2003 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

STEERING WHEEL GOES BACK & FORTH ON ITS OWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY SCARY ! NOT SAFE! FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONTROL. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STICKS THEN RELEASES CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

DRIVING SOUTH ON SANTA BARBARA ATTEMPTED TO TURN RIGHT ONTO DAVIS BLVD. AS I WAS TURNING THE STEERING STUCK. THAT SURPRISED ME AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. IT TOOK A HEAVY EFFORT TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION OF THE CAR.THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR AT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TR

THE POWER STEERING BECOMES DANGEROUS WHEN THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO HEAT 80+ DEGREES/SUN. THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" IN CERTAIN SPOTS AND IS HARD TO MOVE. IT WILL RANDOMLY STOP "STICKING" GIVING AN UNEXPECTED PUSH IN ANY GIVEN DIRECTION. LOOKS TO BE A FREQUENT COMPLAINT. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE HEAT. *TR

BMW Z4 STEERING - NO POWER STEERING, CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN MANAGING & STEERING CAR. *TR

THERE IS A CATCH OR BINDING FEELING IN THE STEERING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A WHILE AND IS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE (GETS WORSE WHEN WARM). I NOTICED THIS AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT A FEW MILES; IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO TRACK ON ITS OWN AS IF IT WAS FOLLOWING A RUT IN THE ROAD EVEN THOUGH IT IS ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT AND THE WHEEL HAS TO BE FORCED BACK IN THE A STRAIGHT LINE. IT HAPPENED TO ME AS I ENTERED AN INTERSECTION AND THE STEERING STUCK, TURNING ME INTO THE ON-COMING LANE. I WORRY THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE IS DRIVING AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF IT WERE TO TIGHTEN UP UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR

ON MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK, AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE, I EXPERIENCED "STICKY STEERING." JUST LIKE THE COMPLAINTS FROM INVESTIGATION PE10020 AND COUNTLESS INTERNET POSTS OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT WAS STUCK IN PLACE AND REQUIRED EXTRA FORCE, THEN IT WOULD RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING ME TO OVER-CORRECT. WORSE THAN JUST HEAVY STEERING IS THE FACT THAT IT NEEDS EXTRA FORCE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL "UNSTUCK" BUT THEN THE ASSIST KICKS IN AND YOU'RE OVER-COMPENSATING WHICH CAUSES ZIG-ZAGGING. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN MY LANE ON THE INTERSTATE AND AT ONE POINT I DROPPED TWO WHEELS ON THE SHOULDER. I HAVE NOW CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE AND THEY TELL ME THEY'RE BEING GENEROUS BY REPLACING THE KNOWN-FAULTY STEERING RACK -- SO LONG AS I PAY $1,000+ IN LABOR. I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS WRONG THAT THIS KNOWN DEFECT COSTS THE CONSUMER ANY...

STICKY STEERING CAUSES OVER STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE PLAY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OUT OF ITS LANE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THERE WAS A FRONT END WHEEL ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE BALANCED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE CENTERED POSITION AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT SPECIALIZED ON BMW MANUFACTURED VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,300.

DRIVING 35 MPH STRAIGHT. LOST POWER STEERING. PULLED OVER SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED ENGINE POWER STEERING RETURNED. LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN WITHIN ONE MILE. RETURNED HOME. *TR

THE STEERING SEEMS TO LOCK UP MAKING IT HARD TO STEER. SEEMS RATHER DANGEROUS SINCE YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE WHEEL HARD EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. WONDERING WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS. *JS

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SUN WITH TEMPERATURES OVER 88 DEGREES. AT 2 PM, I DROVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH WHILE ROUNDING A SLIGHT BEND TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN UNDER A SLIGHT EFFORT SO I MADE AN ADDITIONAL EFFORT. SUDDENLY, THE RESISTANCE IS COMPLETELY ABSENT RESULTING IN A SHARP VEER TO THE LEFT CHANGING LANES. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER CAR IN THE LEFT LANE. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED AND RETURNED TO MY ORIGINAL LANE. WITHIN 15 TO 20 SECONDS, THE SITUATION REPEATS. I TRIED TURNING ON THE SPORT FEATURE WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO PROVIDE MORE RESISTANCE BUT THE SAME EVENT OCCURS. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN HOT WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE SUN FOR 4 OR MORE HOURS AND IT IS ABOVE 88 DEGREES. IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE, I DRIVE IN ONE GEAR LOWER, SAY 4TH, AND CONSTANTLY SHIMMY...

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING GETS VERY HARD TO STEER. *JS

OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, THE STEERING IN MY BMW Z-4 HAS FELT LIKE I HAVE TO FIGHT TO STAY ON THE ROAD. IT IS JERKING & PULLING THE CAR OFF CENTER MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND FEEL SAFE. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO "STICKS" RATHER THAN ROTATING SMOOTHLY WHEN I TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS CONDITION IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE LAST WEEK AT APPROX. 55 MILES/HOUR AND SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR SWERVED HARD PULLING ME INTO THE NEXT LANE OF TRAFFIC COMING VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *JS

THE STEERING STICKS AND IS HARD TO CONTROL. THE STEERING SEEMS TO HAVE LOBES/STICKING POINTS IN THE STEERING AND STICKS AT CERTAIN POINTS AND THEN LETS GO MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STEER AND HAS JERKY CATCHING POINTS AS YOU MOVE THE WHEEL WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 90 DEGREES MY STEERING STICKS AND YOU HAVE TO JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO UNSTICK. IT ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU ARE TAKING A GRADUAL CURVE AND YOU TRY TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS LIKELY THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT CHECKED. IT IS SO DANGEROUS THAT I WILL NOT DRIVE IN HOT WEATHER UNTIL I GET IT FIXED... I JUST CAN'T AFFORD SEVERAL THOUSAND IN REPAIR BILLS. BTW, THERE ARE ONLY 23,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I HAVE HAD IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO STICK AND JERK TO THE SIDES ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10020 (STEERING:COLUMN STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION, THE ELECTRIC STEERING BINDS OR GETS STUCK WHILE IN CENTER POSITION AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT OR IMPAIRS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. ON THIS OCCASION, I WAS TRAVLING AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED AND WAS CHANGING LANES AND BECAUSE OF THE STEERING PROBLEM I JERKED THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CAR IN THE OTHER LANE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES AND GETS WORST IN THE WARM TO HOT WEATHER. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW IN BOTH MASSACHUSETTS AND FLORIDA WITH NO HELP FROM DEALERS. MY VEHICLE HAS 79,000 ON IT NOW WHICH ISNT A LOT OF MILES FOR A 2003. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL WILL STICK TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT IN WARM WEATHER. IT CAUSES THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. *JS

BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUNE 2011 WITH APPROXIMATELY 86000, SO IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THE PROBLEM HAD SHOWN UP PRIOR TO THIS DATE/MILEAGE. DURING VERY HOT DAYS, THE STEERING "STICKS" AND IS DIFFICULT TO START MOVEMENT, RESULTING IN JERKINESS AND SWERVING ON THE ROAD. ONCE MOTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS INITIATED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE MOVEMENT SMOOTHLY. BUT WHEN YOU STOP MOVEMENT, IT WILL STICK AGAIN. THIS MAKES IT VERY TEDIOUS AND ANNOYING AND POSSIBLY EVEN UNSAFE TO MAKE EVEN JUST THE NORMAL CONSTANT MINOR ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. OFTEN TIMES, JUMPING FROM ONE SIDE OF MY LANE TO THE OTHER, AND BACK. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

