NHTSA Complaint #10610595 — 2004 BMW Z4

ON DAYS OVER 75 DEGREES F, DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, IF I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY AND RELEASE IT, STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO TOP DEAD CENTER. INSTEAD, THE Z4 CONTINUES TO TURN ON IT'S OWN UNTIL I STEER THE CAR BACK TO A STRAIGHT LINE. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO THE STRAIGHT-AHEAD POSITION WHEN I RELEASE IT. A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH IS REQUIRED TO STEER AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. POWER ASSIST DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK OVER 75F AND THE STEERING FEEL IS NOTCHY. ON COOL DAYS, THE STEERING IS FINE. THIS STEERING FAILURE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IT IS GETTING WORSE AND IS NO LONGER SAFE. THE DEALER IS NOT HELPFUL. IT IS A US CAR AND I LIVE IN CANADA. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS IN FORUMS. THE CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON HOT DAYS. INTERIM SOLUTION IS: DON'T DRIVE MY Z4 ROADSTER ON HOT DAYS?! SO MUCH FOR THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE. *TR