NHTSA Complaint #10236194 — 2004 BMW Z4

I BOUGHT A BMW Z4 USED IN AUGUST 2007 WITH NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS. THIS YEAR (2008), THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW HEAT WAVES IN JUNE AND JULY IN NY AND I NOTICED THAT IF THE CAR SITS OUT IN THE SUN FOR A FEW HOURS, THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY, JERKY AND HARD TO CONTROL. AFTER BEING IN THE SHADE TO COOL DOWN THE STEER BECOMES SMOOTH, CONTROLLED AND NORMAL. I'VE STARTED RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND MANY ONLINE FORUMS WITH OWNER COMMENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE APPEARS TO BE A FIX FROM BMW BUT MY CAR IS NOW OFF WARRANTY AND WILL ENTAIL ME PAYING FOR THESE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. THIS APPEARS TO ME TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED UNDER A RECALL (EITHER MANDATORY OR VOLUNTARY) LONG BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN '07. I HOPE THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND CAN TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO HAVE IT CORRECTED BY BMW. THANK YOU. *TR