IllustrationI DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN ANY DEATHS IN THIS FAULTY STEERING PROBLEM BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TAKE MY BMW Z4 OUT BECAUSE THE STEERING CAN BE SO STICKY I'M AFRAID FOR HER LIFE, BMW SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE 2003-2005 Z4'S BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT. COME ON BMW SUCK IT UP!! THANKS *TR
2005 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
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
Steering complaints
172 reportsSTEERING STICKS WHEN OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE 60 DEGREES F. *TR
THE STEERING STARTED STICKING ON MY Z4 BMW LAST JULY AND IS GETTING WORSE. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT LAST MARCH WITH 62000 MILES NOW HAS ABOUT 66,000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. BMW NEEDS TO FIX THIS. *TR
DROVE FROM ALABAMA TO PA. TO BUY MY Z4. TEST DRIVE WAS FINE BUT AS CAR WARMED UP AND I GOT TO HIGHWAY SPEED I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT BY GOING ONLINE THAT 03 TO 05 Z4'S COMMONLY HAVE A PROBLEM CALLED STICKY STEERING. YOU HAVE TO FORCE THE CAR TO TURN. I HAVE WRITTEN BMW CORPORATE A…
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DROVE FROM ALABAMA TO PA. TO BUY MY Z4. TEST DRIVE WAS FINE BUT AS CAR WARMED UP AND I GOT TO HIGHWAY SPEED I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT BY GOING ONLINE THAT 03 TO 05 Z4'S COMMONLY HAVE A PROBLEM CALLED STICKY STEERING. YOU HAVE TO FORCE THE CAR TO TURN. I HAVE WRITTEN BMW CORPORATE AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO GO TO TOM WILLIAMS BMW IN BIRMINGHAM WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $3180. THIS CAR HAS 55,000 MILES AND OBVIOUSLY IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I HAVE ALL THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH CORPORATE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD TO YOU. THIS PROBLEM ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK MY CAR THREE WEEKS AGO AND ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS TIME THAT SOMETHING IS DONE. FOR A $40,000 CAR TO HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM IS JUST RIDICULOUS. PLEASE HELP US FORCE BMW TO RESOLVE THIS DEADLY PROBLEM! THANKS.
THE STEERING COLUMN IS DEFECTIVE AS WAS DETERMINED BY TOM WILLIAMS BMW OF BIRMINGHAM AL. I HAVE BEEN ON A BMW FORUM WEBSITE AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IT RESULTED IN A NEAR ACCIDENT 3 WEEKS AGO, AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THESE VERY PRICEY CARS. THE PRICE QUOTED ME TODAY WAS 3100.00$ BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL …
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THE STEERING COLUMN IS DEFECTIVE AS WAS DETERMINED BY TOM WILLIAMS BMW OF BIRMINGHAM AL. I HAVE BEEN ON A BMW FORUM WEBSITE AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IT RESULTED IN A NEAR ACCIDENT 3 WEEKS AGO, AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THESE VERY PRICEY CARS. THE PRICE QUOTED ME TODAY WAS 3100.00$ BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT SO IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART! SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED AND IT WAS ALMOST ME! *JS
I TRAVELED TO PENNSYLVANIA FROM ALABAMA TO BUY MY Z4 THAT I FOUND ON AUTOTRADER.COM. DURING MY TEST DRIVE I NOTICED NOTHING FUNNY, BUT ON THE INTERSTATE ON MY WAY HOME I ENCOUNTERED WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS STICKY STEERING. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 03,04, AND 05 MODE…
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
STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICED THIS SEVERAL TIMES. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ON 11/2/11, IT HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. ON DRIVING HOME FROM PURCHASE, NOTICED THAT THE STEERING STICKS WHILE TURNING AT TIMES. INITIALLY THOUGHT THIS MIGHT JUST BE TRIM PARTS RUBBING ON EACH OTHER, BUT IT TAKES SOME SIGNIFICANT EFFOR…
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STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICED THIS SEVERAL TIMES. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ON 11/2/11, IT HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. ON DRIVING HOME FROM PURCHASE, NOTICED THAT THE STEERING STICKS WHILE TURNING AT TIMES. INITIALLY THOUGHT THIS MIGHT JUST BE TRIM PARTS RUBBING ON EACH OTHER, BUT IT TAKES SOME SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO GET THE WHEEL TO TURN WHEN IT IS IN A STUCK POSITION. WHEN THE STEERING STICKS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT TURNING EFFORT TO MOVE PAST THE STICKING POINT WHICH COULD RESULT IN OVERSTEER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
I BOUGHT THE Z IN JULY, DURING THE DEALER TEST DRIVE IT HANDLED GREAT. THE TEST WAS ABOUT 20 MINUTES LONG. AFTER WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON MY FIRST TRIP HOME , ABOUT 35 MILES ,ON A HOT SUMMER AFTERNOON , I NOTICED THE STEERING SEAMED TO FREEZE UP AND WOULD NEED EXTRA EFFORT TO MAKE A STEERING CORRECTION. ONCE YOU TURNED OFF CEN…
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I BOUGHT THE Z IN JULY, DURING THE DEALER TEST DRIVE IT HANDLED GREAT. THE TEST WAS ABOUT 20 MINUTES LONG. AFTER WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON MY FIRST TRIP HOME , ABOUT 35 MILES ,ON A HOT SUMMER AFTERNOON , I NOTICED THE STEERING SEAMED TO FREEZE UP AND WOULD NEED EXTRA EFFORT TO MAKE A STEERING CORRECTION. ONCE YOU TURNED OFF CENTER IT WOULD FEEL OK UNTIL YOU NEEDED TO MAKE ANOTHER STEERING ADJUSTMENT. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SENT IT DOWN THE STREET TO A VERY REPUTABLE BMW DEALER WHO TEST DROVE THE Z AND REPORTED BACK "NO PROBLEM ". THERE IS A STEERING PROBLEM AND IT IS A VERY SERIOUS ONE. WHILE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT ONE MUST ALWAYS ANTICIPATE THE PROBLEM , IF YOU FORGET, YOU COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT BY OVER STEERING WHILE USING EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO CORRECT YOUR DIRECTION. *TR
STEERING STICKS AND WILL NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT OVER CORRECTING. APPEARS TO HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED AFTER THE CAR IS HOT OR HAS BEEN SITTING IN SUN FOR AWHILE. NO ACCIDENTS BUT HAVE COME CLOSE TO GOING INTO OTHER LANE OR OFF THE ROAD WHILE CORRECTING. *TT
2005 BMW Z4 32000 MILES STEERING STICKS WHILE DRIVING.VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP VEHICLE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE.VERY DANGEROUS. *TT
Official recalls
0No 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
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.