2005 BMW Z4 Complaint Log

IN HOT WEATHER, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, MY STEERING IS "STICKY" OR "NOTCHY". THE STEERING HAS A STICKY PLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT OF CENTER POSITION. I HAVE TO JERK IT TO UNSTICK THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAUSES AN OVER CORRECTION AND RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS WEAVING MOTION. I PURCHASED THIS CAR EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND WAS EXCITED BECAUSE THE MILEAGE IS ONLY 36,000. I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAS LOW MILEAGE. IT IS TERRIBLY HARD TO STAY A STRAIGHT LINE IN YOUR LANE DUE TO THIS STEERING CONDITION. I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. I THINK BMW NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS BADLY HURT.

IN WARM WEATHER THE STEERING ON MY BMW Z4 IS STICKY AND UNRESPONSIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING BECOMES NOTCHY AND I AM FORCE TO "UNSTICK" THE STEERING WHEEL BY JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE MINOR LANE CORRECTIONS, THIS OVER STEERS THE VEHICLE AND I AM THEN FORCED TO UNSTICK THE WHEEL AGAIN AND JERK THE WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THIS RESULTS IN DANGEROUSLY WEAVING THROUGH THE LANE CLOSE TO ONCOMING AND PASSING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN CONDITIONS WARMER THAN 75 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

I HAVE THE WELL KNOW STICKY STEERING ISSUE, WORSE WHEN IT IS WARM OUTSIDE (ABOVE 80F), WHERE THE STEERING STICKS IN A POSITION AND YOU HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO GET IT TO RESPOND. FEELS DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY.

I WOULD URGE YOU TO REOPEN THE CASE THAT WAS CLOSED BACK IN 2010 ON THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED VERY FRIGHTENING LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS HOT AND THE "STICKINESS" IS AT IT'S WORST. MAYBE THE FACT THAT I LIVE IN THE SOUTH AND IT GETS HOTTER HERE IS A FACTOR, BUT IT GETS SO EXTREME THAT I CAN BARELY HOLD IT IN THE LANE. THIS YEAR I HAVE HARDLY DRIVEN IT BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO. I DON'T FEEL RIGHT SELLING IT AND PASSING IT OFF TO SOMEONE ELSE. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE LOOK OF THE CAR, BUT I FEEL LIKE I WAS JUST TAKEN FOR A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHEN WE PAID FOR IT, BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION. AT THE LEAST, I FEAR GETTING A TICKET BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A DRUNK IS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT'S WEAVING LIKE THAT. AT WORST, I FEAR AN ACCIDENT. IF THE STICKINESS IS ACCOMPANIED BY A BUMPY ROAD, THE LOSS OF CONTROL IS SUBSTANTIAL. AND IN ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONS BELOW, THIS IS AN ONGOING SITUATION AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED I'M GOING WHEN IT OCCURS.

STEERING DOESN'T RESPOND PROPERLY IN HIGH TEMPERATURES WHEN IN MOTION. STEERING FEELS "NOTCHY" DEVIATING FROM DEAD-CENTER, AND DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY CONTROL THE VEHICLES DIRECTION WHEN THIS OCCURS. COULD LEAD TO OVER-CORRECTION AND/OR LOSS OF CONTROL.

WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED STEERING DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AS SPEED INCREASES(AROUND 45-50 MPH), THE STEERING GETS HEAVIER (AND DEVELOPS A "STICKINESS" AT STRAIGHT CENTER WHICH CAUSES AN OVERCORRECTION WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY. 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 DANGEROUS DURING ANY DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE CONDITION SEEMS TO MORE PRONOUNCED AS WEATHER TEMPERATURE INCREASES.

