NHTSA Complaint #10281234 — 2003 BMW Z4

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE STEERING OF THE 2003 BMW Z4(BUILT 03/03). IT SEEMS IN HOT WEATHER (HIGH 80'S AND ABOVE) THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS. IT FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS IN PLACE AND WHEN ADJUSTMENTS ARE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE STEERING, YOU ACTUALLY OVER ADJUST BECAUSE IT STICKS AND YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME REMAINING IN YOUR LANE. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 80'S OR ABOVE, AND BECOMES STIFFER THE HOTTER THE TEMPERATURE BECOMES. WE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BMW, AS WELL AS REPAIRED FOR FREE BY THEM. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS THE AIRBAG LIGHTS (BOTH IN THE DASH AND ON THE CONSOLE) WERE ON. WE FOUND RECALLS FOR 2004-2005 BMW'S FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS OUR VEHICLE SINCE IT IS A 2003, AND NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR WHICH WAS THE PASSENGER SENSOR MAT PART #66-77-6-927-893 AND THE CONTROL UNIT AIRBAG PART #65-77-6-965-146. WE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC, REPAIRS AND PARTS, TOTALING $1226.20. AGAIN WE FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE IT HAD SIDE,FRONT AND KNEE AIRBAGS FOR SAFETY. WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHTS ON, WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD OR WOULD NOT WORK IN AN ACCIDENT. WE REQUESTED THE OLD PARTS BE RETURNED TO US, BUT THEY WERE NOT. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, BOTH OF THESE ITEMS SEEM TO BE VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES AND WE FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD ADDRESS THEM BOTH AND MAKE THE VEHICLES SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR