NHTSA Complaint #10731997 — 2004 BMW Z4

THE STEERING COLUMN FREEZES IN POSITION AND HOLDING THE STEERING IT WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT'S BEING HELD BY A MAGNET MUCH LIKE A DC MOTOR FEELS IF YOU TRY TO ROTATE IT. FOR EXAMPLE AFTER ROUNDING THE BEND OR TAKING THE CORNER THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STAY IN POSITION AND YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER IT'S LIKE IT'S STUCK THERE BY MAGNETIC FORCE. I CALLED MY BMW DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THEN HE ASKED THE SERVICE FORMAN AND WAS TOLD IT'S A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT $3600-4000. IF THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THEN WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. AND WHY ISN'T BMW TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DESIGN FLAW.