2004 BMW Z4 problems
Owners have filed 443 complaints about the 2004 BMW Z4 with NHTSA. Steering accounts for 86% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of air bags at 4.7%.
Complaints443
Crashes2
Fires2
Injuries0
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Steering 86.0% · 381
Air bags 4.7% · 21
Electrical system 3.2% · 14
Exterior lighting 1.4% · 6
Structure 0.7% · 3
Power train 0.7% · 3
Visibility/wiper 0.7% · 3
Electronic stability control (ESC) 0.7% · 3
Severity
Of those complaints, 2 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire.
Reading the numbers
Across the 4 model years of the BMW Z4 in this data, 2004 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 2003 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 8 in the last three years against 32 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 48,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the vehicle would pull from side to side. The contact stated that the failure would only occur during extremely high temperatures. The dealer advised that the entire steering column needed to be replaced. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer for a full diagnostic test. The failure mileage was 37,000. Updated 7/26/13 Steering · reported at 37,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. The contact stated was driving 25 mph when the steering column began sticking. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the steering column would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,500. Updated 8/30/11 *cn updated 09/27/11 Steering · reported at 12,500 miles
On my 2004 BMW Z4 3.0I, on hot days my steering wants to stick and I have to use much more force than I usually have to make the steering move. In the winter I tend to not have this problem as much, but in the summer (I live in texas) it gets very hot and the steering wants to stick more. This is a problem that needs to be fixed!! There are hundreds of other Z4 drivers that have the same exact problem as me. Steering
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…