2003 BMW Z4 Complaints

The contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds in hot weather, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and would also jerk the vehicle into the next lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the battery to be replaced. The dealer replaced the battery however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

During very warm days in the summer the steering wheel tends to stick during turns. It requires extra force to continue to turn the wheel which becomes problematic during a tight turn or on highway on-ramps.

Car has 15,000 miles and always stored in climate controlled garage. Drove it today and within 1/2 mile the electronic power steering failed making it very, very hard to steer. Shut vehicle off and restart and the problem goes away but only for a minute or two and then returns.

I purchased this BMW Z4 from a private seller on Thursday (3/10/22) located in Myrtle Beach, SC. On the way home (187 mile trip), about ¾ of the trip, I was driving about 55 mph on 701 North and the steering felt as if it was sticking to the point where moving the wheel took a effort to unstick it which put me into oncoming traffic in the other lane. I almost was involved in a head-on collision! The vehicle has only 39K miles on it. The previous owner had this issue in April of 2008 and took it to a BMW dealer who advised them that the repair would cost $2,950.00. The previous owner declined the repair because they couldn’t afford it and the dealer told them that BMW will probably issue a recall AS HUNDRES OF Z4 OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. The vehicle also drifts to the left and attempts by the previous owner to have the vehicle aligned to correct this have failed. The vehicle had only 13K on the odometer at the time BMW advised of the faulty steering column.

On hot days the steering becomes sticky like there is a catch. It will also pull to one side or the other making it very dangerous to drive especially on the interstate.

I JUST PURCHASED Z4. DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM DURING TEST RIDE. ON MY WAY HOME DURING PURCHASE STEERING BECAME AN ISSUE. THE CAR WOULD BE DRIVING FINE THEN WHAT I WOULD A DEAD SPOT WOULD APPEAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY SHIFT LEFT OR RIGHT WHAT SEEMS A FEW INCHES. THIS CAUSES DRIVER (ME) TO COMPENSATE TO AVOID GOING IN DITCH OR CROSSING A LANE OR GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES ON MY 70-MILE TRIP HOME.

THE FIRST ISSUE IS THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE MAKING THE WHEEL HARD TO TURN. ADDITIONALLY, AT RIGHT ABOUT THE STRAIGHT POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL THE STEERING WILL STICK (CONSISTENTLY FIGHTING THE WHEEL TO STAY CENTERED). STAYING STRAIGHT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AS YOU CONSTANTLY BATTLE THE RESISTANCE BACK AND FORTH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IT IS QUITE DISCONCERTING AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN ME SIDE SWIPING ONCOMING VEHICLES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT BMW NEVER ADDRESSED. RESEARCHING THE MATTER I'VE LEARNED THAT A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AND LABOR WOULD BE IN THE $3000-4500 RANGE AND THE PROBLEM WOULD LIKELY REOCCUR IN THE FUTURE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. WORSE, AS MOST PEOPLE IN MY POSITION ARE UNABLE TO PERFORM A REPAIR AT THAT COST, I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE MANIPULATING THEIR STEERING COLUMNS WITH MIXED SUCCESS ULTIMATELY CREATING AN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS POTENTIAL SITUATION. THESE METHODS INCLUDE DRILLING INTO THE STEERING COLUMN AND ADDING GREASES AND LUBRICANTS THAT WERE NOT DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM, WITH NO SHORTAGE OF RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS ESTABLISHING THIS ISN'T A "IF IT HAPPENS", BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS. DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM, I DARE YOU, AND TELL ME IT IS NOT A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. DISAPPOINTED. I'D APPRECIATE IF BMW WOULD REACH OUT TO ME AND REMEDY THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A STEERING WHEEL, ONE OF THE MOST BASIC AND NECESSARY SYSTEMS ON A CAR TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO BE DEFECTIVE WITH NO REMEDY AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY BY BMW AND "DO IT YOURSELF" REMEDIES WILL UNDOUBTEDLY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY. BMW SHOULD PROVIDE A FIX FOR THOSE Z4S AFFECTED STILL ON THE ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.

I HAVE A 2003 Z4 WITH 25K MILES. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. SPOKE WITH A BMW MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE COST IS $3000. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL??

AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION MY Z4 IS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING 'STICKY WHEEL' EVIDENTLY THIS WAS FOUND IN MANY Z4'S IN OR AROUND MY YEAR OF CAR. I WAS SURE THAT I WOULD SEE A RECALL FOR MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE BUT NEVER RECEIVED ONE. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS, BUT THE BMW DEALERSHIPS SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. WHEN I LEARNED OF THIS RASH OF 'STICKY WHEEL' ISSUES WITH MANY Z4'S ... I QUESTIONED BMW. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE (BASED ON MY VIN #) WAS NOT RECALLED WHILE OTHERS WERE. I ONLY USE THE CAR AROUND TOWN AT SLOW SPEEDS AS I AM IN FEAR TO USE IT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT ALL TIMES WHEN STEERING BUT IS WORST AS SPEED INCREASES. I FEAR THAT I COULD EVEN LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AT SOME POINT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE TO TAYLOR BMW 4180 WASHINGTON RD, EVANS, GA 30809 WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE SERVICES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V247000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.