2002 BMW Z4 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 BMW Z4, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering350.0%
- Driver assistance116.7%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
- Powertrain (other)116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW Z4. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY LOST POWER ASSISTED ABILITY. STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT, BACK TO THE OLD MANUAL DAYS.. NEVER THOUGHT TO ASK WHY..BUT VEHICLE ALWAYS HAD A DETENT QUIRK SINCE 2003..JUST THOUGHT IT TYPICAL FOR HOW A SPORTS CAR WAS DESIGNED. AFTER CHECKING OTHERS SIMILAR PROBLEMS I GUESS I'VE BEEN MISLED INTO BELIEVING THAT WAS TYPICAL AFTER ALL THIS TIME.TAKING IT TO THE DEALER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO SERVICE PROBLEM. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS DETENT THING GET IT CHECKED OUT BEFORE A BAD SITUATION REALLY HAPPENS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
BUT BOUGHT WITH LESS THAN 12,500 MILES, THEY FOUND TURNED UNSTABLE SITUATION, HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND WHAT THE REASON, AT TIMES ALMOST A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING, THE TIRE DOES NOT FEEL STICKY, BUT ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE (LIKE A DRUNK DRIVER), THE STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE, NOT TOO SENSITIVE. IF I DO ANYTHING MORE THAN A SLIGHT ROTATION, DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN STARTED, IF THE CURVE WENT TO THE RIGHT, I HAD TO "JERK" TO GO STRAIGHT TO RECTIFY THE SAME, IF IT WENT. WHEN A STRAIGHT ROAD, IT WILL FEEL VERY STICKY, MOVING WHEELS. THIS IS VERY SCARY, BECAUSE IT CAN NOT BE DIVERTED AT ANY TIME, I WILL LEAVE THE ROAD AND DOWN MILES OF CANYON CREEK. THIS SITUATION WILL NOT OCCUR AT LOW SPEEDS. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 BMW Z4 STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSTABLE. FOR EXAMPLE: 1) TO MAINTAIN PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT, SO THAT I CAN KEEP THE CAR ALIGNED OR CENTER. 2) I MET A SUDDEN TWITCH TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN THE ROAD CONTEMPT IMBALANCES. I CAN NEVER PREDICT THE ROAD THE CAR PULLED ME. I STRUGGLED FOR MANY CENTERS TO STOP AT ANY RED LIGHTS KEEP TURNING. 3) SOMETIMES, THE STEERING FEELS LIKE BEING STUCK. 4) I BELIEVE THAT IF ELDERLY PEOPLE TRYING TO DRIVE THIS CAR, SUCH A PROBLEM, THERE WILL BE A CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE. THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE THE DRIVER MUST BE A LOT OF ATTENTION TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED FACT. OTHERWISE, ANY SECOND, YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF SOMEWHERE OFF THE ROAD, OR UNDER A TRUCK. 5) I'VE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET, MANY Z4 OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR PROBLEMS, I DO. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
BUT BOUGHT WITH LESS THAN 12,500 MILES, THEY FOUND TURNED UNSTABLE SITUATION, HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND WHAT THE REASON, AT TIMES ALMOST A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING, THE TIRE DOES NOT FEEL STICKY, BUT ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE (LIKE A DRUNK DRIVER), THE STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE, NOT TOO SENSITIVE. IF I DO ANYTHING MORE THAN A SLIGHT ROTATION, DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN STARTED, IF THE CURVE WENT TO THE RIGHT, I HAD TO "JERK" TO GO STRAIGHT TO RECTIFY THE SAME, IF IT WENT. WHEN A STRAIGHT ROAD, IT WILL FEEL VERY STICKY, MOVING WHEELS. THIS IS VERY SCARY, BECAUSE IT CAN NOT BE DIVERTED AT ANY TIME, I WILL LEAVE THE ROAD AND DOWN MILES OF CANYON CREEK. THIS SITUATION WILL NOT OCCUR AT LOW SPEEDS. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 BMW Z4 STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSTABLE. FOR EXAMPLE: 1) TO MAINTAIN PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT, SO THAT I CAN KEEP THE CAR ALIGNED OR CENTER. 2) I MET A SUDDEN TWITCH TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN THE ROAD CONTEMPT IMBALANCES. I CAN NEVER PREDICT THE ROAD THE CAR PULLED ME. I STRUGGLED FOR MANY CENTERS TO STOP AT ANY RED LIGHTS KEEP TURNING. 3) SOMETIMES, THE STEERING FEELS LIKE BEING STUCK. 4) I BELIEVE THAT IF ELDERLY PEOPLE TRYING TO DRIVE THIS CAR, SUCH A PROBLEM, THERE WILL BE A CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE. THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE THE DRIVER MUST BE A LOT OF ATTENTION TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED FACT. OTHERWISE, ANY SECOND, YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF SOMEWHERE OFF THE ROAD, OR UNDER A TRUCK. 5) I'VE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET, MANY Z4 OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR PROBLEMS, I DO. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
BUT BOUGHT WITH LESS THAN 12,500 MILES, THEY FOUND TURNED UNSTABLE SITUATION, HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND WHAT THE REASON, AT TIMES ALMOST A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING, THE TIRE DOES NOT FEEL STICKY, BUT ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE (LIKE A DRUNK DRIVER), THE STEERING FEELS VERY LOOSE, NOT TOO SENSITIVE. IF I DO ANYTHING MORE THAN A SLIGHT ROTATION, DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN STARTED, IF THE CURVE WENT TO THE RIGHT, I HAD TO "JERK" TO GO STRAIGHT TO RECTIFY THE SAME, IF IT WENT. WHEN A STRAIGHT ROAD, IT WILL FEEL VERY STICKY, MOVING WHEELS. THIS IS VERY SCARY, BECAUSE IT CAN NOT BE DIVERTED AT ANY TIME, I WILL LEAVE THE ROAD AND DOWN MILES OF CANYON CREEK. THIS SITUATION WILL NOT OCCUR AT LOW SPEEDS. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 BMW Z4 STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSTABLE. FOR EXAMPLE: 1) TO MAINTAIN PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT, SO THAT I CAN KEEP THE CAR ALIGNED OR CENTER. 2) I MET A SUDDEN TWITCH TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN THE ROAD CONTEMPT IMBALANCES. I CAN NEVER PREDICT THE ROAD THE CAR PULLED ME. I STRUGGLED FOR MANY CENTERS TO STOP AT ANY RED LIGHTS KEEP TURNING. 3) SOMETIMES, THE STEERING FEELS LIKE BEING STUCK. 4) I BELIEVE THAT IF ELDERLY PEOPLE TRYING TO DRIVE THIS CAR, SUCH A PROBLEM, THERE WILL BE A CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE. THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE THE DRIVER MUST BE A LOT OF ATTENTION TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED FACT. OTHERWISE, ANY SECOND, YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF SOMEWHERE OFF THE ROAD, OR UNDER A TRUCK. 5) I'VE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET, MANY Z4 OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR PROBLEMS, I DO. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .