Problems with 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING

In warm weather has a sticky steering problem as it seems to stick when you try and turn the wheel. and than releases with pressure and than you over steer. have seen many people having same problem. only time before this causes and accident. *tr

The steering is the only problem but your web site insists on my selecting at least 3 affected parts. in any case, the steering recently became jerky and notchy while driving. after several days of this, i took it my local foreign car repair specialist and they diagnosed a problem with the electronic power steering. ultimately, they replaced the entire steering column at a cost to me of $4100. this was a very unsafe condition making my control of steering tenuous at best and one that you have received numerous complaints about. *tr

The steering on the car becomes notchy and twitchy, especially at higher speeds and in warm weather. the steering wheel hangs up like there is a flat spot somewhere in the system. it takes extra physical effort to move the steering off that flat spot. the steering wheel will intermittently stop responding to driver input for a short range. then suddenly start working again after extra applied pressure on the wheel. when the steering is in the notchy/twitchy condition it will pull to one side. this is not a safe situation because you are constantly correcting the steering to gain control of the car. i have been advised the problem is grease on a bearing in the steering column. the bearing is not sealed and the grease is exposed to hot temperatures. the problem can be repaired by replacing the bearing with a new improved version, bmw does not offer the bearing on it's part list, but does recommend replacing the steering column at a cost of $4000.00. *tr

Steering is sticking pulls to the left then to the right very difficult to keep car straight on the road sudden jerking of car when turning the steering wheel turns but car doesn't turn with the turn you have to force the turn and then you get pulled in other direction very very unsafe! feels like you're going to be pulled into a crash! these steering columns need recalled and fast! *tr

Driving down the highway steering became very sticky, wheel would just jerk back and forth whenever i tried to switch lanes. brought it to the dealer the next day who said, oh yeah that's just stiff steering. when i explained it more, he fessed up that oh yeah he had heard of that too and it was a power steering issue and not a good thing and dangerous to drive. he said that the whole steering column would have to be replaced, the quoted was $4100 to fix it! after doing some research on line i'm flabbergasted by how many people have had this issue and how many people will have this problem as this is a recreational vehicle for most people and they probably haven't driven it enough yet to find out this will occur. this should be a recall no company should get away with putting out a defective product and making the owners pay for it later. *tr

The vehicle tugs on uneven road or when turning n highways at high speed. it is difficult to keep the car steering straight. just bought this as a used vehicle with no crash history. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. the contact stated that while driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized and became difficult to turn without warning. the vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. the mechanic informed the contact that the steering wheel would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 222,000.

Once the car had warmed up i noticed the steering would "stick"and i had to use force to get it to stay aligned with the road. *tr

This has been a continuous problem. i just had the front struts and other front end work done figuring it would fix the problem, it didn't. in researching the problem and talking with other bmw z4 owners, this happens on all 2003-2005 bmw z4. there is a problem in the steering column. it will cause an accident, especially when it happens a high speed. when the car has been running awhile (longer than 1 hour, most likely heat related), the steering becomes very, very stiff and feels like the steering wheel is locked, and to move the steering wheel you must exert an extraordinary force to make it move. the problem continues to happens at all speeds until the car sits awhile (cools off). at high speeds this can make you over correct and force you out of your lane. if i ever come up and an object in my lane (i.e. tire fragment from a truck) and i have to move out the way and there is another vehicle in the next lane, it is very possible i could sideswipe that vehicle and cause an accident. the defect has been corrected in other vehicles by installing a new steering column from earlier year bmw z4 (2008 or earlier), so it seems that bmw knows of the problem and has corrected the defect. bmw just needs to make it right with all the vehicles effected. i know from research that this has been looked at before (2010 or 2011) by the nhtsa, but no recall was issued. this needs to be reopened and a recall implemented. these are low mileage and well maintained cars, and will still be on the road for a number of years. if this was on any other massed produced car (gm, faulty ignition), there would have definitely been a recall by now. i don't know how to tell you how serious this defect is, but it is dangerous! i will not allow anyone else drive this vehicle. thank you!

The steering becomes "notchy" or "magnetic" during hot weather. it gets stuck in a position and requites force to move it from that position. this often happens turning the vehicle at low or high speeds when turning the wheel to change lanes, follow a curve, or make a turn. it is dangerous and can result in an accident. *tr

The steering on the car becomes 'notchy' and 'twitchy' especially at higher speeds and warm weather. the steering wheel will intermittently stop responding to input for a short range of input, then suddenly start working after a limited range. while driving at high speeds in a straight line, the steering will suddenly pull to one side requiring that the steering wheel is held straight very firm or the car will lunge to the side. the issue was diagnosed by two different bmw repair shops. both concluded the electronic power steering is failing and the entire steering column needs to be replaced. estimated repair cost is just under $4,000. *tr

The steering would take a "set" meaning it would take effort to move the wheel. the temp that day was above 80 degrees (this has been ongoing with this vehicle). no smooth motion to compensate for steering adjustment. continual compensation with both hands as not to over correct. this is a dangerous situation and bmw needs to address it asap. *tr

2004 bmw z4 purchased used in 2011 with just over 60k miles on the odometer. at just under 70k miles the driver noticed steering seemed stiff and when entering a curve the steering wheel would freeze in locked position until manually corrected upon which time it would feel as if the front wheels were on a patch of black ice momentarily! outside temperature was above 80 degrees. did a search on this vehicle no accidents. however it was discovered many complaints (242) on this or similar steering problems. i called bmw of north america and spoke to a public relations rep. who informed me that bmw was unaware of any such problems with this year model steering. i replied that this seems odd since i had just looked at 17 pages of such problems on-line? i scheduled an appointment with my local dealership and asked to speak with an experienced technician concerning the problem. the service manager checked with one of their technicians! he confirmed that he had seen this before and the steering column would have to be replaced. when i purchased this car i also transferred over an extended warranty at a cost of $1,000.00. so i will only be out my $100.00 deductible. parts and labor will be in excess of $4,000k if a dealership tech is aware of such problems with a particular make or model you would surely think that bmw of north america would also be aware of the same such findings! something smells and its not german chocolate cake!

When temperature reaches above 75 degrees, the steering sticks when driving. it sticks to which it makes it hard to steer the wheel left and right. almost had two accidents on the way home. *tr

Your question about the incident date only allows for one date. the knotchy ,sticking steering wheel happens all the time when outside temperatures hit 75 degrees. this steering malfunction has been documented many times online in bmw z4 forums. all you have to do is pull up z4 steering online to read a multitude of concerns and examples of bmw stonewalling. this steering issue on 2004 z4s is very serious!!! the correction needed when this happens calls for a quick jerk of the steering wheel to stay straight. unusual effort is needed to keep the car in it's lane. *tr

The steering is very sticky and jolts left and right. i have found through some research to be a common problem among 2003-2005 bmw z4 owners. it is not safe to be cruising down the highway jolting back and forth. *tr

Steering became somewhat unresponsive while driving at highway speeds. it was as it the steering wheel was sticking. reducing speed did not seem to help, temp outside was 71 degrees and sunny. checking web forums, this is a problem with this car. bought this used approx 4 weeks ago, concerned that if steering continues to function this way, could cause an accident as you try to over compensate for sticking issue. *tr

My wife was passing through a toll booth when the steering suddenly pulled to one side, she was able to correct and avoid hitting the concrete barrier. this issue has happened on multiple occasions and is always the same. car will pull to one side or the other and you have no control over the situation. it has happened on various road surface types from smooth to grooved. we have the factory tires on the car and no modifications to the car. front end alignment is correct. we purchased the car used from a dealer with 58,789 miles in mar 2013. *tr

I previously filed a report about the electronic steering wheel column, poor steering, sticking prior to having it fixed on this date. i had not found the paperwork for it until after i submitted the report. the tracking # 11300634.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. the contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the steering wheel could not be turned. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the steering column needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure was reported to the manufacturer. the vin was not available.the failure mileage was 60,000. the current mileage was 62,000.

Steering has a rubbing and scraping noise when car is barely moving, such as in driveway or parking lot. at speed, steering becomes sticky and jerky. i just bought the car in march 2013 and it has 50,000 miles on it. does not seem to be caused or affected by temperature. i am too concerned about this issue to let my wife or daughter drive the car. i have had the steering shaft lubricated, but that did not help anything. *tr

Since i purchased my 2004 bmw z4 on march 13, 2013 i have experience very annoying and more importantly unsafe issues with my vehicles steering especially at high speeds. at first i thought it could have been the alignment but after doing extensive research online and bmw forums it appears this is a common problem for the e85 (2003-2005) bmw z4 roadsters. "need a new steering column to fix "sticky steering" prob with the eps @ $3,300. my 2004 z4 is a "pleasure" car with 17,000 miles. not a pleasure to fight the steering on the road." -taken from one of the forums. fortunately i have another vehicle i drive daily and don't have to commute daily in this vehicle. however when i do drive it it's definitely noticeable not only by me but my passengers, it's scary even. i purchased my car with 69,500 miles which really is quite low considering the year and i am very disappointed to find something that has cost me so much to obtain gives me an uneasy feeling everytime i drive it. wish i could afford to have the problem fixed but being a college student i simply don't have an extra $3,000+ to spare to spend towards the repair. anyways hoping enough grievances will be filed and eventually bmw will own up to the problem and be willing to work with its many unhappy customers who are literally hazards on the road due to this "sticky steering" problems at high speeds. thank you *tr

Steering sticks when vehicle gets hot or sits in the sun. *tr

This problem appears when the outdoor temperature gets above 70, or my vehicle sits in the sun all day. there is a problem with the steering at all speeds - the steering wheel feels like it "sticks" in one position and i have to force it back in the opposite direction to correct the course i'm on. then it "sticks" in that position and i have to be very vigilant with every curve in the road. it scared me last week because it was the worst it had been since it first began doing this last year. i live in the foothills of california and curvy roads are the reason i love driving my z4. last week, the steering problem seemed to take more energy and more corrections to force the wheel back in the direction i needed the car to be moving. when the weather is cooler, the steering is precise and effortless. i was shocked to have to deal with correcting the path of the vehicle numerous times for each curve! it was an exhausting ride home; i don't feel safe when the car performs like this. *tr

Steering wheel / response feels "sticky and notchy" when steering column is hot. have to fight steering wheel when traveling at high speeds. does not happen in cooler temps. i have read that this is an internal bearing issue with the steering column. dangerous! *tr

Bought used 2004 bmw z4 in aug 2012, steering seemed fine, it had 39k miles on it. now at 44k miles the steering has become notchy, wobbly feeling and the car darts around. had alignment done in jan 2013 but still a problem. looking at the number of complaints filed already, i am not alone. i would be happy to pay out a small amount to fix this but it seems to be a 3k-4k fix from what i've read. bmw needs to recall or else come up with a fix that doesn't involve replacing the whole steering column. what do you say bmw? *tr

I own a suspected z4 with a nhtsa reported "sticky steering" issue i can tell you a little more about it. the problem has nothing to do with the boost. when the car gets hot (summer hot) the steering gets notchy in that when you put the car in a slight turn, like changing lanes or going around a slight corner, the steering literally sticks in that position causing the driver to apply opposite pressure to "break" the wheel loose from the turn followed by another stick wherever the wheel is brought back to. problem is that it causes massive over steering issues at high speed unless you are looking for it. extremely dangerous at highway speeds! bmw knew about it and released multiple pumas (their equivalent of a tsb) and even redesigned the suspect column, but refused to replace the older ones out of warranty. these are $3000 before labor and bmw has flat out told me that they won't cover a single dollar of it. i guess we will see nhtsa forces their hand! i am scared to death to drive the vehicle i had to jerk to out of another lane several times and you must work extremely hard to keep it straight. please do something before someone gets hurt. *tr

