2004 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11665759

Incident

Jun 9, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11664730

Incident

May 31, 2025

Power steering stopped working.

NHTSA ID

11653689

Incident

Apr 5, 2025

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 NHTSA. 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.

NHTSA ID

11642101

Incident

Jan 20, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11592383

Incident

Jun 4, 2024

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).

NHTSA ID

11543421

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

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 NHTSA 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.

NHTSA ID

11540623

Incident

Jul 20, 2022

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!

NHTSA ID

11517538

Incident

Apr 14, 2023

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

NHTSA ID

11492581

Incident

Oct 31, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11478600

Incident

Aug 5, 2022

The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds in warm weather, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The contact continued driving with caution to his destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11476051

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

Mileage

125,000 mi

The the vehicle sits out in the sunlight or its warm outside (usually over 80F) the steering wheel will get very notchy and “stick” towards the center position at highway speeds. This makes minor steering corrections at highway speeds very difficult to make without unintentionally leaving your own lane possibly into another car. This is very much a safety issue! This has happened on multiple occasions since the week after I got it in May 2022. Tonight its only 65 degrees and it was acting up (this is 2 hours after sunset).

NHTSA ID

11468557

Incident

Jun 9, 2022

The steering wheel is "sticky" and has play in it when you are driving it. It appears to have steering drift. I feel this car is not safe to drive and is hard to control. No warning messages have come on. When I searched online, it appears that many others are having trouble with their 2004 z4 steering.

NHTSA ID

11456655

Incident

Mar 7, 2022

I own a 2004 BMW Z4 2.5i I bought it used in 2010 with 22,000 miles. It was on a cool December day when I test drove the car and I loved it. No sign of any steering problems. On a warmer day after driving for a while I suddenly experienced a unexpected binding of the steering and almost binding ended up steering into oncoming traffic. This really scared me and I started investigating. Yes, this is a known safety defect, but BMW doesn’t do anything about it. NHTSA, which supposed to protect us from unsafe vehicles, did not do their job either. I am a retired Automotive engineer with Fiat-Iveco and NHTSA made my company recall vehicles for much less. The defect gets worse in hot weather and I don’t let my son, friends or anybody else drive the vehicle, as I am afraid that they could get hurt, aside from a liability issue on my side. I can’t really sell the vehicle with a known safety defect from a moral standpoint and I definitely would be liable should the car get involved in an accident caused by a known defect. BMW and NHTSA do your job before somebody gets hurt or killed! Doing nothing, will cost you more in Settlements and Reputation in a long run…the problem will not go away by doing nothing! Following site lists 137 BMW Z4 owners reporting problems related to steering column: https://www.carproblemzoo.com/bmw/z4/steering-column-problems.php This is a major design and safety defect and justifies a safety recall!

NHTSA ID

11432357

Incident

Sep 9, 2021

Whenever the temperature Is above 80 degrees the steering becomes very stiff with no power assist due to a design defeat within the steering column. The vehicle because very dangerous to drive due to the lack of steering control. This problem effects all BMW Z4s from 2003 to 2006. BMW wants the owners to have the dealer replace the steering column for $6,000. Please assist us in having BMW issue a Recall for a very dangerous situation they created with a defectively designed steering column.

NHTSA ID

11431210

Incident

Aug 30, 2021

STEERING STICKS CAUSES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN STEERING DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11406128

Incident

Mar 16, 2013

Mileage

51,590 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11384494

Incident

Dec 17, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID

11341767

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11341366

Incident

Jul 24, 2020

Mileage

77,400 mi

STEERING GETS STICKY INTERMITTENTLY, MORE COMMON WHEN VEHICLE IS HOT. SEEMS LIKE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 42K MILES. DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN LANE ESPECIALLY ON CURVES AND IN CITY TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS AND UNEXPECTED.

NHTSA ID

11338862

Incident

Jul 11, 2020

Mileage

42,000 mi

THE CAR EXPERIENCES STICKY STEERING ALMOST ALL THE TIME NOW. IT IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE HIGHER. THERE IS DIFFICULTY KEEPING THE CAR IN IT'S OWN LANE. IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT REQUIRES AN INORDINATE AMOUNT THE FOCUS AND CONTROL TO KEEP THE CAR MOVING IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION. THERE IS ONLY 47,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND I DO NOT THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD BE LEFT UNREPAIRED BY BMW. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON.

NHTSA ID

11338300

Incident

Jul 8, 2020

Mileage

47,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328844

Incident

May 15, 2019

Mileage

44,660 mi

THE TRACKING OF THE STEERING STICKS CAR WAS SERVICE LAST FALL FULL INSPECTION. BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. SHOP FOREMAN COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR WAS STORED ALL WINTER CLIMATE-CONTROLLED GARAGE. I TOOK THE CAR OUT YESTERDAY AND THE STICKY-NESS AND CONTROL OF THE CAR ARE DIFFICULT. I DECIDED TO SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND 355 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. SAW ON SOME THREADS THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BUT NEVER HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. AS A CONSUMER TAXPAYER AND DOCTOR I AM AMAZED THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT INVESTIGATED OR ISSUED A RECALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS CAR HS LESS THAN 41,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO CORRECT STEERING CONSTANTLY THE CAR WANTS TO PULL IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND VERY DIFFICULT TO CORRECT. THIS EVENT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT PATH. I HAVE OWNED AT LEAST 15 DIFFERENT AUTOMOBILES DRIVEN COUNTLESS OTHERS AND THIS IS NOT HOW A CAR SHOULD RESPOND. I WAS ASTOUNDED TO SEE ALL THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS. WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE? I PLAN ON CONTACTING THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK. IN THE MEANTIME I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED. MY GUESS IS SOMEONE ALREADY HAS. WHOEVER IS READING THIS PLEASE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. BELOW I MARKED THE DATE OF YESTERDAY. PLEASE BE REMINDED THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS LAST FALL. AS WELL AS TO 355 OTHER DRIVERS. THANK YOU, DR. [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *CC

NHTSA ID

11325847

Incident

May 24, 2020

Mileage

40,300 mi

STEERING LOCKS WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11323098

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP THE STEERING IS STICKY AND PREVENTS YOU FROM STEERING CORRECTLY AND/OR OVER-CORRECT YOUR STEERING. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THIS AND THE FACTORY LUBE USED TO GREASE THE STEERING COLUMN COMPONENTS IS INADEQUATE. HOWEVER, THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN ($4-5K FOR PARTS AND LABOR). THE STEERING COLUMN COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LOSE STEERING CAPABILITIES, VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. APPARENTLY BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS RECALLED 2006-2008 MODEL YEARS BUT NOT 2003-2005.

NHTSA ID

11320906

Incident

Sep 4, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi