Twice this month, while operating the vehicle, the power steering completely stopped functioning, causing the vehicle to be almost uncontrollable. No prior warning light. When I purchased the vehicle in 2018, the same problem occurred and the dealer replaced the steering column under warranty. In researching online I find that this is a common problem with this model. I am surprised to find that there is no recall notice for what is a major safety concern.
The worst 2004 BMW Z4 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Steering378
- Airbags18
- Electrical14
- Lights6
- Visibility4
- Body3
- Brakes3
- Driver assistance3
- Transmission3
- Acceleration1
- Seats1
- Suspension1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 BMW Z4
Jerking 42Steering lock-up 23Power steering loss 16Pulling 14Engine failure 10Loss of power 5
Recalls 1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, under certain environmental conditions, a vapor lock in the fuel pump could occur causing the engine to stall. If this were to happen, the engine would not be able to be restarted for approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
- Risk
- If stalling were to occur, the driver would be unable to maintain vehicle speed or accelerate, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a resistor in the electrical line powering the fuel pump in order to prevent an occurrence of vapor lock. The recall began may 11, 2004. Owners should contact bmw at 1‑800‑831‑1117.
Recall number 04V182000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 2004 BMW Z4
Defect investigations
Sticky Steering
ODI has evaluated the sticky steering condition, which included reviews of complaints and warranty claims, interviews and surveys of owners of complaint vehicles, road tests of complaint vehicles, and a review of BMW's engineering and test data.ODI found the sticky steering condition does not result in a significant steering effort, thus the impact on the driver's ability to control the vehicle does not appear to be significant.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.See the attached report for additional information.In addition, during this investigation, ODI became aware of allegations of failure or loss of electric power-assisted steering on the subject vehicles.As a result, ODI is separately reviewing this issue to determine whether additional agency action is needed.
PE10020
Bmw airbag light illumination
Bmw is conducting a safety recall campaign on approximately 200,000 my04 through my06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05 to correct the front passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat. The specific vehicles included in the recall aremy04- 06/ 5-series with standard and sport seats, my04-06/ x3-series and my06/ 3-series with sport seats. In addition, bmw will extend the warranty coverage of the passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat to 10-year/unlimited mileage on approximately 120,000 remaining my04-06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05. The specific vehicles included in the extended warranty are my 06/ 6 series, my 06/ 3-series with standard seats, my04-05/ z4, my04-06/ 7 series, my 06/ x5, and my04-06/ 5-series with comfort seats.the average frequency of failures among the extended warranty groups was less than 1/7th of the recall vehicle groups.please see bmw's 08v‑384 recall notification for further detailsdepending on seat configuration and vehicle geometry, the occupant detection mat can fatigue during use depending on the manner and frequency of the front passenger's entry and exit.specifically, over time, micro-cracks could develop in the side flanks of the mat causing a broken circuit.a brokencircuit can lead to the deactivation of the passenger air bag and the illumination of both the air bag warning light and the passenger air bag light.
EA08001
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 BMW Z4 42
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few...
- Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may...
- Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal...
- Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been...
- Power Reduction FC2A82 Intake VANOS and/or FC2 A87 Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Fault: The "Service Engine Soon"...
- "Outside Door Mirror Moves when Locking or Unlocking the Vehicle
- Navigation system: reporting missing or incorrect road map data
- Whistling Noise Coming from the Center Vent
- Valve Stem Replacement with Wheel Electronics
2004 BMW Z4 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6‑cyl | RWD | 18 | 26-27 | 21 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 17-18 | 25-27 | 20-21 |
What 2004 BMW Z4 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Power steering wheel went out of power during a trip at about 70mph. Yellow light at the dashboard went ON then so, car became imposible to drive or so.
Power steering stopped working.
The electric steering gets sticky when very often. It feels locked in its position and requires extra force to unstick, once its past the sticking point it over corrects and causes the vehicle to swerve. This failure seems to be quite common and is well known. It seems to be a manufacturing defect inside the electric steering column. I believe it should be investigated by the federal safety agency. The last time it happened my car went off onto the soft shoulder. The manufacturer should repair the steering. It’s a widely known issue.
When driving the steering is loose or sticky. The problem gets worse when the weather is warm. Sometimes it’s hard to keep the car driving in a straight path. This is scary and dangerous. His occurs whenever the car is driven. Other z4 drivers are having the same problem.
The steering sticks, in warmer weather, at freeway speeds. Continuously trying to unstick the steering wheel, with the possibility of overcorrecting, at freeway speeds, could present a safety hazard. Yes, the alignment company recognized the problem during their post-alignment test drive. The vehicle has not been inspected by "manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives." No warning lamps/lights/messages on dash. However, if you google 2004 BMW with sticky steering, you will find NUMEROUS accounts of this happening to other owners of similar vehicles (specifically 2003-2005 Z4).
The electric steering gets sticky when hot. It feels locked in its position and requires extra force to unstick, once its past the sticking point it over corrects and causes the vehicle to swerve. This failure seems to be quite common and is well known. It seems to be a manufacturing defect inside the electric steering column. I believe it has already been investigated by the federal safety agency but a recall has not yet been called to protect the consumer. This failure only happens when it is hot or the heater is on in the car, there is no warning before it occurs. Thank you for your attention in this matter. Please help by re-investigating this common failure.
The steering is sticky, like the steering system is locking up. It isn't smooth but instead very jerky, and requires serious effort to manage. It is becoming dangerous and is very unsafe. I have seen a lot of complaints on the internet and can not believe this isn't a recall item!
Component or system failed: Steering Column. It is available for inspection. Safety or the safety of others put at risk: When driving the steering column will lock or stick into place until it is forced back into a normal driving position. This consistently occurs when driving on a corner or making slight steering adjustments on a straight road. Has the problem been reproduced by a dealer: UNKNOWN Has the vehicle or component been inspected: UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps: None
Steering is "sticky" with a feel of detents in the steering instead of expected smooth engagement. At highway speeds this is concerning and feels unsafe. Difficult or impossible to steer smoothly.
Compare the 2004 BMW Z4
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Questions about the 2004 BMW Z4
Is the 2004 BMW Z4 reliable?
Owners have filed 411 complaints about the 2004 BMW Z4, 58.7 times a typical Z4 model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 BMW Z4?
Steering, with 378 complaints, typically around 46,000 miles. Next is airbags (18).
How many recalls does the 2004 BMW Z4 have?
1 recall, covering fuel system, gasoline.
What year does the BMW Z4 have bad steering?
The BMW Z4 model years with the most steering complaints are 2004 (378 complaints), 2003 (342 complaints) and 2005 (173 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2004 BMW Z4 get?
Official estimates for the 2004 BMW Z4 range from 20 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 18 city and 26-27 highway.
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