NHTSA Complaint #11406949 — 2003 BMW Z4

THE FIRST ISSUE IS THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE MAKING THE WHEEL HARD TO TURN. ADDITIONALLY, AT RIGHT ABOUT THE STRAIGHT POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL THE STEERING WILL STICK (CONSISTENTLY FIGHTING THE WHEEL TO STAY CENTERED). STAYING STRAIGHT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AS YOU CONSTANTLY BATTLE THE RESISTANCE BACK AND FORTH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IT IS QUITE DISCONCERTING AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN ME SIDE SWIPING ONCOMING VEHICLES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT BMW NEVER ADDRESSED. RESEARCHING THE MATTER I'VE LEARNED THAT A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AND LABOR WOULD BE IN THE $3000-4500 RANGE AND THE PROBLEM WOULD LIKELY REOCCUR IN THE FUTURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. WORSE, AS MOST PEOPLE IN MY POSITION ARE UNABLE TO PERFORM A REPAIR AT THAT COST, I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE MANIPULATING THEIR STEERING COLUMNS WITH MIXED SUCCESS ULTIMATELY CREATING AN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS POTENTIAL SITUATION. THESE METHODS INCLUDE DRILLING INTO THE STEERING COLUMN AND ADDING GREASES AND LUBRICANTS THAT WERE NOT DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM, WITH NO SHORTAGE OF RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS ESTABLISHING THIS ISN'T A "IF IT HAPPENS", BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS. DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM, I DARE YOU, AND TELL ME IT IS NOT A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. DISAPPOINTED. I'D APPRECIATE IF BMW WOULD REACH OUT TO ME AND REMEDY THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A STEERING WHEEL, ONE OF THE MOST BASIC AND NECESSARY SYSTEMS ON A CAR TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO BE DEFECTIVE WITH NO REMEDY AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY BY BMW AND "DO IT YOURSELF" REMEDIES WILL UNDOUBTEDLY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY. BMW SHOULD PROVIDE A FIX FOR THOSE Z4S AFFECTED STILL ON THE ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.