NHTSA Complaint #10484055 — 2004 BMW Z4

I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR AND THE DEALER TALKED ABOUT A STEERING ISSUE WITH THE Z4 MODELS WHERE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THE STEERING WILL CENTER. I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO PUT MILES ON THE CAR UNTIL TODAY WHERE I FOUND OUT WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND HAD TIME TO RESEARCH IT. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE INVESTIGATED IT PREVIOUSLY BUT IT STILL IS A VERY REAL PROBLEM AND MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP THE STEERING WILL FEEL AS THOUGH IT STICKS AS YOU TRY TO DRIVE A STRAIGHT LINE. AT AROUND 40+MPH THE CAR WILL PULL RIGHT OR LEFT WITH THE STEERING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ADJUST TO CENTER. YOU CAN HAVE THE CAR PULLING TO ONE SIDE, SAY TRAVELING AT 60MPH, IT WILL PULL YOU TO THE RIGHT AT A RATE OF 2 FEET FOR EVERY SECOND. YOU HAVE TO NUDGE THE STEERING WHEEL AS IT IS NOT FLUID (FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK) BACK TO THE LEFT AND THEN IT WILL PULL LEFT AT THE SAME RATE. IT IS A BATTLE OF CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT TO FIGHT IN TRYING TO CENTER THE CAR. IF YOU HAVE TRAFFIC AROUND YOU IT COULD BE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I REQUEST THAT THIS ISSUE IS RE-OPENED AS A SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE REVIEWED THE INFORMATION YOU RECEIVED FROM BMW REGARDING STEERING WARRANTY CLAIMS AND WITH JUST OVER 12,000 BMW Z4'S PRODUCED AND NEARLY 10% (1,1XX) OF THEM HAVING A FILED CLAIM REGARDING STEERING ISSUES, ONE WOULD SEE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR FLAW. WARRANTY WORK IS NOT ALWAYS REQUESTED, THUS WHY THERE ARE STILL MORE ON THE STREET THAT NEED HIGH COST REPAIRS AND CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE DRIVER/PASSENGER AS WELL AS SURROUNDING VEHICLES. *TR