Steering Column problems of the 2003 BMW Z4 - part 1

The first issue is that the power steering will go out during normal operation of the vehicle making the wheel hard to turn. Additionally, at right about the straight position of the steering wheel the steering will stick (consistently fighting the wheel to stay centered). Staying straight is nearly impossible as you constantly battle the resistance back and forth to keep the vehicle moving in a straight line. It is quite disconcerting and has almost resulted in me side swiping oncoming vehicles on several occasions. I have learned that this is a common problem that BMW never addressed. Researching the matter I've learned that a steering column replacement and labor would be in the $3000-4500 range and the problem would likely reoccur in the future due to faulty design. Worse, as most people in my position are unable to perform a repair at that cost, I've found numerous people manipulating their steering columns with mixed success ultimately creating an even more dangerous potential situation. These methods include drilling into the steering column and adding greases and lubricants that were not designed to work with the vehicle. This is a well-known problem, with no shortage of records and accounts establishing this isn't a "if it happens", but when it happens. Drive a vehicle with this problem, I dare you, and tell me it is not a major safety hazard. Disappointed. I'd appreciate if BMW would reach out to me and remedy the issue. There is no reason that a steering wheel, one of the most basic and necessary systems on a car to maintain control, should have been permitted to be defective with no remedy at the cost of the manufacturer. The lack of accountability by BMW and "do it yourself" remedies will undoubtedly result in injury or death if they have not already. BMW should provide a fix for those Z4s affected still on the road before someone is killed.

I have a 2003 Z4 with 25k miles. The steering wheel sticks while driving making it difficult to steer. Spoke with a BMW mechanic and was informed this is a known issue for this particular vehicle and that I will need to replace the steering column to correct the problem. The cost is $3000. Why is there not a recall??.

Over the past couple years I've noticed sticky steering but am just reporting now. At most speeds I've had the steering stick and not return to neutral. Often needing to react or overcorrect. I've noticed an increase in occurrence and severity the warmer the ambient temp is. When steering around a curve the steering wheel doesn't want to come back to neutral without corrective action. This afternoon the ambient temp was about 90f and with occured at every movement of the steering wheel. I fear that this is going to be the cause of an accident and really takes away from the enjoyment of driving this car. I've read many complaints on this site and all over the internet describing the same issue. Other reports I've read state that the dealers recommended repair is replacement of the entire steering column at a cost of $3000-$4000.

Sticky steering which was diagnosed as caused by a poorly designed bearing in the steering column estimated cost of repair $3500. A wide spread problem dangerous especially at high speed. Power assist is electrical on steering.

My 2003 BMW Z4 has very tight steering when driving on the freeway at 65 mph, and I notice the problem is more common on warmer days. Last week as I was driving on a warm day, I noticed I had to repeatedly put significant effort in order to turn the steering wheel on a turn on the freeway, as the steering wheel kept sticking. Whenever I've applied this significant effort to get around this issue, the steering unsticks and then turns too much. On that day, I was very close to hitting the car in the lane next to me, causing the car next to me to swerve a bit as well to avoid me. It wasn't the first time that this happened to me with this car, and it was incredibly dangerous. I took it to a repair shop and they said it's a very common issue with this car and the entire steering column would have to be replaced. I believe BMW, which prides itself in the quality of it's vehicles, should take the initiative to resolve this issue, as it's a huge safety concern for drivers of this vehicle. Just by doing a simple google search, it's very apparent that this is a common issue with early year Z4's.

2003 BMW Z4 steering I experience sudden jerks in the steering wheel, more so at higher speeds, around 60mph and above. The jerks are unpredictable and can be either to the right or the left. It makes the car really unsafe to be driven at these higher speeds! I believe this is a known problem by BMW and should be a recall issued to correct it! from what I understand it requires a complete steering column replacement and is very costly. BMW should step up and cover this very dangerous steering situation.

2003 BMW Z4 steering is binding up and difficult to steer. Problem gets worse as the temp increases. Numerous online complaints and no recall. Why? BMW will do nothing , not even a cost replacement of the steering column which seems to fix the issue.

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.

Steering gets "stuck" while driving. Feels like your in a rut. 35k on the vehicle and the BMW dealer said the steering column must be replaced for $4538. 41. I read on the internet the issues with the steering column issues for cars 2003-2005. Many have the same issues and BMW had no recalls on the cars. It is a safety issue to drive the cars. I know there have been many other complaints filed with nhsta and wondering what was done with the issue. I only drive 1500 miles per year and it started late last summer and is now undriveable because of safety issues.

Sticky or jerking steering while driving BMW 2003 Z4, first attempt was to take the car to authorized BMW dealer in July 2013 , mileage 27,756. Suggested result was to replace entire steering column. 2nd attempt to resolve problem, April 2014 mileage 28,844. Lubricate upper steering wheel bearing. 3rd attempt, may2015, mileage 31,098. Installed grease fitting into steering column. Now at 32,000 miles car is unsafe to drive. BMW needs to recognize this issue with Z4 models from 2003 -June 2006 production.

The steering pulls erratically in both directions and becomes stuck. It requires constant attention to correct the erratic behavior of the steering. It has suddenly pulled in each direction at different times and I have had to pull back hard to avoid crossing into traffic or sideswiping the car next to me. This is not tires or rutted roads causing this. It is an extremely unsafe defect in the steering column of the BMW Z4. Please push for a recall. . The bearing in the column is unsealed and not able to be lubricated so it dries out and causes these issues.

This is for a 2003 BMW Z4 with just over 25,000 miles. As soon as I began driving on an access road and then a county road, I noticed the vehicle was not going in a straight line even though I was not turning the wheel. There was some play in the steering and the wheel felt stiffer than normal with a sticky feeling a few degrees left or right. As I drove down this straight road, the car continued to pull towards one side or the other and controlling it became very difficult. From behind, it would appear as though I was swerving while trying to control the vehicle. I felt like I could lose control of the vehicle so I drove as slowly as possible to the dealership. I explain the situation to the administrative staff and they took the car in for inspection the next day. The following day I received a call from the head mechanic to ask more questions. Again I provided more details about how the vehicle felt while driving and they requested permission to road test it. At first they thought the issue was related to wheel alignment, but upon further testing they realized it was more than that. The sticky steering column appears to have been damaged, the motor drive for the power steering. I was quoted $3,176 to replace. I spoke with the head mechanic, and expressed my displeasure with what appears to be a qa or design issue with this car and the fact I found hundreds of other reports and investigations launched into this exact problem with the Z4. In my opinion this manufacturing defect should be reason enough for a recall given the hazardous conditions created by the malfunction of a relatively new/unused part. BMW's insistence that I cover the cost of this part is also unreasonable, as I doubt they can attribute this malfunction to typical wear and tear given the light use of this vehicle.

Apparently there is a bearing inside of the steering column and it is not a sealed bearing (poor design). The grease leaks out of it and it becomes very difficult to steer and dangerous. The bearing is not replaceable so you have to replace the entire steering column at a cost of $3,000 to $4,000. The warmer the temperature the harder the steering. I won't even let my wife drive the car for fear she will have an accident. I even have trouble keeping it on the road at times.

I purchased this car used and have had problems with the steering since buying it 5 years ago. Had it at a BMW repair store they have informed me the steering column will need to be replaced for $ 3000 plus. After doing some research this is a common problem with this BMW. Why has BMW not issued a recall? this could be a severe problem that could cause accidents and death while you are driving! tammy mai.

My steering column turns similar to the fan control switch on the Z4 from detent to detent and not smoothly like a volume control on a radio. If you reach forward to the fan control console and turn it you will note that it does not turn smoothly it goes from stop to stop to stop about every 5 degrees. Each stop is called a detent. So as you turn the knob it starts in a detent then as you turn it clicks into the next detent and stops then you have to twist a bit harder till it clicks into the next detent. That is how my steering column acts when it is hot outside. It clicks into one detent and that position may not keep you driving straight down the road. You try to correct it and it will not turn unless you push extra hard then it goes past the point that would keep you going straight down he road into the next detent and you are progressively headed off the other side of the road. As you try to correct it by turning back, it will not smoothly turn back, it resists till you push extra hard then it goes past the point that would keep you going straight and stops in the next detent and now you are headed off the road in the other direction.

While driving down the highway around town, I noticed the steering becoming"sticky". It was hard to keep the car in my lane. This continued for a couple of weeks and I took the car to a BMW repair shop and was given the news that I need a new steering column with power assist and that it was going to cost about $3800. Needless to say, it is not something that you can ignore. After seeing all the problems with power steering assist I am dumbfounded as to why BMW has not brought this to owners attention. The repair costs are astronomical!!! this is ridiculous. BMW should make owners aware of the potential problem and fix it. This will definitely be my first and last BMW. !!!!!!!.

Steering wheel rotation inhibited, would not turn smoothly, extra force needed to overcome resistance in steering wheel rotation, very heavy center detent. Car swerves violently when extra force on wheel is used to overcome resistance in steering wheel rotation. Unable to make common minor adjustments, resultant oversteering causes erratic movements. Car nearly gone off road several times. Heat related. Happens when car cabin temperature elevated by sunshine or extended drives/use. >=2. 5hrs. Car is unsafe. BMW acknowledges cause related to steering column/gears but refuses to recall/fix. Please help before more are killed.

Steering has become loose to the point where it is hard to keep the car on the road and find that over corrections are happening. Was told must replace the steering column at a cost of $3200. 00. It is a widely reported problem that BMW should fix. It is a safety issue.

I have a 2003 BMW Z4 2. 5i I recently purchased. I noticed the "sticky" steering for the first time the night I purchased it. After searching the internet I discovered that hundreds of Z4 owners have this serious steering issue. The steering is not so bad in cool weather, but warmer temperatures have an adverse effect on keeping the car on the road. I have had this issue numerous times in the 1 month that I have owned the car. Yesterday I almost lost control going down the highway on a curve driving at the posted speed limit. Z4 owners are afraid to drive the car due to this sticky steering issue. I didn't have to look hard on the internet to find that this issue wide-spread and has been grossly ignored. I was also surprised at the number of affected cars, with no action by BMW or our government. What are the powers at be waiting for? a death because of the steering issue. The car needs a recall for a replacement steering column or a bulletin to simply bring the car to a dealer for a replacement at no cost to the owner. BMW is aware of the faulty steering columns. Why has this not been fixed yet? please do something!.

Dps failure. Light stays on and steering is impossible. Dealer said 3,000. 00 to replace steering column.

My 2003 BMW Z4 is extremely dangerous to drive, while I am on flat surfaces traveling on the freeway the steering wheel all of a sudden will pull to the left and then to the right constantly and I have to correct it every 2 seconds and sometimes it just locks into a left turn position when I am on the freeway and all I am trying to do is keep the car straight going down the freeway. At this point I am afraid an accident will happen sometime in the future and I have been reading thousands of posts on the web with people with this same car. At what point are you guys going to activate a vehicle recall to fix the steering column design, perhaps after I either get into an accident or I or a family member gets killed, enough is enough, I am begging you please issue a recall to fix the flawed design of the steering of this car . . . . . !!!! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the steering would drift from side to side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 81,000. Updated 03/21/12 updated 05/11/12.

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.

The contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact was exiting a residential driveway when the steering wheel seized. The contact turned the vehicle off and on to get the power steering to reset. The power steering assist lasted for a few minutes before failed again. The contact stated the failure recurred sporadically and without warning. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the entire steering column and electronic power assist system needed to be replaced. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 31,000.

Driving my 2003 BMW Z4 on a warm day and the steering locked up like it was sticky. Almost hit someone it occurs on any warm temp days and any speed I paid to have the software updated and it didn't help. My BMW repair shop thinks it the steering column. Has heard of this problem before.

The contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. While driving approximately 55 mph, the contact noticed that the steering wheel began to stick and jerk to the sides on its own. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. There was an investigation under NHTSA action number: pe10020 (steering:column steering:electric power assist system) that may be related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 33,000.

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.

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.

The steering mechanism often becomes sticky and jerky, making the car less predictable to drive. It occurs most often with the tempeture above 80 degrees f. This condition has occured intermitently over the last 3 years. The following information regarding this issue was found on a BMW site: NHTSA called me today! they are investigating. . . BMW has advised them it is due to expansion of a gear in the steering column due to heat. They know about the problem and corrected it in late 2006 models. Not treating this as a serious issue however have repaired "under warranty" those still under warranty and not repairing others with the $2-3,000 repair. Nhtsa says probably not going to be successful based on findings to date. There have not been that many complaints to them. This issue is not driver or wear related and should be covered by the manufacturer. To force the car owners to pay retail for parts and labor to fix a design flaw that is dangerous is wrong.

I have been having difficulty with the steering system on my Z4. This began several years ago and has been intermittent at first but the degree of difficulty in the steering has been increasing from month to month and where it now is beginning to feel unsafe. The steering sticks while navigating through curves and does not always return to neutral position. Othertimes, it sticks and one needs to pull it back to correct the steering. It is quite unsafe and my wife and I are very concerned, not only for our safety, but also others who may be victimized by head on collisions. After checking out my compliant with my BMW certified mechanic, he tells me there is a real problem with the steering mechanism on this car and checking through the mechanic's web site, there appears to be no one that knows how to repair the system, short of taking out the entire steering column and replacing with a new one. The cost of this would amount to $3,000. 00 or more. The mechanics feel this is a poor steering design and should be fixed by BMW. He told me to be very careful when driving this car for it is possible the entire system could break down at any moment.

Purchased a "like new" 2003 BMW Z4 3. 0i with 15,000 miles with 1 owner last fall from a dealership in va and almost immediately put the car in storage. Upon removal from storage this month, steering sticks dangerously at all speeds. Steering wheel refuses to return to center. When rounding a corner, steering wheel will maintain the turn and not naturally straighten. This creates a highly dangerous situation of oversteer as you over compensate the steering. On a two lane road, it is easy to cross centerline. Many, many complaints have been submitted for 2003, 2004, 2005, and some 2006 models. Repair seems to be to replace steering column at owner's cost of $3900. However, some owner's have paid for replacement and still experiencing the same issue.

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.

Experiencing very similar issue as documented under NHTSA action number pe10020-steering/steering column/power assist system becoming difficult to steer while driving in excess of 50mph. Contacted BMW customer relations and received no assistance only recommendation to take to service dept.

Sticky steering column during hot weather on a 2003 BMW Z4 2. 5i.

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.