2006 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

The electronic steering has failed several times while driving. This makes it very difficult to maintain a lane and avoid other vehicles. This problem continues intermittently. Thousands of Z4 owners have reported the same issue in online forums.

In hot weather, the steering binds, making keeping the car in the correct lane extremely difficult. The car will dart from one side to the other. The car will be nearly impossible to keep in the correct lane.

When the car gets hot (parked in the sun) the steering becomes knotchy or sticky and the car becomes difficult to control. No problems whatsoever when the car is cool or on a cooler day. This problem has been witnessed by a BMW technician and there are no warning lights. This appears to be a fairly common issues with these cars.

The Steering wheel gets Hard, looks like power steering gets disabled automatically while driving, making it almost impossible to steer. This has started to happen after hot weather had started few months back. I have tried to reproduce this issue several times, but it happens randomly and Not all the time. I don't drive the car much. But this is definitely a serious issue, I checked the BMW community and a lot of people are facing this issue. Not Sure how many have filed a complaint here. But this definitely should be addressed by BMW as this is not just one person facing this issue, there are hundreds and thousands of them. Level of severity is high, as someone who might have not faced this issue yet might suddenly face it on the highway could result in an extremely fatal accident. Havent reported to BMW yet, But found this issue is being faced by alot of people I thought to file my complaint here. I will soon get it repaired or replaced. There were no Warning lamps or messages prior to this. It started happening in September 2021.

When the outside temperatures are warmer (mid 80's and above) the steering wheel will stick in the center position and require it to be jerked a bit to keep control. This occurs at all speeds, but does not seem to be the case when stopped. since it requires the steering wheel to be jerked to correct, it can cause the car to swerve. I have had the car for several years began noticing the issue once the weather got warmer. The date entered below is today's date, but I have had the issue for perhaps 5 years.

During warm weather the steering will momentary stick while driving which requires additional force to overcome. This happens at all speeds but is more noticeable at highway speeds while trying to maintain vehicle in driving lane. There are numerous complaints of this on the NHTSA site. I have written to BMW North America about this safety problem and mentioned the multitude of similar complaints but they refuse to address the problem and suggest I purchase a new steering column at $2500+!

VEHICLE STEERING BECOMES "STICKY" AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO WARM TEMPERATURES. THIS CAUSES THE STEERING TO CENTER AND REQUIRE GREATER THAN USUAL FORCE TO OFF CENTER THE WHEEL, CAUSING THE CAR TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

Mileage: 46,000

VERY STICKY STEERING, DANGEROUS IN HOT WEATHER, THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. IT SOMETIMES REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO CORRECT IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 103,000

STEERING APPEARS TO BE STICKING OR STAYING AT A CERTAIN POINT IN THE STEERING RADIUS. I ALMOST VEERED INTO ONCOMING INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I COMPENSATED IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT RELEASED ITS "STICK" AND TURN TO MUCH AND ALMOST VEERED INTO TRAFFIC I WAS IN. VERY SCARY, VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF MUCH INJURY OR DEATH BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. BAD

Mileage: 70,500

RECURRING PROBLEM WITH STEERING INPUT EFFORT WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS. THE STEERING STICKS WHEN IN THE CENTER POSITION. RESISTANCE IS FELT AND IS DIFFICULT TO RETURN BACK TO THE CENTER POSITION. STICKING PROBLEM SEEMS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WITH WARM OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 80 DEGREES. 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: 32,000

STEERING IS EXTREMELY NOTCHY AND UNPREDICTABLE, ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. WHEN IN MOTION, THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRES FORCE TO TURN, AND SOMETIMES WILL TURN SLIGHTLY WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. IT APPEARS THAT THE POWER ASSIST STEERING IS ACTUATING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BE, CAUSING EITHER RESISTANCE TO STEERING INPUTS, OR APPLYING FORCE WHEN NO STEERING INPUT HAS BEEN APPLIED. WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING, OR AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE POWER ASSIST MOTOR. IT ACTUATES WHEN NO STEERING INPUTS ARE BEING APPLIED. WHEN STEERING INPUTS ARE APPLIED, TOO MUCH RESISTANCE CAN BE FELT AND THE MOTOR MAKES ADDITIONAL NOISES. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY OF 2016, AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APPROXIMATELY SPRING OF 2016. IT HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.

Mileage: 105,000

DURING WEATHER ABOVE 80 DEGREES, THE STEERING BECOMES "TWITCHY" OR "NOTCHY," NO LONGER SMOOTH, BUT REQUIRING ADDITIONAL EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AT WHICH POINT, THE TIRES MOVE MORE THAN NEEDED, REQUIRING A STEERING ADJUSTMENT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAR DOES NOT HOLD A "LINE" AS WELL, REQUIRING A SERIES OF SMALL LEFT AND RIGHT STEERING CORRECTIONS.

Mileage: 80,000

ON WARM DAYS THE STEERING ON MY 2006 BMW Z4 BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AND UNPREDICTABLE. ON HOT DAYS IT IS DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ IN MANY PLACES THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ONE SOURCE WHO IS AN ASE-CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN SAYS THAT THE "BMW Z4 STICKY STEERING IS RELATED TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, THAT HAS BEEN RECTIFIED AS OF 2007 AND UP. THERE IS A BEARING LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT IS NOT SEALED. WITH TIME AND WHEN HOT, THE LUBRICANT GETS DRY AND GUMS UP. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THERE IS NOT A RACE FOR THE BEARING TO RIDE IN ' THE INNER RACE IS ACTUALLY THE STEERING SHAFT ITSELF, WHICH IS A POOR DESIGN". MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN 2006 AND HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES ON IT. BMW APPARENTLY WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT THE FOLLOWING MODEL YEAR. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH COULD GET WORSE OVER TIME. BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.

Mileage: 54,000

IN HIGHER TEMPERATURES THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A VERY STICKY FEELING, FEELS UNSAFE. STEERING WILL NOT RETURN, WITHOUT ASSISTANCE WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES.

Mileage: 47,000

FAULTY STEERING WITH OUR 2006 BMW Z4. THE STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO STICKING STEERING IN HOT WEATHER. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS AVOIDED A RECALL. A RECALL IS WARRANTED.

Mileage: 65,000

FAULTY STEERING. STEERING IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF STICKY STEERING. IN HOT WEATHER THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. STEERING IS MUCH WORSE.

Mileage: 60,000

THE PROBLEM OF THE STICKY STEERING OF THE Z4 IS RELATED TO THE WORM/REDUCTION GEAR MECHANISM THAT TRANSMITS THE TORQUE FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TO THE STEERING SHAFT. THE CIRCULAR REDUCTION GEAR HAS A NYLON CROWN WITH TEETH. ALL THE SURROUNDING PARTS ARE METAL (STEEL OR ALUMINIUM). THE THERMAL EXPANSION OF THE NYLON IS 3X BIGGER THAN THE SURROUNDING PARTS. TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS EXPANSION, THERE SHOULD BE A CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE WORM GEAR AND THE REDUCTION GEAR. UNFORTUNATELY BMW AND THEIR STEERING SUPPLIER ZF NACAM CHOSE THIS CLEARANCE TOO SMALL. WHEN THE NYLON GETS WARM, THE CLEARANCE WITH THE WORM GEAR BECOMES ZERO AND THE REDUCTION GEAR IS STUCK WITH THE WORM GEAR. THE FRICTION INCREASES DRAMATICALLY AND YOU WILL THEN "FEEL" THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL TEETH OF THE REDUCTION GEAR. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR DESIGEN AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

Mileage: 65,000

THE STEERING IS VERY STICKY, SCARY WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE WARM. IT HAS SCARED ME TO THE POINT WHERE I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN ITS ABOVE 70 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. ANY SPEED FROM 10 TO 70 MPH

Mileage: 21,225

VERY STICKY STEERING, DANGEROUS IN HOT WEATHER, THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. I HAVE 65K MILES ON VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR OVER A YEAR TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED, NO ACCIDENT.

MY 2006 BMW Z4 HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING GETTING STUCK OR NOTCHY DURING WARMER TEMPERATURES. THE STEERING SEEMS TO GET STUCK. IT SOMETIMES REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO CORRECT IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MANY Z4 MODELS SUFFER FROM THIS ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED

Mileage: 70,000

STEERING IS "STICKY" WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. FEEL A RESISTANCE WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT THUS RESULTING IN OVERSTEERING.

Mileage: 78,115

THE STEERING ON THE BMW IS EXTREMELY JERKY AND ERRATIC. IT SEEMS TO JUMP AND DOES NOT STEER EASILY. IT'S HARD TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT ALL OF A SUDDEN WILL TURN RATHER .QUICKLY. THE STEERING STICKS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WILL JERK TO THE SIDE THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO STEER TOO. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND BMW NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES AND GET THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. ONCE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, I CAN SEE A HUGE LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE MODEL OF CARS BUT WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE THEM RECALL THE Z4'S THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND LET THEM FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THANKS

Mileage: 36,748

WHILE DRIVING STEERING IS HARD TO TURN LOTS OF RESISTANCE THEN MOVES AND IS LOOSE . THIS COMES AND GOES HOWEVER SEAMS TO GET WORSE WITH HIGHER TEMPERATURE . OTHER TIMES IT'S JUST LOOSE OTHER TIMES FINE. MANY EXAMPLES IF YOU LOOK IT UP, MOST CALL IT STICKY STEERING. CAR HAS HAD FRONT END ALIGNMENT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING CHECKING FOR WEAR { HAVE LIFE TIME ALIGNMENT} . NO CODES. AS I SAID THIS IS A BMW PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE. FUN CAR TO DRIVE BUT I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I CAN SEE WHERE THIS PROBLEM COULD EASILY CAUSE YOU TO END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. DEFIANTLY NOT AN ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE NOW.

Mileage: 83

STEERING IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 85F. IT IS NOT SPEED DEPENDENT. WHEN STEERING IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE IS A STICKING FEEL THE RESULTS IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OVERSTEER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON BASED ON BMW OWNER FORUMS AND IS WELL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINT DATABASE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ISSUE RESULTS IN INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR

Mileage: 106,000

I JUST PURCHASED A 2006 Z4 3.0I WITH 21000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP IN WILMINGTON, NC. DURING THE TEST DRIVE I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS UNUSUALLY STIFF AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE CAR WAS SOMEWHAT HARD TO KEEP IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I DISMISSED THE ISSUE AS A POSSIBLE ALIGNMENT OR WORN OUT TIRE ISSUE. ON THE 120 MILE DRIVE HOME TO RALEIGH, NC THE STEERING BECAME MORE AND MORE ERRATIC, PUSHING THE CAR HALF WAY TO THE OTHER LANE. I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS GETTING REALLY STICKY AND JERKY THE LONGER I DROVE. WHEN TRYING TO SLIGHTLY CORRECT THE TRAJECTORY OF THE CAR TO ANY SIDE, THE STEERING WOULD NOT REACT TO LIGHT TORQUE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS IT WOULD WITH ANY OTHER CAR I'VE DRIVEN BEFORE. WHEN APPLYING MORE FORCE THE STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY JUMP A DEGREE OR MORE, CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERSTEER AND MAKING FOR SOME RALLY SCARY AND ERRATIC MANEUVERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT THIS UNEXPECTED JUMP, THE CAR WOULD DO THE SAME THING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE RIGHT AND LEFT. LATER, WHEN COMING OUT OF A LONG RIGHT TURN ON A NARROW TWO LANE ROAD, THE STEERING WAS STUCK IN THE RIGHT TURN POSITION AND SUDDENLY POPPED INTO A LEFT TURNING POSITION, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING SEMI TRUCK. SINCE THE BEHAVIOR IS SO UNPREDICTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL, I CONSIDER THIS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. I GOT LUCKY AND I AM CONVINCED THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR

Mileage: 21,500

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE ONE MORNING AND NOTICED A SLIGHT STICKING FEELING IN MY STEERING. THINKING IT WAS A TIRE, I RAN MY ERRAND AND CHECKED MY TIRE INFLATION. ONE WEEK LATER WE TOOK A SHORT TRIP (50 MILES) AND THE FURTHER I GOT DOWN THE ROAD, THE MORE I FELT THIS NOTCH IN THE CENTER OF MY STEERING. WHEN ONE TRIES TO OVERCOME THIS NOTCH, YOU OVERCORRECT THE STEERING AND COULD POSSIBLY DART OFF TOO FAST. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. AGAIN WE CHECKED OUR TIRES WHICH SEEMED TO BE FINE, THEN DETERMINED IT WAS IN THE STEERING. WE RESEARCHED FOR SIMILAR SITUATIONS ON LINE AND FOUND THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS PRIOR TO 06/2006. OUR CAR WAS MFG. 04/2006. IS THERE A RECALL IN PLACE FOR THIS WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM? *TR

Mileage: 54,901

EPS SUDDENLY DISCONNECT THE POWER STEERING, DIFFICULT TO STEER. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

JUST PURCHASED THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO AND I LIVE IN TEXAS. THE CAR DRIVES FINE IN THE MORNING BUT AFTER IT SITS IN THE SUN ALL DAY LONG AND YOU DRIVE IT THE STEERING IS STICKY, MEANING THAT IT WANTS TO TURN RIGHT WITHOUT CAUSE AND THEN JUMPS BACK TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. *TR

Mileage: 59,000

I HAVE A 2004 Z4 3.0 WITH 69K MILES. HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAVE NOTICED A STEERING ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I RESEARCHED THIS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MOST RELATE TO ISSUES IN HOT TEMPERATURES, MINE IS MORE RELATED TO SPEED. 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. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

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

Mileage: 58,000

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

Mileage: 39,753

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

Mileage: 33,400

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

Mileage: 14,935

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

Mileage: 56,000

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

Mileage: 64,000

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

Mileage: 52,488

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

Mileage: 56,000

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

Mileage: 46,000

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

Mileage: 69,000

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

Mileage: 43,000

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

Mileage: 60,000

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

Mileage: 52,000

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

Mileage: 40,000

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

Mileage: 54,000

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

Mileage: 55,000

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

Mileage: 42,000

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

Mileage: 34,700

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

Mileage: 32,500

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

Mileage: 9,025

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

Mileage: 50,000

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

Mileage: 50,000

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

Mileage: 4,800

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

Mileage: 37,500

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

Mileage: 32,000

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

Mileage: 18,000