Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
930–25K
10725–50K
9050–75K
4075–100K
22100–150K
3150K+
355 reports with mileage · 59 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 342 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
414 reports
70,000 miles · Oct 4, 2010
Steering
MY BMW Z4, VINXXXXXXXXX, INTERMITTENTLY HAS A NOTCHY FEELING IN THE STEERING AS IF THERE IS A RESTRICTION PREVENTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE MOVED TO THE DIRECTION I WANT TO GO. THIS HAS BEEN GOING FOR A HALF A YEAR. NOW I AM INTERMITTENTLY LOOSING THE POWER ASSIST STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS IS VERY UNNERVING WHEN TRAV…
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MY BMW Z4, VINXXXXXXXXX, INTERMITTENTLY HAS A NOTCHY FEELING IN THE STEERING AS IF THERE IS A RESTRICTION PREVENTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE MOVED TO THE DIRECTION I WANT TO GO. THIS HAS BEEN GOING FOR A HALF A YEAR. NOW I AM INTERMITTENTLY LOOSING THE POWER ASSIST STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS IS VERY UNNERVING WHEN TRAVELING IN HEAVE CITY TRAFFIC. THE BWM DEALER IS NOT TAKING THIS AS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. THUS FAR NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED OR PERFORMED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10359110
55,000 miles · Oct 4, 2010
Steering
THE STEERING ON MY BMW Z4 WAS STICKING AND HARD TO TURN. THE STEERING DIDN'T WANT TO RETURN TO CENTER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THROUGH A CURVE, THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN, WOULDN'T RETURN BACK TO CENTER AND HAD TO MAKE NUMEROUS ADJUSTMENT TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN THE LANE. IT WAS VERY UNSETTLING AND COULD EASILY HAVE CA…
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THE STEERING ON MY BMW Z4 WAS STICKING AND HARD TO TURN. THE STEERING DIDN'T WANT TO RETURN TO CENTER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THROUGH A CURVE, THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN, WOULDN'T RETURN BACK TO CENTER AND HAD TO MAKE NUMEROUS ADJUSTMENT TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN THE LANE. IT WAS VERY UNSETTLING AND COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME IN THE PAST AND IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN PREDOMINATELY ON WARM DAYS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10359071
25,000 miles · Oct 1, 2010
Steering
STEERING GETS HEAVY AND "STICKY" AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10358577
21,500 miles · Sep 28, 2010
Steering
AFTER CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN ON A 90+ DEGREE DAY, MY STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND "NOTCHY". WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION WHEN I LET GO OF WHEEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10358031
20,000 miles · Sep 28, 2010
Steering
THE ELECTRIC STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 WILL STICK AND I MUST JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO TURN BACK WHEN THE CAR IS DRIFTING. MY DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT CAUSES OVERSTEERING WHEN THE WH…
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THE ELECTRIC STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW Z4 WILL STICK AND I MUST JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO TURN BACK WHEN THE CAR IS DRIFTING. MY DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT CAUSES OVERSTEERING WHEN THE WHEEL HAS TO BE JERKED BACK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10357972
66,000 miles · Sep 24, 2010
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
NHTSA ODI #10357403
28,000 miles · Sep 22, 2010
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY LOCK AND THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD . THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT NOTICED PRIOR THAT THE FAILURE TENDS TO OCCUR DURING WARM WEATHER. THE FAILURE MILEAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY LOCK AND THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD . THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT NOTICED PRIOR THAT THE FAILURE TENDS TO OCCUR DURING WARM WEATHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 28000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30000.
