2003 BMW Z4 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ISSUES ONCE THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING AWHILE. THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS, NOISES, OR WARNING LIGHTS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. MA 10/14 UPDATED 10/19/2017*CN

ON HOT DAYS(>75 F) THE STEERING IS VERY STICKY. I FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY, BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THE CAR WILL LOCK ON ME. REPLACING THE ENTIRE COLUMN IS BIT TOO EXPENSIVE SO I LIMIT MY DRIVING TO COLDER DAYS ONLY, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHEN YOU HAVE CONVERTIBLE. IT SEEMS LIKE MANY OWNERS OF 2003 BMW Z4 HAVE SIMILAR ISSUE. I'VE BEEN HOPING FOR YEARS THAT BMW WILL HAVE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS SUCH A NICE CAR, AND AT THE SAME TIME HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT IF IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE AND LACK OF RESPONSE FROM THE BMW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

ON WARM DAYS THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE STICKY. ITS NOT A FLUID AS IT IS WHEN CAR IS IN COOLER WEATHER. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THERE APPEARS TO BE MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH 2003-2005 MODEL BMW Z4 WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS I SEE THIS WAS NEVER RECALLED.

THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER LOCKS, THE SEAT BELT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THE TENSION HAS NOT BEEN GREAT. BUT THE SEAT BELT HAS FAILED. *TR

STEERING WHEEL WILL STICK IN THE CENTER POSITION WHEN HOT OUTSIDE. THIS CAUSES AN OVER CORRECTION WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING QUIT I LOST THE POWER STEERING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED THEY HAD BEEN REPLACING THEM FREE OF CHARGE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BUT I WAS OUT OF LUCK BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE GIRL I SPOKE WITH SAID SHE WOULD TALK TO HER SUPERVISOR AND SEE IF THEY COULD HELP. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BACK. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME THE PUMP FAILED IT DEFINITELY COULD HAVE BEEN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A HOT DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS IN THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. WHEN YOU NOTICE THIS AND USE THE STEERING WHEEL TO CORRECT IT FEELS A LOCKED. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RESPOND. WHEN IT DOES RESPOND, BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FORCE BEING USED, IT CAUSES A CHANGE OF COURSE THAT COULD TAKE YOU INTO ANOTHER LANE. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM HAS LED ME TO FIND THAT NOT ONLY DOES BMW KNOW OF THE PROBLEM THEY REFUSE ANY ACTION AND PUT THE $3500 BILL SQUARELY ON THE OWNER. IN MY MIND THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THE RECALL. *TR

STEERING LOCKS UP.. IF SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IT RELEASES.. WENT TO GET GAS.. SHUT OFF.. STARTED.. SAME THING WITH ADDITION OF AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON.. SHUT OFF SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO GET GOING BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR

STEERING LOCKS UP.. IF SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IT RELEASES.. WENT TO GET GAS.. SHUT OFF.. STARTED.. SAME THING WITH ADDITION OF AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON.. SHUT OFF SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO GET GOING BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR 245 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO PULL THE WHEEL TO STRAIGHTEN IT AND IS WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS UP TO TEMPERATURE. IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL CAUSE A FATALITY IF IT IS NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE READ THAT NHTSA CALLS THIS A "NUISANCE". IT IS NOT A NUISANCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY THE CAR MANUFACTURER. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 45 YEARS AND I HAVE DISSECTED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE ISSUE IS THE TOP BEARING IN THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN. IT IS AN OPEN BEARING AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SEALED BEARING. THE LOWER BEARING AND THE MEDIUM BEARING ARE FINE. THE ISSUE IS YOU CAN'T FIND THIS BEARING ANYWHERE; DEALERS TELL YOU THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3,000 TO $3,600. SHAME ON BMW! I JOIN THE OTHERS WHO HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS IN ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR