NHTSA Complaint #10363706 — 2005 BMW Z4

I HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2005 BMW Z4 3I, PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CAR FROM A BMW DEALER. IT HAD ABOUT 11K MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM DESCRIBED BELOW. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENT WITH IT, BUT THIS IS A COMPLAINT THAT THERE MAY ME A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE CAR. 1)IT KEEPS PULLING TO THE LEFT, OR TO THE RIGHT ESPECIALLY AT LOWERS SPEEDS SAY BELOW 60 MI/HR. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS SO THAT I COULD KEEP THE CAR ALIGNED, OR CENTERED WHILE DRIVING. 2) THE CAR PULLS ME TO THE LEFT, OR TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS SLIGHTINGLY UNEVEN, ESPECIALLY IN LOWER SPEEDS. I CAN NEVER PREDICT WHICH WAY THE CAR PULLS ME. IT CAN BE VERY STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE STEERING UNDER CONTROL WHEN STOPPING AT ANY RED LIGHTS BECAUSE OF THESE SUDDEN JERKS IN THE STEERING, OR PULLS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. 3) SOMETIMES, THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK, OR LOCKED IN A WAY THAT I FEEL LIKE I COULD NOT CONTROL IT. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT, OR AT HIGHER HUMIDITY. 4) I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I STILL HAD THE WARRANTY, AND THEN THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND ALIGNMENT WAS MADE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, THE SYMPTOMS DID NOT GO AWAY AT ALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER; I WAS TOLD THAT IT JUST REQUIRED AN ALIGNMENT WHICH WAS ALREADY DONE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. SO, THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN ALIGNMENT RELATE PROBLEM. IF THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, THE CAR SHOULD HAVE PULLED EITHER TO THE LEFT, OR TO THE RIGHT, NOT TO THE BOTH DIRECTIONS. 5) I BELIEVE IF ANY ELDERLY PERSON, OR SOMEONE WITH SLOWER REFLEX, TRIES TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH SUCH PROBLEMS MAY END UP HAVING A CATASTROPHIC CRASH. MAINLY BECAUSE, THE DRIVER MUST PAY LOTS OF ATTENTION TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED, OR THE STEERING UNDER CONTROL. OTHERWISE, AT ANY SECOND YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF SOMEWHERE OFF THE ROAD. *TR