NHTSA Complaint #10597483 — 2004 BMW Z4

WHEN I AM DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, MY STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS MOVING SMOOTHLY, AS I WOULD EXPECT FROM A PRECISION-ENGINEERED BMW. IN FACT, IT STICKS TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS IT IS JERKED FORCEFULLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS JERKING IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM WHEN I AM DRIVING AT 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. HOWEVER, WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 40 OR MORE MILES PER HOUR, THE STICKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN I JERK THE WHEEL AS HARD AS I HAVE TO IN ORDER TO UNSTICK THE STEERING, THE CAR SWERVES SO DRAMATICALLY THAT I COULD EASILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT ANOTHER CAR, ESPECIALLY IN RAIN OR OTHER PRECIPITATION, AND CAUSE PROPERTY, OR WORSE BODILY, DAMAGE TO OTHERS OR MYSELF. WHAT I FIND RIDICULOUS ABOUT THIS IS THAT I AM EXPECTED TO PAY $5K TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEE THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL LAST ANY LONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL PART, AT WHICH TIME I WILL HAVE TO PAY $5K YET AGAIN. *TR