NHTSA Complaint #10760877 — 2004 BMW Z4

THE STEERING HAS BECOME STICKY OR NOTCHY AND OVER TIME HAS GOTTEN WORSE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND AS A RESULT I WAS FORCED TO EITHER SELL THE CAR ON TO AN UNSUSPECTING BUYER, OR FIX IT. I CHOSE THE LATER AS I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAMILY IN DANGER. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE IN HEAT OVER 80 DEGREE'S AS THE STEERING WAS TIGHT, AND WOULD STICK IN POSITION CAUSING EXCESS FORCE TO MOVE IT, AND CAUSE SEVERE OVERSTEER SITUATIONS. AFTER HAVING TO COMPLAIN TO BMW FOR WEEKS, THEY DIRECTED ME TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED (FOR $180) AND THEN DECIDED THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE COST TO REPAIR THEIR ENGINEERING ISSUE. WHILE I FOUND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ADMIT A MISTAKE AND COVER HALF THE REPAIR A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, I JUST DON'T THINK ITS ENOUGH. A NEW STEERING COLUMN WAS QUOTED AT $3750, AND I PAID ALMOST $1800 PLUS DIAGNOSTICS FEES. I WASN'T GOING TO BOTHER WITH THIS COMPLAINT, AS THE NHTSA HAS SHOWN IT IS NOT INTERESTED IN HOLDING BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS WIDE SPREAD ISSUE (UNLIKE TOYOTAS STICKY GAS PEDALS), BUT AN INCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY THIS WEEK CHANGED MY MIND. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE CROSSING A MAJOR RIVER, AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SWERVED TOWARD THE GUARD BARRIER. I HAD MILLISECONDS TO REACT TO THE STEEL GARBAGE CAN SET IN THE CENTER OF THE LEFT LANE, WITH A 18 WHEELER TO MY RIGHT. I SWERVED AS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME DID, TOWARD THE GUARD BARRIER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND SAFELY NEGOTIATED THE CAN. THANK GOD I HAD THE STEERING FIXED, AS IT STUCK WORSE TURNING RIGHT, AND I AM CERTAIN MY LIFE WOULD HAVE ENDED ON THE BRIDGE AS I WOULD HAVE OVERSTEERED, LOST CONTROL, AND WENT UNDER THE 18 WHEELER. FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE ITS TOO LATE FOR US CITIZENS WHO ARE STUCK RIDING IN, AND AROUND THESE VEHICLES. I CERTAINLY HOPE IF YOU DO, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY FOR BMW'S MISTAKES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE REIMBURSED.