Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
420–25K
4825–50K
4750–75K
2075–100K
10100–150K
2150K+
169 reports with mileage · 21 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 172 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
190 reports
66,000 miles · Aug 1, 2017
Steering
VEHICLE STEERING IS STICKY, IN CENTER POSITION MAKING MINOR CORRECTION HAVE TO FORCE THE CORRECTION CAUSING OVER CORRECTION. DRIVER THEN HAS TO MAKE ANOTHER CORRECTIONS AGAIN TO BRING THE CAR BACK FROM THE ORIGINAL OVER CORRECTION. THIS IS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS. IN LOOKING THIS UP ON GOOGLE FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR MY…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE STEERING IS STICKY, IN CENTER POSITION MAKING MINOR CORRECTION HAVE TO FORCE THE CORRECTION CAUSING OVER CORRECTION. DRIVER THEN HAS TO MAKE ANOTHER CORRECTIONS AGAIN TO BRING THE CAR BACK FROM THE ORIGINAL OVER CORRECTION. THIS IS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS. IN LOOKING THIS UP ON GOOGLE FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR MY VEHICLE YEAR AND BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. IT IS PREVALENT IN WARM WEATHER.
NHTSA ODI #11011898
94,000 miles · Jul 19, 2017
Steering
WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED STEERING DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AS SPEED INCREASES(AROUND 45-50 MPH), THE STEERING GETS HEAVIER (AND DEVELOPS A "STICKINESS" AT STRAIGHT CENTER WHICH CAUSES AN OVERCORRECTION WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY. THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO OVERCOME THE DETENT RESISTANCE, TO THE P…
Read full complaint
WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED STEERING DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AS SPEED INCREASES(AROUND 45-50 MPH), THE STEERING GETS HEAVIER (AND DEVELOPS A "STICKINESS" AT STRAIGHT CENTER WHICH CAUSES AN OVERCORRECTION WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY. 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 DANGEROUS DURING ANY DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE CONDITION SEEMS TO MORE PRONOUNCED AS WEATHER TEMPERATURE INCREASES.
NHTSA ODI #11006303
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2017
Steering
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ISSUE A FULL RECALL FOR THE BMW STICKY STEERING ISSUE! FOR YEARS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ON SOCIALS MEDIA AND THE NHTSA THAT THIS IS A VERY REAL ISSUE AND YET NO RECALL! I HAVE THE ISSUE. I CAN SAY AT TIMES IN HOT WEATHER MY CAR IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. IT IS ALL I CAN DO TO KEEP MY STEERING TO GO TH…
Read full complaint
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ISSUE A FULL RECALL FOR THE BMW STICKY STEERING ISSUE! FOR YEARS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ON SOCIALS MEDIA AND THE NHTSA THAT THIS IS A VERY REAL ISSUE AND YET NO RECALL! I HAVE THE ISSUE. I CAN SAY AT TIMES IN HOT WEATHER MY CAR IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. IT IS ALL I CAN DO TO KEEP MY STEERING TO GO THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO WITHOUT JERKING AND OVER CORRECTING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2013. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. EVERYTIME THE TEMP GETS ABOVE 80 THE STEERING STARTS GETTING JERKY AND STICKS. JUST GO TO FACEBOOK. BIMMER FORUMS. EVERYONE WHO OWNS A Z4 IS HAVING THESE SAME ISSUES. IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. BMW DEALERSHIPS WANT TO CHARGE NEARLY 2000 FOR MY 2005 BMW WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. UNLESS YOU FORCE BMW TO BE ACCOUNTABLE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET KILLED.
NHTSA ODI #11002422
45,000 miles · Jun 22, 2017
Steering
2005 BMW Z4 STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEED. WHEN PARKED WITH STEERING UNLOCKED YOU CAN ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL AND FEEL THERE IS A STICKING ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE TO FORCIBLY PUSH THE WHEEL TOO FAR TO GET IT TO UNSTICK. THIS IS VERY SCARY WHEN DRIVING! CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THIS SINCE MANY OW…
Read full complaint
2005 BMW Z4 STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEED. WHEN PARKED WITH STEERING UNLOCKED YOU CAN ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL AND FEEL THERE IS A STICKING ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE TO FORCIBLY PUSH THE WHEEL TOO FAR TO GET IT TO UNSTICK. THIS IS VERY SCARY WHEN DRIVING! CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THIS SINCE MANY OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIPS WANT $3500 TO FIX THE ISSUE. I DRIVE A LOT FOR WORK, GOING INTO A TURN ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS AND YOUR STEERING IT STUCK IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAPPENS TO ME EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THREADS FROM EVERYONE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR IN THE SUMMER SO I CANNOT SAY IF THE PROBLEM IS WORSE IN WARM WEATHER. ALL I CAN TRULY SAY IS THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR. WHETHER SHORT TRIP TO STORE AT LOW CITY SPEEDS OR VERY HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. WHY IS THE NHTSA IGNORING THIS? STEERING NOT WORKING IS A HUGE SAFETY DEFECT! THIS IS NOT AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, IT IS CONSTANT AND RANDOM SO NO WAY TO PREPARE BEFORE IT HAPPENS AT 80 MPH OR 35 MPH THROUGH CITY STREETS WITH PEDESTRIANS AND CARS EVERYWHERE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR AS LONG AS I'VE OWNED THE CAR AND EVERY YEAR IT GETS WORSE.
NHTSA ODI #11000568
47,000 miles · Mar 26, 2017
Steering
MY 2005 BMW Z4 WITH 47,000 MILES THE STEERING AFTER DRIVING APPROX 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY LOCKS UP WHILE CENTERED AND YOU HAVE TO JERK IT TO STEER STRAIGHT WHICH CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO OVER CORRECT ITS VERY DANGEROUS !!! SO AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM SO WHY IS THERE NO R…
Read full complaint
MY 2005 BMW Z4 WITH 47,000 MILES THE STEERING AFTER DRIVING APPROX 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY LOCKS UP WHILE CENTERED AND YOU HAVE TO JERK IT TO STEER STRAIGHT WHICH CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO OVER CORRECT ITS VERY DANGEROUS !!! SO AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM SO WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS CAR BEFORE SOMEONE DIES?
NHTSA ODI #10968563
53,000 miles · Mar 16, 2017
Steering
WHEN ENGINE IS WARM THE STEERING STICKS CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIFT OFF CENTER AND OVER STEERING TO CORRECT.
NHTSA ODI #10966331
55,000 miles · Feb 21, 2017
Steering
JERKING STERING
NHTSA ODI #10956008
99,500 miles · Feb 18, 2017
Steering
STEERING STICKY HARD TO TURN, SOMETIMES PULLS TO LEFT AS YOUR DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FRONT END IS PROPERLY ALIGNED. HAPPENS MORE IN HOT WEATHER.
NHTSA ODI #10955395
95,250 miles · Feb 14, 2017
Steering
I EXPERIENCE STICKING STEERING THAT PROGRESSIVELY GETS WORSE AS I DRIVE MY VEHICLE. MY STEERING TENDS TO STICK TO THE RIGHT AND WILL NOT SELF ALIGN ITSELF UNTIL I FORCEABLE CENTER THE WHEEL. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS TURNING LEFT BUT CURRENTLY IT IS NOT AS SEVERE. THE PROBLEM IS PRESENT ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS AND WHILE TURNING.
NHTSA ODI #10954604
69,000 miles · Jan 10, 2017
Steering
WHILE DRIVING IN WARM WEATHER STEERING HAS TIGHT SPOTS LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN MOVING STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING CAR NOT STAY STRAIGHT ON ROAD. VERY DANGERS WHILE DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10944111
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
2
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.
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.
2005 BMW Z4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration