NHTSA Complaint #11165625 — 2004 BMW Z4

IN THE SPRING OF 2018 THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO FAIL BECOMING STUCK, NOTCHY AND QUICKLY TERRIFYING TO DRIVE. THE LACK OF RESPONSE, OVER CORRECTION ONCE ENGAGED, OVERALL JUMPINESS AND UNPREDICTABILITY CAUSED ME TO STOP HIGHWAY DRIVING IMMEDIATELY. NON HIGHWAY DRIVING CEASED WITHIN DAYS FOR THE SAME REASONS AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE WAITING FOR A USED STEERING COLUMN TO BECOME AVAILABLE FOR $800 INSTEAD OF $3500 PLUS INSTALL. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2011 WITH 110,000 MILES AND IT FAILED AT 130,000. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE ENGINE SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER 100,000 EASILY. THIS STEERING FAILURE APPEARS TO BE COMMON IN THIS CAR WITH MANY GARAGE KEPT LOW MILEAGE CARS YET TO BE IMPACTED.