This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Steering is sometimes "sticky" -- when the steering wheel is turned from its current static position, higher than normal resistance to turning is felt. Once the initial resistance is overcome, the resistance lessens, resulting in a tendency to turn the wheel further than was intended. This makes it difficult to smoothly steer the car on its intended path and results in the car wandering from side to side. The problem is intermittent and seems to happen only in hot weather. No repairs have been implemented yet to the vehicle (I have only recently acquired it).
2004 BMW Z4 sticky steering when it's hot out. Something with the power steering or some other steering component makes it so that the steering wheel takes extra force to initiate a change in the position of the wheel. The effect is most noticeable at speeds 35mph or higher, it's most pronounced at highway speeds where minor corrections are important and should not take much force. This could easily result in too much steering force being used in the wrong situation.
2004 BMW Z4. My power steering is "sticking" as per the PE 10-020 investigation. Very disconcerting when effort is needed to "break it loose" to turn the wheels. Results in a "jerk" of the car in the direction of the turn.
I own a 2004 BMW Z4. I have noticed in the past that the steering "sticks" sometimes on the highway....typical light-touch attempts at straightening out my path don't do anything, the wheel doesn't turn. If I put more pressure than usual into the turn, the car "snaps back" and turns, but turns too far due to all the pressure I'd put on it. It's a real road hazard. I just read in the newspaper about how this is a common problem with them and is being looked into, so I would like to register my official "me too".
Steering wheel "sticks/catches" both to left and right of top center. Problem is only evident when temperatures are above 80F and at speeds above 40 mph. Have experienced this problem since buying the car over two years ago but it is sporadic. Have taken it to the dealer several times but they were not able to duplicate the issue until this week. Dealer was finally able to experience the problem and will replace the entire steering column (scheduled for week of 7/12/2010). BMW will pick up cost of parts but I must pay for labor.
- Wadsworth, OH, USA
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2004 Z4 steering sticks at unpredictable times causing several near miss incidents due to loss of control of the vehicle. I must yank the wheel hard to turn the steering wheel. Happens at low and high rates of speed.
I have a 2004 BMW Z4 3.0. when driving on a hot day the steering seems to "stick" in turns making it difficult to control. The car has approx 20000 miles on it.
I have a 2004 BMW Z4. I am writing to make a complaint about the way the vehicle steers. When at higher speeds, you have to use more force than should be to steer the vehicle. This then causes over-steering of the vehicle. I also wrote a complaint to BMW of America about this concern.
In warm weather my BMW Z4 steering sticks. You have to really pull the wheel to get it to "unlock." I've almost smashed into several people in adjacent lanes because of this. A recall needs to be issued.
2004 bmx Z4, steering became unresponsive while driving at highway speeds. Over correction to regain control narrowly avoiding traffic and center divider. At slower speeds it felt like there was no steering fluid in car. Very difficult to turn. BMW dealer had replacement steering column in stock it took 2 days to replace at a cost of $2942.02.
The power steering on my 2004 BMW Z4 periodically becomes very firm while driving, making it difficult to smoothly make minor corrections to the direction of travel. One time it was so severe that in the rain I ended up briefly loosing control of the car. Thankfully I managed to regain control without hitting anything or any one. My partner and I have since been very attentive to the steering in this car and have noticed many anomalies, especially in high temperatures. Repeated inquires at the dealership -- including test drives -- have turned up no identified problems as far as BMW is concerned.
I have a BMW Z4 2004 with 24000 miles. The car has a serious steering problem so I am afraid to drive it. This car will not steer straigt and wonders all over the road. I took the car to BMW dealer and they wanted $2500. To look at it.
I own a BMW Z4 and recently heard the news of possible steering problems. I am experiencing these problems now. My car has 26000 miles and the steering seems to stick and release as I turn through gradual turns. The feeling is very noticeable.
I am stuck with a 2004 Z4 with the sticky steering syndrome. After it is warmed up the steering sticks in position and is difficult to move from point to point. We had been driving for 50 or 60 miles with the top down and the heater on so the engine was warmed up. That is when the issue first appeared and we almost had a head on accident on highway 101 South of cannon beach, Oregon. The syndrome seems to appear only after the car is warmed up. We bought the Z4 one year ago at about 37000 miles and the current mileage is 42667. BMW regional management has decided not to support any reduction of their $3259 charge to replace the steering mechanism which is supposed to fix the problem. The sticky steering syndrome is well known as a safety hazard on the NHTSA site and elsewhere on the web yet nothing has been done about it to this date. This looks like another Toyota like safety issue. Is the NHTSA listening or does someone need to die before a recall is issued?
After the car sits in the hot sun (anywhere above 75 degrees) the steering starts binding/locking up at all speeds. Although it seems to be worse when driving at hwy speeds. When driving around a slight curve the steering does not return to center as it should nor is it easy to get the car to straighten back out. I have to force it back to center which usually ends up causing me to over correct and move close to or in the other lane. I first noticed the problem last summer, but since I only drive the car on weekends I didn't pay much attention to it last summer. It was fine during the winter, but got significantly worse when it got warm this year. I took my car to BMW of nashville and was told that the problem was the steering column and that it needed to be replaced. (I'm currently waiting on the replacement column to come in and be replaced) after doing some research about the problem I've found that there are hundreds of other Z4 owners that have experienced the same problem and bmwna has not acknowledged that there is a problem. I contacted bmwna myself and although they didn't acknowledge there was a problem, they did offer me a 10% discount on the $3900 repair. I believe this is a factory defect in the car and that they all should be recalled before someone gets killed if there haven't already been fatal accidents.
I recently purchased the Z4 used with ~60K miles. As the weather has warmed up in NJ recently I have noticed the steering become sticky. The warmer it is the more prevalent the problem. When the steering locks it is necessary to jerk the wheel to break the lock resulting in an over correction. It is difficult to keep the car centered in the lane and I'm worried this will result in a serious accident.
In warm weather (> 75 degs F)steering becomes stiff. Difficult to keep car on straight track. Steering will not self-center. Safety concern at highway speeds.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- New Market, AL, USA