DPS FAILURE. LIGHT STAYS ON AND STEERING IS IMPOSSIBLE. DEALER SAID 3,000.00 TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH STEERING HAS DEFINITE STICKING SPOTS CREATING HAZARDOUS CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT PREDICTABLE SOMETIMES DRIVES FINE OTHER TIMES WITH NO WARNING PROBLEM OCCURS, MAKING THE SAFETY ISSUE EVEN MORE GRAVE. FEAR OF LANE SWERVE AND POSSIBLE COLLISION. BMW SERVICE COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM AND SAYS THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM EXISTING. UPON INVESTIGATION IT SEEMS I AM IN A LARGE GROUP OF BMW Z4 OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS STEERING PROBLEM. I URGE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT, MAIMED OR EVEN KILLED. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM ON MY Z4. THIS BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY IN THE STEERING HAS BEEN INCREASING FROM MONTH TO MONTH AND WHERE IT NOW IS BEGINNING TO FEEL UNSAFE. THE STEERING STICKS WHILE NAVIGATING THROUGH CURVES AND DOES NOT ALWAYS RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION. OTHERTIMES, IT STICKS AND ONE NEEDS TO PULL IT BACK TO CORRECT THE STEERING. IT IS QUITE UNSAFE AND MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED, NOT ONLY FOR OUR SAFETY, BUT ALSO OTHERS WHO MAY BE VICTIMIZED BY HEAD ON COLLISIONS. AFTER CHECKING OUT MY COMPLIANT WITH MY BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC, HE TELLS ME THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM ON THIS CAR AND CHECKING THROUGH THE MECHANIC'S WEB SITE, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO ONE THAT KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM, SHORT...

STEERING IS STICKING BADLY. INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND TOLD IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. WITH THE VEHICLE UNDER 20,000 MILES THE MECHANIC SAID IS CLEARLY A DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 03/21/12 *BF UPDATED 05/11/12

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND 3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT WITH A LOT OF RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THIS "STICKING" STEERING WHEELS MAKES THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND HARD TO KEEP FROM WANDERING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE STEERING MECHANISM WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. SEVERAL YEARS LATER AND NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, I NOTICED THIS SAME PROBLEM STARTED BACK UP. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I WOULD RARELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE ONLY PUT 4000 MILES SINCE 7/06) THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AT THIS POINT, I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSE AS THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INCREASES. THIS DEFECT MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE THE VEHICLE TENDS TO WANDER BACK AND FORCE DUE TO THE...

THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 IS VERY ERRATIC. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO TURN ITSELF LEFT OR RIGHT, AND OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT IS FIGHTING ITSELF TO TURN. WHEN DRIVING OVER THE SLIGHTEST UNEVEN ROAD, THE STEERING WILL PULL AND SWERVE ON IT'S OWN. AT SLOW SPEEDS, IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT HAS BECOME A WHITE KNUCKLED SCARY EXPERIENCE. UNDER BREAKING, THE CAR WILL SWERVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

WHEN THE CAR STAY OUTDOOR FOR A LONG TIME ON HOT SUNNY DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME VERY HARD TO TURN. IT IS NOTICEABLE AT ANY SPEED. HIGHWAY SPEED IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR IS HARD TO KEEP ON A STRAIGHT LINE. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM USA BUT I LIVE IN CANADA. THE ADDRESSEE THAT I WROTE IS WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW. SORRY FOR MY POOR ENGLISH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER IN A STRAIGHT POSITION WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MOST OFTEN WHEN DRIVING IN WARMER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED ON THE CAR MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. LUCKILY IT FAILED WHILE ON A STRAIGHT PART OF AN INTERSTATE AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THIS SEVERELY FRIGHTENED HER. SHE DID NOT OVERREACT AND WE TOOK APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS ISSUE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA IN 2010 BUT CAN NOT FIND ANY INDICATION THAT AN ACTUAL RECALL IS IN PLACE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE WITH A LOT OF WINDING ROADS (TENNESSEE). I PURCHASED THE CAR USED LAST YEAR AND ALSO HAD A WATER PUMP FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A BLOWN ENGINE. I WISH THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED ALSO AS I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES READING...

