Problems with 2004 BMW Z4 STEERING

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. while traveling 65 mph, the contact noticed that the steering wheel would continually over steer and would become stuck in position. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was 94,000, and the failure mileage was 46,000.

2004 bmx z4, steering became unresponsive while driving at highway speeds. over correction to regain control narrowly avoiding traffic and center divider. at slower speeds it felt like there was no steering fluid in car. very difficult to turn. bmw dealer had replacement steering column in stock it took 2 days to replace at a cost of $2942.02. *tr

The power steering on my 2004 bmw z4 periodically becomes very firm while driving, making it difficult to smoothly make minor corrections to the direction of travel. one time it was so severe that in the rain i ended up briefly loosing control of the car. thankfully i managed to regain control without hitting anything or any one. my partner and i have since been very attentive to the steering in this car and have noticed many anomalies, especially in high temperatures. repeated inquires at the dealership -- including test drives -- have turned up no identified problems as far as bmw is concerned. *tr

After winter storage i took my 2004 bmw z4 out of storage to find the steering sticks. after cornering, i must jerk the steering wheel back to center. this caused me to run off the road for a brief moment while i gathered control of the car. there were no injuries, but that is just by luck. the problem persists despite having the car and tires checked out. the problem is worse at higher ambient temps. *tr

Steering wheel "sticks". requires force to move to either side from current position. happens almost daily when temperature is above 85 degrees. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. the contact stated when driving at a minimum of 50 mph in warm temperatures, the power steering would sporadically fail. in addition, the vehicle would abnormally veer from left to right. the dealer advised that the steering column would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 25,000 and the current mileage was 34,388.

I have a heat-related steering problem with my car that has been noted on other bmw z4s. normally the car handles quite nicely and is very responsive. however, whenever the car has been sitting at a high ambient temperature (high 80s or above), when driven, the steering wheel is very non-responsive-sticky and doesn't track back to center. this is a serious safety concern since so much force is required on such a small car to make what should be minor corrections while driving that several times i've almost ended turning into an adjacent lane on the freeway while trying to drive a straight line. i am very hesitant to drive the vehicle on warm days (which means most days here in the south) due to my concerns about a possible accident due to the defect. unfortunately i do need to use my car. this problem has been known for several years and has been reported to bmw on several occasions. despite this, my dealer professes confusion about what could be happening and has told me that when the car has been taken for a test run (not on the freeway and not during a warm day), it's handled fine. meanwhile, i'm left driving what can only be considered a dangerously defective car that could quite easily cause a serious accident when driven under normal, even careful, conditions. *tr

When ambient temperatures are high (e.g. >85-90f) (compounded by car being in direct sunlight), the steering becomes difficult to control. specifically, normal steering wheel input translates into erratic, jerky movements on the road. the steering wheel will not return to center and the car generally is difficult to control (i.e. maintain a straight course, requiring constant and exaggerated steering wheel input). this condition is transient (i.e. steering returns to normal when the ambient temperature drops); however, driving when the steering is compromised as described above is unnerving and without a doubt increases the risk of an accident occurring due to a potential loss of driver control (e.g. on wet roads, multi-lane highway traffic). when this occurred a second time, i immediately took the car to the bmw dealership to report it. the bmw dealership subsequently confirmed the problem as described above and diagnosed a failed steering column unit. bmw na has offered to pay for 50% of the repair with the other 50% being owner's responsibility (car was approx. 2.5 months out of warranty). judging from the proportion of similar complaints filed with nhtsa on the z4, this issue doesn't appear to be isolated and warrants further investigation. *tr

The day i purchased my used 2004 bmw z4, i noticed a problem with the steering wheel "sticking". i called the dealer and was told it was normal with that particular car. over the years, there are days that it drives normally with no steering problems, but for the most part, the steering wheel starts really sticking when the car is going over 20 mph or i should say, it's harder to control the steering wheel at a speed in excess of 20-25 mph. the bmw dealer where i live now told me that it was happening because i don't drive the car often enough. and it's true that i don't drive very often - i just rolled over 50,000 miles and the car is 14 years old. i have many times had to pull off of the highway or drive with my hazard lights on because i wasn't able to stay within my lane due to the steering problem. i get frightened to drive anywhere except the city streets near my home where the speed limit is under 40 mph. i am going to contact the dealer here in ok again and see what they can do to fix this issue once and for all because my car has become unsafe to drive in a normal fashion.

2004 z4 - i have experienced on several occasions in warm weather 70 degrees or more were my car steering loses "tension". in other words the steering will become loose. when turning steer left or right, the car hesitate to react for approx. 2 to 3 seconds. it continues straight until seconds later it will "engage". *tr

In warm weather about 75 and up steering gets sticky and cannot correct smoothly.*tr

Steering system is somewhat non-responsive when weather is hot. *tr

2004 bmw z-4 , steering problem. feels like steering locks up or binds at highway speeds. force must be applied to overcome lock-up. impossible to drive car smoothly, change lanes, pass other cars. i purchased the car used with only 21,000 miles, but warranty was up in 6/2008, purchased in 8/2008. tom bush bmw of jacksonville says car needs a steering column assembly replacement at a cost of $2575.08 cost to me. i feel problem has been on the car since purchased new. car came from off lease in ohio and driven only limited amount. steering lockup more noticeable on warm to hot days, which is when we drive the car here in florida. please offer assistance. car seems unsafe to drive. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. the steering wheel failed when the temperature was over 85 degrees. it was difficult to make right and left turns and drive normally without veering into another lane and loosing steering control. the dealer stated the failure was located in the steering column assembly. the estimated cost to repair the steering assembly was $3,400. the manufacturer is aware of the failure and stated that they will investigate and let her know if they will assist with the repair cost. the failure mileage was 62,938. updated 10/5/09 *cn updated 10/07/09

I bought a bmw z4 used in august 2007 with no noticeable problems. this year (2008), there have been a few heat waves in june and july in ny and i noticed that if the car sits out in the sun for a few hours, the steering becomes sticky, jerky and hard to control. after being in the shade to cool down the steer becomes smooth, controlled and normal. i've started researching this issue and have found many online forums with owner comments complaining about the same problem. there appears to be a fix from bmw but my car is now off warranty and will entail me paying for these repairs out of pocket. this appears to me to be a major safety issue and manufacturers defect which should have been fixed under a recall (either mandatory or voluntary) long before i purchased the car in '07. i hope the nhtsa is aware of this serious problem and can take appropriate action to have it corrected by bmw. thank you. *tr

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. *tr

Steering has a "notched" or "sticky" feel to it when traveling on highways at speeds around 50mph and higher. when the need to turn arises and the steering wheel "sticks" in the 'notch", it requires extra effort to get the wheel out of the notch, causing "over steer" with difficult recovery. i won't let my wife drive the z-4 as i feel this is a dangerous characteristic that could result in an accident. my dealer was notified of the situation but was "unable to duplicate" the fault; (prior to my warranty running out). on the following service, with my renewed complaint, the dealer was able to duplicate and identify the problem. my bmw warranty was expired, but i had purchased an "extended warranty", however the "steering" problem was not covered under the new warranty. the cost for repair was in excess of $3000.00! i have parked the car except for local slow speed, cool day rides. i understand that the nhtsa has looked into the problem. i have not heard anything from my bmw dealer yet. ??? a computerized "brake sensor" light has been on for many years and has been unable to be remedied. the dealer checked the brakes and they are fine, just can't get the "sensor light" to stay out. *tr

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. *tr

First noticed the issue in 2009 after a long drive on a very warm summer day in new york. started noticing a "sticky/choppy" reaction to the automatic steering which became pronounced while on a curve, and required quick action to "right" the wheels to avoid a crossover to the opposite lane. i became more and more aware of the problem as it seem to relate to long drives on hot days. since this vehicle is only driven in the summer time, i can not testify to this steering problem in the colder winter months. however, i am constantly vigilant to this issue now. contacted bmwna to check for recalls, but received no response or acknowledgement that the steering was faulty. this could be a dangerous situation, and i ask for your support in contacting them. thankyou *tr

Tl* 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.

2004 bmw z4 - regardless of the conditions, the steering wheel is "notchy" or sticky while driving straight down the road. naturally, when driving down a road, you are required to make minor rotational movements with the steering wheel to remain in a driving lane. in order to keep the vehicle in the lane with this sticky steering wheel, extra force is required to rotate the steering wheel, causing the driver to swerve slightly. this problem is a major concern as sometimes it becomes problematic and dangerous when the wheel sticks around turns and narrows lanes. dealership states this is "normal" and has not been resolved. *tr

When driving in hot weather, the steering wheel get very sticky and need extensive force to be maneuver. i went to my dealer and they said they need to change the eps and that its not cover since it happened 1 month after the end of the warrantee. its seem that a lot of owner have the same problem but their is still no recall from bmw. i now live in canada but my car is from the state and i am filling a complaint so that bmw would be force to act on this dangerous problem.

Steering problem at 45+mph with vehicle, steering is very sticky going straight, constant corrections cause over steering, steering wheel does not return to neutral position on curves leading to dangerous conditions, tested to 75 + mph, gets worse at higher speeds of freeway driving. just took possession of used vehicle under warranty. *tr

The steering locks up in hot weather forcing me to over compensate when driving. once the car cools down steering feedback returns to normal. *tr

Under normal driving conditions at moderate speeds, the steering has a tendency to lock up either towards the right and left causing the car to veer out of the lane spontaneously. there is no return of the steering wheel to center and constant pressure in the opposite direction is required to avoid collision with adjacent vehicles. this occurs on slight curves on the road and occasionally on straight roads under all weather conditions.

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. since 2008, the contact noticed that the steering was difficult to turn and would lock up. the failure has since worsened due to the hot weather. the manufacturer stated that there was no recall and advised him to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. the failure mileage was 32,000 and current mileage was 39,000. updated 9/1/09 *cn updated 09/09/09*jb

Steering sticks in high temp. *tr

I own a bmw z4, and it is my second one i own, and it has a sticky steering column that acts up in hot weather, and it creates for very unsafe steering. i have had my entire steering rack replaced in my last z4, and now my second car is doing the same thing, but bmw of fremont cant duplicate the problem. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. while driving 40 mph, the steering wheel locked without warning. the steering became unlocked after the steering wheel was pulled, however, it caused the contact to over steer. the weather was 90 degrees at the time of failure. the dealer was unable to duplicate or repair the failure. the current and failure mileages were 17,400.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. while driving approximately between 45-50 mph on normal road conditions. the steering wheel exhibited a notchy sensation. the driver was able to continue in operation. the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on three separate occasions for the identical failures. the battery was replaced. the technician recommended replacement of the power steering column . the vehicle has not been repaired at this time. the failure mileage was 8,000. the current mileage was 18,000. updated 01/12/10. *lj updated 01/13/10

Driving at highway speeds when the temperature was above ninety degrees the steering became 'catchy' meaning when i tried to do normal corrections it would 'stick' like it was stuck in some kind of groove, requiring me 'force' it past the sticking point, which would result in an over correction, which in turn would require me to correct in the other direction - resulting in a weaving in the lane. the issue continued and on occasion, seemingly related to temperature, was bad enough to force me off the highway and on to surface roads where the speed was less. i mentioned it to the dealer and he said he cold not repeat the problem. this occurs every year when it gets hot and the last time i was at the dealer he said the electronic assist steering in the steering column needed to be replaced at a cost of $4,000. i researched this problem on the internet and it seems there are quite a few other people who have the same issue with the steering with this car and other z4's from 2003 on, some with mileage less than the 29,000 miles i had on my vehicle when it first occurred. i find it interesting that the dealer discovered what the issue was after my vehicle was out of warranty. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. the contact was driving 55 mph when the steering wheel became difficult to steer. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 15,000 and the current mileage was 62,000.

I bought this car brand new. it currently has only 39k miles on it right now (2012) so one can easily see that i drive the car only for leisure/pleasure. i live in upstate ny so can only drive the car seasonally. i initially thought the sticking/notching was due to the poor run-flat tires (which always seemed to set off the dashboard sensor that there was not enough air in them and then perhaps an alignment issue. this is my first bmw, so i thought that it might be attributed to being more difficult to control (even at lower speeds like 35-40mph) because it was a performance car. i complained to the dealer but they claimed they had "never heard of such a problem," and it "wasn't happening" for them. so yet another year would pass and the car would be stored for the winter. with such limited time to drive the car, i overlooked the "notching" of the steering.... until this year when there were no more possible excuses! i replaced all 4 run flat tires with all-season radials, had the car completely aligned, convinced that this would solve my problem. i was very wrong! i was and am shocked that bmw would allow 14+ pages of complaints dating back to 2005 without doing a recall on this matter!! does a life or lives have to be destroyed due to something catastrophic happening with the steering before bmw takes action? this is the supposed "ultimate driving machine" that i dreamed of having for decades. i'm outraged to learn that the prestigious bmw company does not seem to care much about its customers safety and well being. i would like to be contacted by nhtsa as well as bmw and will continue to pursue this matter until i and all of us that are experiencing these problems are given the recall and resolution to the mechanical problem that we deserve. *tr

When the car sits in direct sunlight for an extended period of time the steering becomes difficult to control with no center balance. the only way to correct this issue is to park the car in the shade and wait for the steering to return to normal. *jb

When temperatures are above 80f the steering sticks and requires more input to overcome the resistance. once it overcomes the resistance it over corrects so that you have a zig zag driving pattern. i was told bmw is aware but there is no fix although online message boards state many have had their cars repaired. *nm

I have a bmw z4 2004 with 24000 miles. the car has a serious steering problem so i am afraid to drive it. this car will not steer straigt and wonders all over the road. i took the car to bmw dealer and they wanted $2500. to look at it. *tr

Sticky steering problem, this was replaced in 2006 under warranty by bmw, at about 2000 miles. now feb,2013 i have the same problem. i have less than 12000 miles on vehicle. i feel this is unsafe because it will cause you to jerk the wheel think you need to steer hard. *tr

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. *tr

While driving with top down in cold weather with heat on high, steering became sticky/notchy. i couldn't make smooth steering corrections, only course ones. after car was allowed to cool overnight, problem went away. *jb

My bmw z4 yr. 2004 during hot weather seems to have a steering problem. yhe steering sticks and feel notchy, on the highway it almost caused a accident due to try ing to steer and over compinsating. thank you

In hot weather or after vehicle has been left in sun for a few hours steering becomes sticky and jerky. must apply excessive force and constantly overcorrect to keep car on course. extremely difficult to enter and exit slight turns, change lanes, etc. *jb

Steering sticks, usually during warmer weather, 70 and above. *tr

In very hot hot weather the steering becomes dangerously off-center.

The z4 has an power steering problem that seems to have issues at higher speeds and temperatures where there seems to be a loss of power steering where there is a significantly increased effort to turn the steering wheel. i feel extremely unsafe driving the car and don't feel like i have control of the steering and have a lot of trouble keeping the car in the lane. sometimes the steering feels like it is stuck. i think that the car is very dangerous to drive and i am now afraid to drive the car since i am a woman and may not have the proper upper body strength to control the car! *tr

I have a 2004 bmw z4. i am writing to make a complaint about the way the vehicle steers. when at higher speeds, you have to use more force than should be to steer the vehicle. this then causes over-steering of the vehicle. i also wrote a complaint to bmw of america about this concern. *tr

Problem: eps steering gets very sticky after car has sat in direct sunlight for a few hours. minor steering corrections are nearly impossible. problem clears up after car has been garaged for a couple hours and allowed to cool. this problem makes the car feel very unsafe to drive. i am constantly worried it might fail entirely at some point -- hopefully not while i am driving it. problem was first noticed at the end of summer last year (2004). car was purchased in july. this year, it has begun already (since mid-april 2005).

2004 bmw z4 3.0. the steering is sticky when ambient temp over 90 degrees outside. dealer states no problem. read the news and saw the nhtsa is investigating. you guys are welcome to drive mine to see the problem in action. when it is hot outside (as it often is in jacksonville, fl) the car is difficult to drive in a straight line because of the "sticky steering." *tr

I own a 2004 bmw z-4 with 18,648 mi on the odometer. i have the same steering problems as most other owner's. the steering is over reactive, the problem is more pronounced in warm/hot weather. at times it feels like the power steering is sluggish or not working. when turning right or left i can feel a chattering in the steering wheel. when i went to the, he told me his mechanic said there was no problems with the steering and there wasn't any thing he could do any way. i have checked on line and there seems to be a lot of unhappy owner's out there. i feel that this is safety defect and should be addressed as soon as possible. my wife is the principle driver of the car and she has complained of steering control problems. i am concerned about her safety and other drivers of z-4. can you help me!! *tr