2005 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,773.

STIFF STEERING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. HARD TO TURN. JERKS WHEN I PUT ON BRAKES.

I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 BMW Z4 ON 5/31/16 AS A GIFT FOR MY DAUGHTER FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SETTING MULTIPLE ATHLETIC RECORDS AT HER HIGH SCHOOL WHILE MAINTAINING A 6.0 GPA. I TEST DROVE THE CAR IN THE CITY STREETS AND IT DROVE EXCELLENT. I LIKED THE CAR VERY MUCH AND PURCHASED IN THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG FLORIDA. SINCE I LIVE IN TAMPA, FLORIDA I HAD MY WIFE FOLLOW ME BACK WHILE I DROVE THE Z4 BACK. THE CAR FUNCTION PERFECTLY UNTIL I GOT ONTO THE INTERSTATE. THE SECOND I GOT UP TO AROUND 50 MILES PER HOUR. I FOUND MYSELF TERRIFIED AS THE STEERING BEGAN TO STICK AT ALMOST DEAD CENTER, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHIFT DANGEROUSLY AS I OVERCOMPENSATE TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE. MY DAUGHER IS A BIT DISAPPOINTED, BECAUSE OF MY FEAR TO LET HER DRIVE THE CAR. IT SEEMED SO STRANGE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT. IN WARMER TEMPERATURES, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE EACH TIME IT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10020 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO PERMANENT REMEDY OR RECOMMENDATION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

FOUND A USED 2005 BMW Z4 3.0I WITH RIGHT AT 11,200 MILES FOR SALE ONLINE. CAR WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS FROM HOME. WENT AND LOOKED AT CAR, TOOK IT FOR SHORT TEST DRIVE, SAW NO APPARENT ISSUES AND PURCHASED CAR. CAR HAD BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND WAS VERY CLEAN AND CONSISTENT WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. PROCEEDED ON WITH JOURNEY HOME. DROVE A WHILE AND STARTED TO NOTICE STEERING FELT A BIT STRANGE, BUT WROTE IT OFF THAT I "JUST WASN'T USED TO THE CAR" AND IT WOULD SIMPLY TAKE A WHILE TO GET USED TO IT. LATER, STILL ON MY JOURNEY HOME, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I CAME TO A GENTLE LEFT HAND BEND IN THE ROAD. I WENT TO ADD A LITTLE CORRECTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND DISCOVERED THAT IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT LET ME TURN IT. I WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL INTERSTATE SPEEDS CLOSE TO...

I BEING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING IS STICKING WHILE DRIVING OVER 35 MILES AND SPECIALLY IN THE EVENING IN HOT DAYS. I ALWAYS HAVE TO HOLD THE WHEEL WITH TWO HANDS BECAUSE THE STEERING STICKS AND IS HARDER TO TURN AND IT BECOMES VERY DANGEROUS. I WENT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THE STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. WE TRIED TO ORDERED VIA BMW AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IS BACK ORDER AND IT MAY TAKE A MONTH OR MORE TO GET IT BECAUSE MANY SIMILAR CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT THAT IS THE CASE WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL?

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, VERY HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE IN LANE DUE TO STIFF STEERING. REQUIRED HEAVY TORQUE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH RESULTED IN ABRUPT MOVEMENTS IN LANE AND LED TO DEVIATION INTO ADJACENT LANES. SITUATION IMPROVED ONCE I GOT OFF HIGHWAY.

I HAVE HAD A RECURRING SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING INPUT EFFORT, ESPECIALLY WHEN HOT OUTSIDE. THE STEERING SEEMS VERY HEAVY AND STICKS WHEN CLOSE TO THE ON-CENTER POSITION, AND IS VERY HEAVY AND DIFFICULT TO RETURN BACK TO THE ON-CENTER POSITION. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR MY WIFE AND I NOW FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SERVICE VERY FREQUENTLY SINCE APRIL OF 2010. IT IS IN SERVICE FOR THE FORTH TIME NOW REGARDING THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE THIS TIME HAS BEEN IN NOW FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET.

