2003 BMW Z4 Complaint Log

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V247000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V247000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000 .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP WAS LOOSE AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V032000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

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

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

ALL SENSORS LIT UP AND WILL NOT GO OFF: TIRE PRESSURE, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AIR PRESSURE, AIRBAG, ETC. SENSORS. *TR

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

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

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.

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

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR OVER 1 YEAR NOW. WHEN I CALLED BMW NA TO INQUIRE WHETHER THIS ISSUE WAS COVERED UNDER THE 04V247000 RECALL, I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT ONE OF THE VIN NUMBERS COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THE NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED BY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE AIR BAG MODULE OF THIS VEHICLE. BMW NA NEVERTHELESS HAS RESPONDED WITH THE SAME ANSWER "YOUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF AFFECTED VIN NUMBERS." IN CASE AN INJURY, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING AIRBAG SYSTEM, IS SUSTAINED BY MYSELF OR ANY OTHER COMPLAINING OWNER, BMW NA SHOULD BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN PLACED ON ACTUAL NOTICE OF THE DEFECT AND SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR ITS INTENTIONAL DISREGARD OF A KNOWN HAZARD. *TR

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

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

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

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

[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

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY AT ANY TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

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

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

ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

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

STICKY STEERING CAUSES OVER STEERING. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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