I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 BMW Z4 ON 5/31/16 AS A GIFT FOR MY DAUGHTER FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SETTING MULTIPLE ATHLETIC RECORDS AT HER HIGH SCHOOL WHILE MAINTAINING A 6.0 GPA. I TEST DROVE THE CAR IN THE CITY STREETS AND IT DROVE EXCELLENT. I LIKED THE CAR VERY MUCH AND PURCHASED IN THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG FLORIDA. SINCE I LIVE IN TAMPA, FLORIDA I HAD MY WIFE FOLLOW ME BACK WHILE I DROVE THE Z4 BACK. THE CAR FUNCTION PERFECTLY UNTIL I GOT ONTO THE INTERSTATE. THE SECOND I GOT UP TO AROUND 50 MILES PER HOUR. I FOUND MYSELF TERRIFIED AS THE STEERING BEGAN TO STICK AT ALMOST DEAD CENTER, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHIFT DANGEROUSLY AS I OVERCOMPENSATE TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE. MY DAUGHER IS A BIT DISAPPOINTED, BECAUSE OF MY FEAR TO LET HER DRIVE THE CAR. IT SEEMED SO STRANGE THAT I FELT DUPED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I GOT SUSPISCIOUS, PULLED A CARFAX AND IT WAS CLEAN. I THEN RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SITUATION. IT'S AN OBVIOUS MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A FATAL ACCIDENT. SO WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE? IT'S PUZZLING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT. IN WARMER TEMPERATURES, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE EACH TIME IT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10020 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO PERMANENT REMEDY OR RECOMMENDATION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I PURCHASED A 2005 BMW Z4 IN OCTOBER, 2015. I NOTICED WHEN STEERING THE CAR THERE WAS A STICKING POINT THAT REQUIRED EXTRA EFFORT TO STEER PAST. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS WEBSITE AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT BETWEEN 2004 AND 2007 THERE HAVE BEEN 470 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM ADDING 471. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY BMW AS IT CAN HAVE DANGEROUS IMPLICATIONS.

FOUND A USED 2005 BMW Z4 3.0I WITH RIGHT AT 11,200 MILES FOR SALE ONLINE. CAR WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS FROM HOME. WENT AND LOOKED AT CAR, TOOK IT FOR SHORT TEST DRIVE, SAW NO APPARENT ISSUES AND PURCHASED CAR. CAR HAD BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND WAS VERY CLEAN AND CONSISTENT WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. PROCEEDED ON WITH JOURNEY HOME. DROVE A WHILE AND STARTED TO NOTICE STEERING FELT A BIT STRANGE, BUT WROTE IT OFF THAT I "JUST WASN'T USED TO THE CAR" AND IT WOULD SIMPLY TAKE A WHILE TO GET USED TO IT. LATER, STILL ON MY JOURNEY HOME, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I CAME TO A GENTLE LEFT HAND BEND IN THE ROAD. I WENT TO ADD A LITTLE CORRECTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND DISCOVERED THAT IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT LET ME TURN IT. I WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL INTERSTATE SPEEDS CLOSE TO 70 MPH. IT HAPPENS QUICKLY AND YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO. WHILE TRYING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, THE NATURAL RESPONSE IS TO GRAB THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS AND TRY AND OVERCOME THE RESISTANCE. I DID THIS WITH A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FORCE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL DID "LET GO" AND LET THE CAR TURN LEFT. SINCE SUCH FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO OVERCOME ITS RESISTANCE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO "CATCH THE WHEEL" AT THE PROPER LOCATION AND AVOID AN ABRUPT AND EXTREME OVERSHOOT. EXTREMLY TENSE AND DANGEROUS SITUATION! I SLOWED DOWN, MADE SURE THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS CLOSE AND OPERATED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH SOME. THINGS SEEMED TO BE OK. I CONTINUED MY JOURNEY VERY CAUTIOUSLY AT REDUCED SPEEDS. ONCE HOME, I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE WHAT MIGHT POSSIBLY BE WRONG AND DISCOVERED THAT A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WITH 2003-2005 BMW Z4'S. IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE CAN BE RECALLED AS I TRULY BELIEVE HUMAN LIVES ARE IN THE BALANCE, ESPECIALLY IF A GARAGE KEPT CAR WITH LESS THAN 12,000 MILES IS AT RISK. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, VERY HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE IN LANE DUE TO STIFF STEERING. REQUIRED HEAVY TORQUE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH RESULTED IN ABRUPT MOVEMENTS IN LANE AND LED TO DEVIATION INTO ADJACENT LANES. SITUATION IMPROVED ONCE I GOT OFF HIGHWAY.

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.

