO YEARS AGO IN THE SUMMER, I DROVE MY CAR BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE. IT WAS A STICKY STEERING SITUATION. THE WEATHER WAS ALSO VERY HOT. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED EVEN WHEN I AM DRIVING SLOWLY. THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE SEEMS TO BE THE CRITICAL FACTOR. YESTERDAY, I DROVE THE CAR AND IT STEERED PERFECTLY. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 70S. TODAY, IT DROVE FINE IN THE A.M. BUT IN THE PM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHED ABOVE 80, THE STEERING WAS "STICKY" AGAIN. I HAVE FOUND MANY POSTS ON LINE DESCRIBING THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE CAR IS A 2004 BMW Z4. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST 2 YEARS BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DRIVE HANDLING YESTERDAY AND TODAY WAS VERY OBVIOUS. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD STICK OR BECOME HARD TO MOVE THE WHEEL. THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK IN ANOTHER POSITION AND BECOME HARD TO TURN AGAIN. THIS DID NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME BUT ENOUGH TO BE ANNOYING. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 52,763

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND TOWN, I NOTICED THE STEERING BECOMING"STICKY". IT WAS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR IN MY LANE. THIS CONTINUED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW REPAIR SHOP AND WAS GIVEN THE NEWS THAT I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN WITH POWER ASSIST AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ABOUT $3800. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN IGNORE. AFTER SEEING ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING ASSIST I AM DUMBFOUNDED AS TO WHY BMW HAS NOT BROUGHT THIS TO OWNERS ATTENTION. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE ASTRONOMICAL!!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS. BMW SHOULD MAKE OWNERS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND FIX IT. THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE MY FIRST AND LAST BMW.!!!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 43,000

POWER STEERING DID NOT MOVE SMOOTHLY. ON HOT DAYS THE STEERING BINDS UP. THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN. A DEFINITE DETENT IS FELT IN THE STEERING, THIS DETENT REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO OVERCOME, COMMONLY CAUSING OVERSTEER AND A BACK AND FORTH TRACK DOWN THE ROAD. AS CAR ROLLS DOWN HIGHWAY THE SMALL MOVEMENTS TO GO STRAIGHT ARE UNATTAINABLE AS THE STEERING IS HARD TO TURN AS AREAS OF HIGHER RESISTANCE REQUIRE EXTRA FORCE UPON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND WHEN THE RESISTANCE IS OVERCOME THE CAR STEERS TO FAR IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION AND WHEN A CORRECTION IS ATTEMPTED THE SAME SITUATION OCCURS. WHEN THE CAR IS HOT AND THIS ISSUE IS PRESENT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN A SMOOTH STRAIGHT DIRECTION. IN ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL I HAVE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BEEN NEARLY OR SLIGHTLY OFF THE ROADWAY AND NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE THE STEERING BECOMES ROUGH, AWKWARD, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. IT HAPPENS AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 30 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BECOME "STUCK" IN A CERTAIN POSITION AND REQUIRES GREATER THAN NORMAL FORCE TO MOVE FROM THAT POSITION. USING GREATER FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE "STUCK" POSITION CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR OVER-STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 19,600

STEERING HAS BECOME LOOSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD AND FIND THAT OVER CORRECTIONS ARE HAPPENING. WAS TOLD MUST REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3200.00. IT IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM THAT BMW SHOULD FIX. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 85,231

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A MODERATE SPEED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES THE STEERING BECAME "STICKY" AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THIS INCIDENT. IT APPEARS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. IN READING VARIOUS BMW FORUMS I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 Z4'S AND THE NHTSA HAS OR IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION. I UNDERSTAND BMW HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON LATER MODELS. THIS REALLY CREATES A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION AND I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING THIS CAR. IS THERE ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN BY THE NHTSA OR BMW? I HAVE CONTACTED BMW BUT THEY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 54,850

APPARENTLY THERE IS A BEARING INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT IS NOT A SEALED BEARING (POOR DESIGN). THE GREASE LEAKS OUT OF IT AND IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND DANGEROUS. THE BEARING IS NOT REPLACEABLE SO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3,000 TO $4,000. THE WARMER THE TEMPERATURE THE HARDER THE STEERING. I WON'T EVEN LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR SHE WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I EVEN HAVE TROUBLE KEEPING IT ON THE ROAD AT TIMES. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SINCE BUYING IT 5 YEARS AGO. HAD IT AT A BMW REPAIR STORE THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THE STEERING COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $ 3000 PLUS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS BMW. WHY HAS BMW NOT ISSUED A RECALL? THIS COULD BE A SEVERE PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND DEATH WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 51,000

I'M HAVING A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING BEING STICKY. IT IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND REQUIRES REASONABLE FORCE TO CORRECT. THIS, IN TURN, CAUSES OVER-STEERING CONSTANTLY MAKING THE CAR VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR IS LOW MILEAGE: UNDER 36,000. *TR

Mileage: 35,800

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 HE 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

Mileage: 102,500

THE STEERING STICKS MEANING IT BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AND REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT ON MY PART TO MOVE IT AGAIN. I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE IT ELSE IT STICKS AND I LOSE CONTROL FOR ABOUT A SECOND. VERY SCARY AT HIGH SPEEDS. BASICALLY IF GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND I WANT TO TURN IT IS NOT SMOOTH AND I HAVE TO ALMOST FIGHT WITH IT TO TURN. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BEING STICKY WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM OR WHEN THE CAR SITS IN THE HOT SUN. THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN HELD STEADY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SEEMS TO STICK IN AN EXACT POSITION AND IF THE WEATHER IS VERY WARM THE STICKINESS IS SUCH THAT WHEN THE CAR NEEDS STEERING CORRECTION TO STAY IN THE DRIVING LANE THAT SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO UNSTICK THE POSITION OF THE STEERING DIRECTION. ONCE THE DRIVER'S PRESSURE CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME UNSTUCK THE WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY VEER IN THE DIRECTION THE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED, IE. TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR TOWARDS THE DITCH UNTIL THE DRIVER CAN QUICKLY COUNTERACT THE SUDDEN RELEASE OF THE UNSTUCK STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THE WEATHER IS PARTICULARLY WARM THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE FOR FEAR OF LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND DRIVEN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BY MY WIFE SINCE NEW. *TR

Mileage: 64,000

I BOUGHT MY USED BMW Z 4 THREE YEARS AGO FROM A PRIVATE PARTY WITH 13,500 MILES. CAR IS IN SHOWROOM CONDITION BUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES AND THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN, I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING AND LOCKING. I FIND MYSELF CONSTANTLY FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL IN HOT WEATHER AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE STEERING CAPABILITY OF MY VEHICLE. MY LAST EPISODE WAS LAST WEEK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 80'S AND THE CAR SAT OUT IN THE SUN ALL DAY WHILE I WAS AT WORK. THIS CAR HAS UNDER 19,000 MILES ON IT AND I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT BMW WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND DO A RECALL IMMEDIATELY TO ADDRESS THIS COMMON PROBLEM. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A FATALITY TO OCCUR BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THIS STEERING MALFUNCTION. *TR

Mileage: 18,850

STEERING GOT STUCK, AND CAR SLID LEFT TO RIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 34,200

DATE LISTED IS AN APPROXIMATION... I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND DURING THE HOT WEATHER THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT WAS STICKING. NOW THAT I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS I CAN TELL THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LEFT IN THE HOT SUN THE STEERING "STICKS" WHICH CAUSES IT TO MOVE ERRATICALLY. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER THE SPEED AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. DUE TO THE STICKING I AM VERY WARY DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT AND THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN. I READ THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE AND WANT TO INCLUDE THAT MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS LISTED IN THE INVESTIGATION. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE BMW TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT ENOUGH EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE TO CONFIRM THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 12,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED A JERKING MOTION WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY IN HOTTER WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

Mileage: 36,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECAME STICKY AND IMPACTED THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,650.

Mileage: 79,650

AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 75 DEG THE STEERING GETS STIFF AND FEELS STICKY. AFTER MAKING A TURN THE WHEELS DO NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION ON THEIR OWN BUT REQUIRE DRIVER TO TURN STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION BECAUSE THE STEERING BINDS AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVERSTEERING IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THE STIFFNESS. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

STEERING WHEEL STICKS (STILL DOES AS OF MARCH 30, 2013) AND VEHICLE BECOMES HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. *TR

Mileage: 68,250

I HAVE A 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I I RECENTLY PURCHASED. I NOTICED THE "STICKY" STEERING FOR THE FIRST TIME THE NIGHT I PURCHASED IT. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS OF Z4 OWNERS HAVE THIS SERIOUS STEERING ISSUE. THE STEERING IS NOT SO BAD IN COOL WEATHER, BUT WARMER TEMPERATURES HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON KEEPING THE CAR ON THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE 1 MONTH THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. YESTERDAY I ALMOST LOST CONTROL GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON A CURVE DRIVING AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. Z4 OWNERS ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THIS STICKY STEERING ISSUE. I DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK HARD ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THIS ISSUE WIDE-SPREAD AND HAS BEEN GROSSLY IGNORED. I WAS ALSO SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF AFFECTED CARS, WITH NO ACTION BY BMW OR OUR GOVERNMENT. WHAT ARE THE POWERS AT BE WAITING FOR? A DEATH BECAUSE OF THE STEERING ISSUE. THE CAR NEEDS A RECALL FOR A REPLACEMENT STEERING COLUMN OR A BULLETIN TO SIMPLY BRING THE CAR TO A DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. BMW IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY STEERING COLUMNS. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN FIXED YET? PLEASE DO SOMETHING! *TR

Mileage: 80,000

THE STEERING FEELS 'STICKY'. DRIVING AT ROADSPEED, ESP ON INTERSTATE WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT LINE, WHEN YOU NEED TO MAKE SLIGHT STEERING ADJUSTMENTS, THE STEERING STICKS AND WHEN YOU GIVE IT ENOUGH EFFORT TO 'UNSTICK' IT, YOUR CAR MOVES ERRATICALLY. BASICALLY, WHEN IT 'UNSTICKS' IT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVER-CORRECT AND OVERSTEER. IT DOES THIS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN ON WARM DAYS, I.E OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPS OVER 80 DEGREES F. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

POWER STEERING BROKE DOWN. I READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE TRYING TO RESEARCH WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCES OTHER OWNERS HAD AND THERE ARE TOO MANY ISSUES WITH STEERING WITH THESE CARS TO BE IGNORED. THANK GOD THAT MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AT A LOW SPEED, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH? I HAD "STICKY" STEERING IN THIS CAR FOR YEARS BUT THIS TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

STEERING WHEEL GOES BACK & FORTH ON ITS OWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY SCARY ! NOT SAFE! FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONTROL. I PAYED A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 4,500

STEERING WHEEL GOES BACK & FORTH ON ITS OWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY SCARY ! NOT SAFE! FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONTROL. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 4,500

STEERING WHEEL STICKS THEN RELEASES CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

DRIVING SOUTH ON SANTA BARBARA ATTEMPTED TO TURN RIGHT ONTO DAVIS BLVD. AS I WAS TURNING THE STEERING STUCK. THAT SURPRISED ME AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. IT TOOK A HEAVY EFFORT TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION OF THE CAR.THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR AT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TR

Mileage: 77,825

THE POWER STEERING BECOMES DANGEROUS WHEN THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO HEAT 80+ DEGREES/SUN. THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" IN CERTAIN SPOTS AND IS HARD TO MOVE. IT WILL RANDOMLY STOP "STICKING" GIVING AN UNEXPECTED PUSH IN ANY GIVEN DIRECTION. LOOKS TO BE A FREQUENT COMPLAINT. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE HEAT. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

BMW Z4 STEERING - NO POWER STEERING, CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN MANAGING & STEERING CAR. *TR

Mileage: 93,000

THERE IS A CATCH OR BINDING FEELING IN THE STEERING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A WHILE AND IS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE (GETS WORSE WHEN WARM). I NOTICED THIS AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT A FEW MILES; IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO TRACK ON ITS OWN AS IF IT WAS FOLLOWING A RUT IN THE ROAD EVEN THOUGH IT IS ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT AND THE WHEEL HAS TO BE FORCED BACK IN THE A STRAIGHT LINE. IT HAPPENED TO ME AS I ENTERED AN INTERSECTION AND THE STEERING STUCK, TURNING ME INTO THE ON-COMING LANE. I WORRY THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE IS DRIVING AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF IT WERE TO TIGHTEN UP UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR

Mileage: 57,686

ON MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK, AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE, I EXPERIENCED "STICKY STEERING." JUST LIKE THE COMPLAINTS FROM INVESTIGATION PE10020 AND COUNTLESS INTERNET POSTS OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT WAS STUCK IN PLACE AND REQUIRED EXTRA FORCE, THEN IT WOULD RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING ME TO OVER-CORRECT. WORSE THAN JUST HEAVY STEERING IS THE FACT THAT IT NEEDS EXTRA FORCE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL "UNSTUCK" BUT THEN THE ASSIST KICKS IN AND YOU'RE OVER-COMPENSATING WHICH CAUSES ZIG-ZAGGING. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN MY LANE ON THE INTERSTATE AND AT ONE POINT I DROPPED TWO WHEELS ON THE SHOULDER. I HAVE NOW CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE AND THEY TELL ME THEY'RE BEING GENEROUS BY REPLACING THE KNOWN-FAULTY STEERING RACK -- SO LONG AS I PAY $1,000+ IN LABOR. I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS WRONG THAT THIS KNOWN DEFECT COSTS THE CONSUMER ANY MONEY TO REPLACE. BMW SHOULD COVER PARTS AND LABOR. THEY KNOW THIS PART IS FAULTY, EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO SAYS "OH, THE Z4, YEAH I'VE SEEN THIS STEERING PROBLEM ON LOTS OF THEM" BUT THEY'RE QUICK TO REMIND ME THAT IT WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL SO THEY AREN'T OBLIGATED TO DO ANYTHING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR A MANDATORY RECALL (YOU KNOW, LIKE THE ONE THEY ARE DOING ON CURRENT MODELS WITH SIMILAR POWER STEERING FAILURES!). *TR

Mileage: 28,500

STICKY STEERING CAUSES OVER STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE PLAY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OUT OF ITS LANE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THERE WAS A FRONT END WHEEL ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE BALANCED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

Mileage: 54,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE CENTERED POSITION AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT SPECIALIZED ON BMW MANUFACTURED VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,300.

Mileage: 87,000

DRIVING 35 MPH STRAIGHT. LOST POWER STEERING. PULLED OVER SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED ENGINE POWER STEERING RETURNED. LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN WITHIN ONE MILE. RETURNED HOME. *TR

Mileage: 26,500

THE STEERING SEEMS TO LOCK UP MAKING IT HARD TO STEER. SEEMS RATHER DANGEROUS SINCE YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE WHEEL HARD EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. WONDERING WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS. *JS

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SUN WITH TEMPERATURES OVER 88 DEGREES. AT 2 PM, I DROVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH WHILE ROUNDING A SLIGHT BEND TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN UNDER A SLIGHT EFFORT SO I MADE AN ADDITIONAL EFFORT. SUDDENLY, THE RESISTANCE IS COMPLETELY ABSENT RESULTING IN A SHARP VEER TO THE LEFT CHANGING LANES. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER CAR IN THE LEFT LANE. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED AND RETURNED TO MY ORIGINAL LANE. WITHIN 15 TO 20 SECONDS, THE SITUATION REPEATS. I TRIED TURNING ON THE SPORT FEATURE WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO PROVIDE MORE RESISTANCE BUT THE SAME EVENT OCCURS. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE SUN FOR 4 OR MORE HOURS AND IT IS ABOVE 88 DEGREES. IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE, I DRIVE IN ONE GEAR LOWER, SAY 4TH, AND CONSTANTLY SHIMMY THE WHEEL TO AVOID LOSS OF CONTROL. IT'S SIMILAR TO SNOW SKIING WITH THE VEHICLE CATCHING AN EDGE OR GROOVE IT DOES NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF. IT CONTINUES TO DRIVE IN THE SAME PREVIOUS DIRECTION AS YOU APPLY ADDITIONAL EFFORT. SUDDENLY, THE WHEEL GIVES AND IT'S AS IF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY AMPLIFIED, WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY NEED AT 5MPH, NOT 60MPH. AS YOU FINISH THE BEND, IT CONTINUES TO STAY LOCKED IN THE TURNING POSITION. SO, ADDITIONAL EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLE AND AGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL FIGHTS YOUR EFFORTS ONLY TO SUDDENLY GIVE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. YOU STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE CAR IN YOUR LANE THE ENTIRE TIME AND FROM THE REAR, THE VEHICLE APPEARS ERRATIC AND SWERVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THAT WAS MY FIRST SUMMER WITH THE CAR AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHERE HOPEFULLY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL APPLY. *TT

Mileage: 56,000

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING GETS VERY HARD TO STEER. *JS

Mileage: 72,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH SHE COULD FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING AND IT BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. SHE ALSO STATED IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,800 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 12,200 UPDATED 07/13/12*LJ BMW AGREED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FREE OF CHARGE. UPDATED 07/18/12

Mileage: 9,800

OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, THE STEERING IN MY BMW Z-4 HAS FELT LIKE I HAVE TO FIGHT TO STAY ON THE ROAD. IT IS JERKING & PULLING THE CAR OFF CENTER MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND FEEL SAFE. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO "STICKS" RATHER THAN ROTATING SMOOTHLY WHEN I TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS CONDITION IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE LAST WEEK AT APPROX. 55 MILES/HOUR AND SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR SWERVED HARD PULLING ME INTO THE NEXT LANE OF TRAFFIC COMING VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *JS

Mileage: 39,000

THE STEERING STICKS AND IS HARD TO CONTROL. THE STEERING SEEMS TO HAVE LOBES/STICKING POINTS IN THE STEERING AND STICKS AT CERTAIN POINTS AND THEN LETS GO MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STEER AND HAS JERKY CATCHING POINTS AS YOU MOVE THE WHEEL WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 90 DEGREES MY STEERING STICKS AND YOU HAVE TO JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO UNSTICK. IT ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU ARE TAKING A GRADUAL CURVE AND YOU TRY TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS LIKELY THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT CHECKED. IT IS SO DANGEROUS THAT I WILL NOT DRIVE IN HOT WEATHER UNTIL I GET IT FIXED... I JUST CAN'T AFFORD SEVERAL THOUSAND IN REPAIR BILLS. BTW, THERE ARE ONLY 23,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I HAVE HAD IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO STICK AND JERK TO THE SIDES ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10020 (STEERING:COLUMN STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

Mileage: 33,000

ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION, THE ELECTRIC STEERING BINDS OR GETS STUCK WHILE IN CENTER POSITION AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT OR IMPAIRS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. ON THIS OCCASION, I WAS TRAVLING AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED AND WAS CHANGING LANES AND BECAUSE OF THE STEERING PROBLEM I JERKED THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CAR IN THE OTHER LANE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES AND GETS WORST IN THE WARM TO HOT WEATHER. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW IN BOTH MASSACHUSETTS AND FLORIDA WITH NO HELP FROM DEALERS. MY VEHICLE HAS 79,000 ON IT NOW WHICH ISNT A LOT OF MILES FOR A 2003. *TR

Mileage: 74,100

THE STEERING WHEEL WILL STICK TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT IN WARM WEATHER. IT CAUSES THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. *JS

Mileage: 71,132

BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUNE 2011 WITH APPROXIMATELY 86000, SO IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THE PROBLEM HAD SHOWN UP PRIOR TO THIS DATE/MILEAGE. DURING VERY HOT DAYS, THE STEERING "STICKS" AND IS DIFFICULT TO START MOVEMENT, RESULTING IN JERKINESS AND SWERVING ON THE ROAD. ONCE MOTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS INITIATED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE MOVEMENT SMOOTHLY. BUT WHEN YOU STOP MOVEMENT, IT WILL STICK AGAIN. THIS MAKES IT VERY TEDIOUS AND ANNOYING AND POSSIBLY EVEN UNSAFE TO MAKE EVEN JUST THE NORMAL CONSTANT MINOR ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. OFTEN TIMES, JUMPING FROM ONE SIDE OF MY LANE TO THE OTHER, AND BACK. *JS

Mileage: 85,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

Mileage: 74,000

DPS FAILURE. LIGHT STAYS ON AND STEERING IS IMPOSSIBLE. DEALER SAID 3,000.00 TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH STEERING HAS DEFINITE STICKING SPOTS CREATING HAZARDOUS CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT PREDICTABLE SOMETIMES DRIVES FINE OTHER TIMES WITH NO WARNING PROBLEM OCCURS, MAKING THE SAFETY ISSUE EVEN MORE GRAVE. FEAR OF LANE SWERVE AND POSSIBLE COLLISION. BMW SERVICE COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM AND SAYS THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM EXISTING. UPON INVESTIGATION IT SEEMS I AM IN A LARGE GROUP OF BMW Z4 OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS STEERING PROBLEM. I URGE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT, MAIMED OR EVEN KILLED. *TR

Mileage: 80,885

I HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM ON MY Z4. THIS BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY IN THE STEERING HAS BEEN INCREASING FROM MONTH TO MONTH AND WHERE IT NOW IS BEGINNING TO FEEL UNSAFE. THE STEERING STICKS WHILE NAVIGATING THROUGH CURVES AND DOES NOT ALWAYS RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION. OTHERTIMES, IT STICKS AND ONE NEEDS TO PULL IT BACK TO CORRECT THE STEERING. IT IS QUITE UNSAFE AND MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED, NOT ONLY FOR OUR SAFETY, BUT ALSO OTHERS WHO MAY BE VICTIMIZED BY HEAD ON COLLISIONS. AFTER CHECKING OUT MY COMPLIANT WITH MY BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC, HE TELLS ME THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM ON THIS CAR AND CHECKING THROUGH THE MECHANIC'S WEB SITE, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO ONE THAT KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM, SHORT OF TAKING OUT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND REPLACING WITH A NEW ONE. THE COST OF THIS WOULD AMOUNT TO $3,000.00 OR MORE. THE MECHANICS FEEL THIS IS A POOR STEERING DESIGN AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY BMW. HE TOLD ME TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR IT IS POSSIBLE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM COULD BREAK DOWN AT ANY MOMENT. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

STEERING IS STICKING BADLY. INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND TOLD IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. WITH THE VEHICLE UNDER 20,000 MILES THE MECHANIC SAID IS CLEARLY A DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 03/21/12 *BF UPDATED 05/11/12

Mileage: 80,000

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND 3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT WITH A LOT OF RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THIS "STICKING" STEERING WHEELS MAKES THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND HARD TO KEEP FROM WANDERING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE STEERING MECHANISM WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. SEVERAL YEARS LATER AND NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, I NOTICED THIS SAME PROBLEM STARTED BACK UP. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I WOULD RARELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE ONLY PUT 4000 MILES SINCE 7/06) THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AT THIS POINT, I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSE AS THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INCREASES. THIS DEFECT MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE THE VEHICLE TENDS TO WANDER BACK AND FORCE DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING. THE REPAIR IS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND I HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR A RECALL SINCE I HAVE READ OF MANY OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 12,441

THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 IS VERY ERRATIC. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO TURN ITSELF LEFT OR RIGHT, AND OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT IS FIGHTING ITSELF TO TURN. WHEN DRIVING OVER THE SLIGHTEST UNEVEN ROAD, THE STEERING WILL PULL AND SWERVE ON IT'S OWN. AT SLOW SPEEDS, IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT HAS BECOME A WHITE KNUCKLED SCARY EXPERIENCE. UNDER BREAKING, THE CAR WILL SWERVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 79,216

WHEN THE CAR STAY OUTDOOR FOR A LONG TIME ON HOT SUNNY DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME VERY HARD TO TURN. IT IS NOTICEABLE AT ANY SPEED. HIGHWAY SPEED IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR IS HARD TO KEEP ON A STRAIGHT LINE. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM USA BUT I LIVE IN CANADA. THE ADDRESSEE THAT I WROTE IS WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW. SORRY FOR MY POOR ENGLISH. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER IN A STRAIGHT POSITION WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MOST OFTEN WHEN DRIVING IN WARMER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Mileage: 12,000

