10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 48,029 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. The contact stated that the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was unable to be driven. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 140,352. Updated 09/01/15 the consumer stated the entire steering column needed to be replaced. Updated 10/27/2015
- Valley Springs, CA, USA
My wife took the car for a drive and right in front of our house luckily with no warn the steering electic motor failed. The BMW dealer says the eps is bad but the only way to fix the problem is to replace the whole steering column at a low discounted price of 3750. Not sure why BMW can't just replace the defective part. My wife could have been in very bad accident if this event happened on the highway or even on the regular roads.
- East Lansing, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. While driving at 55 mph, the steering wheel turned in both directions independently. The contact had to constantly maneuver the steering wheel in order to keep the vehicle in position. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the steering servo column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,500.
- Winchester, KY, USA
I purchased a 2004 BMW Z4 convertible 2 months ago. For the first month, the car drove perfectly. The last month, the car has become undriveable due to a "sticky steering wheel" and the steering wheel locking (the steering wheel will not move). I have taken it to 2 separate dealerships and they have told me that the steering column needs to be replaced. The car is quite dangerous to drive at the moment and after reading about this issue online, it appears to be an issue in which a factory recall was set to be released.
- Richmond, WA, USA
When driving the vehicle the steering constantly gets stuck on the left side and you have to straighten the car by pulling the wheel firmly to the right causing over correction. You have to constantly fight the steering wheel to keep the vehicle straight. Very dangerous and irritating.
- Greenwood, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. The contact stated that the steering wheel was unstable while driving. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
- Jamestown, NY, USA
Steering got sticky in a middle of a 90 degree turn nearly resulting in a crash as power steering motor failed temporarily. We understand this is a common problem for this particular BMW vehicle, especially on hot days. Today it was around 85 degrees F. we have owned the car for 5 months and this is the first time this problem occurred, likely because this is the hottest day since the day we bought it in September of last year. We understand that BMW has received almost 50,000 complaints related to this issue and we also understand that NHTSA has seen it fit to close their investigation. We are baffled by this decision as steering problems can be fatal and obviously the defect lies in the manufacturing process and should be corrected by BMW before fatalities start to occur.
- Forney, TX, USA
Steering becomes tight and sticky, hard to make it track straight. Will not return to center after making a turn.
- Xenia Ohio, OH, USA
Steering is sticky, meaning extra energy is needed to steer the car at speeds above 35 mph. The vehicle will not track down the high way in a normal manner...
- Redmond, OR, USA
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 mph, the steering wheel locked without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that the steering column should be replaced, however, the repairs should not be considered a permanent fix since the failure occurs during warm weather conditions. The failure recurred on various occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000. The VIN was not available.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
Vehicle steering wheel locks. Driving on highway makes driving very stressful. Called BMW and they have no recall on this vehicle.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
On warm days, vehicle steering is sticky, hard to turn. Feels like lose of power steering. Vehicle also pulls either right or left depending on last movement. Hard to steer back to center. Upon further research, problem has been found to be the steering wheel column, but no action or recall has been taken. It needs to be recalled.
- Pasco, WA, USA
On a warm day steering is sticky, needs a lot of effort and car feels unsafe to drive.
- San Diego, CA, USA
When turning steering, the steering stacks. Not all the time but it got worse recently so that it become very dangerous.
- Alameda, CA, USA
The vehicle steering developed a sticky area that was very hard to get past. The steering was very hard to turn to avoid an accident. It continued and I slowed so another accident does not occur. The problem has continued at low speeds, but not as bad. I just got the car and was driving home.
- Clearwater, FL, USA
The steering has a hesitation. I have noticed it this summer around town, thinking the steering is just very tight since it is a sports car. BMW did some rebuilding of the front end last fall and there was no issue in the steering at that time. On 9/06/14 I realized at highway speed I was pushing hard occasionally in a curve to activate the steering. BMW gave the diagnosis on 9/24/14 that the steering column/electric motor R&R program eps (steering unit) -all, for an estimated fee of $3551.63. So BMW tells me they are sorry this has happened to my car and they offer me no assistance through the BMW company. I am not ready to pay this expense at this point. If the problem gets worse or to the point I fear for my safety, then I will have a repair made, at least at this point, I know I need to be prepared for hard steering on occasion.
- West Burlington, IA, USA
The steering on this vehicle seems to stick at times and you have to jerk it back to center to keep it in line on the road. Once it starts, it happens all the time. I am real concerned about the safety of driving since it is hard sometimes to jerk it back in line or straight. This has been happening for many months now and I am very concerned and don't drive it as much now.
- Naples,, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. While driving approximately 45 mph, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure occurred several times. The dealer determined that the vehicle experienced an electrical failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000. Updated 10/07/14 updated 3/23/2015
- Chattanoota, TN, USA
Steering sticks when temperature is warm. When driving have to pull steering back to center when steering either left or right. Usually occurs once temp is above 75 degrees. Difficult to keep car on road, have had multiple instances when almost went off the road. Extremely dangerous and have limited my driving of this vehicle due to the danger.
- Blossvale, NY, USA
- Lawton, OK, USA