AT SPEED 25 TO 70 AND TEMPERTURES OVER 70 THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STICKY AND LOCKS UP. VERY HARD TO TURN. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT IS USE BOTH HAND AND TURN IT FORCEFULLY CAUSING OVER-TURNS AND RUNNING OFF THE ROAD OR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. UPDATED 12/06/2017*CN

STEERING HAS BECOME VERY STIFF AND STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT CENTER AFTER MAKING SLIGHT TURNS. SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN HOT WEATHER. HAVE TO REALLY CONCENTRATE ON STEERING AND IS BECOMING DANGEROUS. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE Z4 ACCORDING TO BLOGS. RECALL BY BMW SHOULD BE ISSUED.

I BEING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING IS STICKING WHILE DRIVING OVER 35 MILES AND SPECIALLY IN THE EVENING IN HOT DAYS. I ALWAYS HAVE TO HOLD THE WHEEL WITH TWO HANDS BECAUSE THE STEERING STICKS AND IS HARDER TO TURN AND IT BECOMES VERY DANGEROUS. I WENT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THE STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. WE TRIED TO ORDERED VIA BMW AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IS BACK ORDER AND IT MAY TAKE A MONTH OR MORE TO GET IT BECAUSE MANY SIMILAR CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT THAT IS THE CASE WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL?

STEERING RESPONSE WAS STICKING WHILE DRIVING. DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE DOWN THE ROAD.

STIFF STEERING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. HARD TO TURN. JERKS WHEN I PUT ON BRAKES.

ON A HOT DAY WHILE TRAVELING OVER 40 MPH, THE STEERING BECOMES "STICKY"; THAT IS IT GET STUCK IN A POSITION AND YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY JERK THE WHEEL TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN WARM WEATHER-ABOVE 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THIS ON I-95 WHILE TRAVELING TO PHILADELPHIA. I NOTICED THIS BEFORE AND I REPORTED THIS TO BMW OF ALEXANDRIA (NOW ARLINGTON) AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, LOWER JOINT ASSEMBLY - TOTAL COST $1,721 - THIS WAS AT 69,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND AS BAD OR WORSE. I HAVE READ OF THIS PROBLEM ON BMW FORUMS WHERE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $4,000. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL ITEM AS IT DEFINITELY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE CAR STERRING GOT STIFF. I COULDN'T CONTROL IT. THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT VERY CONCERNED AND SOMEHOW MADE IT HOME. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE CAR AFTER TURNING OFF AND TURNING BACK ON GOT NORMAL. THE SYMPTOM DID NOT COME BACK FOR 2 DAYS BUT THEN CAME RIGHT BACK ON. NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. BMW SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE AT NO COST AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECAL ON THIS. *JS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BELT TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,800.

THE STEERING STICKS WHEN THE CAB TEMP GETS HIGH IT DOES NOT LOCK COMPLETE WHEN I TRY TO CORRECT I WILL OVER CORRECT OR UNDER CORRECT . THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN WARM WEATHER STEERING HAS TIGHT SPOTS LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN MOVING STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING CAR NOT STAY STRAIGHT ON ROAD. VERY DANGERS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

STEERING SEEMS TO STICK, I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR THE SAME DAY AND WAS DRIVING IT SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES HOME. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS IN A RUT, AND I HAD TO JERK THE WHEEL TO "UNSTICK: IT . IT WAS SCARY. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE TRIP, AND HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ISSUE A FULL RECALL FOR THE BMW STICKY STEERING ISSUE! FOR YEARS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ON SOCIALS MEDIA AND THE NHTSA THAT THIS IS A VERY REAL ISSUE AND YET NO RECALL! I HAVE THE ISSUE. I CAN SAY AT TIMES IN HOT WEATHER MY CAR IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. IT IS ALL I CAN DO TO KEEP MY STEERING TO GO THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO WITHOUT JERKING AND OVER CORRECTING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2013. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. EVERYTIME THE TEMP GETS ABOVE 80 THE STEERING STARTS GETTING JERKY AND STICKS. JUST GO TO FACEBOOK. BIMMER FORUMS. EVERYONE WHO OWNS A Z4 IS HAVING THESE SAME ISSUES. IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. BMW DEALERSHIPS WANT TO CHARGE NEARLY 2000 FOR MY 2005 BMW WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. UNLESS YOU FORCE BMW TO BE ACCOUNTABLE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET KILLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,773.

THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK AND FORCE IS NEEDED TO MOVE IN EITHER DIRECTION. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW Z4 2.5I IN 2013 AND IT ONLY HAD 19,000 MI. ON IT. AT ABOUT 22,000 MILES I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE STEERING WOULD STICK, BUT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MY TIRES OUT OF ALIGNMENT, I THEN PUT A NEW SET OF TIRES ON THE FRONT AND HAD IT CHECKED AND IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE IN THE PROBLEM. MY CAR NOW HAS 30400 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM HAS JUST RECENTLY GOTTEN MUCH WORSE, I'M NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. AFTER READING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I'M HOPING WE CAN GET A RECALL ON A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *JS

THIS STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE IS DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS! I PURCHASED THE CAR USED 6 MONTHS AGO IN THE WINTER AND ONLY DRIVE IT A FEW TIMES. AS I'VE BEEN DRIVING MORE IN THE NICER WEATHER, THE STEERING STARTED TO "STICK" CAUSING ME TO OVERSTEER. I AM TERRIFIED TO EVEN DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT GETS WORSE AS YOU INCREASE SPEED AND BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE STEERING MECHANISM. THE STEERING PROBLEM INTENSIFIES IN HOT WEATHER. IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY WITHIN YOUR LANE ON A ROAD WITH SLIGHT CURVES. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO BMW SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3500. I CAME ONLINE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. BMW MUST BE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW IN THEIR VEHICLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUED. MY FEAR IT THAT ONE DAY THE STEERING IS GOING TO LOCK COMPLETELY. UNTIL WE TRY TO GET A BETTER ESTIMATE ON THE PRICE OF THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT WE WILL NOT BE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

STICKY STEERING STARTS IN SPRING, CONTINUES IN SUMMER, ENDS IN FALL. MUST BE TEMPERATURE RELATED. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE IN APPROX. 85 DEGREE WEATHER FOR ABOUT 2-3 HOURS. MY WIFE AND MOTHER IN LAW WERE DRIVING DONE THE HIGHWAY. SHE INITIALLY NOTED THAT THE STEERING FELT "STICKY" OR "DIFFERENT". A FEW MOMENTS LATER WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX. 55MPH THE STEERING FAILED TO RESPOND OR MORE ACCURATELY FELT STUCK. SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD TOWARD THE GUARD RAIL. AFTER SLOWING THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL IT FINALLY RESPONDED. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND SAT FOR A FEW MOMENTS TO REGAIN COMPOSURE AND CHECK VEHICLE. THERE WAS NOTHING OUTWARDLY APPARENT, NO FLATS, NOTHING UNDER CAR, NOTHING WEDGED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDERNEATH CAR. SHE EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND DROVE SLOWLY BACK TO THE HOUSE. THE CAR DID EXHIBIT SIGNS OF "STICKING" AGAIN, BUT DID NOT LOCK UP. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS REVEALED THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT ON THE Z4. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND NOW MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

STEERING "STICKS" IN HOT WEATHER. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN GOING AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE, YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHEN YOU LOOSEN YOUR GRIP ON THE WHEEL TO ALLOW THE STEERING TO GO BACK TOWARDS CENTER, THE STEERING WHEEL STAYS IN THE SAME POSITION AND YOU HAVE TO USE FORCE TO GET IT BACK TOWARDS CENTER. THIS PROBLEM BECAME NOTICEABLE LAST SUMMER AND HAS OCCURRED AGAIN RECENTLY AS SPRING TEMPERATURES ARE GETTING HIGHER. MOST NOTICEABLE AFTER DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM WORK IN LATE AFTERNOON AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN UNCOVERED PARKING LOT. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MORE PRONOUNCED NOW THAN IT WAS LAST SUMMER. IN LOOKING AT VARIOUS BMW FORUMS ON THE WEB, THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS VERY WIDESPREAD, KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM BY BMW, AND VERY DANGEROUS. AMAZING THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. *TR

