NHTSA Complaint #10318481 — 2003 BMW Z4

2003 BMW Z4: WE HAVE NOTICED A STEERING ISSUE THAT OCCURS IN THE WARMER MONTHS OF THE YEAR. THE STEERING TENDS TO FEEL 'STICKY' OR 'GUMMY' WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT PATH. IN ORDER TO FREE THE STICKY STEERING, ONE MUST QUICKLY JERK THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DIRECTION TO LOOSEN AND FREE UP THE STEERING FEEL. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS AS OF YET, BUT THE SUDDEN JERK OF THE WHEEL AND RESULTS IN AN UNSAFE LANE CHANGE AND/OR NEARING A SIDE SWIPE SITUATION WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. AFTER A BIT OF ONLINE RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. BMW MOST LIKELY KNOWS ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THE UPDATED STEERING SHAFT FIXES THE PROBLEM. MANY OF US ARE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE STEERING DEFECT IS NOT UNDER A CURRENT RECALL, THEREFORE BMW WILL NOT COVER THE FIX. MANY OF US CONSUMERS CANNOT AFFORD THE $3000 FIX, PER THE BMW SERVICE ESTIMATE AND HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE UNSAFELY. *TR