AT SPEED 25 TO 70 AND TEMPERTURES OVER 70 THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STICKY AND LOCKS UP. VERY HARD TO TURN. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT IS USE BOTH HAND AND TURN IT FORCEFULLY CAUSING OVER-TURNS AND RUNNING OFF THE ROAD OR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. UPDATED 12/06/2017*CN

STEERING SEEMS TO LOCK IN A POSITION, OR AT LEAST STOP. I THEN HAVE TO USE EXTRA FORCE TO GET TO GO PAST THE LOCK / STOP POINT. AND THEN AFTER A LITTLE MORE TIME THE SITUATION REPEATS ITSELF AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOT EVERY TIME THAT I USE THE CAR DOES IT DO IT, ABOUT 25% OF THE TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY SOMETIME LOCK IN POSITION AND THEN THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT. THERE MUST BE A FIX EASIER THAN A STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT, WHICH WAS RECOMMENDED BY ONE SHOP....UPDATED 10/01/15*BF UPDATED 12/04/2017*CN

EXPERIENCED WHAT APPEARS TO BE KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC STEERING AT ANY SPEED. DESIGN FLAW KNOWN TO BOTH BMW NA & REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO YOUR ORG BASED ON THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AT URL BELOW: HTTP://WWW.BMWCOOP.COM/2010/07/06/STEERING-PROBLEMS-FOR-BMW-Z4-IN-THE-U-S/#COMMENT-87602. PROBLEM RECURRED 3 YRS AGO AND I SIMPLY GARAGED IT & USED MY SUBARU. LAST WEEK HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE CENTER WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND ALERTED ME TO THE NUMEROUS WEBSITES DOCUMENTING THIS DESIGN FLAW. HAVING CAR TOWED TO BMW DEALERSHIP TODAY AS I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT. BUT BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL WHICH THERE SHOULD BE I AM ON THE HOOK TO PAY FOR ITS DESIGN FLAW OR I CAN GARAGE IT OR SELL IT. BTW, CAR ONLY HAS 4400 MILES ON IT DUE IN LARGE PART TO THIS RECURRING DEFECT. I CANNOT BELIEVE NO ONE HAS NOT BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS DEFECT....

STEERING HAS BECOME VERY STIFF AND STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT CENTER AFTER MAKING SLIGHT TURNS. SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN HOT WEATHER. HAVE TO REALLY CONCENTRATE ON STEERING AND IS BECOMING DANGEROUS. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE Z4 ACCORDING TO BLOGS. RECALL BY BMW SHOULD BE ISSUED.

STICKY STEERING STARTS IN SPRING, CONTINUES IN SUMMER, ENDS IN FALL. MUST BE TEMPERATURE RELATED. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE!

STEERING RESPONSE WAS STICKING WHILE DRIVING. DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE DOWN THE ROAD.

ON A HOT DAY WHILE TRAVELING OVER 40 MPH, THE STEERING BECOMES "STICKY"; THAT IS IT GET STUCK IN A POSITION AND YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY JERK THE WHEEL TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN WARM WEATHER-ABOVE 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THIS ON I-95 WHILE TRAVELING TO PHILADELPHIA. I NOTICED THIS BEFORE AND I REPORTED THIS TO BMW OF ALEXANDRIA (NOW ARLINGTON) AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, LOWER JOINT ASSEMBLY - TOTAL COST $1,721 - THIS WAS AT 69,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND AS BAD OR WORSE. I HAVE READ OF THIS PROBLEM ON BMW FORUMS WHERE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $4,000. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL ITEM AS IT DEFINITELY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA),...

STEERING SEEMS TO STICK, I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR THE SAME DAY AND WAS DRIVING IT SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES HOME. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS IN A RUT, AND I HAD TO JERK THE WHEEL TO "UNSTICK: IT . IT WAS SCARY. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE TRIP, AND HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE CAR STERRING GOT STIFF. I COULDN'T CONTROL IT. THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT VERY CONCERNED AND SOMEHOW MADE IT HOME. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE CAR AFTER TURNING OFF AND TURNING BACK ON GOT NORMAL. THE SYMPTOM DID NOT COME BACK FOR 2 DAYS BUT THEN CAME RIGHT BACK ON. NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. BMW SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE AT NO COST AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECAL ON THIS. *JS

THE STEERING STICKS WHEN THE CAB TEMP GETS HIGH IT DOES NOT LOCK COMPLETE WHEN I TRY TO CORRECT I WILL OVER CORRECT OR UNDER CORRECT . THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. *TR

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ON THE CAR IS DANGEROUS. THE STEERING IS ERRATIC AND VERY TWITCHY. THE PROBLEM IS NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS OUT STIFF, LIKE AN OLD CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING, BUT THEN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR SUDDENLY PROVIDES TOO MUCH POWER ASSISTANCE. THE ELECTRIC ASSIST RESULTS IN A SHARPER TURN THAN YOU NEED AND THEREFORE REQUIRES IMMEDIATE CORRECTION. IT CONSISTENTLY DOES THIS; IT IS NOT A ONE-TIME THING. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION, WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL AT ALL TIMES. THIS MAKES THE CAR BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTING TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS IS ANNOYING BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT IS DANGEROUS. THE CORRECTION AND SUBSEQUENT OVERCORRECTION PROBLEM MAKES THE CAR DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY LIKE A SNAKE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE CORRECT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED OUT OF ITS LANE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

STEERING STARTED TO SEEM STIFF OR STICKY ON OCCASION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, NOW OCCURRING MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY. THE CAR SEEMS TO DRIFT BACK AND FORTH AND ONE MUST KEEP FREQUENTLY CORRECTING TO KEEP CAR GOING STRAIGHT. MORE SO THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT AND MUCH MORE FOR A CAR OF THIS CALIBER I WOULD THINK. IT STICKS THEN THERE IS A "DEAD SPACE" UNTIL YOU CATCH IT TO CORRECT IT. I THINK THIS TYPE OF OCCURRENCE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS CHECKING EVERYTHING I COULD TO FIND THE ISSUE, I.E. : TIRE PRESSURE, BALANCE, ALIGNMENT, BEARINGS ETC. TO NO AVAIL. EVEN TRIED TO LOCATE THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR BUT OBVIOUSLY NOW I KNOW THERE IS NONE! ONE WOULD THINK THAT BMW WOULD CORRECT THIS ISSUE FOR GENERALLY HONORABLE REASONS. ALL IT WILL TAKE IS FOR THAT STEERING TO STICK, THE "DEAD SPACE" TO OCCUR AND AT 70 MPH...

THE STEERING SEEMS TO STICK AND FORCE IS NEEDED TO MOVE IN EITHER DIRECTION. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW Z4 2.5I IN 2013 AND IT ONLY HAD 19,000 MI. ON IT. AT ABOUT 22,000 MILES I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE STEERING WOULD STICK, BUT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MY TIRES OUT OF ALIGNMENT, I THEN PUT A NEW SET OF TIRES ON THE FRONT AND HAD IT CHECKED AND IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE IN THE PROBLEM. MY CAR NOW HAS 30400 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM HAS JUST RECENTLY GOTTEN MUCH WORSE, I'M NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. AFTER READING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I'M HOPING WE CAN GET A RECALL ON A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *JS

THIS STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE IS DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS! I PURCHASED THE CAR USED 6 MONTHS AGO IN THE WINTER AND ONLY DRIVE IT A FEW TIMES. AS I'VE BEEN DRIVING MORE IN THE NICER WEATHER, THE STEERING STARTED TO "STICK" CAUSING ME TO OVERSTEER. I AM TERRIFIED TO EVEN DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT GETS WORSE AS YOU INCREASE SPEED AND BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE STEERING MECHANISM. THE STEERING PROBLEM INTENSIFIES IN HOT WEATHER. IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY WITHIN YOUR LANE ON A ROAD WITH SLIGHT CURVES. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO BMW SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3500. I CAME ONLINE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. BMW MUST BE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW IN THEIR VEHICLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND...

WHEN CAR IS SITTING IN SUN FOR THE DAY THE STEERING GETS STUCK IN POSITION WILL NOT CENTER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. WENT TO DEALER TO SEE IF IT HAS A RECALL NONE AT THIS TIME LOOKED INTO THE MATTER ON LINE THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER PROBLEMS WITH OTHER CARS AND YEARS WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE LIFE IS LOST ! *TR

MY 2005 BMW Z4 HAS A STEERING ISSUE THAT HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES. THE STEERING COLUMN IS FAULTY AND RESULTS IN LOSS OF STABILITY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65-75 MPH. THE STEERING "DRIFTS" AND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. STEERING ALSO "STICKS" AND REQUIRES FORCE TO TURN. THERE IS MUCH TALK ABOUT A RECALL BEING FORCED ONTO BMW FOR THEIR FAULTY STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE MOVE THIS FORWARD FOR THE THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS BMW HAS PUT AT RISK BY NOT ACKNOWLEDGING AND CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM FOR THEIR DRIVERS. *TR

FIRST TIME WAS ON THE INTERSTATE APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT HAD TIGHT SPOTS REQUIRING THE NEED FOR BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL. THE CAR SEEMED TO WANDER LEFT AND RIGHT AND WHEN CORRECTED IT WAS INSENSITIVE. IT FELT LIKE A GOOSE NECK BEARING THAT HAD BEEN OVER TIGHTENED ON A BICYCLE, IT HAD A TIGHT FEEL, YET IT WAS ONLY IN THE CENTER POSITION. WHEN MAKING LANE CHANGES IT FELT NORMAL, BACK TO CENTER THE FEEL RETURNED AS BEFORE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY ON A STATE HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAS THE SPORT MODE AND IN BOTH OCCURRENCES IT WAS IN SPORT. I HAVE 60 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND MANY CARS HAVE BEEN HIGH PERFORMANCE AND SPORT VEHICLES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT AND REQUIRES BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO COUNTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE STRAIGHT HIGHWAY AT A NORMAL SPEED I NOTICED THE CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. IN ORDER TO CORRECT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE CAR TO SOMETIMES OVER CORRECT WITH A JERKING SENSATION AND PULLING TO FAR TO THE LEFT. CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND YOU COULD NOT JUST REPLACE THE MOTOR, BUT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. I DID HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED WITH GOOD RESULTS. THE NEW COLUMN WAS ORDERED BY MY REPAIRMAN FROM BMW. MY WORRY IS IF THE LAST COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE, WILL THIS ONE BE ALSO. *TR

THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE IN APPROX. 85 DEGREE WEATHER FOR ABOUT 2-3 HOURS. MY WIFE AND MOTHER IN LAW WERE DRIVING DONE THE HIGHWAY. SHE INITIALLY NOTED THAT THE STEERING FELT "STICKY" OR "DIFFERENT". A FEW MOMENTS LATER WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX. 55MPH THE STEERING FAILED TO RESPOND OR MORE ACCURATELY FELT STUCK. SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD TOWARD THE GUARD RAIL. AFTER SLOWING THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL IT FINALLY RESPONDED. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND SAT FOR A FEW MOMENTS TO REGAIN COMPOSURE AND CHECK VEHICLE. THERE WAS NOTHING OUTWARDLY APPARENT, NO FLATS, NOTHING UNDER CAR, NOTHING WEDGED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDERNEATH CAR. SHE EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND DROVE SLOWLY BACK TO THE HOUSE. THE CAR DID EXHIBIT SIGNS OF "STICKING" AGAIN, BUT DID...

AFTER CAR SAT OUTSIDE ALL DAY AT WORK IN 75 DEGREE TEMP STEERING WAS NOTCHY AND STICKY DURING THE ENTIRE 20 MIN DRIVE HOME. AFTER THE CAR COOLED DOWN IN THE GARAGE STEERING WAS NORMAL DURING DRIVE LATER THAT NIGHT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR GETS WARM FROM SITTING IN THE SUN. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS AND IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AS THE STEERING DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. BESIDES WHO WANTS A CONVERTIBLE YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE IN COLD WEATHER?? *TR

STEERING "STICKS" IN HOT WEATHER. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN GOING AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE, YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHEN YOU LOOSEN YOUR GRIP ON THE WHEEL TO ALLOW THE STEERING TO GO BACK TOWARDS CENTER, THE STEERING WHEEL STAYS IN THE SAME POSITION AND YOU HAVE TO USE FORCE TO GET IT BACK TOWARDS CENTER. THIS PROBLEM BECAME NOTICEABLE LAST SUMMER AND HAS OCCURRED AGAIN RECENTLY AS SPRING TEMPERATURES ARE GETTING HIGHER. MOST NOTICEABLE AFTER DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM WORK IN LATE AFTERNOON AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN UNCOVERED PARKING LOT. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MORE PRONOUNCED NOW THAN IT WAS LAST SUMMER. IN LOOKING AT VARIOUS BMW FORUMS ON THE WEB, THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS VERY WIDESPREAD, KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM BY BMW, AND VERY DANGEROUS. AMAZING THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. *TR

I DROVE THIS 2005 BMW Z4 WITHOUT INCIDENT WHILE IN ILLINOIS FOR THE FIRST 53,000 MILES. AFTER 53,000 MILES I LET MY SON DRIVE THE CAR EXCLUSIVELY WHILE IN SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA AND HE CONTINUOUSLY EXPERIENCES UNEXPECTED DRASTIC STEERING PULLS TO BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. CORRECTION OF THE STEERING REQUIRES BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CORRECT THE SUDDEN AND EXTREME PULLING. THE STEERING PULLING IS NOT EASY TO REPLICATE BUT OCCURS A FEW TIMES A WEEK DURING DAILY DRIVING. WHEN THE STEERING PULLS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALMOST CAUSES CRASHES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM VERY COMMON WITH 2003-2005 BMW Z4S WHICH BMW IS AWARE OF BUT HAS FAILED TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE MEASURES. I PRESENTLY HAVE 63,000 ON THE CAR AND IS DRIVEN IN THE WARMER CLIMATE OF ARIZONA. THE STEERING...

