2004 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

MY Z4 IS A 2004 3.0I WITH 22120 MILES... OUT OF NOWHERE MY STEERING BECAME LESS FLUID AND SMOOTH. SOMETIMES I THINK I DON'T HAVE POWER STEERING. ALMOST COULDN'T AVOID BEING CUT OFF BY A TAXI IN MANHATTAN I'M AFRAID I MAY DIE WHILE DRIVING OR POSSIBLY HARM OTHERS. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I CAN'T JUST WAIT FOR A RECALL. *TR

MY 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING STICKS SPECIAL Y WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO EXERT EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO CORRECT IT. IT'S NO LONGER A PLEASURE DRIVING MY CAR THAT I LOVE SO MUCH. *TR

MY 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING STICKS WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 85F. SO FAR IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENT AND HAPPENING AT LOWER TEMPERATURES THAN LAST SUMMER. THE CAR HAS 58,000 MILES. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION PE10020. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2004 Z4, STICKS AND I AM REQUIRED TO EXERT EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO CORRECT IT OR TO TURN THE WHEEL. SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR, IT HAPPENS AT BOTH SLOW AND FASTER SPEEDS, BUT IT IS MORE PRONOUCED AT HIGHER SPEEDS BECAUSE THE CAR TRAVELS MUCH FURTHER BEFORE I CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT IS VERY HOT IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE PAST TWO SUMMERS. I SAW THE INVESTIGATION ON YOUR WEBSITE AND DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL THERE WAS A RECALL BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, SUMMER IS APPROACHING AGAIN, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE OTHERS IN HOPES OF EXPEDITING A RE-CALL. THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND IF IT...

THE STEERING MECHANISM IN MY CAR "STICKS" WHEN DRIVING. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR GETS WARMED UP. WHEN I GO TO WORK, NO PROBLEM. WHEN I LEAVE IN THE AFTERNOON AND I AM DRIVING HOME, I HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING THE CAR IN THE LANE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO "STICK." I MEAN, I AM LITERALLY HAVING TO FIGHT WITH THE CAR TO KEEP IT FROM GOING INTO ANOTHER LANE. TIRES ARE NEW SO THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. PLUS, I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THESE CARS. I BOUGHT THE CAR DECEMBER, 2010 WITH 79,442 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE A LITTLE OVER 81,000 MILES. I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR MUCH... MOSTLY WEEKENDS, BUT WHAT A MAJOR PROBLEM IT IS TO DRIVE AND HAVE THE CAR NOT STEER PROPERLY. *TR

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 20 OR SO MINUTES, WHEN IT STARTS TO WARM UP, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO STICK. IT TAKES A LITTLE MORE PRESSURE TO TURN THE WHEEL CAUSING ME TO OVER STEER AND SWERVE A LITTLE BIT. IT GETS WORSE THE LONGER DISTANCE I HAVE TO DRIVE. *TR

READING BMW FORUMS I READ THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME.. I HAVE A BMW 2004 Z4 WITH 43K MILES AND THE STEERING NOTCHES OR STICKS A LOT AS I DRIVE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A STEERING PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS WRECK. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THE PROBLEM? *TR

WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT IT STICKS WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN BACK TO CENTER AND REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET WORSE WHEN TEMPERATURES GET WARMER (75 DEGREES OR HIGHER). I'M CONCERNED THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL IF THIS PROBLEM GETS WORSE AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE CAR IS SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

MY 2004 BMW Z4 EXPERIENCES "STICKINESS" IN STEERING. IT HAS 59,000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GRADUALLY INCREASING. I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE STEERING RESPONSE WITH INCREASED AMBIENT HEAT, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE WORSE WHEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

STEERING EXTREMELY STICKY WHEN CAR TEMPERATURE IS HOT. STEERING WILL NOT SELF CENTER. *TR

I HAVE READ REPORTS THAT NHSTA HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS OF 2003-2004 BMW Z4'S WITH POWERSTEERING ISSUES. MY 2004 Z4 HAS THIS ISSUE AS WELL. THE STEERING SEEMS TO BIND AND THE SEVERITY IS INCREASED AS SPEED INCREASES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON A RECENT TRIP I HAD TO EXERT A GOOD AMOUNT OF FORCE TO STAY OUT OF THE OTHER LANES. I AM 5'10 - 200 LBS. MY CONCERN IS THAT SLIGHTER PERSONS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE STEERING PROBLEMS. I FEAR SOMEONE MIGHT BE INJURED IF THE ISSUE IS NOT FIXED IMMEDIATELY. HOPEFULLY A RECALL CAN BE GENERATED BEFORE CASUALTIES OCCOUR. *TR

DRIVING THE CAR ON A RELATIVELY WARM DAY (70 DEGREES) WITH TOP DOWN, THE POWER STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND STEERING THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT. A NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD WHEN TRYING TO STEER THE CAR. 20 MINUTES AFTER THIS THE CHECK TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE BUT IT WAS FINE. STOPPED, STARTED THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY HELP. NEXT MORNING, THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY. I MANUALLY RESET THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT AND SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM HASN'T COME BACK.

STICKY STEERING WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ELEVATED. WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE SUN AND WARMS UP, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STICKY LEADING TO AN INCREASED EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL AND MAKES IT EASY TO OVERCORRECT. *TR

I OWN A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LAST EVENING I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS STICKING AS I TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL. I T WAS SO BAD AT ONE POINT THAT I STRUGLED TO STEER THE CAR AROUND A CURVE. WHEN IT STUCK, IT CAUSED ME TO OVERSTEER THROWING MY CAR INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE COMING AND A DISSASTER WAS AVOIDED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURED. IT APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTENT. THE BMW DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG. A SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4 WITH 67,517 MILES. EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, IT HAS HAD A "TWITCHY" FEEL TO THE STEERING, WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS DUE TO ELECTRIC STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED LATELY. ANY UNEVENNESS IN THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD WILL CAUSE THE TIRES TO JERK TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, REQUIRING CONSTANT STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO KEEP THE CAR GOING WHERE YOU WANT IT TO. THE ONLY WAY IT WILL TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE IS ON A PERFECTLY SMOOTH ROAD. I HAVE TRIED JACKING UP THE CAR AND FLEXING THE TIRES BACK AND FORTH MANUALLY TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING, BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY. I'M AFRAID THAT ONE DAY I WILL FIND MYSELF ON A REALLY ROUGH ROAD AND BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. I HAVE NOTED THAT...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, IT SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2004 BMW Z4 - REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL IS "NOTCHY" OR STICKY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. NATURALLY, WHEN DRIVING DOWN A ROAD, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE MINOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENTS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO REMAIN IN A DRIVING LANE. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE WITH THIS STICKY STEERING WHEEL, EXTRA FORCE IS REQUIRED TO ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SWERVE SLIGHTLY. THIS PROBLEM IS A MAJOR CONCERN AS SOMETIMES IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC AND DANGEROUS WHEN THE WHEEL STICKS AROUND TURNS AND NARROWS LANES. DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS "NORMAL" AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 'STICKY STEERING'; FOLLOW UP TO EARLIER COMPLAINT, IN RESPONSE TO BMW LETTER OF 9/24. BMW DESCRIBES THE CONDITION AS A GRADUAL INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST DRIVEN OFF, AND NOT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN EFFORT. THIS IS INCORRECT. NOT A GRADUAL INCREASE IN EFFORT, BUT AN UNEXPECTED 'CATCH' THAT OCCURS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN CHANGING LANES. *TR

A YEAR OR SO AGO I NOTICED THE STEERING ON MY BMW Z4 WOULD GET "NOTCHY" AND FEEL "STICKY" AT THE END OF THE DAY. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR WHEN PARKED OUTSIDE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. I FOUND IT ODD THIS WOULD BE BROUGHT ON BY TIME IN THE SUN, BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARED EXPERIENCES WITH BMW SERVICE VARIED, AND SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY A "FIX" WOULD BE A REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE TUNE OF 3-4 THOUSAND DOLLARS. WHEN I HEARD THIS ISSUE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR A DECISION AS IT SEEMED LIKELY SUCH ISSUES WITH STEERING WOULD BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE CASE CLOSELY AND HAVE BEEN READING BMW'S RESPONSES TO NHTSA. SEVERAL OF THEIR ARGUMENTS AGAINST ADDRESSING THIS ARE ESPECIALLY DISTURBING. BMW...

WHEN CAR SITS OUT IN THE HOT SUN 100 DEGREES OR BETTER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, IS DIFFICULT. STEERING WHEEL STAYS IN A TUNING POSITION AND DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER, IT STICKS IN WHATEVER TURN YOU PUT IT IN. YOU MUST MANUALLY FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. JUST TODAY 10/26/2010 ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. *TR

WHEN DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL GET VERY STICKY AND NEED EXTENSIVE FORCE TO BE MANEUVER. I WENT TO MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE EPS AND THAT ITS NOT COVER SINCE IT HAPPENED 1 MONTH AFTER THE END OF THE WARRANTEE. ITS SEEM THAT A LOT OF OWNER HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEIR IS STILL NO RECALL FROM BMW. I NOW LIVE IN CANADA BUT MY CAR IS FROM THE STATE AND I AM FILLING A COMPLAINT SO THAT BMW WOULD BE FORCE TO ACT ON THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS BINDING WHICH REQUIRED INCREASED STEERING EFFORT THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO OVER-STEER WHEN MAKING HARD AND ABRUPT STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENTS. THE FAILURE IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER VEHICLE SPEEDS (HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND IN WARM/HOT WEATHER (85 F). *TR

2004 BMW Z4 - STEERING PROBLEM: I JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO SOUTH FLORIDA FROM DENVER AND NOW HAVE NOTCHY/STICKY STEERING WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 MPH) WHEN IT IS WARM (70 DEGREES). MAKING SMALL CORRECTIONS REQUIRES A LARGE INPUT CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OUTSIDE OF IT'S LANE. HAVE HAD SEVERAL VERY CLOSE CALLS. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, BMW SOUTH IN SOUTH MIAMI AND THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR $3,200. THIS PROBLEM IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOON A DRIVER OR THE PUBLIC WILL BE HURT OR KILLED. BMW NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND MAKE THE STEERING SAFE OR THE NHTSA NEEDS TO DIRECT THEM TO RECALL THE CARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ON WARMER DAYS (80+ F), MY 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING WILL STICK IN ONE POSITION WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO UNSTICK. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS (45+ MPH) WHERE SMALLER MOVEMENTS ARE REQUIRED, AND THE TENDENCY IS TO OVER CORRECT WHEN THE STICKS OCCUR. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 STEERING SYSTEM FAILS TO PERFORM PROPERLY AND IS UNSAFE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS SOMEWHERE ABOVE 80 DEGREES (F). ON ALL WARM DAYS, THE STEERING BECOMES UNSAFE - HEAVY, AND DOES NOT PERFORM PROPERLY - IT BECOMES HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL AND "NOTCHY" TO STEER. *TR

WHEN AIR TEMPERATURE IS GREATER THAN APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES F, THE STEERING ON MY 2004 BMW Z4 BECOMES "STICKY" REQUIRING A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF EFFORT TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS. INITIALLY THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF EFFORT IS APPLIED WITH NO CHANGE IN VEHICLE DIRECTION AND THEN WITH ADDITIONAL EFFORT VEHICLE DIRECTION CHANGES SIGNIFICANTLY REQUIRING RE-CORRECTION TO KEEP VEHICLE IN LANE AND/OR ON THE ROAD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST IT'S POWER STEERING. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY PARKED THE CAR, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON AND EPS LIGHT WENT OFF. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE EPS LIGHT STARTED TO TURN ON EVERYDAY, SPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON. TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST A LOOSE CABLE. THE DAY AFTER I GOT MY CAR FROM THE DEALER AND NOTHING HAD CHANGED. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UPPER SECTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN QUOTING ME A TOTAL OF REPAIR COSTS OF $3000.00 AFTER DISCOUNTS. COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR COSTS AT THAT MOMENT AND CAR HASN'T BEEN REPAIRED TILL THIS DAY. *TR

STEERING WHEEL "STICKS". REQUIRES FORCE TO MOVE TO EITHER SIDE FROM CURRENT POSITION. HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 85 DEGREES. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 STEERING ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING MY Z4 OVER THE PAST MONTH I HAVE HAD INCIDENTS OF MY STEERING LOCKING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TIME WILL COME AND IT IS VERY SCARY. MY WIFE HAD HAPPEN TO HER YESTERDAY AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE BUT WOULD REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR $3000,00. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS AND FEEL A RECALL SHOULD OCCUR BECAUSE THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2004 BMW Z4, VIN:[XXX], 63000 MILES THE BMW IS HAVING A SEVERE STEERING PROBLEM ON HOT SUMMER DAYS. TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR CAN BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO AN ELECTRIC STEERING. THE STEERING IS SUPPOSED TOO TIGHTEN SOME DEPENDING ON SPEED AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN MANY CASES THAT I HAVE FOUND IN RESEARCH IT GETS TO TIGHT AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE MINIMUM OF STEERING CORRECTIONS. IN MY CASE IT CAN MAKE THE CAR MOVE INTO ANOTHER LANE ON THE HIGHWAY FROM A SMALL CORRECTION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN THE MINI COOPER, Z4, AND 3 SERIES BMW'S. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A BMW DEALER (SUNBELT MOTORS, INC., MERIDIAN, MS) FOR DIAGNOSIS. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE CAR AT A COST OF $2600.00 (PARTS ONLY) PLUS LABOR. I CONTACTED...

2004 BMW Z4 WITH LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING. DEALER MADE FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED. OLD PARTS TO FRONT END WERE NOT GIVEN BACK. *TR

I OWN A 2004 BMW Z-4 WITH 18,648 MI ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE THE SAME STEERING PROBLEMS AS MOST OTHER OWNER'S. THE STEERING IS OVER REACTIVE, THE PROBLEM IS MORE PRONOUNCED IN WARM/HOT WEATHER. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE POWER STEERING IS SLUGGISH OR NOT WORKING. WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT I CAN FEEL A CHATTERING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I WENT TO THE, HE TOLD ME HIS MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND THERE WASN'T ANY THING HE COULD DO ANY WAY. I HAVE CHECKED ON LINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF UNHAPPY OWNER'S OUT THERE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS SAFETY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY WIFE IS THE PRINCIPLE DRIVER OF THE CAR AND SHE HAS COMPLAINED OF STEERING CONTROL PROBLEMS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY AND OTHER DRIVERS OF Z-4....

I HAVE 2004 Z4 BMW THE STEERING IS STICKY IT FEELS LIKE THAT IS BINDING AND HAVE TO USE EXTRA EFFORT TO CONTROL CAR. AT TIMES I HAVE TO JERK IT BACK INTO LINE. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE IM FIGHTING WITH IT . *TR

POWER STEERING ON CAR IS VERY STIFF IN THE CENTER CAUSING GREAT DIFFICULTY IN TURNING, AND THEN SAFELY TURNING / KEEPING THE CAR IN THE PROPER LANE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW ON THESE CARS, AND I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION LEADING TO A RECALL IS UNDER WAY. I AM AFRAID TO ALLOW MY 22 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THIS CAR. IT SEEMS TO BE MUCH WORSE IN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. *TR

STEERING STICKS WHEN IT'S HOT OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC. NEED TO APPLY EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL WHICH IS A CONCERN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO POSSIBLE OVERSTEER. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. *TR

I HAVE A BMW Z4 THAT HAS STEERING ISSUES. THE CAR IS HARDLY EVER DRIVEN AND ONLY HAS 24K MILES. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW POWER STEERING COLUMN AT APPROX. $3500. HOW CAN THAT BE THAT BAD IN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FINE ENGINEERED CAR? *TR

ONLY IN HOT WEATHER THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HARD AND STICKY AND REQUIRES INCREASED FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE BMW DEALER CLAIMS THEY CANNOT FIND AN "INTERNAL BULLETIN" #4515500-02, RELEASED ON 05/05/06. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY IN YOUR LANE, AND TWO HANDS ARE NEEDED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS DEFECT ACTS UP AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN OR HOT WEATHER. THIS IS NOT NOTICEABLE UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED SPEEDS OF 30 MPH OR OVER AT WHICH TIME YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH COMMITTED TO FIGHT THE STEERING. THIS BECOMES VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND CLAIMS IT'S NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE". I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAY I NEED A STEERING RACK FOR OVER $4000.00. THE "BULLETIN" SAYS THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE EPS COLUMN WITH A MODIFIED ONE WHICH WAS AVAILABLE SINCE WEEKS...

MY STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF WHEN DRIVING IN VERY HOT TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,300.

STEERING BECOMES STICKY IN HOT WEATHER. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS NOTCHY AND DOES NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY WHEN TURNED - FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK IN CENTER POSITION. AGGRESSIVE MOVEMENT RESTORES RESPONSE BUT CONDITION REMAINS PRESENT. SITUATION NOTICED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN 90 DEG. WEATHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW Z4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING THE SPEED RATE OF 45 MPH AND HIGHER. THE CONTACT WOULD NOT DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER STEERING AND STEERING COLUMN. THE PARTS ESTIMATED COST WAS $3,000. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS CENTERED WHILE DRIVING, IT TAKES SOME EFFORT TO MAKE A STEERING ADJUSTMENT SUCH AS KEEPING THE CAR CENTERED IN THE DRIVING LANE. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BE STUCK AND TO OVER COME THIS ONE MUST OVER-STEER THE CAR AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO CENTER. SOME TIMES THIS RESULTS IN AN ABRUPT OVER TURN AND CAUSES THE CAR TO ALMOST LURCH OUT OF THE DRIVING LANE. *TR

2004 BMW Z4 3.0. THE STEERING IS STICKY WHEN AMBIENT TEMP OVER 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE. DEALER STATES NO PROBLEM. READ THE NEWS AND SAW THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING. YOU GUYS ARE WELCOME TO DRIVE MINE TO SEE THE PROBLEM IN ACTION. WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE (AS IT OFTEN IS IN JACKSONVILLE, FL) THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE BECAUSE OF THE "STICKY STEERING." *TR

MY 2004 BMW Z4 HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE LAST 1,000 MILES IT HAS DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH STICKY OR RATCHET-LIKE STEERING WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO OVERSTEER AT TIMES. IT IS WORSE WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. I AM BECOMING AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON FLAW. BMW NEEDS TO ACT. THANK YOU! *TR

2004 BMW Z4-STICKY STEERING-POWER STEERING STICKS, SEAMS TO BE WORSE IN HOTTER WEATHER, CAUSES YOU TO OVERCORRECT WHEN DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENS, I CAN SEE WHERE THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION. OR COULD CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

STEERING STICKS ON HOT DAYS OR COOL DAYS AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC. REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE THE WHEEL WHICH THEN BREAKS "FREE" AND TENDS TO OVER REACT CAUSING LANE RETENTION ISSUES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

IF MY CAR VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, INCREASED FORCE IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY PROBLEMS AT LOWER TEMPERATURES OR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS/BINDS OR LOCKS UP, AND REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT TO MOVE WHICH RESULTS IN OVERCORRECTING WHICH PRODUCES SEVERE OVER OR UNDER-STEER. THE PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. *TR

IN WARM WEATHER, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING STICKS AND THE WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION ON IT'S OWN. AT TIMES THE WHEEL SEEMS TO TURN ON IT'S OWN AND YOU MUST CONSTANTLY HAVE A FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL READY TO CORRECT ANY UNWANTED MOVEMENT. *TR

WHEN TEMPERATURE IS HOT OUTSIDE THE ELECTRIC STEERING IN MY BMW Z BECOMES EXTREMELY TIGHT. ANY ATTEMPTS TP CORRECT THE STEERING RESULTS IN A JERKY MOVEMENT THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AT ANY SPEED. *TR