IllustrationSTICKING STEERING HAS OCCURRED WHEN TEMPERATURES RISE, TYPICALLY ABOVE 85F. STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DETECT THE WAY IN WHICH THE CAR WILL REACT AND THE LEVEL OF RESISTANCE THAT WILL OCCUR AND NEED TO BE DEALT WITH. *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 reportsI EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER-ASSISTED STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS, BINDS OR LOCKS UP, REQUIRING INCREASED STEERING EFFORT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL TO OVER-STEER THE VEHICLE. *TR
WHEN MY BMW Z4 2005 HAS BEEN STANDING IN WARM WEATHER IT DEVELOPS A CONCERNING HABIT. WHEN I START DRIVING I FEEL RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL - IT NEEDS MORE FORCE TO BE TURNED AND TO BE TURNED BACK TO STRAIGHT AHEAD. IT IS CONCERNING TO FEEL THAT THE STEERING FEEL CHANGES CHARACTERISTICS - WITH ONE THOUGHT IN BACK OF MY HE…
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WHEN MY BMW Z4 2005 HAS BEEN STANDING IN WARM WEATHER IT DEVELOPS A CONCERNING HABIT. WHEN I START DRIVING I FEEL RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL - IT NEEDS MORE FORCE TO BE TURNED AND TO BE TURNED BACK TO STRAIGHT AHEAD. IT IS CONCERNING TO FEEL THAT THE STEERING FEEL CHANGES CHARACTERISTICS - WITH ONE THOUGHT IN BACK OF MY HEAD: WHAT HAPPENS IF IT CHOOSES TO STICK ALL TOGETHER? DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE THE SYMPTOMS WILL BE MORE OR LESS BAD. *TR
THE STEERING FEELS NOTCHY AND HARD TO TURN MOST OF THE TIME. AT TIMES IT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN THE CAR IN THE LANE THAT I'M DRIVING IN ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE SLIGHT CURVES ON THE ROAD AND IT GETS WORST WHEN TAKING BIG CURVES. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID DRIVING IN BETWEEN LANES WHEN CARS ARE ON MY LEFT AND RIGHT THEREFORE I AM …
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THE STEERING FEELS NOTCHY AND HARD TO TURN MOST OF THE TIME. AT TIMES IT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN THE CAR IN THE LANE THAT I'M DRIVING IN ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE SLIGHT CURVES ON THE ROAD AND IT GETS WORST WHEN TAKING BIG CURVES. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID DRIVING IN BETWEEN LANES WHEN CARS ARE ON MY LEFT AND RIGHT THEREFORE I AM NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR DUE TO THE ERRATIC STEERING AND WHICH MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE STEERING AT TIMES LOCKS OR STAYS IN ONE SPOT AND IT'S HARD TO STRAIGHTEN IT WITHOUT FORCING IT BACK TO THE CENTER. ONE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL, I'VE DRIVEN MANY CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE DRIVING A CAR LIKE I DO WITH THIS ONE. *TR
2005 BMW Z4 PROBLEM WITH STICKY STEERING. OCCASIONALLY THE STEERING WILL STICK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARM OUTSIDE. CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO MOVE OFF LINE. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 BMW Z4 3.0I AND HAVE 'STICKY' STEERING AT SPEEDS ABOVE ~40MPH (MAINLY HIGHWAY). ON WARMER DAYS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN, GOING PAST ~40MPH THE STEERING WILL BEGIN TO 'BIND' OR 'STICK' CAUSING ME TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE THE VEHICLES STEERING STOPS 'STICKING', THE ADJUS…
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I HAVE A 2005 BMW Z4 3.0I AND HAVE 'STICKY' STEERING AT SPEEDS ABOVE ~40MPH (MAINLY HIGHWAY). ON WARMER DAYS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN, GOING PAST ~40MPH THE STEERING WILL BEGIN TO 'BIND' OR 'STICK' CAUSING ME TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE THE VEHICLES STEERING STOPS 'STICKING', THE ADJUSTMENT IS TOO MUCH AND CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO LANE WANDERING AND OTHER UNWANTED CHARACTERISTICS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE POWER STEERING BECAME STUCK IN POSITION AND AS IT WAS FORCED TO MOVE IT MADE THE VEHICLE LUNGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT N…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE POWER STEERING BECAME STUCK IN POSITION AND AS IT WAS FORCED TO MOVE IT MADE THE VEHICLE LUNGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26,500.
STEERING STICKS ON 2005 BMW Z4. *TR
2005 BMW Z4 POWER STEERING FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO STICK IN PLACE AND NOT WANT TO TURN. STARTED ACTING THIS WAY ON JULY 3, 2010. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 93 AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOTED AT MANY DIFFERENT SPEEDS. WAS AT A RESTAURANT IN PANAMA CITY, FL. CAME OUT, STARTED THE CAR AND HEARD STRANGE KNOCKING SOUNDS FROM THE F…
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2005 BMW Z4 POWER STEERING FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO STICK IN PLACE AND NOT WANT TO TURN. STARTED ACTING THIS WAY ON JULY 3, 2010. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 93 AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOTED AT MANY DIFFERENT SPEEDS. WAS AT A RESTAURANT IN PANAMA CITY, FL. CAME OUT, STARTED THE CAR AND HEARD STRANGE KNOCKING SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR LIKE SOMEONE KNOCKING ON WOOD. PULLED OUT OF THE RESTAURANT AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING DIDN'T WANT TO TURN UNLESS ADDITIONAL ABNORMAL PRESSURE WERE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS WAS AN IN-TOWN SITUATION BUT HAS CONTINUED SINCE. DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES TO GET BACK HOME AND COULD FEEL THE ABNORMALITY THE REST OF THE TRIP WHICH INCLUDED FREEWAY SPEEDS UP TO 70MPH. HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR 3 TIMES SINCE THEN AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AS OF JULY 7TH, 2010. *TR
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2005 BMW Z4 SINCE JULY 2007. AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH AND WHILE THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 75 DEGREES, THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF. IT IS ALMOST AS IF I AM DRIVING ON TRAIN TRACKS AND HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING RIGHT OR LEFT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS …
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I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2005 BMW Z4 SINCE JULY 2007. AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH AND WHILE THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 75 DEGREES, THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF. IT IS ALMOST AS IF I AM DRIVING ON TRAIN TRACKS AND HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING RIGHT OR LEFT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO STEERING PROBLEM. *TR
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.