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.
Electronic power steering has intermittent faults/errors due to a manufacturing defect, resulting in complete loss of power steering. BMW acknowledged this issue and did a recall in 2012 for 2012 model year Z4's - NHTSA campaign id number: 12V302000. The scope of the problem is well beyond the 162 vehicles that were addressed with the recall in 2012.
Eps failed while driving on state highway. Power steering alarm came on and steering became very stiff and hard to steer. Pulled off the road and turned car off and back on. Fault reset but the alarm ocassionally still sounded. Took to BMW service, checked out and said the eps box needed replaced. Dealer serviced car and continued to drive car for five months. This time steering failed again while driving, but the steering returned. Headed to home and steering again failed and alarm came on. Steering now is stiff and cannot drive. There was a recall (12V3002000) Nov 2011 through 2012 was recalled. My car mfg in Oct. 2011. So BMW said our car was not covered. I feel BMW should look at earlier cars as this is very dangerous. If my wife would have been driving the car when this failed she would not have been able to overcome the steering failure. First failure at 74,000 miles.
Failed eps module while driving. On the highway going about 60mph on a 90 degree day. Eps warning light (along with parking and ESC lights) popped up and steering froze. After some force could get steering to move... slowed down and got off highway. Luckily was only going straight and was not passing or in a turn, very dangerous and scary. After turning the car off/on - all warning lights except eps steering reset. Car power assisted steering now randomly goes on/off. Dealer stated there is an open recall for this issue but only for the 2012 model year. Well it appears the same issue is also on the 2011 and it almost killed me. Luckily I was going straight and not passing or in a turn. Dealer also mentioned the failed module is not a reparable BMW part and the entire steering assembly needs to be replaced... so a very expensive invasive procedure to replace a part that can fail again on a hot day. Voltage issue apparently was fixed in the 2012 model year but not on the 2011. NHTSA should review the recall 12V302000 as the 2011 model year apparently also has this same issue as luckily I just lived through it.
- Falmouth, ME, USA
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Electric power steering failed. Steering system failure warning light came on. The steering wheel began to shake, and the steering wheel would turn a few degrees with power assistance and as I continued to turn the wheel power assist went away requiring excessive effort to turn. This first appeared on start up as I was driving out of my driveway.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW Z4. While driving various speeds, the power steering seized and made the vehicle difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering mechanism needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V302000 (steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Powhatan, VA, USA