STEERING STARTED TO SEEM STIFF OR STICKY ON OCCASION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, NOW OCCURRING MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY. THE CAR SEEMS TO DRIFT BACK AND FORTH AND ONE MUST KEEP FREQUENTLY CORRECTING TO KEEP CAR GOING STRAIGHT. MORE SO THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT AND MUCH MORE FOR A CAR OF THIS CALIBER I WOULD THINK. IT STICKS THEN THERE IS A "DEAD SPACE" UNTIL YOU CATCH IT TO CORRECT IT. I THINK THIS TYPE OF OCCURRENCE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS CHECKING EVERYTHING I COULD TO FIND THE ISSUE, I.E. : TIRE PRESSURE, BALANCE, ALIGNMENT, BEARINGS ETC. TO NO AVAIL. EVEN TRIED TO LOCATE THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR BUT OBVIOUSLY NOW I KNOW THERE IS NONE! ONE WOULD THINK THAT BMW WOULD CORRECT THIS ISSUE FOR GENERALLY HONORABLE REASONS. ALL IT WILL TAKE IS FOR THAT STEERING TO STICK, THE "DEAD SPACE" TO OCCUR AND AT 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY NO TIME TO CORRECT UNTIL YOU HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER AND WELL YOU CAN GUESS THE REST. HOW MANY COULD BE KILLED ? ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC? AND FOR A OBVIOUSLY FAULTY ELECTRIC MOTOR? I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE CARS AND MAY NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. WE NEED YOU TO MAKE THIS RIGHT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES, PERHAPS THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND ITS NOT KNOWN AND IS RELATED TO A POOR DRIVER OR ERROR? BE CAUTIOUS WHEN NEAR A Z4 ON THE HIGHWAY YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE OR KNOW MAY BE THE NEXT UNWILLING VICTIM! JUST SAYING. HELP!!! *TR

FIRST TIME WAS ON THE INTERSTATE APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT HAD TIGHT SPOTS REQUIRING THE NEED FOR BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL. THE CAR SEEMED TO WANDER LEFT AND RIGHT AND WHEN CORRECTED IT WAS INSENSITIVE. IT FELT LIKE A GOOSE NECK BEARING THAT HAD BEEN OVER TIGHTENED ON A BICYCLE, IT HAD A TIGHT FEEL, YET IT WAS ONLY IN THE CENTER POSITION. WHEN MAKING LANE CHANGES IT FELT NORMAL, BACK TO CENTER THE FEEL RETURNED AS BEFORE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY ON A STATE HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAS THE SPORT MODE AND IN BOTH OCCURRENCES IT WAS IN SPORT. I HAVE 60 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND MANY CARS HAVE BEEN HIGH PERFORMANCE AND SPORT VEHICLES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT AND REQUIRES BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO COUNTER. *TR

2005 BMW Z4 ROADSTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECENTLY DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM, BMW HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PERIOD TO 10 YEARS. THE CONSUMER ASSUMED, THE AIR BAG ISSUE WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER, STATING THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, WHICH WAS A WIRE, BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATED THE COST TO REPLACE THE WIRE WAS $ 1,056.82, PLUS A CHARGE OF $ 141.88 JUST TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED OUT OF ITS LANE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE STRAIGHT HIGHWAY AT A NORMAL SPEED I NOTICED THE CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. IN ORDER TO CORRECT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE CAR TO SOMETIMES OVER CORRECT WITH A JERKING SENSATION AND PULLING TO FAR TO THE LEFT. CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND YOU COULD NOT JUST REPLACE THE MOTOR, BUT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. I DID HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED WITH GOOD RESULTS. THE NEW COLUMN WAS ORDERED BY MY REPAIRMAN FROM BMW. MY WORRY IS IF THE LAST COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE, WILL THIS ONE BE ALSO. *TR

