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!
2004 BMW Z4: jerking or lurching
42 of the 411 complaints about the 2004 BMW Z4 describe jerking or lurching.
- owner complaints
- 42
- of this car's complaints
- 10%
- typical mileage
- 50,000
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? 2 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below
Jerking or lurching by model year
What owners say
Unfortunately, I have a lot of problems with the steering wheel of my 2005 bmw z4. It is completely unstable. For instance: 1)it keeps pulling to the left, or to the right. It requires constant adjustments so that I could keep the car aligned, or centered. 2)I experience sudden jerks to the left, or to the right when the road surface is slightingly uneven. I can never predict which way the car pulls me. I struggle a lot to keep the steering centered when stopping at any red lights. 3) sometimes, the steering feels like it is stuck
I have a 2004 bmw z4 which I purchased used in 2016 with 67000 miles on it. Over the past 2 years, the steering has become sticky and hard to keep the vehicle in my lane when travelling straight. I have to constantly correct the steering as the car tries to pull either to the left or right. Also, it is hard to correct the pull, resulting in jerky driving or overcorrection. The problem happens when driving both straight and on curves. It seems to happen more often in warmer weather, but have experienced a slight problem even in cooler weather. It has occurred at both slower speeds and highway speeds. This problem began at approximately 80000 miles. I have owned the car 5 years and have put less than 20000 miles on it in that time period, so it is not driven excessively or under harsh driving conditions.
When the temperature reaches approximately 80 degrees the steering starts to stick and becomes jerky in order to stay in the driving lane. It gets increasingly worse as the temperature rises to the point that the car becomes difficult to handle. Over a period of time, while in route to my destination, it becomes exhausting to drive. It is very dangerous to be on the road in the summer, which is the best time for driving a roadster with the convertible top down.
As I am driving this car my steering is sticking and jerking as I turn from left to right and back again. It is hard to turn and not smooth as it used to be. This problem occurs at high speed, low speed and on all road surfaces. I changed the tires hoping that would address the problem, however it did not help. It should not operate this way and it seems unsafe to drive. I see that many owners have complained about this ongoing safety problem, please advise.
1)it keeps pulling to the left, or to the right. It requires constant adjustments so that I could keep the car aligned, or centered. 2)I experience sudden jerks to the left, or to the right when the road surface is slightingly uneven. I can never predict which way the car pulls me. I struggle a lot to keep the steering centered when stopping at any red lights. 3) sometimes, the steering feels like it is stuck. After review online, this seems to be a very common problem.
Steering issue: while driving at various speeds and various outside temperatures, the steering will stick, and is not smooth and responsive regardless of the curve degree. The sensation is that the turning of the steering wheel is jerky and requires both hands on the wheel. This safety issue has been ongoing for several years. The car is not driven often as evidenced by mileage, 16,000.
Steering jerky just purchased a used bmw 2004 z4 only 50,000 miles and drove fine for a few days then it got real hot outside and now the steering is jerking me around. Feels like when I try to keep the car in the lines I am having to fight the steering wheel. Upon researching the problem seems this is a very common dangerous problem and this needs to be recalled. This is going to cause an accident. Very dangerous to have to fight to keep the car in the lines of the road. Bmw wants to charge to replace the whole column at 3800.00 . Appears they recalled 2006-2007 bmw other models for this same thing. The 2003-2004 z4 should also be recalled.
Driving on interstate 70 in md went to go around a bend in road steering wheel didn't want to turn. I had to jerk the wheel to make the bend thus making me almost hit car beside me. From what I have read this is a known problem by bmw but in 14 years no recall is insane. I am now scared to drive this thing out on a highway again.how many people have to die for this to get fixed
The steering gets jerky in warmer weather making the car extremely difficult to handle. The steering almost appears to have gotten stuck in a notch on the column and forces the driver to put extra force into turning the wheel to correct it. The problem seems to occur when driving at highway speeds and when the temps are above 80. When driving at slower speeds this doesn't appear to happen. In doing some research online this issue appears to happen with most 2003-2005 z4s without any resolution. The cars should be recalled and fixed.
The steering wheel seems to have a catch in it when driving and you turn the steering wheel either right or left. When you driving and are going from lane to lane or around a curve it will stick. This could cause the driver to jerk the steering wheel and cause the car to go off the road or into the path of another vehicle .looked the problem up on the bmw form and there were over 120 other steering complaints on this same year and model of car. There should be a recall to repair this problem before there is a bad accident.
Reported this problem to you in 2006--odi 10496814- sticky steering-which can cause the driver to jerk the wheel hard and lose control of the vehicle- I have read there are well over 100 complaints on this problem- bmw has, some at my cost, replaced the steering column twice and now what to do the 3rd time, at my cost. This would make four columns, counting the original one, and this car only has 14,000 miles. There a big problem with there engineering on this problem. My understanding, there is a unsealed bearing inside the column that fails. You cannot replace the bearing-bmw does not list this as a part. It is about time that the federal safety agency find a fix for this problem before somebody is hurt or killed. In 2010 the USA reported over 107 complaints and one crash.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2004 BMW Z4 jerking
Is jerking or lurching a common problem on the 2004 BMW Z4?
42 of 411 owner complaints about the 2004 BMW Z4 (10%) mention jerking or lurching. The model year with the most reports is 2004.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2004 BMW Z4?
There are 0 recalls and 2 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2004 BMW Z4
Steering lock-up 23Power steering loss 16Pulling 14Engine failure 10Loss of power 5
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