NHTSA Complaint #10234466 — 2004 BMW 7 SERIES

WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP ON AN INCLINE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED FULL CHOCKED TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL FREEZES AND CANNOT BE TURNED TO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IT WILL NOT FREE UP UNTIL I SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND BACK UP A FEW FEET. AT THAT POINT IT WILL UNFREEZE WITH A JERK AND OPERATE CORRECTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ABOUT 6 OCCASIONS. I NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, USED WITH 52,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 55,000 MILES AND I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS. THE DEALERS SERVICE SHOP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES IN THE OBD. I BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE ON AN INCLINE, WHICH IS THE CASE WITH MY DRIVEWAY, WHERE IT HAPPENED 4 OF THE 6 TIMES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENCE HAPPENED ON MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY WHICH ALSO HAS A MODERATELY STEEP INCLINE. (*** UPDATE***) LOCAL DEALERSHIP CONTACTED THE FACTORY IN GERMANY AND WAS TOLD THAT A FIX WAS TO INSTALL 'BUMPERS" ON EACH END OF THE STEERING MECHANISM THAT WOULD PREVENT THE WHEELS FROM TURNING TOO FAR AND RIDING UP ONTO THE FACTORY INSTALLED STEERING STOPS. THE DEALER OBTAINED THE "BUMPERS" AND INSTALLED THEM AT NO CHARGE. I WAS TOLD THAT I'D RECEIVE PAPERWORK ON THE MODIFICATIONS SOON. *TR