Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 BMW Z4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 55 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 55, in the owner's own words
The electronic steering has failed several times while driving. This makes it very difficult to maintain a lane and avoid other vehicles. This problem continues intermittently. Thousands of Z4 owners have reported the same issue in online forums.
In hot weather, the steering binds, making keeping the car in the correct lane extremely difficult. The car will dart from one side to the other. The car will be nearly impossible to keep in the correct lane.
When the car gets hot (parked in the sun) the steering becomes knotchy or sticky and the car becomes difficult to control. No problems whatsoever when the car is cool or on a cooler day. This problem has been witnessed by a BMW technician and there are no warning lights. This appears to be a fairly common issues with these cars.
The Steering wheel gets Hard, looks like power steering gets disabled automatically while driving, making it almost impossible to steer. This has started to happen after hot weather had started few months back. I have tried to reproduce this issue several times, but it happens randomly and Not all the time. I don't drive the car much. But this is definitely a serious issue, I checked the BMW community and a lot of people are facing this issue. Not Sure how many have filed a complaint here. But this definitely should be addressed by BMW as this is not just one person facing this issue, there are hundreds and thousands of them. Level of severity is high, as someone who might have not faced this issue yet might suddenly face it on the highway could result in an extremely fatal accident. Havent reported to BMW yet, But found this issue is being faced by alot of people I thought to file my complaint here. I will soon get it repaired or replaced. There were no Warning lamps or messages prior to this. It started happening in September 2021.
When the outside temperatures are warmer (mid 80's and above) the steering wheel will stick in the center position and require it to be jerked a bit to keep control. This occurs at all speeds, but does not seem to be the case when stopped. since it requires the steering wheel to be jerked to correct, it can cause the car to swerve. I have had the car for several years began noticing the issue once the weather got warmer. The date entered below is today's date, but I have had the issue for perhaps 5 years.
During warm weather the steering will momentary stick while driving which requires additional force to overcome. This happens at all speeds but is more noticeable at highway speeds while trying to maintain vehicle in driving lane. There are numerous complaints of this on the NHTSA site. I have written to BMW North America about this safety problem and mentioned the multitude of similar complaints but they refuse to address the problem and suggest I purchase a new steering column at $2500+!
VEHICLE STEERING BECOMES "STICKY" AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO WARM TEMPERATURES. THIS CAUSES THE STEERING TO CENTER AND REQUIRE GREATER THAN USUAL FORCE TO OFF CENTER THE WHEEL, CAUSING THE CAR TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
VERY STICKY STEERING, DANGEROUS IN HOT WEATHER, THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. IT SOMETIMES REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO CORRECT IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
STEERING APPEARS TO BE STICKING OR STAYING AT A CERTAIN POINT IN THE STEERING RADIUS. I ALMOST VEERED INTO ONCOMING INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I COMPENSATED IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT RELEASED ITS "STICK" AND TURN TO MUCH AND ALMOST VEERED INTO TRAFFIC I WAS IN. VERY SCARY, VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF MUCH INJURY OR DEATH BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. BAD
RECURRING PROBLEM WITH STEERING INPUT EFFORT WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS. THE STEERING STICKS WHEN IN THE CENTER POSITION. RESISTANCE IS FELT AND IS DIFFICULT TO RETURN BACK TO THE CENTER POSITION. STICKING PROBLEM SEEMS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WITH WARM OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 80 DEGREES. THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE DETENT RESISTANCE, TO THE POINT THAT IT BECOMES EASY TO OVERSTEER THE CAR. THIS CAN BE REAL SCARY DURING AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS AND QUICK LANE CHANGES.
STEERING IS EXTREMELY NOTCHY AND UNPREDICTABLE, ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. WHEN IN MOTION, THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRES FORCE TO TURN, AND SOMETIMES WILL TURN SLIGHTLY WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. IT APPEARS THAT THE POWER ASSIST STEERING IS ACTUATING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BE, CAUSING EITHER RESISTANCE TO STEERING INPUTS, OR APPLYING FORCE WHEN NO STEERING INPUT HAS BEEN APPLIED. WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING, OR AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE POWER ASSIST MOTOR. IT ACTUATES WHEN NO STEERING INPUTS ARE BEING APPLIED. WHEN STEERING INPUTS ARE APPLIED, TOO MUCH RESISTANCE CAN BE FELT AND THE MOTOR MAKES ADDITIONAL NOISES. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY OF 2016, AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APPROXIMATELY SPRING OF 2016. IT HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.
DURING WEATHER ABOVE 80 DEGREES, THE STEERING BECOMES "TWITCHY" OR "NOTCHY," NO LONGER SMOOTH, BUT REQUIRING ADDITIONAL EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AT WHICH POINT, THE TIRES MOVE MORE THAN NEEDED, REQUIRING A STEERING ADJUSTMENT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAR DOES NOT HOLD A "LINE" AS WELL, REQUIRING A SERIES OF SMALL LEFT AND RIGHT STEERING CORRECTIONS.
ON WARM DAYS THE STEERING ON MY 2006 BMW Z4 BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AND UNPREDICTABLE. ON HOT DAYS IT IS DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ IN MANY PLACES THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. ONE SOURCE WHO IS AN ASE-CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN SAYS THAT THE "BMW Z4 STICKY STEERING IS RELATED TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, THAT HAS BEEN RECTIFIED AS OF 2007 AND UP. THERE IS A BEARING LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT IS NOT SEALED. WITH TIME AND WHEN HOT, THE LUBRICANT GETS DRY AND GUMS UP. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THERE IS NOT A RACE FOR THE BEARING TO RIDE IN ' THE INNER RACE IS ACTUALLY THE STEERING SHAFT ITSELF, WHICH IS A POOR DESIGN". MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN 2006 AND HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES ON IT. BMW APPARENTLY WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT THE FOLLOWING MODEL YEAR. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH COULD GET WORSE OVER TIME. BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.
IN HIGHER TEMPERATURES THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A VERY STICKY FEELING, FEELS UNSAFE. STEERING WILL NOT RETURN, WITHOUT ASSISTANCE WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES.
FAULTY STEERING WITH OUR 2006 BMW Z4. THE STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO STICKING STEERING IN HOT WEATHER. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS AVOIDED A RECALL. A RECALL IS WARRANTED.
FAULTY STEERING. STEERING IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF STICKY STEERING. IN HOT WEATHER THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. STEERING IS MUCH WORSE.
THE PROBLEM OF THE STICKY STEERING OF THE Z4 IS RELATED TO THE WORM/REDUCTION GEAR MECHANISM THAT TRANSMITS THE TORQUE FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TO THE STEERING SHAFT. THE CIRCULAR REDUCTION GEAR HAS A NYLON CROWN WITH TEETH. ALL THE SURROUNDING PARTS ARE METAL (STEEL OR ALUMINIUM). THE THERMAL EXPANSION OF THE NYLON IS 3X BIGGER THAN THE SURROUNDING PARTS. TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS EXPANSION, THERE SHOULD BE A CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE WORM GEAR AND THE REDUCTION GEAR. UNFORTUNATELY BMW AND THEIR STEERING SUPPLIER ZF NACAM CHOSE THIS CLEARANCE TOO SMALL. WHEN THE NYLON GETS WARM, THE CLEARANCE WITH THE WORM GEAR BECOMES ZERO AND THE REDUCTION GEAR IS STUCK WITH THE WORM GEAR. THE FRICTION INCREASES DRAMATICALLY AND YOU WILL THEN "FEEL" THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL TEETH OF THE REDUCTION GEAR. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR DESIGEN AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.
THE STEERING IS VERY STICKY, SCARY WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE WARM. IT HAS SCARED ME TO THE POINT WHERE I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN ITS ABOVE 70 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. ANY SPEED FROM 10 TO 70 MPH
VERY STICKY STEERING, DANGEROUS IN HOT WEATHER, THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. I HAVE 65K MILES ON VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR OVER A YEAR TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED, NO ACCIDENT.