CAR'S STEERING STICKS ON CENTER POSITION MAKING NORMAL STEERING CORRECTIONS NOTICEABLY DIFFICULT. AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF FORCE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY STEERING CORRECTION WHICH CAN CAUSE AN OVER-CORRECTION. ONCE OFF CENTER, IT IS THEN DIFFICULT TO RETURN THE WHEEL TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS IN WARMER WEATHER OR IF THE CAR HAS BEEN OUTSIDE IN THE SUN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. *TR

CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN CAR IS WARM AND DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CAR ACTS AS IF THE STEERING IS STICKING OR LOCKING UP> YOU HAVE TO PULL ON THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO LEFT OR RIGHT TO GET THE WHEELS TO TURN. YOU MUST BE VERY CARE AND KEEP YOUR MIND ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING AT ALL TIMES OR YOU COULD BE IN CRASH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 10/31/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKY AND IT EXTREME EFFORT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM, THE ENTIRE STEERING COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 4 HOURS IN 85 DEGREE WEATHER. UPDATED 11/12/13

CAR'S STEERING STICK ON CENTER POSITION MAKING NORMAL STEERING CORRECTIONS NOTICEABLY DIFFICULT. AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF FORCE NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY STEERING CORRECTION WHICH CAN CAUSE AN OVER-CORRECTION. ONCE OFF CENTER, IT IS THEN DIFFICULT TO RETURN THE WHEEL TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPETITIVELY, MOST OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER. DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND WHO DOES REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, OR SO THEY SAY. BMW USA HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM; AND, THEIR RESPONSE WAS "TAKE IT TO THE DEALER." BY WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I AM READY TO SEEK ADVICE FROM MY ATTORNEY. *JB

DRIVING MY 2005 BMW Z4 HAS BECOME A NON OPTION WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 85. THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES RESISTANT TO TURNING LEFT, OR RIGHT FROM CENTER. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IT BACK TO CENTER AS IT WILL STAY IN THE TURNED POSITION. THIS IS A REAL SHAME, I DON'T KNOW IF THEIR ENGINEERS REALIZE THIS, BUT CONVERTIBLES ARE FOR WARM WEATHER. I WOULD EXPECT THIS FROM A GM OR FORD PRODUCT, BUT NOT FROM BMW WHO TOUTS AS BEING "THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE". THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND CAN NOT BELIEVE IT HASN'T BEEN ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 55 MPH AND COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT. VERY DANGEROUS. SAME CONCERNS AS OTHERS WITH THIS MODEL. WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS THESE CARS WILL CRASH AND HURT SOMEONE. PLEASE E-MAIL WITH SOME SORT OF A PLAN IN PLACE PLEASE. *TR

FIRST A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM: MY STEERING COLUMN TURNS SIMILAR TO THE FAN CONTROL SWITCH ON THE Z4 ? FROM DETENT TO DETENT AND NOT SMOOTHLY LIKE A VOLUME CONTROL ON A RADIO. IF YOU REACH FORWARD TO THE FAN CONTROL CONSOLE AND TURN IT YOU WILL NOTE THAT IT DOES NOT TURN SMOOTHLY IT GOES FROM STOP TO STOP TO STOP ABOUT EVERY 5 DEGREES. EACH STOP IS CALLED A DETENT. SO AS YOU TURN THE KNOB IT STARTS IN A DETENT THEN AS YOU TURN IT CLICKS INTO THE NEXT DETENT AND STOPS THEN YOU HAVE TO TWIST A BIT HARDER TILL IT CLICKS INTO THE NEXT DETENT. THAT IS HOW MY STEERING COLUMN ACTS WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. IT CLICKS INTO ONE DETENT AND THAT POSITION MAY NOT KEEP YOU DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. YOU TRY TO CORRECT IT AND IT WILL NOT TURN...

AFTER THE CAR RUNS FOR A LITTLE, THE STEERING GETS VERY STICKY. IT'S VERY CHALLENGING TO STEER PROPERLY AND WHEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE TURNS, I MUST JOLT THE WHEEL TO MOVE PASSED THE STICKINESS, RESULTING IN AN OVER CORRECTION. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY DRIVE, MANEUVER OR CONTROL THE STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE STEERING GETS VERY STICKY ON WARM DAYS, ABOVE 75 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. IT RESTRICTS THE STEERING TO THE POINT THAT IT IS HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM IS DEFINITIVELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

STEERING BECAME STICKY WHEN TRYING TO DO MINOR CORRECTIONS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT WITHOUT EXERTING CONSIDERABLE FORCE IN BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT DIRECTIONS. PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80F AND STEERING IS "NORMAL "WHEN CAR IS COLD. SUBSEQUENTLY, STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT EASILY RETURN TO CENTER, OCCASIONALLY CAR WILL PULL IN EITHER DIRECTION, NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL GO LEFT AND WHEN RIGHT. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN FOR $3500. REPLACEMENT IS OEM PART SO NO DEALER GUARANTEE THAT REPLACEMENT WILL NOT PERFORM THE SAME WAY. *TR

THE STEERING STICKS IN PLACE AND YOU NEED TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO SLIGHTLY TURN. AFTER JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL, YOU HAVE NOW OVER CORRECTED AND MUST JERK IT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGHER. IN TIGHT CONFINEMENTS OR TRAFFIC, THERE IS MANY TIMES NOT ADEQUATE ROOM FOR THE VEHICLE TO DART IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS BECAUSE OF THE STICKING STEERING. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STICKS, MOSTLY WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES BUT STATES "NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, SIMPLY A NUISANCE" THIS IS NOT TRUE. WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE WHEEL STICKS CAUSING DRIVER TO EXERT MORE PRESSURE, WHEN THE WHEEL FREES, THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE LEFT, OCCASIONALLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CROSS THE CENTER LINE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND ONGOING!! *TR

BOUGHT THE 2005 Z-4 BMW USED FROM A DEALER IN HIGH POINT NC. DROVE IT AND ENJOY DRIVING UNTIL THE WARM WEATHER. THE STEERING STICKS TO A POINT OF BEING DANGEROUS. TO COMPENSATE, I STEER TO THE LEFT AND CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT THEN I BRING THE STEERING BACK TOWARDS THE CENTER AND FEEL IT STICKING SO I COMPENSATE BY STEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE WHOLE TIME DOWN THE HIGHWAY I FEAR FOR MY LIFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I REALLY HAD TO CONCENTRATE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM STEERING OFF THE ROAD AND I'M SURE IT APPEARS I'M DRIVING ERRATICALLY TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE WARM WEATHER WILL SOON BE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND I'M JUST SCARED TO DRIVE IT. THE CAR OTHERWISE IS BEAUTIFUL. BUT IF I'M GOING TO BE A REPEAT CUSTOMER TO THE BMW LINE I NEED TO GET THIS FIXED OR THEY SHOULD...

STEERING JERKS TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR WILL DRIFT. WHEN YOU CORRECT, IT JERKS EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. A FEW TIMES ALMOST VEERING INTO THE NEXT LANE OF TRAFFIC. BROUGHT INTO BMW OF FT. MYERS. *TR THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. $3,487.60 PLUS $153.44 TO CALIBRATE, PLUS TAX. VERY, VERY DISAPOINTED IN BMW NOT HAVING A RECALL ON THIS. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ASIDE FROM SPEDING A LOT OF MONEY TO PURCHASE A "QUALITY????" CAR.

VEHICLE WOULD RUN FINE IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE DAY HEATED UP. AT NOON, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK AND MORE FORCE THAN USUAL HAD TO BE APPLIED WITH BOTH HANDS TO OPERATE THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, THERE ARE TIMES THE CAR WILL JERK LEFT OR RIGHT UPON BREAKING. IF THE ROAD IS SLIGHTLY UNEVEN, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED IN CASE THE CAR JERKS IN ANY DIRECTION. I HAVE TRIED UPGRADING THE VEHICLES SUSPENSION SYSTEM TO NO AVAIL. MAKES THE CAR FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT I WOULD LIKE THESE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR

ORIGINAL OWNER NEW 2005 Z4 BMW 18475 MILES STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING FEELS LIKE IT MAY NOT COME BACK WHEN YOU TURN WHEEL KIND OF LIKE FLAT SPOT ON COLUMN HARD TO EXPLAIN. *TR