NHTSA ODI #10356986
74,000 miles · Sep 20, 2010
Steering
AT OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES, THE STEERING DEVELOPS A NOTCH OR DEAD SPACE THAT REQUIRES MORE THAN AVERAGE PRESSURE TO OVERCOME, THUS MAKING THE STEERING JERKY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10356618
136,000 miles · Sep 8, 2010
Steering
2003 BMW Z4 POWER STEERING BINDS UP DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (OVER 90 F) ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS LEFT IN THE SUN ALL DAY. WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT MOVING IT STICKS IN THAT POSITION REQUIRING TREMENDOUS FORCE TO GET IT TO MOVE FROM THAT POSITION AND TURN THE CAR. IT WILL STICK GOING DOWN THE ROAD THEN YOU HAV…
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2003 BMW Z4 POWER STEERING BINDS UP DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (OVER 90 F) ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS LEFT IN THE SUN ALL DAY. WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT MOVING IT STICKS IN THAT POSITION REQUIRING TREMENDOUS FORCE TO GET IT TO MOVE FROM THAT POSITION AND TURN THE CAR. IT WILL STICK GOING DOWN THE ROAD THEN YOU HAVE TO FORCE IT TO BREAK LOOSE TO CORRECT THE CAR'S DIRECTION, THEN IT STICKS IN THIS NEW LOCATION AND YOU HAVE TO BREAK IT LOOSE TO RETURN THE WHEEL TO STRAIGHT AHEAD. WHEN YOU BREAK THE STEERING LOOSE IT MAKES AN AUDIBLE THUNK. THIS BEHAVIOR CAUSES THE CAR TO DIVE INTO THE NEXT LANE OR ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DANGEROUS TO EVEN DRIVE AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS THE CAR HAS NEVER EXHIBITED THIS BEHAVIOR FOR THEM, AND IT WILL COST $3700 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10354531
24,000 miles · Sep 8, 2010
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING AT EITHER A SLOW SPEED SUCH AS 35 MPH OR 65 MPH AND WHEN HE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER POSITION WHENEVER IT LOCKED IN ORDER TO ALLOW IT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO NOR WAS THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING AT EITHER A SLOW SPEED SUCH AS 35 MPH OR 65 MPH AND WHEN HE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER POSITION WHENEVER IT LOCKED IN ORDER TO ALLOW IT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, INCOMPATIBLE ELECTRONIC AIR BAG SYSTEM PROCESSORS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY NOT OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM PROCESSORS. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 11, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, A VAPOR LOCK IN THE FUEL PUMP COULD OCCUR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MINUTES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE ELECTRICAL LINE POWERING THE FUEL PUMP IN ORDER TO PREVENT AN OCCURRENCE OF VAPOR LOCK. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 11, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 18" TIRES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE TIRE HAS BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE MOUNTING PROCESS TO THE RIM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, A LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE, OR A TIRE FAILURE, COULD OCCUR. DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL UNSEAT THE TIRE FROM ITS RIM, INSPECT FOR ANY DAMAGE, AND THEN RESEAT THE TIRE TO ITS RIM. IF INSPECTION REVEALS THAT A FRONT TIRE HAS INCURRED DAMAGE DURING THE MOUNTING PROCESS, IT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CONNECTION OF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE TO THE STEEL ROPE OF THE TENSIONER DOES NOT MEET BMW SPECIFICATIONS. IN SEVERE FRONTAL CRASHES, THIS CONNECTION CAN DETACH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CONNECTION DETACHES, THE PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SAFETY BELT IS LIKELY TO BE IMPAIRED, AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER COULD OCCUR THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE MITIGATED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT TENSIONER AND BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THESE PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE10020 · Sticky Steering
Opened Jun 28, 2010 · Closed Jun 28, 2011
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:column; Steering:electric Power Assist System
ODI has evaluated the sticky steering condition, which included reviews of complaints and warranty claims, interviews and surveys of owners of complaint vehicles, road tests of complaint vehicles, and a review of BMW's engineering and test data.ODI found the sticky steering condition does not result in a significant steering effort, thus the impact on the driver's ability to control the vehicle does not appear to be significant.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.See the attached report for additional information.In addition, during this investigation, ODI became aware of allegations of failure or loss of electric power-assisted steering on the subject vehicles.As a result, ODI is separately reviewing this issue to determine whether additional agency action is needed.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Steering
ODI has evaluated the sticky steering condition, which included reviews of complaints and warranty claims, interviews and surveys of owners of complaint vehicles, road tests of complaint vehicles, and a review of BMW's engineering and test data.ODI found the sticky steering condition does not result in a significant steering effort, thus the impact on the driver's ability to control the vehicle does not appear to be significant.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.See the attached report for additional information.In addition, during this investigation, ODI became aware of allegations of failure or loss of electric power-assisted steering on the subject vehicles.As a result, ODI is separately reviewing this issue to determine whether additional agency action is needed.
Steering:column
ODI has evaluated the sticky steering condition, which included reviews of complaints and warranty claims, interviews and surveys of owners of complaint vehicles, road tests of complaint vehicles, and a review of BMW's engineering and test data.ODI found the sticky steering condition does not result in a significant steering effort, thus the impact on the driver's ability to control the vehicle does not appear to be significant.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.See the attached report for additional information.In addition, during this investigation, ODI became aware of allegations of failure or loss of electric power-assisted steering on the subject vehicles.As a result, ODI is separately reviewing this issue to determine whether additional agency action is needed.
Steering:electric Power Assist System
ODI has evaluated the sticky steering condition, which included reviews of complaints and warranty claims, interviews and surveys of owners of complaint vehicles, road tests of complaint vehicles, and a review of BMW's engineering and test data.ODI found the sticky steering condition does not result in a significant steering effort, thus the impact on the driver's ability to control the vehicle does not appear to be significant.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.See the attached report for additional information.In addition, during this investigation, ODI became aware of allegations of failure or loss of electric power-assisted steering on the subject vehicles.As a result, ODI is separately reviewing this issue to determine whether additional agency action is needed.
2003 BMW Z4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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