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED ON THE CAR MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. LUCKILY IT FAILED WHILE ON A STRAIGHT PART OF AN INTERSTATE AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THIS SEVERELY FRIGHTENED HER. SHE DID NOT OVERREACT AND WE TOOK APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS ISSUE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA IN 2010 BUT CAN NOT FIND ANY INDICATION THAT AN ACTUAL RECALL IS IN PLACE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE WITH A LOT OF WINDING ROADS (TENNESSEE). I PURCHASED THE CAR USED LAST YEAR AND ALSO HAD A WATER PUMP FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A BLOWN ENGINE. I WISH THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED ALSO AS I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES READING INCORRECTLY. I READ THAT ONE OWNER WAS CONTACTED BY BMW NORTH AMERICA AFTER THEY FILED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE POWER STEERING WITH NHTSA AND BMW VOLUNTARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THE OWNER. I HOPE I HAVE THE SAME LUCK AFTER POSTING THIS COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

STEERING BECOMES INTERMITTENTLY "STICKY". FIRST SYMPTOM IS THAT WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL NORMALLY NOTHING HAPPENS. AS A RESULT, I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL MORE AND THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR TURNS. IMMEDIATELY, I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL BACK THE OTHER WAY TO AVOID GOING OFF THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM IS REPEATED WHEN I TURN BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND I ESSENTIALLY END UP WEAVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE SYMPTOM COULDN'T BE REPRODUCED BY THE SERVICEMEN WHO LOOKED AT IT. IN RETROSPECT, I'VE REALIZED THAT I WAS ALWAYS HAVING THE CAR CHECKED WHEN IT WAS COOL OUT (MORNINGS & I LIVED NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR), BUT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR ONLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE (OVER 70 TO 80 DEGREES). SINCE I COULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, I HAVE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED MY DRIVING WITH THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER RECENTLY MOVING TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE COUNTRY, I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO A NEW SERVICEMAN LAST MONTH. HE SAID THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE Z4 STEERING BEARINGS. AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM (INCLUDING TO THIS WEBSITE). I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE; IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME THIS IS SOME SORT OF DESIGN FLAW. IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE STEERING BEARINGS WEARING OUT DUE TO NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR" WITH ONLY 34,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE ASAP AND FORCE BMW TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED! *TR

Mileage: 34,000

AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS IN THE SUN ON A HOT DAY (OVER 80 DEGREES) THE STEERING STICKS. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE FINE ADJUSTMENTS SO IT IS HARD TO HOLD THE CAR IN A LANE. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS A PREDICTABLE PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGH AND THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN. *TR

Mileage: 69,182

THE STEERING MECHANISM AND WHEEL SEEM TO STICK. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT TRAVEL SMOOTHLY WITHIN THE NORMAL STEERING RANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ON A STRAIGHT LINE... SUDDENLY, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT, WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT AND TYPICALLY CAUSES THE CAR TO MOVE ERRATICALLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO KEEP THE CAR CENTER ON THE DRIVING LANE. DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS HAS BECOME A BATTLE TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. OVER CORRECTIONS ARE INEVITABLE AND THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENTS/COLLISIONS. *TR

Mileage: 67,870

IN HOT WEATHER THE POWER STEERING GETS EXTREMELY STICKY AND WHEN MAKING A TURN SUCH AS ON AN EXIT RAMP THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE PULLED TO RETURN IT TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION WHICH RAISES THE DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT THE CAR COULD GO RIGHT OFF THE RAMP IF NOT CAUGHT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES SWERVING WHEN MAKING SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR CAN SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE. DEALERS ARE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THE ON-LINE Z 4 FORUM INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM APPARENTLY DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

I HAD THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE GET WORSE ON THE INTERSTATE AFTER I FILED THE FIRST COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED BMW USA AND TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALER. I WAS TOLD BY BMW USA THAT MY PROBLEM WAS THE DEFECT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR ANY OF THESE VEHICLES UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FEW MORE FATAL CRASHES FOR THE SOMEONE TO STEP UP AND FORCE THIS MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? EVEN THOUGH I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, IT WAS PURCHASED IN FLORIDA WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO ENJOY A CONVERTIBLE. HOWEVER, THIS FAILURE OCCURS AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 77 DEGREES. NOW THAT I KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, HOW CAN I PASS IT ON TO ANOTHER WHO MIGHT NOT BE AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND JOIN BMW IN BEING THE INSTRUMENT OF THEIR DEATH. *TR

Mileage: 28,000

WHEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR STEERING IS VERY HARD TO HOLD STRAIGHT, VEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I ONLY HAVE 32,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT STILL HAPPENS. SERVICE REPS VERIFY THAT ALL STEERING COMPONENTS ARE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

1.VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE; UNABLE TO MAINTAIN STEERING OR KEEP VEHICLE ON THE ROAD SAFELY. 2.VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 3.MANUAL GEAR BOX; SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS NOT SMOOTH, NOT ENGAGING SMOOTHLY 4.WATER LEAKING INSIDE OF VEHICLE TRUNK AND REAR SEAT AREAS. VEHICLE TRUNK AREA WAS SATURATED WITH WATER AFTER RAINING; FILLING WATER OVER THE BATTERY BOX AND CARPETS, SHORTING OUT ELECTRONICS. 5.OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE; PLASTIC COMPONENTS EARLY DETERIORATION; FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA BLACK PLASTIC COWL AND ANTENNA. INSIDE OF VEHICLE BLACK PLASTIC COVER FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP 6.RAIN SENSOR INOP 7.DOOR LOCKS INOP/INTERMITTENT 8.WINDOWS REGULATORS PLASTIC BROKEN. *TR

Mileage: 43,730

MY STEERING WHEEL LIGHT GOES ON THEN THE CAR HANDLING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE PROBLEM STARTED ONE DAY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WHEEL WAS SUDDENLY HARD. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY: WHEN I START THE CAR AND AT ANY RANDOM TIME WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK (BEFORE THE NEXT FAILURE). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE NOTHING IS TELLING ME WHEN THE NEXT ISSUE IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M ALWAYS SCARED TO MAKE A TURN OR TO CHANGE LANES. *TT

Mileage: 71,000

BMW Z4 DEVELOPED A NOTCHY OR STICKY FEEL AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS IN PLACE AND EXTRA EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE THIS OCCURS. PROBLEM WAS VERY SPORADIC AT FIRST BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AS I MY DRIVING TIME INCREASES. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW Z4 ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ROUGHLY 65MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING BECAME VERY NOTCHY AND STIFF, THE CAR FELT AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKING AND NOT TURNING TO CENTER FREELY. DRIVING LIKE THIS THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN YOUR LANE, A VERY SCARY FEELING WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL I RETURNED HOME AND WAS STILL NOTICEABLE AT CITY SPEEDS, WHEEL STILL STICKING AROUND TURNS AND NOT RETURNING TO CENTER POSITION AFTER COMPLETING A TURN. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN,NOT GIVING ME A GOOD SENSE OF SECURITY WHEN DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM ONLY STARTS TO HAPPEN AFTER OR WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. I'M CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF BMW Z4 OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR SAFELY PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING DEVELOPS REGARDING A RECALL OF ANY FAULTY STEERING EQUIPMENT ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 104,155

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO RESET. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LASTED FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

Mileage: 31,000

THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE IS STICKY AND IS DIFFICULT TO TURN AFTER IT IS IN PLACE FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS. THIS CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE DRIVING DIRECTION OF THE CAR AND IN MANY CASES CAUSES AN OVERCOMPENSATION IN STEERING. *TR

2003 BMW Z4 (21,000 MILES) - STEERING BECOMES DANGEROUSLY STICKY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS WARM (ABOVE 80 DEGREES OR SO AND ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN). THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T RETURN TO CENTER AND THE CAR JERKS SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE STEERING UN-STICKS AS THE DRIVER TRIES TO MAKE SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS. THIS RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS SWERVING OF THE CAR SIDE-TO-SIDE WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, PARTICULARLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TT

Mileage: 21,000

2003 BMW Z4 9500 MILES, WHEN HOT THE STEERING LOCKS IN POSITION AND EXCESSIVE FORCE IS NEEDED TO CORRECT THE STEERING, CAUSING A JERK MAKING THE CAR JERK TO THE SIDE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO RECORRECT. HAPPENS AT HIGH AND LOW SPEED. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TT

Mileage: 9,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE CENTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT TEMPERATURES UNDER 45 DEGREES AND OVER 75 DEGREES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ UPDATED 11/02/11

Mileage: 70,000

IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 45 F AND ABOVE 75 MY STEERING HANGS UP JUST OFF CENTER SO WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE FREEWAY IT LOOKS LIKE I ZIGZAG FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND AROUND TURNS IT BECOMES ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN IT CATCHES I HAVE TO USE A BIT MORE FORCE TO UN JAM IT AND AT HIGH SPEEDS IT ALMOST THROWS ME INTO A SPIN OR CRASH INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM BUT SAYS HE RARELY DROVE THE CAR IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM. I CANNOT AFFORD THE 2600- 3600 PRICE TAG FOR THE REPAIR AND SINCE BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2003 AND HAS FAILED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM MYSELF ALONG WITH SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF OTHER BMW Z 4 OWNERS DESERVE A FREE CORRECTION FOR THIS PROBLEM.. INSTEAD BMW IS FLEECING THE POOR FOOLS WHO HAPPEN TO OWN A Z4 MODEL ,, DO I HAVE TO DIE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS CAR BEFORE BMW DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY KEPT IN THE GARAGE. AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN IN TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 85 DEGREES, THE CAR STEERING WAS HARD TO OPERATE. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE STEERING WAS MANUAL -- HARD TO TURN ON A CURVE AND HARD TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR SITS OUTSIDE IN HOT WEATHER. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED BY MY MECHANIC. *KB

Mileage: 70,000

THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY KEPT IN THE GARAGE. AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN IN TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 85 DEGREES, THE CAR STEERING WAS HARD TO OPERATE. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE STEERING WAS MANUAL -- HARD TO TURN ON A CURVE AND HARD TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR SITS OUTSIDE IN HOT WEATHER. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED BY MY MECHANIC. *KB

Mileage: 70,000

[XXX] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0I. THE PUMP FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY , COMPLETE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING, NO PREVIOUS SIGN OF MALFUNCTION THE CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *KB

Mileage: 56,230

DIFFICULTY STEERING THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING STICKS. THE WARMER THE TEMPERATURE, THE STEERING FEELS STUCK AND WITH THE LEAST MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT LOSES CONTROL. IT IS FINE IN THE MORNING AND WHEN IT IS COOL BUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 80, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING. NO ACCIDENTS YET!!!!! IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. *KB

Mileage: 30,000

VEHICLE STEERING STICKS AROUND CENTER WHEN WEATHER IS HOT AND IS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHICH INCREASES THE DANGER FOR LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

Mileage: 94,181

DURING WARMER WEATHER THE STEERING IS JERKY AND THE CAR DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT CAUSING THE CAR TO WANDER BACK AND FORTH ON THE ROAD. IF THE ROAD HAS A CROWN IT CAUSES THE CAR TO PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER SENDING IT TOWARD THE ONCOMMING TRAFFIC OCCASIONALLY. THE STEERING ALSO FEELS 'CENTER LOCKED' SO THAT AN AMOUNT OF FORCE GREATER THAN NORMAL IS REQUIRED TO CHANGE COURSE OF THE VEHICLE, THEN ONCE IT STARTS TURNING (SHOULD BE GRADUAL AS FOR COURSE CORRECTIONS), THE CAR LUNGES IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GRADUALLY TAKE. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS OCCURS IN WARMER WEATHER AND IS NOT AS NOTICIBLE IN COOLER WEATHER. *TT

Mileage: 22,000

THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 2.5L IS VERY STICKY. IT FEELS AS IF THERE IS PINE-TAR IN THE LINKAGE. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO NOT OVER CORRECT OR ELSE RISK RUNNING OFF A BRIDGE OR INTO THE CAR IN THE NEXT LANE. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. I ONLY DRIVE THIS CONVERTIBLE ON SUNNY DAYS, SO I COULDN'T SAY IF WEATHER HAS ANY AFFECT. *KB

Mileage: 50,000

BMW Z4 ROADSTER, STEERING WHEEL PLAY AND STICKING. *TR

Mileage: 33,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY MAKE A TURN WHICH CAUSED HER TO SWERVE INTO THE NEXT LANE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE HOT WEATHER WAS A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BMW SPECIALIST WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Mileage: 25,000

THE STEERING IN THE 2003 BMW Z4 IS EXTREMELY NOTCHY, OR STICKY. THE ISSUE IS CONSIDERABLY WORSE ON WARMER DAYS, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT LIMITED TO ONLY HAPPENING IN WARM WEATHER. RECENTLY, THE STEERING HAS BECOME MUCH WORSE, ALMOST LOCKING IN PLACE WHILE TURNING. EVEN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE MINOR CORRECTIONS IN STEERING DUE TO CURVES IN THE ROAD, THE WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND THEN JERK THE CAR VIOLENTLY WHEN IT DOES ALLOW THE CORRECTION TO BE MADE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ISSUE CAUSES A FATALITY. BMW HAS DENIED ANY ISSUE OR RECALL AND HAS REFUSED TO COMMENT REGARDING OTHERS' COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TT

Mileage: 60,000

BMW X4 2003 60,1000 MILES- ELECTRONIC POWER STERING IS STICKY- ERATIC - SAFETY CONCEN= HAD PROBLEM TO CONTROL HE CAR- ENVIRONMENTAL CONDICTIONS ARE VERY HOT. *TT

Mileage: 61,000

POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE STICKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS, 45 AND ABOVE ON MY 2003 Z4. CAR ONLY HAS 42000 MILES, ITS NEW TO ME. *TR

Mileage: 42,600

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4. I CONSTANTLY MUST KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL CENTERED AS IT STICKS TO ONE SIDE THEN THE OTHER AS I DRIVE. IT WANTS TO GO RIGHT OR LEFT AND I NEED TO TRY TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT. *TR

SOMETIMES WHEN I GO OVER A DEPRESSION OR ROUGH AREA IN THE ROAD THE CAR WILL VEER INTO THE OTHER LANE. (CROSS THE CENTER LINE) I ALSO FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING. YOU CAN TURN THE WHEEL TO LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE IN THAT DIRECTION EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL? *TR

Mileage: 38,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH OR WHEN DRIVING IN HIGH TEMPERATURES ABOVE 80 DEGREES THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. UPDATED 09/26/11

Mileage: 10,000

STICKY STEERING WHEEL ON 2003 BMW Z4. FEELS AS IF ITS HARD TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN. ITS ALMOST LIKE A MAGNETIC RESISTANCE. THE FORCE REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL IS 3-4X NORMAL AND IS INTERMITTENT SO IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM IMO. IF YOU ARE IN A CORNER AND DON'T EXPECT IT, IT CAN BE QUITE HARD TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS ON THE WHEEL, AND POSSIBLY CAN OVERCORRECT. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

MY 2003 BMW Z4 AUTOMOBILE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE. THE STEERING MECHANISM "STICKS OR PARTIALLY LOCKS WHEN DRIVING. ON OCCASION IT TENDS TO PULL TO THE LEFT AT MOST SPEEDS CAUSING CONCERN REGARDING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER 2003 Z4 OWNERS. IN SOME CASE THERE WERE CLOSE CALLS IN AVERTING HEAD ON CRASHES WHEN DRIVING ON TWO LANE HIGHWAYS DUE TO THE STEERING PULL TO THE LEFT SIDE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO THE 2003 Z4 SERIES WHICH HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING. IT APPARENTLY GETS WORSE WITH TIME. MY Z4 HAS LESS THAN 21,000 MILES. *TT

Mileage: 19,000

MY SON AND I PURCHASED A USED 2003 BMW Z4 WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON IT . IT HAD A SLIGHT PULL TO THE RIGHT SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT DONE . THE BMW DEALERSHIP THAT WE TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OK AND THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR WAS PROBABLY GOING BAD. THEY WANTED $ 3,500.00 TO REPAIR IT. SINCE THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT WAS VERY SLIGHT I ASKED IF THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE SINCE IT MY SON THAT WILL DRIVING THE CAR. THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER ARRIVING HOME WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH OUR SERVICE ADVISER AND HE ACTED LIKE HE WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF IT BEING A PROBLEM AND AGAIN ASSURED US THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE. ON THE WAY HOME FORM WORK MY SON WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAD A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE STEERING HAD A DEAD SPOT AT THE CENTER POSITION. I THEN DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THESE CARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM MY SON IS HAVING WITH HIS CAR. I TALKED TO OTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY WON'T EVEN GET INVOLVED IN REPAIRING THIS BECAUSE THE CARS STILL HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER BEING REPAIRED. I THEN CALLED THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND ASKED HIM IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED OR ARE THEY JUST INSTALLING A NEW PART THAT IS THE SAME AS THE OLD PART AND WILL FAIL AGAIN. HE SAID HE WOULD GET BACK TO ME. AND SURPRISE HE HAS NOT. WE WOULD NOT MIND SO MUCH AS TO SPEND $3500.00 TO HAVE A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM FIXED, BUT TO JUST HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN IT TRULY UNFAIR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THEY NO LONGER USE THIS TYPE OF STEERING SYSTEM. I ASSUME THAT THEY JUST WANT THIS PROBLEM TO GO AWAY AS THE CARS GET OLDER AND SOLD TO PEOPLE LIKE US WITH NO WARRANTY. ORIGINAL OWNERS PROBABLY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND WON'T MENTION THE PROBLEM SO NOT TO HURT RESALE VALUE.

Mileage: 58,300

2003 BMW 2.5L Z4 STEERING LOCKS AND REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WORSE ON HOT DAYS. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION TO DATE. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

2003 BMW Z4 STICKY STEERING. WHEN I DRIVE MY 2003 BMW Z4 DURING WARM WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS. IT IS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS LEADS TO VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AS IT FEELS LIKE IT IS STICKY/STUCK. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 THAT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH HAS 27,000 MILES ON IT AND THAT I?VE HAVE HAD SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE CAR HAS NEVER DRIVEN IN WINTER AND KEPT IN A HEATED GARAGE. I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM BMW SERVICE AND REPAIR. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW, EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE THE STEERING WOULD GET STICKY OR NOTCHY, AND EXTRA FORCE WOULD HAVE TO BE USED TO BREAK THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND TURN THE WHEEL. IT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENED VERY INFREQUENTLY WHEN NEW; HOWEVER, THE LAST YEAR OR SO IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND HAPPENS WHENEVER THE CAR IS DRIVEN. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR AND GOT IT BACK YESTERDAY. THE DEALER REPLACED PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF OVER $3,000.00. IT SEEMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING AND ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST AND THEY BASICALLY GAVE ME THE FINGER BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FROM READING ON-LINE THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS, OTHERWISE SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. I DON?T UNDERSTAND WHY BMW WON?T ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS AND STEP UP TO PLATE WHEN IT COMES TO THE REPAIR? THESE ARE NOT INEXPENSIVE KIAS!!! BMW IS REALLY HURTING THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN THESE CARS. I KNOW THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS DAMAGED THEIR REPUTATION WITH ME. MY WIFE OWNS A FORD EDGE AND WE WERE THINKING OF REPLACING IT WITH A NEW X3 NEXT SPRING. WELL GUESS WHAT!!!! *TR

Mileage: 16

THE STEERING BEGINS TO FEEL STICKY. IT IS HARD TO MAKE STEERING CORRECTIONS DURING NORMAL DRIVING WITHOUT JERKING THE WHEEL EITHER LEFT OF RIGHT. THIS APPEARS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN DURING WARM WEATHER. I NOTICED IT LAST NIGHT DURING THE COOL OF THE EVENING, HOWEVER. IT WAS UNDER 60 DEGREES AT THE TIME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED TEMPORARILY WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 10

2003 BMW Z4 ERRATIC STEERING WHEN DRIVING. THE STEERING CONTROL FLUCTUATES BETWEEN EASY AND MORE DIFFICULT IN REQUIRED EFFORT TO MOVE WHEEL. *TR

Mileage: 48,211

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY CAR STICKS AND DOES NOT RETURN WHEN I TURN A CORNER. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I AM GOING STRAIGHT AND TRY TO CORRECT A LITTLE BIT. IF I WERE TO TURN THE WHEEL A COUPLE OF DEGREES AND LET GO OF THE WHEEL THE CAR WOULD GO RIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR GO OFF THE ROAD. WARMER TEMPERATURES SEEM TO MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

DRIVING MY 2003 BMW Z4 ON A WARM DAY AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP LIKE IT WAS STICKY. ALMOST HIT SOMEONE IT OCCURS ON ANY WARM TEMP DAYS AND ANY SPEED I PAID TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATED AND IT DIDN'T HELP. MY BMW REPAIR SHOP THINKS IT THE STEERING COLUMN. HAS HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. *TR

Mileage: 45,300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND LOCKED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF BEFORE THE STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS UT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

Mileage: 38,000

STICKY STEERING AND DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING STEERING WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THESE CONDITIONS OCCUR IE. AFTERNOON COMMUTE. THE FEELING IS UNNERVING MAKES YOU AFRAID YOU WILL HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IF YOU DO NOT FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE WHEEL. *TR

Mileage: 70,415

STEERING BECOMES STICKY OR UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING. THIS ESPECIALLY OCCURS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE HOT (+75' F). WHEN THE CONDITION OCCURS EXTRA EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

POWER STEERING ON 2003 BMW Z4 3.01I IS "TWITCHY" / NON-RESPONSIVE AT CENTER POINT CAUSING HANDLING PROBLEMS FOR THE CAR. THIS NON-RESPONSIVE POWER STEERING ON 2003 BMW Z4 CONTRIBUTED TO A FAILURE TO STEER AROUND ROAD DEBRIS WHICH DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 9,000

THE STEERING BINDS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE MINOR CORRECTIONS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON COURSE AND REQUIRING EXTRA EFFORT TO INITIATE A TURN. WHEN THE "BIND" RELEASES, OVER-CORRECTION OCCURS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR, AND BEING A RATHER PETITE WOMAN, THE PROBLEM POSE AN INCREASED SAFETY HAZARD FOR HER. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN AUGUST, 2010, WHILE ON A LONG HIGHWAY DRIVE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OVER THE WINTER. WHEN I TOOK IT OUT ON APRIL 27, 2011, IT WAS A VERY WARM DAY AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED WORSE THAN I REMEMBERED. AT ONE POINT I SWERVED INTO AN OPPOSITE LANE; FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

Mileage: 56,370

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. CAR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER SAFELY. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE NOR WAS A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,881 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

Mileage: 19,881

2003 BMW Z4 STEERING ISSUES, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY I EXPEREIENCE ISSUES WITH THE STEERING LOCKING UP AND INTENSITY TO CHANGE THE WHEEL IS GREATER, RESULTING IN OVERSTEERING WHEN IT 'BREAKS FREE'. DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 62,581

DRIVING IN A 70 DEGREEE TEMPERATURE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WILL TEND TO HAVE A STICKY FEEL TO IT AND TEND TO PUSH TO THE RIGHT. WHEN YOU PULL BACK YOU FEEL A CLICKING SENSATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AND THE CYCLE START AGAIN. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT IT IS THE RUN FLAT TIRES, BUT I REPLAED IT WITH A NON- RUN FLAT TIRE - SAME STEERING ISSUES. THEY REBOOT THE COMPUTER TO GET RID OF THIS ISSUE, BUT IT IS STILL HERE. VERY NERVOUS TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ISSUE SEEMS MORE APPARENT WHEN IT IS WARM.

Mileage: 118,000

PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING THE INTERSTATE. VEHICLE STARTED TO CROSS LANES AND STEERING WOULD NOT LOCK INTO CENTER WHEN CORRECTED. THANKFUL THAT I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER. IF MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING SHE WOULD HAVE OVER CORRECTED AND CRASHED.

Mileage: 28,500

POWER STEERING COLUMN FAILED IN 2003 BMW Z4 3.0I WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE STEERING WAS THAT IT BECAME MAGNETIC AND TWITCHY. THIS WOULD USUALLY HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS DRIVING BACK FROM ORLANDO, FL TO JACKSONVILLE, FL ON I-95. BMW DEALER COPED THE PART ($3,000.00) BUT MADE ME PAY FOR LABOR ($600.00). I WAS NOT HAPPY AS I TRULY FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PUSHED, BUT WAS TOLD THAT WAS THEIR BEST OFFER SO I TOOK IT. CAR WAS OUT OF FACTORY BMW WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 Z4 AT MODERATE (ABOVE 45MPH) AND HIGHER SPEEDS THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER IN A STRAIGHT LINE DOWN THE ROAD. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAPPEN ON PERFECTLY SMOOTH ROADS. THIS APPEARS IN TWO WAYS. ON BUMPY ROADS, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY JERK TO EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT AND REQUIRE AGGRESSIVE CORRECTIONS TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR FROM VEERING OUT OF IT'S LANE. THIS SUDDEN JERKING TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING, SO CORRECTIONS TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR IN ITS LANE CAN NOT BE MADE UNTIL THE CAR HAS ACTUALLY JERKED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS CROSSED THE CENTER LINE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OR ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD BEFORE I COULD REACT. DRIVING THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65-70MPH) TAKES CONSTANT VIGILANCE AND REQUIRES SLOWING DOWN TO SPEEDS FAR BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT (45-50MPH) ON THE ROUGHEST OF PAVEMENT TO MAKE ME FEEL I CAN KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND IN MY LANE. THE SECOND WAY THIS CAR IS DIFFICULT TO STEER IS WHEN THERE ARE RUTES WORN IN THE ROAD FROM HEAVY TRAFFIC. (MOST HIGHWAYS) WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS INPUT IS GIVEN TO THE STEERING WHEEL. AS MORE INPUT IS GIVEN, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY JUMP IN THE DIRECTION OF STEERING INPUT, REQUIRING INPUT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING OVER TO FAR AND CROSSING INTO A LANE NOT INTENDED. THIS DIFFICULTY IN STEERING IS DETECTABLE WHEN CHANGING LANES IS STARTED AND THE CAR DOES NOT REACT TO THE INITIAL STEERING INPUT. WITH PRACTICE, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP THE SKILL TO TIME MY CORRECTIVE INPUT TO THE STEERING AS THE CAR COMPLETES ITS LANE CHANGE. EVEN WITH MY GETTING USED TO THIS CONDITION, LANE CHANGES ARE NOT SMOOTH, BUT JERKY MANEUVERS INSTEAD. THIS CAR TAKES AN EXTRA ORDINARILY HIGH LEVEL OF SKILL AND ALERTNESS TO DRIVE SAFELY AT MODERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SEEMS OUTRIGHT DANGEROUS TO ANYONE UNAWARE OF THIS CONDITION. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

THE STEERING MECHANISM OFTEN BECOMES STICKY AND JERKY, MAKING THE CAR LESS PREDICTABLE TO DRIVE. IT OCCURS MOST OFTEN WITH THE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 80 DEGREES F. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE WAS FOUND ON A BMW SITE: NHTSA CALLED ME TODAY! THEY ARE INVESTIGATING...BMW HAS ADVISED THEM IT IS DUE TO EXPANSION OF A GEAR IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO HEAT. THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT IN LATE 2006 MODELS. NOT TREATING THIS AS A SERIOUS ISSUE HOWEVER HAVE REPAIRED "UNDER WARRANTY" THOSE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NOT REPAIRING OTHERS WITH THE $2-3,000 REPAIR. NHTSA SAYS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL BASED ON FINDINGS TO DATE. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN THAT MANY COMPLAINTS TO THEM. THIS ISSUE IS NOT DRIVER OR WEAR RELATED AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. TO FORCE THE CAR OWNERS TO PAY RETAIL FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX A DESIGN FLAW THAT IS DANGEROUS IS WRONG. *TR

Mileage: 39,500

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 3.0. THE STEERING MECHANISM OFTEN BECOMES STICKY AND JERKY, MAKING THE CAR LESS PREDICTABLE TO DRIVE. IT OCCURS MOST OFTEN WITH THE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 80 DEGREES F. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

STEERING STICKS OR BINDS WHEN OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE IS VERY WARM. *TR

Mileage: 76,888

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 02/03/11*LJ UPDATED 03/17/11

Mileage: 30,000

2003 BMW Z4. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERS HAVE TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE NHTSA BULLETIN. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR THE POWER STEERING SHUTTING OFF, THE ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 WITH 27K MILES. RECENTLY THE STEERING HAS BECOME STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN COSTING $3300. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURE. *TR

Mileage: 27,000

THE STEERING ON A 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I WILL "STICK" AND MUST BE MANUALLY FORCED TO ALLOW STEERING TO CONTINUE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I NEARLY DROVE INTO A WALL BECAUSE I THOUGHT I JUST NEEDED MORE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL - HOWEVER ONCE THE WHEEL IS NO LONGER IN THE "STICKING SPOT" STEERING IS NORMAL, WHICH CAUSES OVERSTEER AND ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

IF CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE SUN AND IT GETS HOT (AND UNTIL YOU DRIVE IT AND HAVE THE A/C ON LONG ENOUGH TO COOL OFF THE CAR) THE STEERING STICKS. IT MAKES STEERING JERKEY AND HARD TO HANDLE. IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME IT GETS HOT.

Mileage: 7,000

BMW Z4 AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ICON ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD AND YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING THERE AFTER THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT DETERMINED BY SPEED. HAVE CONTACTED TWO DEALERS IN THE BOSTON AREA AND THEY STATE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, WENT ON BIMMERPOST AND GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FIND IT ON YOUR WEBSITE. CAR IS VIRTUALLY UNDRIVEABLE AS YOU LITERALLY LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. *TR

Mileage: 62,200

2003 Z-4 BMW ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) FAILED DURING MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION WHILE PERFORMING A RIGHT TURN TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR. THE DRIVER AVOIDED COLLISION WITH OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES MAKING THE TURN AT THE SAME TIME, STATIONARY OBSTACLES (TELEPHONE POLE, STREET SIGNS, CURBS), AND PEDESTRIANS ON THE SIDEWALK BY GAINING CONTROL THROUGH MANUAL EFFORT. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED BY A BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR CENTER AT A COST EXCEEDING $3700 DUE TO THE PROPRIETARY SECURITY CODING FOR THEFT PREVENTION. USED UNITS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN CODED TO A SPECIFIC VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 60,420

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO CENTER, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH AND HIGHER. WHILE DRIVING IN COOLER WEATHER THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,527.

Mileage: 54,527

MY 2003 BMW Z4 SHOULD HAVE INITIALLY BEEN RECALLED FOR DEFECTIVE STEERING. FROM THE FIRST DAY I HAD IT, THE STEERING WOULD PERIODICALLY ACT UP AND MADE THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE FIXED I WAS CHARGED $3001.31 TO ALIGN THE WHEELS, CHANGE THE STEERING RACK, REPLACE A TIRE, TWO WHEELS, AND SOME SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND THEN ANOTHER $150 ALIGNMENT. (PERHAPS SOME OF THESE COMPONENTS ACTUALLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT, BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS.) YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DIDN'T FIX THE STEERING WHICH I FINALLY TRACED TO ACTING UP ON HOT DAYS. AND THE CAR DROVE EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT DID BEFORE THE "REPAIRS." AFTER DOING SOME ON-LINE RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THAT BMW HAD A SOLUTION ALL ALONG. BUT WAS MY CAR RECALLED AND FIXED? NO. I FOUND THE ACTUAL PART NUMBER OF THE NEW STEERING COLUMN AND I HAD TO INSIST ON A FREE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THAT FIXED IT FINE, BUT WHY DID I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS AND SPEND $3001.31 WHEN BMW KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE 2003 MODEL AND REDESIGNED THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS? MY INITIAL COMPLAIN WAS ON 08/18/06 AT 23023 MILES AND MY SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINT WAS ON 04/28/08 AT 28274 MILES. LINKS TO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.LEFTLANENEWS.COM/NHTSA-PROBES-BMW-Z4-MAZDA3-OVER-STEERING-ISSUES.HTML HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.COM/BMW/FORUMS/E85/8909755-1.HTML HTTP://BMWCCA.ORG/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-152.HTML. *TR

2003 BMW Z4 HAS STEERING ISSUE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARM. THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMS TO LOOK UP AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. *TR

Mileage: 18,100

STEERING PROBLEM WITH 2003 BMW Z4. CONSTANT PROBLEM CAUSING IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. BEING REPAIRED TODAY ( 10/14/2010). ELECT. MOTOR ON THE POWER STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 43,000

THE STEERING ON MY BMW Z4 WAS STICKING AND HARD TO TURN. THE STEERING DIDN'T WANT TO RETURN TO CENTER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THROUGH A CURVE, THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN, WOULDN'T RETURN BACK TO CENTER AND HAD TO MAKE NUMEROUS ADJUSTMENT TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN THE LANE. IT WAS VERY UNSETTLING AND COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME IN THE PAST AND IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN PREDOMINATELY ON WARM DAYS. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

MY BMW Z4, VINXXXXXXXXX, INTERMITTENTLY HAS A NOTCHY FEELING IN THE STEERING AS IF THERE IS A RESTRICTION PREVENTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE MOVED TO THE DIRECTION I WANT TO GO. THIS HAS BEEN GOING FOR A HALF A YEAR. NOW I AM INTERMITTENTLY LOOSING THE POWER ASSIST STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS IS VERY UNNERVING WHEN TRAVELING IN HEAVE CITY TRAFFIC. THE BWM DEALER IS NOT TAKING THIS AS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. THUS FAR NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED OR PERFORMED. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

STEERING GETS HEAVY AND "STICKY" AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

THE ELECTRIC STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 WILL STICK AND I MUST JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO TURN BACK WHEN THE CAR IS DRIFTING. MY DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT CAUSES OVERSTEERING WHEN THE WHEEL HAS TO BE JERKED BACK. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

AFTER CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN ON A 90+ DEGREE DAY, MY STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND "NOTCHY". WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION WHEN I LET GO OF WHEEL. *TR

Mileage: 21,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

Mileage: 66,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY LOCK AND THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD . THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT NOTICED PRIOR THAT THE FAILURE TENDS TO OCCUR DURING WARM WEATHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 28000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30000.

Mileage: 28,000

AT OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES, THE STEERING DEVELOPS A NOTCH OR DEAD SPACE THAT REQUIRES MORE THAN AVERAGE PRESSURE TO OVERCOME, THUS MAKING THE STEERING JERKY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING AT EITHER A SLOW SPEED SUCH AS 35 MPH OR 65 MPH AND WHEN HE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER POSITION WHENEVER IT LOCKED IN ORDER TO ALLOW IT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

Mileage: 24,000

2003 BMW Z4 POWER STEERING BINDS UP DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (OVER 90 F) ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS LEFT IN THE SUN ALL DAY. WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT MOVING IT STICKS IN THAT POSITION REQUIRING TREMENDOUS FORCE TO GET IT TO MOVE FROM THAT POSITION AND TURN THE CAR. IT WILL STICK GOING DOWN THE ROAD THEN YOU HAVE TO FORCE IT TO BREAK LOOSE TO CORRECT THE CAR'S DIRECTION, THEN IT STICKS IN THIS NEW LOCATION AND YOU HAVE TO BREAK IT LOOSE TO RETURN THE WHEEL TO STRAIGHT AHEAD. WHEN YOU BREAK THE STEERING LOOSE IT MAKES AN AUDIBLE THUNK. THIS BEHAVIOR CAUSES THE CAR TO DIVE INTO THE NEXT LANE OR ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DANGEROUS TO EVEN DRIVE AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS THE CAR HAS NEVER EXHIBITED THIS BEHAVIOR FOR THEM, AND IT WILL COST $3700 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 136,000

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ON PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4. WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE HIGH(OVER 80 DEGREES). THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY/NOTCHY AND BASICALLY FEELS AS IT THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED IN POSITION. THE CAR FEELS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND UNSAFE. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS AUGUST 31, 2010. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

MY 2003 BMW Z4 HAS STICKY AND/OR BINDING ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING CONTROL WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE 75 DEGREES OR WARMER, MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO STEER. BECAUSE OF THIS, OVERSTEERING RESULTS, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE INTO THE NEXT LANE OR ONTO THE SHOULDER. THIS BECOMES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN CHANGING LANES OR MAKING MINOR STEERING CORRECTIONS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY OVERNIGHT WHEN COOLER TEMPERATURES PREVAIL AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT HAS HAD A CHANCE TO COOL DOWN. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

WHILE DRIVING OUR BMW Z4 THE STEERING SEEMS TO GET LOCKED IN TO A POSITION WHICH REQUIRES MORE A LOT EFFORT THAN NORMAL TO STEER. WE HAVE TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY WITH BOTH HANDS TO AVOID OVER STEERING. I SEE THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHEN I GOOGLED Z4 STEERING. IT IS QUITE PREVALENT ON THE BMW FORUMS. *TR

Mileage: 48,500

VEHICLE IS A 2003 BMW Z4. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE STEERING MALFUNCTIONS IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. EACH OCCASION RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL WITH THE VEHICLE SWERVING ACROSS ONCOMING LANES AND BACK OFF THE SHOULDER.. MOST RECENT 8/12/2010. THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM AND WITHOUT AN OCCURRENCE PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE PARTS OR SERVICE TO CORRECT. THIS HAPPENS SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING AND GOES AWAY JUST AS IT APPEARED WITH NO ACTION ON MY PART. THIS IS A DEADLY ISSUE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SINCE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AS VOICED BY OTHER OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 26,000

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, MY 2003 BMW Z4 HAS FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIGHTLY STUCK IN THE CENTER POSITION WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY. RECENTLY, THE STEERING HAS FAILED COMPLETELY ON ENGINE START-UP. IN OTHER WORDS THE CAR WILL BARELY TURN. AFTER IT HAPPENED, I DISCOVERED IT WILL WORK IF THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RE-STARTED. HOWEVER, THE CAR STILL SOMETIMES DISPLAYS THE STICKINESS IN THE WHEEL, ESPECIALLY ON WARMER DAYS. THE CAR WILL STEER BUT SEEMS TO GET STUCK SLIGHTLY WHEN THE WHEEL IS CENTERED. IN SEARCHING FOR A SOLUTION ONLINE, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY CARS OF THIS MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY SHUTTING OFF AND THEN BACK ON. IF IT WERE TO OCCUR AT THE WRONG TIME OR IN THE WRONG SITUATION, IT WOULD HAVE DIRE RESULTS. *TR

Mileage: 94,000

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 BMW Z4 DURING HOT WEATHER THE STEERING RESPONSE IS VERY POOR. THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO REMAIN ON A STRAIGHT PATH AND STEERING IS SEEMS TO BE VERY HEAVY. IT IS ALMOST LIKE THE CAR HAS A TIRE THAT IS VERY LOW ON AIR PRESSURE. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

STEERING BECOMES STICKY WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPS REACH 85+ DEGREES. THE CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO OPERATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THIS IS OCCURRING. BASICALLY IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS AN INVISIBLE BARRIER THAT MUST BE BROKEN PAST WHEN TURNING FROM CENTER TO LEFT OR RIGHT, EXCESSIVE FORCE IS REQUIRED TO MOVE PAST CENTER TO OTHER DIRECTIONS AND CAN LEAD TO STEERING THE CAR FURTHER IN EITHER DIRECTION THAN DESIRED. BMW HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE ON THEIR OWN AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

AT ABOVE 80 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURES, THE STEERING STICKS ON MY 2003 Z4, AND WORSENS AS THE HEAT INCREASES. IT IS VERY HARD TO CORRECT STEERING ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT TENDS TO STAY IN ONE POSITION AND WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON MANY Z4'S AND BMW DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 49,010

I SOMETIMES NOTICE AFTER MY 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I HAS BEEN PARKED, IT SEEMS AS IF THE TIRES AND STEERING WHEEL ARE MISALIGNED AND THE CAR DRIVES TO ONE SIDE AS IF ONE TIRE WAS FLAT. THIS ONLY HAS HAPPENED AT LOWER SPEEDS SOON AFTER I START DRIVING, AND EVENTUALLY SEEMS TO GO AWAY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR A COUPLE MINUTES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE NOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT I PLAN ON GIVING BMW A CALL TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

EXPERIENCING VERY SIMILAR ISSUE AS DOCUMENTED UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE10020-STEERING/STEERING COLUMN/POWER ASSIST SYSTEM BECOMING DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 50MPH. CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE ONLY RECOMMENDATION TO TAKE TO SERVICE DEPT. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

STEERING WHEEL STIFFENS UP AND FEELS AS IF POWER STEERING TURNS OFF. HAPPENED ONCE, DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 61,984

MY BMW Z4 2003 SUDDENLY HAS A STEERING PROBLEM WHERE THE WHEEL "STICKS" IN PLACE AND "CATCHES" BEFORE ALLOWING ME TO STEER PROPERLY. BMW DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED THAT I NOT DRIVE THE CAR BUT THAT I BRING IT IN FOR A LOOK. OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE!!! *TR

Mileage: 69,000

2003 BMW Z4 AT TIMES THE STEERING BECOMES VERY TIGHT. IT SEEMS THAT THE STEERING ON WARM DAYS BECOMES VERY TIGHT, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE CENTER IT TAKES MORE FORCE THEN NORMAL TO TURN THE WHEEL, MAKING YOU OVER STEER THE CAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU FEEL LIKE THE CAR HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN. *TR

Mileage: 28,000

2003 BMW Z4 ROADSTER HAS AN INTERMITTENT STICKY STEERING ISSUE THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. THE CONDITION IS DUE TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OR AFTER PARKING CAR IN HOT WEATHER. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER TO STEER A STRAIGHT LINE WITHOUT CONSTANT, SUDDEN CORRECTIONS THAT REQUIRE USE OF THE ENTIRE LANE OF TRAFFIC. A BICYCLIST WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY VEHICLE WHICH PROMPTED THIS COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN IN WEATHER ABOVE 75 DEGREES F AND PARKED IN SUN. THE CONDITION WILL DISSIPATE WHEN CAR IS PARKED IN SHADE OR TEMPERATURES FALL FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD. BMW DEALER SERVICEWRITER WAS CONTACTED AND KNEW NOTHING ABOUT OTHER Z4 VEHICLES WITH ELECTRIC STEERING HAVING THIS ISSUE. DEALER ADVISES REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING UPPER COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND THE LOWER RACK AND PINION WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $4943.00. OWNER IS EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR REPAIR OR REPLACING VEHICLE WITH A NEWER MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

MY 2003 BMW Z4'S ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING ON HOT DAYS. THE LOSS OF ASSIST GET WORSE AS SPEED INCREASES. YESTERDAY AT 97 DEGREES IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED, THE CAR DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER. *TR

Mileage: 8,082

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 ROADSTER THAT SEEMS TO HAVE AN INTERMITTENT STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES, THE STEERING FEELS HEAVY, REQUIRING ADDED FORCE TO RETURN THE STEERING TO CENTER POSITION. THE RESULT IS JERKY STEERING AND SOME DIFFICULTY IN STEERING IN TIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. MY DEALER DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. FOLLOWING INTERNET RESEARCH, I KNOW OTHER ARE HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

ON A HOT DAY, THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER A TURN. IT MAKES THE CAR WANT TO WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD, PARTICULARLY ON CURVING ROADS. *TR

Mileage: 61,200

STICKY STEERING COLUMN DURING HOT WEATHER ON A 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

STICKY, NOTCHY STEERING FEELING WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURE ABOVE 80F. CAR BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

WHEN MY 2003 BMW Z4 IS LEFT OUT IN THE SUN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, IT IS VERY HARD TO DRIVE AND ALMOST NON-RESPONSIVE. ADDITIONALLY AT TIMES THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL (AND THE SHUTOFF OF OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE CAR). THIS TYPICALLY IS ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS, HOWEVER THAT CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 73,727

IN HOT WEATHER THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARDER TO TURN SEEMS TO STICK AT TIMES. 2003 Z4 3.0I IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. BMW REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

2003 BMW Z4 - STICKY STEERING IN HOT WEATHER. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE STEERING SEEMS TO MOMENTARILY SEIZE ... VERY SCARY! NO ACTUAL ACCIDENT YET, BUT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME! *TR

Mileage: 55,000

STEERING PROBLEM THAT STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER. CONSTANT PROBLEM AND SEEMS WORSE IN HOT WEATHER. *TR

Mileage: 7,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL WAS RESISTANT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS EXTREMELY WARM OUTSIDE. BMW WAS NOT NOTIFIED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE APPROXIMATELY 27,000.

Mileage: 27,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHEN THE WEATHER WAS WARM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH OR MORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF UPDATED 10/22/10

Mileage: 10,000

THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE STICKS ON HOT DAYS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE SUN. THIS MAKES IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE ON THE HIGHWAY, AS THE STEERING EFFORT BECOME TOO HIGH. IT WAS THE WORST I'VE EXPERIENCED TODAY, AS THE TEMPERATURE IN NEW ENGLAND REACHED 102 DEGREES F. *TR

Mileage: 55,650

STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK & WHEN IT WOULD FINALLY MOVE IT WOULD OVER CORRECT. NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT IT WAS VERY SCARY. *TR

Mileage: 21,768

MY 2003 BMW Z4 HAS A MAJOR STEERING PROBLEM. THERE IS NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF AND NON-RESPONSIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ITS LIKE DRIVING A CAR WITH A POWER STEERING PUMP THAT IS ABOUT TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE ON HOT DAYS OR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A LOT. I TOOK IT TO THE ONLY BMW DEALERSHIP AROUND HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHOP BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. THE COST ON A NEW COLUMN IS $3500 PLUS MANY MAN-HOURS OF LABOR CHARGES TO INSTALL IT! I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH Z4S. SO, HERE I SIT WITH A $13,000 CAR THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MORE THAN A FEW MILES FROM HOME BECAUSE THE STEERING IS SO TIGHT/QUESTIONABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THIS ISSUE! *TR

Mileage: 99,000

PURCHASED A "LIKE NEW" 2003 BMW Z4 3.0I WITH 15,000 MILES WITH 1 OWNER LAST FALL FROM A DEALERSHIP IN VA AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN STORAGE. UPON REMOVAL FROM STORAGE THIS MONTH, STEERING STICKS DANGEROUSLY AT ALL SPEEDS. STEERING WHEEL REFUSES TO RETURN TO CENTER. WHEN ROUNDING A CORNER, STEERING WHEEL WILL MAINTAIN THE TURN AND NOT NATURALLY STRAIGHTEN. THIS CREATES A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION OF OVERSTEER AS YOU OVER COMPENSATE THE STEERING. ON A TWO LANE ROAD, IT IS EASY TO CROSS CENTERLINE. MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR 2003, 2004, 2005, AND SOME 2006 MODELS. REPAIR SEEMS TO BE TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AT OWNER'S COST OF $3900. HOWEVER, SOME OWNER'S HAVE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT AND STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

2003 BMW Z4 2.5I. STEERING FEELS STICKY ON WARM AFTERNOONS. FEELS LIKE A "DEAD SPOT" IN THE STEERING GEAR. *TR

Mileage: 71,000

BMW Z4 POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE UPDATED 05/14/10.*JB

STEERING WHEEL IS "STICKY" AND DIFFICULT TO HANDLE ON WARM DAYS (ABOVE 75 DEGREES). *TR

Mileage: 27,000

MY 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I HAS A STICKY STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM IN ALL TEMPERATURES. THE STEERING DOES NOT SELF CORRECT WHILE TURNING AND NEEDS TO BE FORCEFULLY RETURNED BACK TO CENTER. THIS "STICKINESS" HAS A DANGEROUS ELEMENT IN CHANGING LANES OR GOING AROUND CORNERS BECAUSE SMOOTH OPERATION IS NOT POSSIBLE. I MUST OVERCOME THE STICKY STUCK SENSATION AND AS A RESULT OVERSTEER BACK IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING AND A DANGEROUS. *TR

2003 BMW Z4: WE HAVE NOTICED A STEERING ISSUE THAT OCCURS IN THE WARMER MONTHS OF THE YEAR. THE STEERING TENDS TO FEEL 'STICKY' OR 'GUMMY' WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT PATH. IN ORDER TO FREE THE STICKY STEERING, ONE MUST QUICKLY JERK THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DIRECTION TO LOOSEN AND FREE UP THE STEERING FEEL. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS AS OF YET, BUT THE SUDDEN JERK OF THE WHEEL AND RESULTS IN AN UNSAFE LANE CHANGE AND/OR NEARING A SIDE SWIPE SITUATION WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. AFTER A BIT OF ONLINE RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. BMW MOST LIKELY KNOWS ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THE UPDATED STEERING SHAFT FIXES THE PROBLEM. MANY OF US ARE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE STEERING DEFECT IS NOT UNDER A CURRENT RECALL, THEREFORE BMW WILL NOT COVER THE FIX. MANY OF US CONSUMERS CANNOT AFFORD THE $3000 FIX, PER THE BMW SERVICE ESTIMATE AND HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE UNSAFELY. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

I HAVE A BMW Z4 WHICH THE STEERING STICKS CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NEARLY COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLES ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 DURING WARM WEATHER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING BECOMES STUCK ON CENTER. IN JULY OF 09 I ATTEMPTED TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THE YANK THE WHEEL SO HARD TO GET IT OUT OF THE "STUCK ON CENTER" ISSUE. I THEN RAN OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE DITCH AND CAUSED ABOUT $1500 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE WAY. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

