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.
After the car sits outside on a hot day when driving home on the highway between 55-60, the steering pulls to either the right or left and feels like it isn't going to unstick. It takes a lot of effort to correct the pull. It is very scary and definitely feels like something is terribly wrong with the steering. Three different days after sitting in the parking lot it did this when I was driving home. Never does it while driving to work in the morning from the garage and has never done it while driving in the evening or at night. We just bought the car from a different owner and of course she did not mention any problems. I am afraid to drive it to work now because it feels like it will get permanently locked up and I'll end up in the ditch.
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. The contact stated was driving 25 mph when the steering column began sticking. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the steering column would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,500. Updated 8/30/11 updated 09/27/11
The steering has a loud popping sound when turned to the left or right. Steering has become stiff. A mechanic is doing a thorough inspection and we are awaiting his final analysis of this problem. This vehicle has less than 3,000 miles but because it is a 2004, BMW will not cover this defect. Please notify me if further information is needed. I do not know if the vehicle is safe to drive at this time.
Steering sticks in straight position. Brought to dealer a few years ago and told nothing is wrong. Started driving again after a few years due to surgery, problem persists brought to repair shop, bad steering system. Acts up more in warm weather more so then in cool morning. Almost hit another car on highway, problem staying in lane. Told this is normal and has been approved by NHTSA. Dealer wants almost $5,000 to fix, I will have to sell car.
Steering problems when the outside temp. Is hot (85+) the steering sticks and requires considerable force to keep from running into on coming traffic or off the road I first noticed it after I bought it two weeks ago around 7-1 the car has about 50,500 miles on
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. The contact stated that when the vehicle was sitting idle for long periods, the steering wheel would become tight and would not operate properly. When the contact was finally able to maneuver the steering wheel it would only move in one direction. Once the vehicle was turned on and warm, the steering wheel would operate normally. The vehicle was taken to a personal mechanic who confirmed that the failure was within the steering column, but was non-repairable. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 25,000 and the current mileage was 53,000.
Vehicle has a steering issue where it becomes 'sticky'; it holds very tightly to the center position and is difficult to turn. Once it 'breaks free', it turns suddenly and is very difficult to control. The behavior is intermittent and tends to exhibit itself on hot days.
While operating vehicle on the highway, I encountered that the electrical power steering became stuck several times when turning the vehicle. This only seems to occur when the ambient temperature is high (<80 degrees Fahrenheit), especially during the summer season. This reoccurring problem has caused several situations that could have lead to potential crashes.
What does it take to fix a 2004 BMW Z4 that has notchy/sticky steering the car has 23000 miles on it appears to happen when the car is driven for 15-20 miles (is temp a problem) and why isn't there a recall on this problem this problem is very common and costly in the $3500-4000 range the steering column has to be replaced the car was purchased at BMW of chattanooga tenn in April of 2010 now I believe the car was sold to me with the steering problem it could easy cause a head on crash or you asked this BMW question on 6/24/2011 for $18.
The power steering becomes "sticky" in warm weather. There is no problem with the steering in cool weather. I keep the car in covered parking at most times making the steering only slightly sticky although enough to make freeway driving a constant state of over-correction to keep the car in a lane. On one occasion I left the car parked in full sunshine on a 100 degree day and the power steering did not work at all at highway speed making the car unsafe to drive.
My 2004 BMW Z4 experiences steering problems when the weather is hot. The steering becomes sticky and difficult to manage. It returns to normal after it sits int he shade. It is extremely unsafe to drive when the weather is hot. Although I am reporting this today it has been occurring off and on for over a year. I purchased the car in 2009 and do not drive it very much-5,000 miles since purchasing it. Would drive more if steering was not an issue.
1. steering sticks when the temp. Is around 80 degrees. 2. the steering becomes very sticking or slightly locked and requires extra force to correct, which sends the car off course. It seems to happen in warmer temps and higher speeds. 3. nothing has yet to be done. I took it to the dealer but they told me they couldn't replicate it. This seems like it should be a no brainer to have a recall. It is very dangerous to have your wheel lock on you when you're traveling 55mph.
On my 2004 BMW Z4 3.0I, on hot days my steering wants to stick and I have to use much more force than I usually have to make the steering move. In the winter I tend to not have this problem as much, but in the summer (I live in Texas) it gets very hot and the steering wants to stick more. This is a problem that needs to be fixed!! there are hundreds of other Z4 drivers that have the same exact problem as me.
Steering becomes unsafe in hot weather, steering will not center, and car is very hard to control, when you turn right or left steering will stick and cause you to over steer, and causes a very dangerous situation.
2004 BMW Z4. Electric power steering on warm days will become chunky or notchy in feeling and requires excessive effort to steer the car. This can cause more steering input than is required and when the steering catches up the car can react more than intended. Very dangerous and needs to be recalled even for multiple owner cars.
2004 BMW Z4. Electric power steering on warm days will become chunky or notchy in feeling and requires excessive effort to steer the car. This can cause more steering input than is required and when the steering catches up the car can react more than intended. Very dangerous and needs to be recalled even for multiple owner cars.
Several years ago, I noticed that my 2004 BMW Z4 lost its otherwise smooth steering after being parked in the sun on hot days. The steering would become sticky and required extra and inconsistent effort to make low-speed as well higher-speed turns. This occurred most frequently during the initial part of the turn rather than well into it. These events were infrequent as I rarely park out in the sun, but very disconcerting. When I had the car in for regular service to the dealer I complained about the phenomenon but always got the "can?T reproduce the problem? and ?it?S normal? response. This spring, however, I have had the ?sticky? problem on several of the hotter days even though I park in a garage which has me very concerned that the problem has gotten worse. Internet research has revealed that NHTSA has an active investigation into this issue and various forums report similar or more severe experiences. I read that BMW has responded to NHTSA that this is primarily a ?comfort? issue, but I strongly disagree. Driving is highly instinctual, developed through experience " having your steering wheel suddenly hit a sticky point in mid-turn can easily trigger an adverse reaction such as forcing over-steering resulting in leaving the roadbed. Although I have been fortunate to not experience that, I must be much more diligent, alert and on-edge.
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- Middleton, WI, USA