Steering problem with 2003 bmw z4. Constant problem causing it to be difficult to turn the wheel. Being repaired today ( 10/14/2010). Elect. Motor on the power steering.
2003 BMW Z4 steering complaints
Page 10 of 13: complaints 251 to 280 of 342, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My bmw z4, vinxxxxxxxxx, intermittently has a notchy feeling in the steering as if there is a restriction preventing the steering wheel to be moved to the direction I want to go. This has been going for a half a year. Now I am intermittently loosing the power assist steering without any warning. This is very unnerving when traveling in heave city traffic. The bwm dealer is not taking this as a very serious safety problem. Thus far no repairs have been suggested or performed.
The steering on my bmw z4 was sticking and hard to turn. The steering didn't want to return to center. While driving on the freeway through a curve, the steering was hard to turn, wouldn't return back to center and had to make numerous adjustment to keep the car within the lane. It was very unsettling and could easily have caused an accident. This has happened several time in the past and it seems to happen predominately on warm days.
Steering gets heavy and "sticky" at high speeds.
After car had been sitting in the sun on a 90+ degree day, my steering became very difficult and "notchy". Wheel would not return to center position when I let go of wheel.
The electric steering on my 2003 bmw z4 will stick and I must jerk the wheel to get it to turn back when the car is drifting. My dealer says they do not know what is causing this to happen. It seems to happen when the temperature is above 80 degrees. I feel this is a dangerous situation because it causes oversteering when the wheel has to be jerked back.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. While traveling 20 MPH and attempting a left turn, the power steering warning light illuminated as the power steering assist simultaneously failed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer yet the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileage was 66,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. While traveling 10 MPH the contact noticed that the steering wheel will suddenly lock and that the power steering warning light would appear on the dashboard . The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The contact noticed prior that the failure tends to occur during warm weather. The failure mileages was 28000 and the current mileage was 30000.
At outside temperatures above approximately 80 degrees, the steering develops a notch or dead space that requires more than average pressure to overcome, thus making the steering jerky and potentially dangerous in an emergency situation.
2003 bmw z4 power steering binds up during high ambient temperatures (over 90 f) especially when the car is left in the sun all day. Whenever the steering wheel is not moving it sticks in that position requiring tremendous force to get it to move from that position and turn the car. It will stick going down the road then you have to force it to break loose to correct the car's direction, then it sticks in this new location and you have to break it loose to return the wheel to straight ahead. When you break the steering loose it makes an audible thunk. This behavior causes the car to dive into the next lane or onto the shoulder of the road making it impossible to drive at highway speeds and dangerous to even drive at 35 miles an hour. The bmw service department claims the car has never exhibited this behavior for them, and it will cost $3700 to replace the power steering.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. The steering wheel locked while driving at either a slow speed such as 35 MPH or 65 MPH and when he made a left or right turn. The contact stated that he had to pull the steering wheel in either position whenever it locked in order to allow it to move. The vehicle was not taken to nor was the manufacturer notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 24,000.
I have been having on problems with the steering on my 2003 bmw z4. When temperatures are high(over 80 degrees). The steering becomes sticky/notchy and basically feels as it the steering wheel is locked in position. The car feels difficult to control and unsafe. The most recent incident was august 31, 2010.
My 2003 bmw z4 has sticky and/or binding electric power assisted steering control when the temperatures are 75 degrees or warmer, making the car difficult and dangerous to steer. Because of this, oversteering results, which causes the vehicle to lunge into the next lane or onto the shoulder. This becomes a serious safety issue when changing lanes or making minor steering corrections. The problem goes away overnight when cooler temperatures prevail and the power steering unit has had a chance to cool down.
While driving our bmw z4 the steering seems to get locked in to a position which requires more a lot effort than normal to steer. We have to hold the steering wheel tightly with both hands to avoid over steering. I see there are many more people who are having this problem when I googled z4 steering. It is quite prevalent on the bmw forums.
Vehicle is a 2003 bmw z4. I have experienced three steering malfunctions in the past 2 years. Each occasion resulted in loss of control with the vehicle swerving across oncoming lanes and back off the shoulder.. Most recent 8/12/2010. The dealer indicated they had no knowledge of the problem and without an occurrence probably would not be able to determine parts or service to correct. This happens suddenly with no warning and goes away just as it appeared with no action on my part. This is a deadly issue. I do not understand why this continues to be an issue considering the number of complaints I have since found on the internet as voiced by other owners.