DETAILS: 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. I THINK ITS JUST LUCK NO BODY HAS BEEN KILLED FROM RUNNING OFF THE ROAD OR HITTING SOMEONE. PLEASE LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME TROUBLE. *TR

Mileage: 67,900

1. FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS I HAVE NOTICED THAT SOMETHING HAS BEEN WRONG WITH MY 2003 BMW Z4'S STEERING. THE ONSET WAS VERY INSIDIOUS. I FIRST NOTICED A FEELING THAT THE STEERING WOULD STICK AND REQUIRE SLIGHT EXTRA FORCE TO MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS. THIS SEEMED TO OCCUR AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN OUT SITTING IN THE SUN. AT THAT TIME IT WAS MORE OF AN ANNOYANCE THAN A PROBLEM. THE STEERING WOULD SOON RETURN TO NORMAL. I REMEMBER HAVING THE STEERING COMPLAINT MORE OFTEN OVER THE 2 YEAR PERIOD BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT I KNEW THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE I NEEDED TO RESOLVE. 2. I WAS MAKING A 250 MILE DRIVE BACK TO ORLANDO ON THE TURNPIKE WHEN THE STEERING PROBLEM RETURNED. IT WAS WORSE THAN EVER. THERE WAS A DANGEROUS "LOCKED ON CENTER" FEELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MINOR ADJUSTMENTS REQUIRED FORCE SUCH THAT THE STEERING JERKED AND THEN REQUIRED ANOTHER FORCEFUL JERK TO CORRECT. THE PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS IN THAT IT TAKES MUCH EFFORT TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WHEN I EXITED AND DROVE AT LOW SPEED THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. I RESEARCHED THIS PHENOMENA AND FOUND MANY OTHER Z4 OWNERS WITH THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON THE Z4. MY PROBLEMS REFLECTED THOSE OF OTHER OWNERS. THE "LOCKED ON CENTER" FEELING IS WORSE ON HOT DAYS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAVE SINCE STOPPED DRIVING THAT VEHICLE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY BOTH FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. 3. THE CAR HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE OTHER Z4 OWNERS SUGGESTED I FILE THIS COMPLAINT, AS THEY HAVE HAD MUCH TROUBLE CONVINCING THEIR BMW DEALERSHIPS OF THE DESIGN FLAW/FAILURE OF THE EPS SYSTEM. *TR UPDATED 01/25/10 *BF UPDATED 01/26/10

Mileage: 36,000

2003 Z4 3.0I BMW STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER. PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST IN COOL WEATHER. MY VEHICLE FIRST EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM IN THE SUMMER OF 2009 WITH 19,000 MILES. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN TEMPERATURES ABOVE 80 DEGREES. *TR

Mileage: 19,000

THE STEERING STICKS ON MY 2003 BMW Z4, AND WHEN I TRY TO COMPENSATE, IT SOMETIMES CAUSES OVERSTEERING TO CORRECT. THIS ON 2-OCCASIONS ALMOST PUT ME INTO A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING CAR. THE DEALER SAYS THIS WOULD REQUIRE AN EXPENSIVE STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AT MY COST. *TR

Mileage: 54,009

STICKING STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

WARM TEMPERATURES, OVER 80%, STEERING ON 2003 Z 4 STICKS AND CAUSES UNDER AND OVERSTEER. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE STEERING OF THE 2003 BMW Z4(BUILT 03/03). IT SEEMS IN HOT WEATHER (HIGH 80'S AND ABOVE) THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS. IT FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS IN PLACE AND WHEN ADJUSTMENTS ARE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE STEERING, YOU ACTUALLY OVER ADJUST BECAUSE IT STICKS AND YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME REMAINING IN YOUR LANE. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 80'S OR ABOVE, AND BECOMES STIFFER THE HOTTER THE TEMPERATURE BECOMES. WE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BMW, AS WELL AS REPAIRED FOR FREE BY THEM. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS THE AIRBAG LIGHTS (BOTH IN THE DASH AND ON THE CONSOLE) WERE ON. WE FOUND RECALLS FOR 2004-2005 BMW'S FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS OUR VEHICLE SINCE IT IS A 2003, AND NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR WHICH WAS THE PASSENGER SENSOR MAT PART #66-77-6-927-893 AND THE CONTROL UNIT AIRBAG PART #65-77-6-965-146. WE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC, REPAIRS AND PARTS, TOTALING $1226.20. AGAIN WE FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE IT HAD SIDE,FRONT AND KNEE AIRBAGS FOR SAFETY. WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHTS ON, WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD OR WOULD NOT WORK IN AN ACCIDENT. WE REQUESTED THE OLD PARTS BE RETURNED TO US, BUT THEY WERE NOT. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, BOTH OF THESE ITEMS SEEM TO BE VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES AND WE FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD ADDRESS THEM BOTH AND MAKE THE VEHICLES SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 31,000

2003 BMW Z4 HAS A GLITCH IN THE STEERING THAT OUR DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING. ON HOT DAYS ESPECIALLY THE STEERING BECOMES SO JERKY IT IS HARD TO DRIVE THE CAR. YOU CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THERE WILL BE A PAUSE BEFORE THE STEERING CATCHES AND TURNS THE CAR. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TWO OTHER CARS, SAME MODEL AND YEAR WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IF YOU GOOGLE IT, YOU RECEIVE MANY PAGES OF PEOPLE HAVING THE PROBLEM SO BMW IS DEFINITELY AWARE OF IT BUT TO THIS POINT HAS DONE NOTHING. THESE CARS HAVE LOW MILEAGE, 15,000 TO 20,000 RANGE SO IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS WORN OUT; IT IS DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS CAUSED ON GOING PROBLEMS THAT BMW HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE TO THIS POINT. WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT, WE HAVE QUIT DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, BUT, I AM SURE THE STEERING HAS CAUSED SOME ACCIDENTS FOR OTHERS. I ASSUME BMW FIGURES IT IS CHEAPER TO PAY THE LAW SUITS SINCE THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY Z4S MADE THAN TO HAVE A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE DRIVERS OF THE CARS INVOLVED BUT EVERYONE SHARING THE ROAD WITH A CAR WITH STEERING PROBLEMS. *TR

I HAVE FINALLY DECIDED TO FILE MY COMPLAINT AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE SUMMERS. I HAVE PUT OFF FILING A COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY SAME ISSUE BY OTHER Z4 OWNERS WOULD RESULT IN SOME REMEDIAL ACTION ON THE PART OF BMW. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE HAPPENING. WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPS HIT THE HIGH 80'S THE STEERING IN MY 03 Z4 BEGINS TO "STICK" UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO COME CLOSE TO OVER-CORRECTING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO "UNSTICK" IL. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHERE THERE IS LITTLE MARGIN FOR ERROR. THIS STICKING PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE BUT IT DETRACTS FROM WHAT OTHERWISE IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF MACHINERY. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I CAN'T SEE WHERE Z4 OWNERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COVERING THE COST OF REPAIRING A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH, SURPRISINGLY, HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY FATALITIES. *TR

Mileage: 29,000

WHEN THE WEATHER GETS HOT OR THE CAR GETS HOT JUST SITTING IN THE SUN THE STEERING GETS STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A NOTCH IN THE STEERING ON BOTH SIDES OF DEAD CENTER AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AS DOCUMENTED IN PUMA CASE NUMBER 5387507 AND OTHERS. *TR

Mileage: 31,350

STEERING IS STICKING ON MY BMW Z4 WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH GEORGIA AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. BASED ON LOOKING AT THE ONLINE INFORMATION INTO THIS PROBLEM THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE Z4. WHY WOULD THIS NOT BE RECALLED? THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY ASKED AT WHAT TEMPERATURE THIS OCCURS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED $3200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE WHEN IT LOOKS AS IF THERE ARE ALOT OF Z4 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE MILEAGE IS LOW. PLEASE HELP US WHO OWN THESE CARS TO GET SOMETHING DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR EVEN KILLED. *TR

CAR IS 2003 BMW Z4 3.0 LITRE ENGINE. AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 78 DEGREES, THE ELECTRONIC STEERING FEELS AS IF IT IS BINDING, AND FEELS DISCONNECTED FROM THE CAR. WHEN YOU RETURN THE WHEEL TO CENTER POSITION IT FEELS AS IF THERE IS A LAG BEFORE THE CAR RESPONDS. THIS AFFECTS THE CARS HANDLING IN TRAFFIC, AS THE CAR WILL NOT HANDLE AS IT SHOULD. THIS EFFECT IS NOT EVIDENT AT LOWER TEMPERATURES. *TR

Mileage: 38,500

IF THE CAR IS LEFT IN THE SUN OR IS USED ON A HOT DAY (SEEMS TO BE ABOVE 85F DEGREES), THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HEAVY AND "STICKY" +/- 5 DEGREES OFF CENTER. THE CAR WILL NOT TRAVEL STRAIGHT WITHOUT CONSTANT CORRECTION AND THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOCKED WITHOUT EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE ITS POSITION. DRIVING THE CAR IN THIS STATE IS UNNERVING AND UNSAFE. IT HAS LED TO MULTIPLE OVERCORRECTION ON PUBLIC ROADS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE WHEEL DUE TO THE EXTRA EFFORT. BMW NA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED A DEFECT AND WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO CORRECT IT.*TR

Mileage: 35,500

2003 Z4 3.0I HAS BECOME UNSAFE WITH INCREASES IN STEERING STICKING AND NOTCHINESS. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE SYMPTOMS VARY WITH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE SO THE OVERALL STEERING FEEL WILL VARY FROM MORNING TO NOON TO NIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HIS VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT THE TIME THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES FAILED. IT BECAME WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED THERE WAS A BUBBLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AREA THAT LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES. NO PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. HE WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $152 FOR A DIAGNOSIC CHECK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

Mileage: 41,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN HOT WEATHER, THE STEERING BINDED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SWITCH LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE CONTACT COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE HAD TO MAKE SUDDEN MANEUVERS TO AVOID POTENTIALLY LOSING CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF UPDATED 10/23/08. *JB

Mileage: 6,000

VEHICLE HAS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. INTERMITTENTLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, POWER ASSIST UNIT FAILS. CONSEQUENTLY, DRIVER MUST USE A FIRM GRIP AND SUBSTANTIAL FORCE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. UNIT FAILS EITHER AT ENGINE START OR WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 45,000 MILES. STEERING TORQUE FAULT WAS CLEARED DURING DIAGNOSTIC CHECK BY INDEPENDENT BMW TECHNICIAN BUT FAULT HAS SINCE RECURRED. NEAREST AUTHORIZED BMW SERVICE CENTER ALSO HAS CHECKED VEHICLE. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT FIX WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF UPPER STEERING COLUMN AT COST TO OWNER OF $2,360 PLUS DIAGNOSTIC FEE. BMW NORTH AMERICAN CONTACTED FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY, IN CONCERT WITH THE DEALER, DECLINED TO OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OWNER TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS. PROBLEM REMAINS UNRESOLVED. OWNER FEELS THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH CREATES A SIGNIFICANT HIGHWAY SAFETY RISK, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE UNSUSPECTING OF THE POTENTIAL FAULT. DATE OF INCIDENT BELOW IS FIRST OCCURRENCE OF PROBLEM, WHILE OWNER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

MY VEHICLE IS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE 'EPS' ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BIND ON HOT DAYS. THIS COULD RESULT IN A COLLISION AND TO DATE BMW IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

STICKY, GRABBY, TIGHT STEERING. NO CORRECTION TO CENTER. HEAVY FEEL AND NOTCHY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON HOT DAYS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CAR SITS IN THE HOT SUN FOR A COUPLE HOURS. MOST NOTICEABLE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS COOL, THE STEERING IS FINE. *TR

Mileage: 32,000

2003 BMW Z4 WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY BUT THE DEALER DID NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM. NOW THE POWER STEERING ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. *KB

STEERING LOCKS, RESIST, JERKS, AND STIFFENS UP ON HOT DAYS. THIS DAY MY STEERING ALMOST COMPLETELY LOCKED WHILE CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ACROSS TWO EXTRA LANES BEFORE IT LET GO. *JB

Mileage: 51,247

DURING HOT WEATHER (90 DEGREES AND ABOVE) THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HEAVY A STICKY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE FACTORY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DETERMINED A SOLUTION EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR OVER A YEAR. I DON'T FEEL THAT THE CAR IS ENTIRELY SAFE TO OPERATE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS AND THE DEALER A FACTORY HAVE BEEN NON RESPONSIVE IN CORRECTING IT. *JB