MY 2005 BMW Z4 HAS A STEERING ISSUE THAT HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES. THE STEERING COLUMN IS FAULTY AND RESULTS IN LOSS OF STABILITY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65-75 MPH. THE STEERING "DRIFTS" AND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. STEERING ALSO "STICKS" AND REQUIRES FORCE TO TURN. THERE IS MUCH TALK ABOUT A RECALL BEING FORCED ONTO BMW FOR THEIR FAULTY STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE MOVE THIS FORWARD FOR THE THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS BMW HAS PUT AT RISK BY NOT ACKNOWLEDGING AND CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM FOR THEIR DRIVERS. *TR

CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN CAR IS WARM AND DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CAR ACTS AS IF THE STEERING IS STICKING OR LOCKING UP> YOU HAVE TO PULL ON THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO LEFT OR RIGHT TO GET THE WHEELS TO TURN. YOU MUST BE VERY CARE AND KEEP YOUR MIND ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING AT ALL TIMES OR YOU COULD BE IN CRASH. *TR

DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 55 MPH AND COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT. VERY DANGEROUS. SAME CONCERNS AS OTHERS WITH THIS MODEL. WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS THESE CARS WILL CRASH AND HURT SOMEONE. PLEASE E-MAIL WITH SOME SORT OF A PLAN IN PLACE PLEASE. *TR

FIRST A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM: 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 THE 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

AFTER THE CAR RUNS FOR A LITTLE, THE STEERING GETS VERY STICKY. IT'S VERY CHALLENGING TO STEER PROPERLY AND WHEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE TURNS, I MUST JOLT THE WHEEL TO MOVE PASSED THE STICKINESS, RESULTING IN AN OVER CORRECTION. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY DRIVE, MANEUVER OR CONTROL THE STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

WHEN CAR IS SITTING IN SUN FOR THE DAY THE STEERING GETS STUCK IN POSITION WILL NOT CENTER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. WENT TO DEALER TO SEE IF IT HAS A RECALL NONE AT THIS TIME LOOKED INTO THE MATTER ON LINE THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER PROBLEMS WITH OTHER CARS AND YEARS WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE LIFE IS LOST ! *TR

STEERING SEEMS TO LOCK IN A POSITION, OR AT LEAST STOP. I THEN HAVE TO USE EXTRA FORCE TO GET TO GO PAST THE LOCK / STOP POINT. AND THEN AFTER A LITTLE MORE TIME THE SITUATION REPEATS ITSELF AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOT EVERY TIME THAT I USE THE CAR DOES IT DO IT, ABOUT 25% OF THE TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY SOMETIME LOCK IN POSITION AND THEN THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT. THERE MUST BE A FIX EASIER THAN A STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT, WHICH WAS RECOMMENDED BY ONE SHOP....UPDATED 10/01/15*BF UPDATED 12/04/2017*CN

THE STEERING GETS VERY STICKY ON WARM DAYS, ABOVE 75 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. IT RESTRICTS THE STEERING TO THE POINT THAT IT IS HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM IS DEFINITIVELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 10/31/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKY AND IT EXTREME EFFORT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM, THE ENTIRE STEERING COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 4 HOURS IN 85 DEGREE WEATHER. UPDATED 11/12/13

AFTER CAR SAT OUTSIDE ALL DAY AT WORK IN 75 DEGREE TEMP STEERING WAS NOTCHY AND STICKY DURING THE ENTIRE 20 MIN DRIVE HOME. AFTER THE CAR COOLED DOWN IN THE GARAGE STEERING WAS NORMAL DURING DRIVE LATER THAT NIGHT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR GETS WARM FROM SITTING IN THE SUN. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS AND IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AS THE STEERING DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. BESIDES WHO WANTS A CONVERTIBLE YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE IN COLD WEATHER?? *TR

STEERING BECAME STICKY WHEN TRYING TO DO MINOR CORRECTIONS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT WITHOUT EXERTING CONSIDERABLE FORCE IN BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT DIRECTIONS. PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80F AND STEERING IS "NORMAL "WHEN CAR IS COLD. SUBSEQUENTLY, STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT EASILY RETURN TO CENTER, OCCASIONALLY CAR WILL PULL IN EITHER DIRECTION, NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL GO LEFT AND WHEN RIGHT. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN FOR $3500. REPLACEMENT IS OEM PART SO NO DEALER GUARANTEE THAT REPLACEMENT WILL NOT PERFORM THE SAME WAY. *TR