IllustrationIF THE VEHICLE IS HOT, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WILL HANG UP IN THE 12:00 POSITION AND YOU HAVE TO USE MORE FORCE TO GET IT THROUGH THIS POSITION, CAUSING TO VEHICLE TO OVER-STEER. IT'S BEEN GETTING WORST AND THE BMW DEALERSHIP CAN FIND THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I'VE SENT THEM COMPUTER LINKS DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM.
2004 BMW Z4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Z4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
680–25K
12925–50K
10550–75K
4275–100K
26100–150K
2150K+
372 reports with mileage · 39 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 378 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports
Steering complaints
378 reportsWHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS IN POSITION. IT WILL BREAK LOOSE WITH VERY LITTLE FORCE. BUT VERY IRRITATING. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE ABOUT 75-80 DEGREES, THE STEERING WILL "STICK" WHEN MAKING MINOR CORRECTIONS WHILE DRIVING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS BMW MAKE AND MODEL. THERE ARE 57000 MILES ON VEHICLE. IT IS NOT NOTICEABLE IN COOLER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.
STEERING ISSUE: WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND VARIOUS OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES, THE STEERING WILL STICK, AND IS NOT SMOOTH AND RESPONSIVE REGARDLESS OF THE CURVE DEGREE. THE SENSATION IS THAT THE TURNING OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS JERKY AND REQUIRES BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL. THIS SAFETY ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.…
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STEERING ISSUE: WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND VARIOUS OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES, THE STEERING WILL STICK, AND IS NOT SMOOTH AND RESPONSIVE REGARDLESS OF THE CURVE DEGREE. THE SENSATION IS THAT THE TURNING OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS JERKY AND REQUIRES BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL. THIS SAFETY ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN OFTEN AS EVIDENCED BY MILEAGE, 16,000.
STEERING JERKY JUST PURCHASED A USED BMW 2004 Z4 ONLY 50,000 MILES AND DROVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS THEN IT GOT REAL HOT OUTSIDE AND NOW THE STEERING IS JERKING ME AROUND. FEELS LIKE WHEN I TRY TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LINES I AM HAVING TO FIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM SEEMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON DANGEROUS P…
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STEERING JERKY JUST PURCHASED A USED BMW 2004 Z4 ONLY 50,000 MILES AND DROVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS THEN IT GOT REAL HOT OUTSIDE AND NOW THE STEERING IS JERKING ME AROUND. FEELS LIKE WHEN I TRY TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LINES I AM HAVING TO FIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM SEEMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO FIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LINES OF THE ROAD. BMW WANTS TO CHARGE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE COLUMN AT 3800.00 . APPEARS THEY RECALLED 2006-2007 BMW OTHER MODELS FOR THIS SAME THING. THE 2003-2004 Z4 SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.
STEERING IS "STICKY" AND CAN CAUSE ME TO SWERVE OUT OF MY LANE WHILE DRIVING.
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 IN MD WENT TO GO AROUND A BEND IN ROAD STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T WANT TO TURN. I HAD TO JERK THE WHEEL TO MAKE THE BEND THUS MAKING ME ALMOST HIT CAR BESIDE ME. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW BUT IN 14 YEARS NO RECALL IS INSANE. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE THIS THING OUT ON A HIGHWAY AGAIN…
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DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 IN MD WENT TO GO AROUND A BEND IN ROAD STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T WANT TO TURN. I HAD TO JERK THE WHEEL TO MAKE THE BEND THUS MAKING ME ALMOST HIT CAR BESIDE ME. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW BUT IN 14 YEARS NO RECALL IS INSANE. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE THIS THING OUT ON A HIGHWAY AGAIN.HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE FOR THIS TO GET FIXED
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING 'STICKS' AND REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO OVERCOME TO STAY ON THE ROAD. SEVERAL NEAR INCIDENTS WHEN IT FINALLY UN STICKS AND GOES TO FAR IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND JUST KEEP GETTING WORSE.
MY CAR HAS THE COMMONLY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING UNIT. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN APRIL 2015 FROM STEVENS CREEK BMW. THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE. I BEGAN TO ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS IN EARLY 2016. THE STEERING BEGAN TO TIGHTEN UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE WHEELS TO SELF STRAIGHTEN UPON ACCELERATION. I FIRST L…
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MY CAR HAS THE COMMONLY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING UNIT. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN APRIL 2015 FROM STEVENS CREEK BMW. THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE. I BEGAN TO ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS IN EARLY 2016. THE STEERING BEGAN TO TIGHTEN UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE WHEELS TO SELF STRAIGHTEN UPON ACCELERATION. I FIRST LEARNED OF THE PROBLEM WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY FROM AN ON RAMP. THE STEERING, INSTEAD OF ALLOWING ME TO EASE GENTLY INTO A TRAFFIC LANE, WANTED TO CONTINUE TO PULL ME LEFT INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER. I WAS ABLE TO YANK THE WHEEL AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I THEN RESEARCHED AND LEARNED ABOUT THE COMMON POWER STEERING ISSUE AND LEARNED THAT A GREASE FITTING INTO THE STEERING COLUMN COULD HELP. I THEN LEARNED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN FITTED WITH SUCH A GREASE FITTING. ADDITIONAL GREASE THEN ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. EVENTUALLY ADDITIONAL GREASE BECAME LESS EFFECTIVE AND I LEARNED TO DRIVE WITH STEERING THAT WAS STIFF AND PRONE TO STICKINESS. RECENTLY (DECEMBER 2017), THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO ENTIRELY SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IT SHUTS OFF AND THEN TURNS ON AGAIN AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. THE CAR IS THEREFORE NO LONGER DRIVABLE FOR SAFETY REASONS. I'VE LEARNED THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ENTIRELY WITH A PART COST OF $3,400. GIVEN THE BROAD BASED OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE ON 2003-2005 (AND EVEN SOME 2006) CARS, THIS MUST BE SEEN AS A SERIOUS PRODUCT SAFETY DEFECT WORTHY OF A RECALL BY BMW.
STEERING FEELS DETENTED, WON'T RETURN TO CENTER AND IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE ON A CURVING ROAD. VERY "STICKY". MANY TESTIMONIALS ON THE INTERNET RELATING TO THIS ISSUE. MUST BE A KNOWN PROBLEM.
Official recalls
104V182000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Apr 12, 2004
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.
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
2PE10020 · 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.
EA08001 · BMW Airbag Light Illumination
Opened Jan 4, 2008 · Closed Dec 31, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Air Bags
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Air Bags:frontal
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.