Mileage: 31,990

THE STEERING IS "STICKY" WHEN DRIVING WITH INTERIOR HEATER ON FULL/HOT. IF CAR INTERIOR TEMPS COOL DOWN THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. I HAVE TO OVER STEER TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION I WANT AND THIS CAUSES A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE CAR WILL MOVE TOO FAR IN THAT DIRECTION. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO BMW AND OTHER OWNERS. *JB

Mileage: 12,600

AUTO WAS EXHIBITING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN APPROACHING A FULL LOCK POSITION. DEALER UPON SECOND COMPLAINT REPLACED THE "LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT ASSEMBLY PART # 32-30-6-769-265". AFTER THE PARTS REPLACEMENT THE STEERING OF THE CAR HAS BEEN NOTICEABLY IMPAIRED AND EXHIBITS STEERING THAT IS VERY VAGUE AND EXHIBITS A LOOSENESS ON ROUGH ROADS OR DURING SHARP TURNS SUCH AS PARKING OR A U-TURN. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THERE ARE APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL BULLETINS BUT CHOSE NOT TO RELEASE INFORMATION IN THEM. *JB CAR IS PARKED AWAITING BMW REGIONAL TECHNICAL SERVICE INSPECTION. *JB

Mileage: 20,051

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN THE SUN AND HEATS UP THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CORRECT ALIGNMENT ON ROADWAY. OVER STEERING OCCURS AND GIVES IMPRESSION OF WEAVING WHILE CROSSING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NEAR MISS OF OTHER VEHICLE OCCURRED. THIS STICKING HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EACH SUMMER IN WARM TO HOT WEATHER.*AK

Mileage: 15,000

I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE PAST TWO SUMMERS REGARDING THE STEERING WHEN THE CAR SETS IN THE HEAT ALL DAY (EXCEPT THAT IT WAS WORST THIS PAST SUMMER, IT NOW HAPPENS AT ABOUT 85 F, INSTEAD OF 90 F). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR RESISTS TURNING FROM CENTER AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER ON ITS OWN; YOU MUST TURN IT BACK. THIS IS A FAIRLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF IT AND DO NOT PAY CLOSE ATTENTION. *NM

Mileage: 10,000

GROWING STEERING DIFFICULTIES WITH 2003 BMW Z4 PURCHASED NEW. DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SAYS BMW IS TRYING TO DETERMINE A FIX (THIS WAS MONTHS AGO). BMW SAYS SORRY - REFER TO DEALERSHIP, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHICH SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE RE-CALL. *JB

Mileage: 25,000

I PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT WITH CONFIRMATION NUMBER 10135197. SINCE SUBMITTING THAT COMPLAINT, I HAVE BEEN ON BMW RELATED MESSAGE BOARDS AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE "STICKING" STEERING ON 2003 BMW Z-4 ROADSTERS IS NOT ONLY WELL KNOWN TO BMW, BUT THEY HAVE COME UP WITH A REPAIR. UNFORTUNATELY, BMW IS NOT RECALLING, NOT NOTIFYING AND THEY ARE INSISTING THAT A CAR OWNER WAIT UNTIL A COMPLETE PART FAILURE THAT CAN BE VERIFIED AT THE DEALER TO TAKE ANY ACTION UNDER THE CAR WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES WITH OUTSIDE HEAT. A DEALERSHIP IS NOT ALWAYS AROUND TO VERIFY THE ISSUE. I HAVE TALKED WITH BMW USA HEADQUARTERS IN NEW JERSEY AND THEY THROW ME BACK TO THE DEALER. IF YOU TOOK WHAT BMW USA SAYS AT FACE VALUE, THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS ISSUE. THAT IS NOT TURNING OUT TO BE THE CASE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT ACT WITHOUT BMW AUTHORIZATION AND THAT REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF A VERIFIABLE FAILED PART. THE DEALER IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT DOUBLE TALK FROM THE PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY AT BMW HEADQUARTERS. THE INTERNET POSTINGS ON THIS PROBLEM INDICATE HOW SEVERE THE ISSUE IS. THE PROBLEM IS WORLD WIDE ON 2003 Z-4'S. IT OCCURS IN HIGH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES AND CAN, ACCORDING TO SOME POSTINGS, COME ON WITH NO NOTICE AT HIGH SPEEDS. ONE DRIVER DESCRIBED HOW HE NARROWLY AVERTED PUTTING HIS CAR INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER OF A HIGHWAY. FEEL FREE TO CHECK THESE BOARDS, ONE OF THEM IS "ROADFLY.COM" WHERE A WHOLE THREAD EXISTS TO DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM. ANOTHER IS "Z4UM.COM." APPARENTLY THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED WITH ONE UPDATED FROM ORIGINAL SPECS. THE PART NUMBER IS 32-30-6-766-486. IT IS DANGEROUS, UNSAFE AND A RISK OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE TO BE DRIVING THESE CARS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL HANDLING HARDENS AND CONTROL OF THE CAR IS PLACED IN JEOPARDY. BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL OF THESE CARS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART WITH THE IMPROVED ONE. *JB

Mileage: 10,150

CAR SAT IN HOT SUN ALL DAY. ENTERED CAR TO DRIVE HOME AND NOTICED STEERING WAS HARD AS SPEED INCREASED UPWARDS TO 30 MPH. AS SPEED INCREASED STEERING BECAME VERY HARD, REQUIRING TORQUE ON STEERING WHEEL. AT A STOP THE STEERING WAS NORMAL, WHEEL COULD TURN AS ALWAYS. AT HIGHER SPEEDS UP TO 55 MPH, WHEN CAR WHEELS TURNED, THE ACTION WAS "CHOPPY" OR IN INCREMENTS RATHER THAN SMOOTH AND WITH THE PRECISION CAR NORMALLY HAD. IT ALMOST SEEMED LIKE HEAVY WEIGHT ON FRONT OF CAR. CHECKED RUN FLAT TIRES. NO PROBLEM. PARKED CAR AT HOME. TWO DAYS LATER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND STEERING WAS NORMAL. DEALER RECOGNIZED A PROBLEM. HAD SAME YEAR AND MODEL WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM OCCURRING DAILY. COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TOLD ME FACTORY SERVICE BULLETINS SAID DO NOT REPLACE PARTS UNLESS PROBLEM DUPLICATED! DEALER SUGGESTED I DRIVE CAR UNTIL PROBLEM RETURNED AND THEN BRING IT IN. THEY WOULD DO NOTHING UNTIL THEY COULD DUPLICATE PROBLEM TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC. DEALER NOT OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, OTHER CARS AT SAME DEALERSHIP WITH PROBLEM. CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN PROBLEM RECURRED. ACCORDING TO DEALER, MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, HAS TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT, BUT NO PARTS REPLACED UNTIL FAILURE OCCURS AT DEALERSHIP. CAR BEING PARKED IN SUN BY DEALER TO SEE IF PROBLEM WILL DUPLICATE. CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE!!! OTHER CARS THERE, SAME MODEL AND YEAR WITH SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 10,150

CAR WAS PARKED UNCOVERED FOR ABOUT EIGHT HOURS EACH DAY DURING A ONE WEEK PERIOD AND UPON RETRIEVAL OF THE VEHICLE STEERING WAS NOTICEABLY MALFUNCTIONING. IT WAS STIFF AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO TURN. A COUPLE OF DAYS IT HAD MORE OF A NOTCHY FEEL AND WOULD TURN IN INCREMENTS WITH ADDITIONAL PRESSURE. *JB

Mileage: 3,800

IN THE HEAT THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW 4 BECOMES ERRATIC AND I LOSE PROPER CONTROL OF THE VECHILE

Mileage: 13,885

2003 BMW Z4. THE STEERING BINDS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN I HAVE TO OVERCORRECT TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM, BUT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE IS NOT A FIX AVAILABLE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 24,510

STEERING STICKS AND RESISTS TURNING BRIEFLY IN HOT TEMPERATURE. 90F+

Mileage: 33,900

WE HAVE A 2003 BMW Z4, 3.0L, AUTO. EVER SINCE IT WAS NEW, IT HAS EXHIBITED AN IRREGULARITY IN THE (ELECTRIC) STEERING. IT ONLY MANIFESTS ITSELF WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMERATURE IS FAIRLY HOT, SAY OVER 85 DEGREES. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE STEERING EXHIBITS A "STICKING" OR "NOTCHINESS" THAT MAY BE OR BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS IF THE CAR NO LONGER RESPONDS TO STEERING INPUTS IN THE SAME MANNER IT DOES WHEN THIS ISSUE IS NOT PRESENT. TO-DATE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED AND DOCUMENTED BY OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ON AN OWNERS FORUM AT HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.COM/BMW/FORUMS/E85/. AFTER 2 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, WHERE THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION,WE'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT BMWNA HAS NOT RECOGNNIZED THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE AND THEREFORE THERE IS NO "FIX' IN THE WORKS.

Mileage: 1,000

1. HOT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (ROUGHLY PLUS 85 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) WITH THE CAR OUTSIDE IN THE SUN ALL DAY PRECEDING MY DRIVE HOME AFTER WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 5 OCCASIONS. THE LAST OCCASION, PRIOR TO FILING THIS REPORT, IS THE DATE USED BELOW AS THE INCIDENT DATE. THE PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WERE EACH OF THE PRECEDING 4 BUSINESS DAYS. 2. STEERING CONTROL IS DIFFICULT AND UNEVEN CAUSING PROBLEMS KEEPING CAR ON INTENDED COURSE OF TRAVEL. 3. APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED WITH DEALER FOR 7/11/05.

Mileage: 10,654

WHEN SUBJECT TO HEAT OF A HOT DAY, STEERING BECOMES LESS RESPONSIVE, SLUGGISH, AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.*AK

Mileage: 8,000

WHEN MY VEHICLE IS PARKED IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING ROUGHLY 85 DEGREES, FOR PERIODS OF AN HOUR OR MORE, THE CAR'S POWER STEERING BEGINS TO MALFUNCTION. THE STEERING TAKES ON AN EXTREMELY HEAVY FEEL, AND IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TURN. ADDITIONALLY, IN A GENTLE TURN, THE WHEEL DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION WHEN IT IS RELEASED. THE CAR CONTIUNES TO TURN INDEFINITELY. AS LONG AS TEMPERATURES REMAIN HIGH, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.*AK

Mileage: 10,000

STEERING PROBLEM - STEERING BINDS AND LOCKS REQUIRING EXCESS EFFORT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION RESULTING IN OVERCORRECTION AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

Mileage: 4,000

1. STEERING DEFECT OCCURS DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. 2. STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HEAVY TO TURN AND HAS A "LOCKED ON CENTER" FEEL. 3. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THIS DID NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 7,300

DURING EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 1990'S FARENHEIT THE STEERING BECOMES STIFF, UNRESPONSIVE WITH A TENDENCY TO "STICK" WHERE IT IS SET. ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER VEHICLE HAS SAT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT ON HOT DAYS.*AK

Mileage: 8,300

WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS SAT OUT IN THE 90F+ TEMPERATURE FOR A FEW HOURS, THE STEERING BECOMES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE IN THAT THE STEERING "STICKS" AND IS NO LONGER SMOOTH IN ITS ROTATION. TO GET THE STEERING TO GO THE OTHER WAY AFTER TURNING OR CHANGING LANES, YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE FOR IT TO HAPPEN. MY ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN/ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I'VE CONFIRMED THIS ISSUE WITH Z4 OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AM BEGINNING TO FEEL THIS IS AN OVERALL DESIGN ISSUE. AGAIN, THIS IS A TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT ISSUE AS THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY AGAIN AT NIGHT OR WHEN IT'S NOT OVER 85 F.*AK

Mileage: 15,500

I HAVE A 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 9, 2004 THE AMBIENT TEMP IN CT WAS IN THE MID 90'S WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT WAS BINDING, WAS STIFF TO TURN AND DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO A CENTER POSITION. THE STEERING LOST THE SMOOTH GRADUAL ROTATION AS I TURNED THE WHEEL THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS COOLER THE PROBLEM DID NOT REPEAT ITSELF. *AK

Mileage: 10,700

THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF TO FILL WITH GAS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON, THE STEERING HAD GONE OUT. THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN GEAR AND REPROGRAMMED THE EPS AND THE LWS WITH THE CIP V 7.0. MR SCC

THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, THE MECHANIC STATED THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB