2003 BMW Z4

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/29/2012· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL GOES BACK & FORTH ON ITS OWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY SCARY ! NOT SAFE! FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONTROL. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR

• 12/29/2012· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL GOES BACK & FORTH ON ITS OWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY SCARY ! NOT SAFE! FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONTROL. I PAYED A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR

• 12/28/2009· STEERING

  2003 Z4 3.0I BMW STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER. PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST IN COOL WEATHER. MY VEHICLE FIRST EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM IN THE SUMMER OF 2009 WITH 19,000 MILES. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN TEMPERATURES ABOVE 80 DEGREES. *TR

• 12/24/2014· STEERING,AIR BAGS

  STEERING LOCKS UP.. IF SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IT RELEASES.. WENT TO GET GAS.. SHUT OFF.. STARTED.. SAME THING WITH ADDITION OF AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON.. SHUT OFF SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO GET GOING BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR

• 12/24/2014· STEERING,AIR BAGS

  STEERING LOCKS UP.. IF SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IT RELEASES.. WENT TO GET GAS.. SHUT OFF.. STARTED.. SAME THING WITH ADDITION OF AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON.. SHUT OFF SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO GET GOING BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR

• 12/24/2008· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HIS VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT THE TIME THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES FAILED. IT BECAME WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED THERE WAS A BUBBLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AREA THAT LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES. NO PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. HE WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $152 FOR A DIAGNOSIC CHECK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

• 12/21/2019· STEERING,AIR BAGS

  FROM DAY ONE I HAD AIRBAG PROBLEM FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. AIR BAG NEVER WORKED. BMW HAD RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS, BUT THEY DON'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY STEERING COLUMN HAS PROBLEMS TOO

• 12/20/2015· STEERING

  STEERING BECOMES VERY STICKY WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES BECOME HOT. VEHICLE SEEMS UNSAFE WHEN ON HIGHWAY AND LANE CHANGES ARE DIFFICULT TO MAKE AS STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION !

• 12/17/2011· STEERING

  AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS IN THE SUN ON A HOT DAY (OVER 80 DEGREES) THE STEERING STICKS. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE FINE ADJUSTMENTS SO IT IS HARD TO HOLD THE CAR IN A LANE. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS A PREDICTABLE PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGH AND THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN. *TR

• 12/16/2011· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V247000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000 .

• 12/14/2009· STEERING

  THE STEERING STICKS ON MY 2003 BMW Z4, AND WHEN I TRY TO COMPENSATE, IT SOMETIMES CAUSES OVERSTEERING TO CORRECT. THIS ON 2-OCCASIONS ALMOST PUT ME INTO A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING CAR. THE DEALER SAYS THIS WOULD REQUIRE AN EXPENSIVE STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AT MY COST. *TR

• 12/13/2012· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL STICKS THEN RELEASES CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

• 12/11/2011· STEERING

  THE STEERING MECHANISM AND WHEEL SEEM TO STICK. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT TRAVEL SMOOTHLY WITHIN THE NORMAL STEERING RANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ON A STRAIGHT LINE... SUDDENLY, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT, WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT AND TYPICALLY CAUSES THE CAR TO MOVE ERRATICALLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO KEEP THE CAR CENTER ON THE DRIVING LANE. DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS HAS BECOME A BATTLE TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. OVER CORRECTIONS ARE INEVITABLE AND THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENTS/COLLISIONS. *TR

• 12/09/2022· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. Couldn't get out of the car. Had to get assistance to get out of car.. Had car towed to BMW dealership.. The spent hours trying to get door open. They had to go down through the convertible top to remove the drivers seat in order to get panel off to remove parts to get door to open. This is major safety hazard which should be addressed. See what was repaired below.. MECH MECHANICAL LABOR 22642 COXW 1320.00 1320.00 1 51-21-7-202-143 SYSTEM LATCH, LEFT:512011 241.92 241.92 241.92 1 51-21-7-197-313 CARRIER, OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE:H51210 202.32 202.32 202.32 12 51-41-8-224-768 CLIP WITH WASHER, NATUR:889520 1.08 1.08 12.96 1 51-48-7-016-655 SOUND INSULATION, DOOR LEFT:H51480 57.68 57.68 57.68 36204 LEFT DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR & OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE CARRIER FAULTY. 5.50 VERIFY COMPLAINT,FOUND DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAULTY & OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE CARRIER FAULTY,TIME SPENT TO UNLOCK DOOR, R&R DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR & OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE CARRIER.FUNCTION Total cost of repair - 1877.36

• 12/09/2010· STEERING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 02/03/11*LJ UPDATED 03/17/11

• 12/08/2010· STEERING

  2003 BMW Z4. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERS HAVE TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE NHTSA BULLETIN. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR THE POWER STEERING SHUTTING OFF, THE ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

• 12/04/2018· STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 4 TO 40 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KELLY BMW (614-471-2277, LOCATED AT 4050 MORSE RD, COLUMBUS, OH 43230) AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED DEALER AND MANUFACTURE MADE AWARE OF RECENT FAILURE. 01/03/19. DEALER MADE REPAIRS AT CONSUMERS COST 1/11/19. EPS STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. *JB

• 12/03/2009· STEERING

  STICKING STEERING. *TR

• 12/02/2010· STEERING

  I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 WITH 27K MILES. RECENTLY THE STEERING HAS BECOME STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN COSTING $3300. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURE. *TR

• 12/02/2003· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER STATED WHILE AT A STOP TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. *AK 2003 BMW Z4 EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE AT A STOP. THE TRANSMISSION IS A SMG (SEQUENTIAL MANUAL GEARBOX). THIS OCCURENCE ALMOST RESULTED IN VEHICLE GETTING REAR ENDED.*MR

• 11/28/2003· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  NOTE: THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.... WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, MY CAR BEGAN TO REV UNCONTOLLABLY AT SPEEDS SO HIGH I THOUGH THE ENGINE WOULD BLOW. AS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD SO AS NOT TO LUNGE FORWARD. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BUT UPON STARTING, IT WAS STILL OUT OF CONTROL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THAT STOPPED THIS PROBLEM AS ONE GETS PRETTY MUCH PANICKED WHEN ONE CAN'T CONTROL THE SITUATION. *AK

• 11/25/2013· STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN STEERING SHARPLY OR TURNING THE WHEEL FREQUENTLY LIKE TO PARALLEL PARK FOR EXAMPLE, THE ELECTRICAL SUDDENLY COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN IN MY CAR. THE CAR'S POWER COMPLETELY DIES AND I LOSE ABILITY TO STEER. SOMETIMES THIS IS WHILE MAKING A QUICK TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING QUICKLY. I MUST STOP TURNING, WAIT FOR THE POWER TO TURN BACK ON, AND RESUME DRIVING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

• 11/25/2011· STEERING

  IN HOT WEATHER THE POWER STEERING GETS EXTREMELY STICKY AND WHEN MAKING A TURN SUCH AS ON AN EXIT RAMP THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE PULLED TO RETURN IT TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION WHICH RAISES THE DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT THE CAR COULD GO RIGHT OFF THE RAMP IF NOT CAUGHT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES SWERVING WHEN MAKING SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR CAN SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE. DEALERS ARE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THE ON-LINE Z 4 FORUM INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM APPARENTLY DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. *TR

• 11/24/2013· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE. THE PROBLEM IS DEFINITELY WORSE WHEN CAR IS "WARMED UP" AND IS ALSO WORSENED BY INCREASED OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. MY DEALER CHARGED ME $104.00 FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND TOLD ME TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED. THIS HAS HAD NE EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. *TR

• 11/21/2011· STEERING

  I HAD THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE GET WORSE ON THE INTERSTATE AFTER I FILED THE FIRST COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED BMW USA AND TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALER. I WAS TOLD BY BMW USA THAT MY PROBLEM WAS THE DEFECT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR ANY OF THESE VEHICLES UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FEW MORE FATAL CRASHES FOR THE SOMEONE TO STEP UP AND FORCE THIS MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? EVEN THOUGH I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, IT WAS PURCHASED IN FLORIDA WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO ENJOY A CONVERTIBLE. HOWEVER, THIS FAILURE OCCURS AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 77 DEGREES. NOW THAT I KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, HOW CAN I PASS IT ON TO ANOTHER WHO MIGHT NOT BE AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND JOIN BMW IN BEING THE INSTRUMENT OF THEIR DEATH. *TR

• 11/17/2016· STEERING

  STEERING IS TOO UNSTABLE ON STRAIGHT DRIVING. A SUDDEN PULL TO THE RIGHT/LEFT AND STEERING IS NOT CENTERING. STEERING IS STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL.

• 11/17/2010· STEERING

  IF CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE SUN AND IT GETS HOT (AND UNTIL YOU DRIVE IT AND HAVE THE A/C ON LONG ENOUGH TO COOL OFF THE CAR) THE STEERING STICKS. IT MAKES STEERING JERKEY AND HARD TO HANDLE. IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME IT GETS HOT.

• 11/17/2010· STEERING

  THE STEERING ON A 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I WILL "STICK" AND MUST BE MANUALLY FORCED TO ALLOW STEERING TO CONTINUE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I NEARLY DROVE INTO A WALL BECAUSE I THOUGHT I JUST NEEDED MORE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL - HOWEVER ONCE THE WHEEL IS NO LONGER IN THE "STICKING SPOT" STEERING IS NORMAL, WHICH CAUSES OVERSTEER AND ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. *TR

• 11/14/2011· STEERING

  WHEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR STEERING IS VERY HARD TO HOLD STRAIGHT, VEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I ONLY HAVE 32,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT STILL HAPPENS. SERVICE REPS VERIFY THAT ALL STEERING COMPONENTS ARE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. *TR

• 11/12/2009· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. AFTER HE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SINCE HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL #08V384000 ( AIR BAGS: FRONTAL), HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,500.00 FOR THE REPAIR. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

• 11/11/2015· STEERING

  MY Z4 HAS ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST GOT IT BACK IN 6/20015 AND I NOTICED WHEN STEERING THERE IS A SORTA STICKING PROBLEM WITH IT AND IT KIND A WANT TO DRIFT SIDE TO SIDE ? NOW THE STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND ITS LIKE A OLD TYPE STANDARD STEERING CAR. AND WHEN RESTARTED IT WORKS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DOES IT ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS WOULD BE A REAL PROBLEM FOR A OLDER PERSON IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN , MAY CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT . I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SOLO EVENT FOR ME. I DID ASK MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL I AM THE 2ND OWNER ?

• 11/10/2017· STEERING

  TAKATA RECALL AS I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME ON HIGHWAY THE STEERING WAS STIFF OR HARD, IT MAKES IT HARD TO STEER TO DIFFERENT ROAD OR A EXIT BUT WHEN IM DIVING ON LOW SPEED UBER 20MPH IT SEE LIKE NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND I SEE MANY, MANY PEOPLE ALSO HAVE THEE SAME PROBLEM.

• 11/08/2017· STEERING

  GARBAGE! ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE THE STEERING ISSUE ON MY Z4. FROM TJE UNSEALED BEARING IN THE STERRING COLUNN TO THE UN- HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINEERING FOR TJE OVERALL STEERING SYSTEM FOR THE ENTIRE CAR. WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY PUTTING POWER ASSIAT STEERING ON THIS LITTLE SHORT CAR ANYWAY... HENCE WHY ITS NOT ON THE M SERIES. MY GRANDFATHER'S 1965 TRUCK RAN TRUER THAN THIS DEATH TRAP. ITS A SHAME TO HAVE A GREAT CAR AND SCREW IT UP WITH THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, TJE MOST IMPORTANT PART😤😡😠. CAR DARTS ALL OVER THE ROAD, CONSTANT CORRECTIONS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY IN JEOPARDY. THIS IS A TRAVESTY IN DEED!!

• 11/07/2010· STEERING

  BMW Z4 AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ICON ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD AND YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING THERE AFTER THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT DETERMINED BY SPEED. HAVE CONTACTED TWO DEALERS IN THE BOSTON AREA AND THEY STATE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, WENT ON BIMMERPOST AND GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FIND IT ON YOUR WEBSITE. CAR IS VIRTUALLY UNDRIVEABLE AS YOU LITERALLY LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. *TR

• 11/05/2016· STEERING

  TAKATA RECALL. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW Z4 2003 THE STEERING WHEEL IS GETTING NOTCHY AND SOMETIMES IT GETS STUCK IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT POSITION. I REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT STILL DOING THE SAME THING. NEED HELP.

• 11/05/2010· STEERING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO CENTER, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH AND HIGHER. WHILE DRIVING IN COOLER WEATHER THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,527.

• 11/05/2010· STEERING

  2003 Z-4 BMW ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) FAILED DURING MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION WHILE PERFORMING A RIGHT TURN TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR. THE DRIVER AVOIDED COLLISION WITH OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES MAKING THE TURN AT THE SAME TIME, STATIONARY OBSTACLES (TELEPHONE POLE, STREET SIGNS, CURBS), AND PEDESTRIANS ON THE SIDEWALK BY GAINING CONTROL THROUGH MANUAL EFFORT. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED BY A BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR CENTER AT A COST EXCEEDING $3700 DUE TO THE PROPRIETARY SECURITY CODING FOR THEFT PREVENTION. USED UNITS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN CODED TO A SPECIFIC VEHICLE. *TR

• 11/03/2014· STEERING

  I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR 245 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO PULL THE WHEEL TO STRAIGHTEN IT AND IS WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS UP TO TEMPERATURE. IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL CAUSE A FATALITY IF IT IS NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE READ THAT NHTSA CALLS THIS A "NUISANCE". IT IS NOT A NUISANCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY THE CAR MANUFACTURER. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 45 YEARS AND I HAVE DISSECTED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE ISSUE IS THE TOP BEARING IN THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN. IT IS AN OPEN BEARING AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SEALED BEARING. THE LOWER BEARING AND THE MEDIUM BEARING ARE FINE. THE ISSUE IS YOU CAN'T FIND THIS BEARING ANYWHERE; DEALERS TELL YOU THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3,000 TO $3,600. SHAME ON BMW! I JOIN THE OTHERS WHO HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS IN ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

• 11/02/2005· STEERING

  I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE PAST TWO SUMMERS REGARDING THE STEERING WHEN THE CAR SETS IN THE HEAT ALL DAY (EXCEPT THAT IT WAS WORST THIS PAST SUMMER, IT NOW HAPPENS AT ABOUT 85 F, INSTEAD OF 90 F). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR RESISTS TURNING FROM CENTER AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER ON ITS OWN; YOU MUST TURN IT BACK. THIS IS A FAIRLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF IT AND DO NOT PAY CLOSE ATTENTION. *NM

• 10/30/2011· STEERING,SUSPENSION,VISIBILITY,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  1.VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE; UNABLE TO MAINTAIN STEERING OR KEEP VEHICLE ON THE ROAD SAFELY. 2.VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 3.MANUAL GEAR BOX; SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS NOT SMOOTH, NOT ENGAGING SMOOTHLY 4.WATER LEAKING INSIDE OF VEHICLE TRUNK AND REAR SEAT AREAS. VEHICLE TRUNK AREA WAS SATURATED WITH WATER AFTER RAINING; FILLING WATER OVER THE BATTERY BOX AND CARPETS, SHORTING OUT ELECTRONICS. 5.OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE; PLASTIC COMPONENTS EARLY DETERIORATION; FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA BLACK PLASTIC COWL AND ANTENNA. INSIDE OF VEHICLE BLACK PLASTIC COVER FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP 6.RAIN SENSOR INOP 7.DOOR LOCKS INOP/INTERMITTENT 8.WINDOWS REGULATORS PLASTIC BROKEN. *TR

• 10/27/2011· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY STEERING WHEEL LIGHT GOES ON THEN THE CAR HANDLING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE PROBLEM STARTED ONE DAY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WHEEL WAS SUDDENLY HARD. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY: WHEN I START THE CAR AND AT ANY RANDOM TIME WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK (BEFORE THE NEXT FAILURE). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE NOTHING IS TELLING ME WHEN THE NEXT ISSUE IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M ALWAYS SCARED TO MAKE A TURN OR TO CHANGE LANES. *TT

• 10/27/2010· STEERING

  MY 2003 BMW Z4 SHOULD HAVE INITIALLY BEEN RECALLED FOR DEFECTIVE STEERING. FROM THE FIRST DAY I HAD IT, THE STEERING WOULD PERIODICALLY ACT UP AND MADE THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE FIXED I WAS CHARGED $3001.31 TO ALIGN THE WHEELS, CHANGE THE STEERING RACK, REPLACE A TIRE, TWO WHEELS, AND SOME SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND THEN ANOTHER $150 ALIGNMENT. (PERHAPS SOME OF THESE COMPONENTS ACTUALLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT, BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS.) YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DIDN'T FIX THE STEERING WHICH I FINALLY TRACED TO ACTING UP ON HOT DAYS. AND THE CAR DROVE EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT DID BEFORE THE "REPAIRS." AFTER DOING SOME ON-LINE RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THAT BMW HAD A SOLUTION ALL ALONG. BUT WAS MY CAR RECALLED AND FIXED? NO. I FOUND THE ACTUAL PART NUMBER OF THE NEW STEERING COLUMN AND I HAD TO INSIST ON A FREE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THAT FIXED IT FINE, BUT WHY DID I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS AND SPEND $3001.31 WHEN BMW KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE 2003 MODEL AND REDESIGNED THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS? MY INITIAL COMPLAIN WAS ON 08/18/06 AT 23023 MILES AND MY SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINT WAS ON 04/28/08 AT 28274 MILES. LINKS TO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.LEFTLANENEWS.COM/NHTSA-PROBES-BMW-Z4-MAZDA3-OVER-STEERING-ISSUES.HTML HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.COM/BMW/FORUMS/E85/8909755-1.HTML HTTP://BMWCCA.ORG/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-152.HTML. *TR

• 10/26/2015· STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IN THE CITY, MY BMW Z4'S STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK, PULLS TO THE LEFT & RIGHT AND NEEDS HARD FORCE TO RELEASE IT. I'VE ALMOST WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS! I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S TOO DANGEROUS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THOUSANDS OF BMW Z4 OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

• 10/23/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,EQUIPMENT

  I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 AND HAVE HAD TWO FUEL PUMPS AND FILTER REPLACEMENTS. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 21,500 MILES. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS JUNE 2008. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN 1,000 MILES OF THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. BMW DEALER MAINTAINS IT IS ETHANOL IN THE PREMIUM GAS I BUY, WHICH IS FROM CHERVRON. THE FUEL PUMP IS SUPPOSEDLY SUBJECT TO FAILURE IF THE ETHANOL CONTENT EXCEEDS 10% OR MORE. I HAD THE CHEVRON FUEL TESTED AND IT FALLS WITHIN THE 10% LIMIT. ALL FUELS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONTAIN UP TO 10% ETHANOL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BMW CANNOT DESIGN A FUEL PUMP TO HANDLE THE FUELS SOLD IN THE U.S. I SUPECT THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN IS FAULTY. ANYWAY I AM OUT ABOUT $2000 AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR VERY FAR FROM TOWN. *TR

• 10/21/2005· STEERING

  GROWING STEERING DIFFICULTIES WITH 2003 BMW Z4 PURCHASED NEW. DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SAYS BMW IS TRYING TO DETERMINE A FIX (THIS WAS MONTHS AGO). BMW SAYS SORRY - REFER TO DEALERSHIP, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHICH SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE RE-CALL. *JB

• 10/20/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB OR THE INTERIOR SWITCH. ALL OTHER LOCKS RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. THE DOOR WILL OPEN MANUALLY WITH THE INTERIOR HANDLE. I REPLACED THE LOCK ACTUATOR WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. I AM NOW TRYING TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL RELAY. THE DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER. I HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

• 10/19/2012· STEERING

  DRIVING SOUTH ON SANTA BARBARA ATTEMPTED TO TURN RIGHT ONTO DAVIS BLVD. AS I WAS TURNING THE STEERING STUCK. THAT SURPRISED ME AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. IT TOOK A HEAVY EFFORT TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION OF THE CAR.THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR AT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TR

• 10/18/2017· STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4 ROADSTER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON HOT DAYS AND WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE DEALER (BMW OF CHARLOTTESVILLE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, 434-270-8664) AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.

• 10/18/2010· STEERING

  2003 BMW Z4 HAS STEERING ISSUE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARM. THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMS TO LOOK UP AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. *TR

• 10/17/2016· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE GETS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD TO TURN AND TURN BACK STRAIGHT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT SPEEDS HIGHER THEM 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR