NHTSA Complaint #10462545 — 2003 BMW Z4

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SUN WITH TEMPERATURES OVER 88 DEGREES. AT 2 PM, I DROVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH WHILE ROUNDING A SLIGHT BEND TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN UNDER A SLIGHT EFFORT SO I MADE AN ADDITIONAL EFFORT. SUDDENLY, THE RESISTANCE IS COMPLETELY ABSENT RESULTING IN A SHARP VEER TO THE LEFT CHANGING LANES. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER CAR IN THE LEFT LANE. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED AND RETURNED TO MY ORIGINAL LANE. WITHIN 15 TO 20 SECONDS, THE SITUATION REPEATS. I TRIED TURNING ON THE SPORT FEATURE WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO PROVIDE MORE RESISTANCE BUT THE SAME EVENT OCCURS. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE SUN FOR 4 OR MORE HOURS AND IT IS ABOVE 88 DEGREES. IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE, I DRIVE IN ONE GEAR LOWER, SAY 4TH, AND CONSTANTLY SHIMMY THE WHEEL TO AVOID LOSS OF CONTROL. IT'S SIMILAR TO SNOW SKIING WITH THE VEHICLE CATCHING AN EDGE OR GROOVE IT DOES NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF. IT CONTINUES TO DRIVE IN THE SAME PREVIOUS DIRECTION AS YOU APPLY ADDITIONAL EFFORT. SUDDENLY, THE WHEEL GIVES AND IT'S AS IF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY AMPLIFIED, WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY NEED AT 5MPH, NOT 60MPH. AS YOU FINISH THE BEND, IT CONTINUES TO STAY LOCKED IN THE TURNING POSITION. SO, ADDITIONAL EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLE AND AGAIN THE STEERING WHEEL FIGHTS YOUR EFFORTS ONLY TO SUDDENLY GIVE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. YOU STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE CAR IN YOUR LANE THE ENTIRE TIME AND FROM THE REAR, THE VEHICLE APPEARS ERRATIC AND SWERVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THAT WAS MY FIRST SUMMER WITH THE CAR AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHERE HOPEFULLY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL APPLY. *TT