STEERING BECOMES INTERMITTENTLY "STICKY". FIRST SYMPTOM IS THAT WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL NORMALLY NOTHING HAPPENS. AS A RESULT, I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL MORE AND THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR TURNS. IMMEDIATELY, I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL BACK THE OTHER WAY TO AVOID GOING OFF THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM IS REPEATED WHEN I TURN BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND I ESSENTIALLY END UP WEAVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE SYMPTOM COULDN'T BE REPRODUCED BY THE SERVICEMEN WHO LOOKED AT IT. IN RETROSPECT, I'VE REALIZED THAT I WAS ALWAYS HAVING THE CAR CHECKED WHEN IT WAS COOL OUT (MORNINGS & I LIVED NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR), BUT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR ONLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE (OVER 70 TO 80 DEGREES). SINCE I COULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, I HAVE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED MY DRIVING WITH THIS...

AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS IN THE SUN ON A HOT DAY (OVER 80 DEGREES) THE STEERING STICKS. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE FINE ADJUSTMENTS SO IT IS HARD TO HOLD THE CAR IN A LANE. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS A PREDICTABLE PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGH AND THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN. *TR

THE STEERING MECHANISM AND WHEEL SEEM TO STICK. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT TRAVEL SMOOTHLY WITHIN THE NORMAL STEERING RANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ON A STRAIGHT LINE... SUDDENLY, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT, WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT AND TYPICALLY CAUSES THE CAR TO MOVE ERRATICALLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO KEEP THE CAR CENTER ON THE DRIVING LANE. DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS HAS BECOME A BATTLE TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. OVER CORRECTIONS ARE INEVITABLE AND THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENTS/COLLISIONS. *TR

IN HOT WEATHER THE POWER STEERING GETS EXTREMELY STICKY AND WHEN MAKING A TURN SUCH AS ON AN EXIT RAMP THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE PULLED TO RETURN IT TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION WHICH RAISES THE DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT THE CAR COULD GO RIGHT OFF THE RAMP IF NOT CAUGHT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES SWERVING WHEN MAKING SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR CAN SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE. DEALERS ARE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THE ON-LINE Z 4 FORUM INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM APPARENTLY DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. *TR

I HAD THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE GET WORSE ON THE INTERSTATE AFTER I FILED THE FIRST COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED BMW USA AND TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALER. I WAS TOLD BY BMW USA THAT MY PROBLEM WAS THE DEFECT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR ANY OF THESE VEHICLES UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FEW MORE FATAL CRASHES FOR THE SOMEONE TO STEP UP AND FORCE THIS MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? EVEN THOUGH I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, IT WAS PURCHASED IN FLORIDA WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO ENJOY A CONVERTIBLE. HOWEVER, THIS FAILURE OCCURS AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 77 DEGREES. NOW THAT I KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, HOW CAN I PASS IT ON TO ANOTHER WHO MIGHT NOT BE AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND JOIN BMW IN BEING THE INSTRUMENT OF...

WHEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR STEERING IS VERY HARD TO HOLD STRAIGHT, VEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I ONLY HAVE 32,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT STILL HAPPENS. SERVICE REPS VERIFY THAT ALL STEERING COMPONENTS ARE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. *TR

1.VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE; UNABLE TO MAINTAIN STEERING OR KEEP VEHICLE ON THE ROAD SAFELY. 2.VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 3.MANUAL GEAR BOX; SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS NOT SMOOTH, NOT ENGAGING SMOOTHLY 4.WATER LEAKING INSIDE OF VEHICLE TRUNK AND REAR SEAT AREAS. VEHICLE TRUNK AREA WAS SATURATED WITH WATER AFTER RAINING; FILLING WATER OVER THE BATTERY BOX AND CARPETS, SHORTING OUT ELECTRONICS. 5.OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE; PLASTIC COMPONENTS EARLY DETERIORATION; FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA BLACK PLASTIC COWL AND ANTENNA. INSIDE OF VEHICLE BLACK PLASTIC COVER FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP 6.RAIN SENSOR INOP 7.DOOR LOCKS INOP/INTERMITTENT 8.WINDOWS REGULATORS PLASTIC BROKEN. *TR

MY STEERING WHEEL LIGHT GOES ON THEN THE CAR HANDLING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE PROBLEM STARTED ONE DAY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WHEEL WAS SUDDENLY HARD. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY: WHEN I START THE CAR AND AT ANY RANDOM TIME WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK (BEFORE THE NEXT FAILURE). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE NOTHING IS TELLING ME WHEN THE NEXT ISSUE IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M ALWAYS SCARED TO MAKE A TURN OR TO CHANGE LANES. *TT

BMW Z4 DEVELOPED A NOTCHY OR STICKY FEEL AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS IN PLACE AND EXTRA EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE THIS OCCURS. PROBLEM WAS VERY SPORADIC AT FIRST BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AS I MY DRIVING TIME INCREASES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW Z4 ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ROUGHLY 65MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING BECAME VERY NOTCHY AND STIFF, THE CAR FELT AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKING AND NOT TURNING TO CENTER FREELY. DRIVING LIKE THIS THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN YOUR LANE, A VERY SCARY FEELING WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL I RETURNED HOME AND WAS STILL NOTICEABLE AT CITY SPEEDS, WHEEL STILL STICKING AROUND TURNS AND NOT RETURNING TO CENTER POSITION AFTER COMPLETING A TURN. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN,NOT GIVING ME A GOOD SENSE OF SECURITY WHEN DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM ONLY STARTS TO HAPPEN AFTER OR WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. I'M CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF BMW Z4 OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR SAFELY PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING DEVELOPS REGARDING A RECALL OF ANY FAULTY...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO RESET. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LASTED FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE IS STICKY AND IS DIFFICULT TO TURN AFTER IT IS IN PLACE FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS. THIS CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE DRIVING DIRECTION OF THE CAR AND IN MANY CASES CAUSES AN OVERCOMPENSATION IN STEERING. *TR

2003 BMW Z4 (21,000 MILES) - STEERING BECOMES DANGEROUSLY STICKY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS WARM (ABOVE 80 DEGREES OR SO AND ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN). THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T RETURN TO CENTER AND THE CAR JERKS SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE STEERING UN-STICKS AS THE DRIVER TRIES TO MAKE SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS. THIS RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS SWERVING OF THE CAR SIDE-TO-SIDE WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, PARTICULARLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TT

2003 BMW Z4 9500 MILES, WHEN HOT THE STEERING LOCKS IN POSITION AND EXCESSIVE FORCE IS NEEDED TO CORRECT THE STEERING, CAUSING A JERK MAKING THE CAR JERK TO THE SIDE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO RECORRECT. HAPPENS AT HIGH AND LOW SPEED. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE CENTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT TEMPERATURES UNDER 45 DEGREES AND OVER 75 DEGREES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ UPDATED 11/02/11

IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 45 F AND ABOVE 75 MY STEERING HANGS UP JUST OFF CENTER SO WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE FREEWAY IT LOOKS LIKE I ZIGZAG FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND AROUND TURNS IT BECOMES ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN IT CATCHES I HAVE TO USE A BIT MORE FORCE TO UN JAM IT AND AT HIGH SPEEDS IT ALMOST THROWS ME INTO A SPIN OR CRASH INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM BUT SAYS HE RARELY DROVE THE CAR IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM. I CANNOT AFFORD THE 2600- 3600 PRICE TAG FOR THE REPAIR AND SINCE BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2003 AND HAS FAILED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM MYSELF ALONG WITH SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF OTHER BMW Z 4 OWNERS DESERVE A FREE CORRECTION FOR THIS PROBLEM.. INSTEAD BMW IS FLEECING THE POOR FOOLS WHO HAPPEN TO OWN A Z4...

THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY KEPT IN THE GARAGE. AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN IN TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 85 DEGREES, THE CAR STEERING WAS HARD TO OPERATE. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE STEERING WAS MANUAL -- HARD TO TURN ON A CURVE AND HARD TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR SITS OUTSIDE IN HOT WEATHER. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED BY MY MECHANIC. *KB

DIFFICULTY STEERING THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING STICKS. THE WARMER THE TEMPERATURE, THE STEERING FEELS STUCK AND WITH THE LEAST MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT LOSES CONTROL. IT IS FINE IN THE MORNING AND WHEN IT IS COOL BUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 80, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING. NO ACCIDENTS YET!!!!! IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. *KB