NHTSA Complaint #10424177 — 2004 BMW Z4

UPON STARTING UP THE BMW Z4 THERE WAS NOTICEABLE PLAY IN THE STEERING. THE PLAY IN THE STEERING IS ENOUGH TO SO THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT IS AT LEAST 4 INCHES FROM ENGAGEMENT RIGHT TO ENGAGEMENT LEFT. IN ADDITION, ONCE THERE IS ENGAGEMENT IT ENGAGES WITH WHAT MAY BE DESCRIBED AS A STICKY SPOT AFTER WHICH IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE STEERING AGAIN DISENGAGES AND THERE IS THE 4 INCHES OF PLAY BEFORE IT RE-ENGAGES. WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN STEERING STRAIGHT AHEAD THE STEERING HAS THE 4 INCHES OF PLAY MAKING THE CAR WEAVE TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT AND WHEN CORRECTING THIS WEAVE THE STEERING JERKS THROUGH THE STICKY SPOT AT THE BEGINNING OF STEERING ENGAGEMENT AND BY THE TIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED JUST ENOUGH TO STAY ON THE ROAD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THE PLAY MAKES THE CAR VEER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THIS CAR ON A NICE HIGHWAY IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSTANTLY RAPIDLY MOVER THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH THROUGH THE FOUR INCHES OF PLAY OR THE CAR WOULD GO INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC OR OFF THE ROAD. I WOULD FEEL SAFER IF I KNEW IT WOULD GO OFF THE ROAD BUT THE PROBLEM IS PLAY IN THE MIDDLE AND IT COULD GO EITHER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC OR OFF THE ROAD. IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT AND WERE TOLD THIS WAS A $3000 PLUS REPAIR. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS MANUFACTURES DEFECT SHOULD BE A CHARGEABLE REPAIR. I GUESS WE WILL JUST NEED TO WAIT FOR A CRASH OR A RECALL. *TR