When i am driving at any speed, my steering wheel does not feel as though it is moving smoothly, as i would expect from a precision-engineered bmw. in fact, it sticks to the point that it will not move unless it is jerked forcefully to the left or right. this jerking is not a big problem when i am driving at 20 to 30 miles per hour. however, when i am driving on a highway at 40 or more miles per hour, the sticking of the steering wheel becomes a serious problem because when i jerk the wheel as hard as i have to in order to unstick the steering, the car swerves so dramatically that i could easily lose control of the car and hit another car, especially in rain or other precipitation, and cause property, or worse bodily, damage to others or myself. what i find ridiculous about this is that i am expected to pay $5k to replace the steering column without any guarantee that the replacement part will last any longer than the original part, at which time i will have to pay $5k yet again. *tr

While driving the steering light comes on and the steering locks in place. when u try to force it the car stalls out and the steering stays locked .. extremely dangerous!!! *tr

For some time my bmw z4 2004 has been having a "notchy" feel to the steering. today it came to a head as the steering completely locked on me. i was 2 blocks from home after just exiting a main high way i drive every day to and from work. i am so lucky i was already off the main road or a major accident would have happend. no steering, completely locked. i have done many internet searches and aparently i'm one of many that have had this issue. fix the issue bmw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *tr

I recently bought this car and the dealer talked about a steering issue with the z4 models where they don't feel like the steering will center. i didn't have a chance to put miles on the car until today where i found out what he was talking about and had time to research it. this is a very well known issue and it looks like you have investigated it previously but it still is a very real problem and makes the car unsafe to drive. while driving after the car is warmed up the steering will feel as though it sticks as you try to drive a straight line. at around 40+mph the car will pull right or left with the steering nearly impossible to adjust to center. you can have the car pulling to one side, say traveling at 60mph, it will pull you to the right at a rate of 2 feet for every second. you have to nudge the steering wheel as it is not fluid (feels like it is stuck) back to the left and then it will pull left at the same rate. it is a battle of constant adjustment to fight in trying to center the car. if you have traffic around you it could be an accident waiting to happen. i request that this issue is re-opened as a safety recall. i have reviewed the information you received from bmw regarding steering warranty claims and with just over 12,000 bmw z4's produced and nearly 10% (1,1xx) of them having a filed claim regarding steering issues, one would see that this is a major flaw. warranty work is not always requested, thus why there are still more on the street that need high cost repairs and causing unsafe driving conditions for the driver/passenger as well as surrounding vehicles. *tr

Immediately after purchasing this vehicle we noticed difficulty steering the car. the steering is very sticky and erratic. it is actually scary to drive. has a tendency to veer off and possibly wreck. i just hope it does not take x number of accidents/deaths for the manufacture (who is aware of the problem) to fix this unacceptable steering problem. my personal research has revealed that there are many many owners of this make and model vehicle have complained to the manufacturer about this exact same problem. if any information is needed or if you wish for me to elaborate, please feel free to email or call me. thank you. *tr

I have a sticky steering problem on my '04 z4. i took my z4 to an independent mechanic who specializes in bmw's, i asked him to look at the steering problem. he took the steering column apart and found a bearing that is anything but good engineering. there is a bearing in the middle of the steering column that is not sealed. with time and with heat the lubricant gets dry and cakes up. he told me this is what is making the steering sticky. he cleaned out the bearing and put in new lubricant and my z is fun to drive again. now for the bad news: he told me it is a temporary fix, the result of lousing engineering/design. the bearing is in the middle of the steering column. it is not a sealed bearing. the bearing is not replaceable. bmw does not list it as a part - you have to buy the entire steering column assembly (parts and labor over $3500). i have read hundreds of blogs on this subject in which other z-4 owners are having the same exact problem. several things that i noticed while reading these blogs: anyone that contacted the dealership were told that they have never heard of the problem before. it is funny that each blog stated the exact same statement from the dealerships. the second thing was that they recommended that the steering column be replaced. if they have never heard of this problem before then how can they assume that replacing the steering column is the correct repair for the problem, bmw should step up and take responsibility for this problem and recall all z-4?s before someone gets killed, or seriously injured. bmw cannot deny the existence of this problem. *tr

While driving at normal speed the steering became sticky and made it difficult to maintain control of the car. minor steering adjustments are near impossible without jerking the car from side to side. this car is extremely unsafe to drive with this condition. *tr

I had this car built and am the only owner. initially, still under warranty, the car needed a new convertible top. after that, for years, i had a 'sticking' when i would steer the car making the car very difficult to control or turn. this deterred me from driving the car as much as i wanted, and certainly from taking it on any distance trips....basically enjoying the car. initially i thought the car may need new tires or an alignment, but it was diagnosed as the electronic steering column. from reading bmw chats and forums, i found this was a very common problem. i tried to contact bmw directly, but to no avail. i finally had to pay for the repairs myself, costing over $3000. the other problem that has continued is the abs brake light will illuminate for no apparent reason. i have had my mechanic look at it, but can't seem to find a definitive cause. often when the car is turned off, and then restarted, the light goes off...but will sometimes, not all the time, come back on again, both at higher speeds and also during city, low speed driving. i baby this car so much, only drive it seasonally, and it seems to spend more time in the shop being repaired or maintained. i think it was a 'lemon' from the onset. bmw was negligent in helping cover some expenses that many others have reported!

As i backed out of parking space, power assisted steering failed. i managed to drive vehicle with much increased steering effort. it is doubtful that my wife could have managed to drive. vehicle was towed to dealer where the steering column is being replaced. *tr

At high ambient temperatures the steering sticks. it sometimes is just a distraction, when it is at it's worse i believe it is dangerous, not so much on wide open roads, but very much so on narrow roads. when it is at it's worse the car may dart as much as two feet. *tr

My 2004 bmw z4 exhibits severe steering issues when driven during warm (=> 75 degrees) temperatures. under these conditions the ability to steer the vehicle can become very unpredictable to downright dangerous. during the summer of 2012 and as recently as this week i've experienced incidents where the inability to effectively steer this vehicle has led to several 'close calls' which nearly resulted in a collision with other vehicle. while this is a known issue that plagues hundreds if not thousands of bmw z4s produced in the early to mid 2000s, bmw has never issued a recall. it also appears the while the nhtsa has investigated this problem they ruled that a 'safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted'. how can this be?! how can a manufacturer assume no responsibility for vehicles with a potentially life-threatening issue? has there ever been a more applicable case for a recall?! further, how can the nhtsa, an organization that's supposed to be 'dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety' permit this to happen? this very well-known defect has rendered my z4 unsafe to drive and i feel it's bmw's responsibility to correct the problem so that it no longer exists. i would also urge the nhtsa to reexamine this potentially life threatening issue based on the number of vehicles (and drivers) if effects. *tr

Steering sticks when outside temperatures are hot 90deg+. i noticed this condition last year in the summer months every time i drove the car in the heat (n. texas summer) the car had about 39000mi. on it. the steering wheel literately feels stuck in a position and takes abnormal amount of effort to turn/change direction then it's like it just suddenly releases and causes you to over-steer the car it feels unsafe driving especially in traffic or driving close to a hwy barrier/construction zone etc.. my wife started driving the car today and said the steering felt like it was sticking, and that she had to use considerable force to change direction and the car would dart due to having to overcompensate for the stuck condition, she said it scared her. best description i can give is to compare the steering to an electrical switch e.g. (fan blower switch) that has a detente or click between the speeds and how it takes additional effort to change from one speed to another. i have been reading the forums and blogs and there are many people experiencing the same problems with 2003-2005 bmw z4's so i am adding mine to the list. since this is a safety issue i believe bmw should step up and recall or take care of this apparent design flaw within the steering system. these cars become unsafe to drive when this condition arises. *tr

When driving with air temperature above 80 degrees the steering becomes sticky/notchy making it difficult/dangerous to keep the vehicle in the travel lane at any speed.

I have a 2004 bmw z4 with 32,000 miles on it. i have an issue with what i will call sticky steering. when hot, the steering wheel will bind and require extra effort to move, resulting in over steering in order to correct the sticking. at all speeds this can be dangerous and at highway speeds this can be particularly dangerous. *tr

Steering sticks in the afternoon, when outside is hot around 90f. i noticed this condition this summer when drove the car after work. the car had about 38000mi. on it. the steering wheel literately feels stuck in a position and takes abnormal amount of effort to turn/change direction then it's like it just suddenly releases and causes you to over-steer the car it feels unsafe driving especially in traffic or driving close to a hwy barrier/construction zone etc.. i had to force to change direction and the car would dart due to having to overcompensate for the stuck condition. i know there is problem with the steering, but not sure what particular causing the problem, my best guess is the eps system. i have been reading the forums and blogs and there are many people experiencing the same problems with 2003-2005 bmw z4's so i am adding mine to the list. since this is a safety (safety! safety!) issue, i believe/wish bmw should step up and recall or take care of this apparent design flaw within the steering system. these cars become unsafe to drive when this condition arises. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The steering wheel gets stuck while driving and car doesn't stay in lane infact needs constant significant adjustments to keep it from accidentally getting into another lane. the issue has occurred multiple times and was an inconvenience so i didn't pay a lot of attention but it's more like a safety issue now with controlling the car becoming more and more difficult on freeways. nhtsa has identified this issue pe10020 as not significant and i sincerely hope they investigate it further and take some serious action before it causes irreparable loss. bmw needs to own up to a manufacturing defect as its not wear and tear and fix this. *tr

If the vehicle is hot, while driving, the steering will hang up in the 12:00 position and you have to use more force to get it through this position, causing to vehicle to over-steer. it's been getting worst and the bmw dealership can find the problem, even though i've sent them computer links describing the problem.

After the car had set out in the sun on a hot day, steering was very stiff. i could not steer fluidly. if i tried to slightly adjust the wheel to the right, the wheel would not move. i would apply more and more pressure until it would finally move. but since i was applying so much force it would jump passed the desired point. this would cause me to have to correct to the left where the cycle begins again. keeping the car in the lane is now very difficult. *tr

The car steering "sticks" at highway speeds. it becomes a pain for keeping the car in the lane. it is as if the power steering for fine adjustment turning quit working. the car may be tracking straight, all is fine until a slight drift right or left. to adjust the car takes considerable effort making fine steering nearly impossible. when alert and no other cars on the road, not a problem. with moderately heavy beltway traffic moving at high speed and must stay in lane, it can get frightening. the problem is worse when it is warm out, but appears intermittent. when severe, it is highly dangerous. it requires a lot of concentration, any lapse in concentration could be disastrous. there is no indication of a problem from the power steering warning indication light. i had a 4 wheel alignment, balancing and tire rotation performed at 105,000 miles. the car seemed to run true then, but it may have first happened as early as 112,000 miles, but barely noticeable. it has become pronounced enough at 115,000 miles to make a complaint. i checked the websites and found many other owners experiencing the same issue and nothing anyone can find anything wrong to fix it. realignments don't fix the problem. ultimately, extremely expensive repair suggestions like "replace the entire steering column for $3000" are made. this is totally unacceptable. to be honest, it feels more like an issue with the power steering fine steering ability to me and shouldn't require replacement of all steering linkage components. it is a safety issue and bmw should issue a recall to fix all cars with this problem. *tr

Steering binding when moving steering to left or right from the center position

The steering wheel does not self center properly. you have to apply turning pressure to the wheel and when the pressure overcomes the stickiness the wheel turns but not smoothly. then you have to do the same thing the other direction. so if you are attempting to drive in a straight line you are forced to constantly correct because the previous stickiness cause you to over correct. the internet is full of complaints, some are even afraid to drive the car. mine is not yet that severe but i fear that at any time it may stick harder and. or cause an accident. please advise me what is being done about this problem and the time frame. i do not want to get killed first. *tr

Brought my car out of storage for the year. while driving it would pull both to the right and to the left depending on lane choice. steering wheel feels like it is clicking from one position to another. constant steering input required to keep it in a straight line. alignment is fine, tires are properly inflated and balanced. it's like the steering wheel is slipping from one position to another without moving it. *tr

On first hot day of the year (85 degrees f), the car was very difficult to steer at highway speeds. it felt like the steering wheel was "sticking". it took extra effort to move the steering wheel, causing the car to turn more than desired. i feel this is very dangerous. *kb