MY 2006 BMW Z4 HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING GETTING STUCK OR NOTCHY DURING WARMER TEMPERATURES. THE STEERING SEEMS TO GET STUCK. IT SOMETIMES REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO CORRECT IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MANY Z4 MODELS SUFFER FROM THIS ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED
STEERING IS "STICKY" WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. FEEL A RESISTANCE WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT THUS RESULTING IN OVERSTEERING.
THE STEERING ON THE BMW IS EXTREMELY JERKY AND ERRATIC. IT SEEMS TO JUMP AND DOES NOT STEER EASILY. IT'S HARD TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT ALL OF A SUDDEN WILL TURN RATHER .QUICKLY. THE STEERING STICKS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WILL JERK TO THE SIDE THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO STEER TOO. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND BMW NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES AND GET THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. ONCE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, I CAN SEE A HUGE LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE MODEL OF CARS BUT WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE THEM RECALL THE Z4'S THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND LET THEM FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THANKS
WHILE DRIVING STEERING IS HARD TO TURN LOTS OF RESISTANCE THEN MOVES AND IS LOOSE . THIS COMES AND GOES HOWEVER SEAMS TO GET WORSE WITH HIGHER TEMPERATURE . OTHER TIMES IT'S JUST LOOSE OTHER TIMES FINE. MANY EXAMPLES IF YOU LOOK IT UP, MOST CALL IT STICKY STEERING. CAR HAS HAD FRONT END ALIGNMENT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING CHECKING FOR WEAR { HAVE LIFE TIME ALIGNMENT} . NO CODES. AS I SAID THIS IS A BMW PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE. FUN CAR TO DRIVE BUT I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I CAN SEE WHERE THIS PROBLEM COULD EASILY CAUSE YOU TO END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. DEFIANTLY NOT AN ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE NOW.
STEERING IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 85F. IT IS NOT SPEED DEPENDENT. WHEN STEERING IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE IS A STICKING FEEL THE RESULTS IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OVERSTEER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON BASED ON BMW OWNER FORUMS AND IS WELL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINT DATABASE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ISSUE RESULTS IN INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR
I JUST PURCHASED A 2006 Z4 3.0I WITH 21000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP IN WILMINGTON, NC. DURING THE TEST DRIVE I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS UNUSUALLY STIFF AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE CAR WAS SOMEWHAT HARD TO KEEP IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I DISMISSED THE ISSUE AS A POSSIBLE ALIGNMENT OR WORN OUT TIRE ISSUE. ON THE 120 MILE DRIVE HOME TO RALEIGH, NC THE STEERING BECAME MORE AND MORE ERRATIC, PUSHING THE CAR HALF WAY TO THE OTHER LANE. I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS GETTING REALLY STICKY AND JERKY THE LONGER I DROVE. WHEN TRYING TO SLIGHTLY CORRECT THE TRAJECTORY OF THE CAR TO ANY SIDE, THE STEERING WOULD NOT REACT TO LIGHT TORQUE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS IT WOULD WITH ANY OTHER CAR I'VE DRIVEN BEFORE. WHEN APPLYING MORE FORCE THE STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY JUMP A DEGREE OR MORE, CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERSTEER AND MAKING FOR SOME RALLY SCARY AND ERRATIC MANEUVERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT THIS UNEXPECTED JUMP, THE CAR WOULD DO THE SAME THING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE RIGHT AND LEFT. LATER, WHEN COMING OUT OF A LONG RIGHT TURN ON A NARROW TWO LANE ROAD, THE STEERING WAS STUCK IN THE RIGHT TURN POSITION AND SUDDENLY POPPED INTO A LEFT TURNING POSITION, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING SEMI TRUCK. SINCE THE BEHAVIOR IS SO UNPREDICTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL, I CONSIDER THIS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. I GOT LUCKY AND I AM CONVINCED THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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