NHTSA Complaint #11318231 — 2004 BMW Z4

STEERING FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS UP TEMPORARILY OR STICKS WHEN DRIVING. WHEN THE WHEELS IS IN A POSITION, LIKE NORMAL DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, ANY MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL IS MET WITH RESISTANCE, REQUIRING A LOT OF FORCE TO INITIATE ANY MOVEMENT. BECAUSE OF THIS I CAN'T EVEN LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE. IT IS VERY UNSETTLING WHEN DRIVING AND I TRULY FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE FOR NEEDED TO INITIATE STEERING WHEEL ROTATION, THE RESULT IS UNWANTED LANE MOVEMENT AND POTENTIALLY UNWANTED LANE DEPARTURE. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 85K MILES AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE. BMW NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THIS INCREASINGLY HAZARDOUS DESIGN FLAW AND FIX THIS CAR. I OWN THREE BMWS AND VERY PLEASED WITH THEIR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OTHER KNOWN ISSUES. THIS STEERING ISSUE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CORRECTIVE ACTION IS NEEDED. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE MAKE YOUR BEST EFFORT TO HAVE BMW INITIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THANK YOU AND PLEASE KNOW YOUR WORK IS APPRECIATED. *TR