Issues with the power steering intermittently shutting off and then back on. If it were to occur at the wrong time or in the wrong situation, it would have dire results.
For several months, my 2003 bmw z4 has felt like it was slightly stuck in the center position while driving on the freeway or highway. Recently, the steering has failed completely on engine start-up. In other words the car will barely turn. After it happened, I discovered it will work if the ignition is turned off and then re-started. However, the car still sometimes displays the stickiness in the wheel, especially on warmer days. The car will steer but seems to get stuck slightly when the wheel is centered. In searching for a solution online, I discovered that this has been a problem for many cars of this model.
While driving my 2003 bmw z4 during hot weather the steering response is very poor. The car does not seem to want to remain on a straight path and steering is seems to be very heavy. It is almost like the car has a tire that is very low on air pressure.
Steering becomes sticky when outside temps reach 85+ degrees. The car does not feel safe to operate at highway speeds when this is occurring. Basically it feels like there is an invisible barrier that must be broken past when turning from center to left or right, excessive force is required to move past center to other directions and can lead to steering the car further in either direction than desired. Bmw has done nothing to address the issue on their own and from what I understand it is a very expensive fix.
I sometimes notice after my 2003 bmw z4 2.5i has been parked, it seems as if the tires and steering wheel are misaligned and the car drives to one side as if one tire was flat. This only has happened at lower speeds soon after I start driving, and eventually seems to go away after the car has been driving for a couple minutes. Nothing has been done now to remedy the problem but I plan on giving bmw a call to see what they can do for me. Thank you for your time.
At above 80 degree fahrenheit temperatures, the steering sticks on my 2003 z4, and worsens as the heat increases. It is very hard to correct steering on the highway as it tends to stay in one position and will eventually lead to an accident. This is a serious problem on many z4's and bmw doesn't acknowledge the problem.
Experiencing very similar issue as documented under the federal safety agency action number pe10020-steering/steering column/power assist system becoming difficult to steer while driving in excess of 50mph. Contacted bmw customer relations and received no assistance only recommendation to take to service dept.
Steering wheel stiffens up and feels as if power steering turns off. Happened once, did some research and found it to be a common problem.
My bmw z4 2003 suddenly has a steering problem where the wheel "sticks" in place and "catches" before allowing me to steer properly. Bmw dealer was notified of the problem and asked that I not drive the car but that I bring it in for a look. Obviously they know it is dangerous for me to drive!!!
2003 bmw z4 at times the steering becomes very tight. It seems that the steering on warm days becomes very tight, when the steering wheel is in the center it takes more force then normal to turn the wheel, making you over steer the car. When this happens you feel like the car has a mind of it's own.
2003 bmw z4 roadster has an intermittent sticky steering issue that adversely affects the ability to control the direction of vehicle in traffic. The condition is due to high ambient temperatures or after parking car in hot weather. The steering wheel will not allow the driver to steer a straight line without constant, sudden corrections that require use of the entire lane of traffic. A bicyclist was almost struck by vehicle which prompted this complaint. The failure happens every time the car is driven in weather above 75 degrees f and parked in sun. The condition will dissipate when car is parked in shade or temperatures fall for a prolonged period. Bmw dealer servicewriter was contacted and knew nothing about other z4 vehicles with electric steering having this issue. Dealer advises replacing the entire steering upper column assembly and the lower rack and pinion with an estimate of $4943.00. Owner is exploring options for repair or replacing vehicle with a newer model.
My 2003 bmw z4's electric power steering stops working on hot days. The loss of assist get worse as speed increases. Yesterday at 97 degrees it was virtually impossible to drive the car. The steering is extremely difficult and when the steering wheel is released, the car does not return to center.
I own a 2003 bmw z4 roadster that seems to have an intermittent steering problem. When the temperature rises, the steering feels heavy, requiring added force to return the steering to center position. The result is jerky steering and some difficulty in steering in tight circumstances. My dealer denies any knowledge of other complaints. Following internet research, I know other are having a similar problem.
On a hot day, the steering seems to stick when you turn the wheel. The steering wheel does not return to center after a turn. It makes the car want to wander all over the road, particularly on curving roads.
Sticky, notchy steering feeling when the car has been exposed to temperature above 80f. Car becomes more difficult to control at freeway speeds.
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