Steering feels "sticky" similar to other reports filed, previous odi case number 10288772 reported 06/30/09. On 11 november 09 mileage 82,745, electrical power steering (eps) failed completely, warning light on dash, car still drivable without power steering for limited distance to dealer. Cause found to be code 611c3 failed eps unit. Repair was steering column replacement & reprogramming iaw sib32-06-05. All previous problems are gone, car steers like brand new, didn't know what I'd been missing. Repair cost was $50 deductible under extended bmw factory warranty, no idea of actual retail cost.
2004 BMW Z4 steering complaints
Page 13 of 14: complaints 341 to 370 of 378, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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
While driving at approx 65 MPH on interstate 95 in south florida the steering bound, (tightened) making it difficult to maintain good control of the vehicle. This problem seems to be persistent in hotter temperatures while less evident when the car is cooler.
Steering is "sticky" and has momentary failures when turning steering wheel at high outside temperatures (over 80f). Continuous failures as steering wheel is turned. Dealership denies knowing of problem, or cannot duplicate failures. This an extreme hazard. Luckily no accidents yet.
2004 bmw z4 current mileage 81k bought used with 35k in 2008. Beginning in summer 2008, steering feels "sticky" in slow turns to right/left such as on /off ramp. With different tires, symptoms eased, but still evident, especially at ambient temps 70 deg f or above. At 71k car in for service including this complaint. Dealer noted "binding/noisy lower column joint" & replaced lower section of steering column joint "per sib 32 03 06", but problem persists. Problem not as severe as that noted in some other complaints on line but similar in persistence and annoyance.
While traveling on the highway at a normal rate of speed, the steering wheel sticks, making it difficult to maintain control in a corner. This has been an ongoing problem for the past two years. The last incident nearly resulted in a crash with another vehicle. I nearly struck the guardrail while the steering would not respond properly. I took it to a mechanic, they said they can't find anything wrong, saying the vehicle behaves this way, because it's electronic steering? I have researched this on the internet and many z4 owners are experiencing the same problems. This is a extreme safety issue.
Steering of the car seems to bind, that is, after turning the steering wheel to either to left or right, it does not return to center in a smooth or linear fashion, as if the power assist is inconsistent. Although my car has not been examined,other owners of the same make and model report the same experience. Replacing the eps unit does not seem to help, nor does replacement of the steering column. This inconsistent steering response could be a safety hazard.
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
2004 bmw z4 with 26k miles. When outside temperature is inthe 90s or above, the steering, particularly on the highway, develops a notchy or stickiness that does not allow you to track straight. Causes you to jerk the wheel back and forth to maintain a straight of way. There are many other similar complaints on this component for 2003-04 model years. Independent bmw mechanic has inspected my vehicle and states that the control module/electric motor/steering column has failed and needs replacement. He stated that there appears to be a trend on this.
When ambient temperatures are above approximately 85 degrees, the electronic power steering will produce abnormal resistance requiring considerable force to return to center. This makes it difficult to steer the car at high speeds. This is a safety issue requiring further the federal safety agency investigation.
2004 bmw z4 steering wheel binds while driving after the auto has sat in direct sunlight for several hours or the ambient temperature is above 85 degrees. Once the car is allowed to cool in the shade or through extended driving, the steering will return to normal. This condition causes the car to be unsafe at highway speeds. I have reported this condition several times to my local bmw dealership. They told me it could be the tires 'sticking' to the road. This condition warrants a recall. The steering is not safe when it is hot.
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
When driving the power steering gets hard like it will going lock up when driving.
2004 bmw z4-steering sticks or catches at center when turning wheel while car is in motion. Causes vehicle to swerve. Problem is intermittent.
Steering issues.
While driving the car on a sunny, summer day, the steering wheel has "tension" and "stickiness" while trying to rotate it. This causes abrupt and imprecise steering corrections due to the stickiness causing jerky steering. *tr this defect makes it difficult to retain a straight driving path, and makes it difficult to stay within a lane on the local roads and highways. The steering alignment also becomes out of a straight line, thus coming out of "center", and further making it more difficult to maintain a safe driving course.
My car was parked in an an area that was not in the shade lot for several hours. The air temp. Was about 80. When I drove off I could feel that the steering was not reacting to my input as it had in the cool morning. The steering was jerky and would not track as I turned the steering wheel, but lagged a few moments. I had an 80 mile drive where I had to turn the wheel in a zig-zag manner to keep the car tracking in the direction I wanted to go. When the car cooled off overnight the steering returned to normal. This is not the first time this has happened. It does not feel safe.
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.
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".
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.
Steering system is somewhat non-responsive when weather is hot.
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.
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 the federal safety agency on the z4, this issue doesn't appear to be isolated and warrants further investigation.
In warm weather about 75 and up steering gets sticky and cannot correct smoothly.
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 federal safety agency is aware of this serious problem and can take appropriate action to have it corrected by bmw. Thank you.
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.
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.
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.
Steering sticks in high temp.
The steering locks up in hot weather forcing me to over compensate when driving. Once the car cools down steering feedback returns to normal.
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