NHTSA Complaint #10617317 — 2004 BMW Z4

THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" AT VARIOUS AND UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. IT WILL STICK AND RESIST GOING INTO A CURVE, THEN HOLD THE CAR IN THE CURVE AND NEED TO BE UNSTUCK TO BRING THE CAR OUT OF THE CURVE. THE STICKING IS NOT EXAGGERATED OR IMPOSSIBLE TO CORRECT, BUT SOME SMALL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO UNSTICK THE WHEEL FROM ITS DIRECTIONAL COURSE. BECAUSE IT HAPPENS AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES IT IS UNSETTLING AND FEELS VERY UNSAFE ON CURVES OR WHEN MAKING LANE CHANGES. I'VE BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BMW DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THEY CLAIMED THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON SEVERAL VISITS. ON THE MOST RECENT VISIT THE DEALERSHIP CONCEDED THE FAULTY STEERING COLUMN, BUT ARGUES THAT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE MAKES IT INELIGIBLE FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. I BELIEVE THAT FAULTY STEERING COLUMNS ARE A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON Z4 ROADSTERS FROM 2003 - 2005. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 22,500 MILES ON IT. CLASSIFYING THE PROBLEM AS RESULTING FROM AGE OR WEAR IS IRRESPONSIBLE. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DESIGNED OR MANUFACTURED WITH THIS FAULT, AND BMW SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT ITS EXPENSE BEFORE NEEDING TO RECORD ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. *JS