Owners have filed 443 complaints
about the 2004 BMW Z4 with NHTSA between 2004 and 2025.
The largest single group is the steering.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 12 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 100
Against the median year of the BMW Z4. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 5
0.9% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 53
31% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Electric Power Assist System
939.1%
Column
730.4%
Body
28.7%
Front Passenger
14.3%
Occupant Classification
14.3%
Sensor/Control Module
14.3%
Rack AND Pinion
14.3%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR
14.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
20.5%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
153.7%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
5714.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
13633.7%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
11227.8%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
4711.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
327.9%
150,000+ miles
20.5%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2004peak 23Jun 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2004 BMW Z4
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE10020Opened 28 Jun 2010Closed 28 Jun 2011STEERING
Sticky 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 i...
EA08001Opened 4 Jan 2008Closed 31 Dec 2008AIR BAGS
BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
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 T...
Recalls on the 2004 BMW Z4
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20083078,090 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat can fatigue during field usage depending on the seat configuration, vehicle geometry, manner and frequency of front passenger entry/exit. Over time micro cracks could develop in the side flanks of the mat, which could lead to a break of the conductive path and the system will recognize a failure and with exception of head protection system the front passenger air bag will be deactivated. The airbag On/Off lamp will be illuminated to make the occupants aware of the deactivation. Correction: The occupant detection mat will be granted a warranty extension of 10 years.
Recall 2004123456 units in Canada
Fuel System
Certain vehicles contain a defect involving the electric fuel pump. Under certain environmental conditions, for example, driving during high outside temperatures in combination with high altitudes (over 5,000ft.), vapor lock in the fuel pump could occur. This could cause the engine to stall. If this were to happen, the engine could be unable to be restarted for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Correction: Dealer will install a resistor in the electrical line leading to the fuel pump. This will reduce the power output of the fuel pump and preclude an occurrence of vapor lock.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 28,000 milesMoyock, NCFire
STEERING
FOR ABOUT THE LAST FIVE THOUSAND MILES, MY STEERING HAS DEVELOPED THE DANGEROUS STEERING CONDITION( DESCRIBED BY LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS IN BLOGS AND VARIOUS POSTINGS-JUST DO A SEARCH FOR "Z4 STEERING PROBLEM") THAT EXISTS IN 2003-2005 BMW Z4 ROADSTERS. AT FIRST, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ONLY ON VERY HOT DAYS (AS DESCRIBED MY MANY OTHERS). NOW, IT AFFECTS ALL ASPECTS OF DRIVING, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. STEERING REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER. I HAVE REPLACED TIRES TWICE AND HAD SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS WITH NO EFFECT. IF EVER THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL THIS IS IT. THE DEAD STEERING DESCRIBED IS MOST EVIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50-70MPH)
NHTSA complaint #10809801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesAllison Park, PACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE STEERING IS THE ONLY PROBLEM BUT YOUR WEB SITE INSISTS ON MY SELECTING AT LEAST 3 AFFECTED PARTS. IN ANY CASE, THE STEERING RECENTLY BECAME JERKY AND NOTCHY WHILE DRIVING. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF THIS, I TOOK IT MY LOCAL FOREIGN CAR REPAIR SPECIALIST AND THEY DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. ULTIMATELY, THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST TO ME OF $4100. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION MAKING MY CONTROL OF STEERING TENUOUS AT BEST AND ONE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT.
NHTSA complaint #10534618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesAllison Park, PACrash
STEERING
THE STEERING IS THE ONLY PROBLEM BUT YOUR WEB SITE INSISTS ON MY SELECTING AT LEAST 3 AFFECTED PARTS. IN ANY CASE, THE STEERING RECENTLY BECAME JERKY AND NOTCHY WHILE DRIVING. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF THIS, I TOOK IT MY LOCAL FOREIGN CAR REPAIR SPECIALIST AND THEY DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. ULTIMATELY, THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST TO ME OF $4100. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION MAKING MY CONTROL OF STEERING TENUOUS AT BEST AND ONE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT.
NHTSA complaint #10534618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BHM, ALFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WATER GETS INTO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE RUBBER GROMMET THAT CARRIES THE MAIN BATTERY CABLE FROM THE TRUNK TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT IS A WELL THAT ALSO HOUSES THE CAR STEREO AMPLIFIER. AMPLIFIER WAS SITTING IN ABOUT 2 INCHES OF WATER CAUSING THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO SHORT OUT AND CATCH ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10428293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Stroudsburg, PA
STEERING
Twice this month, while operating the vehicle, the power steering completely stopped functioning, causing the vehicle to be almost uncontrollable. No prior warning light. When I purchased the vehicle in 2018, the same problem occurred and the dealer replaced the steering column under warranty. In researching online I find that this is a common problem with this model. I am surprised to find that there is no recall notice for what is a major safety concern.
NHTSA complaint #11665759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Los Angeles, CA
STEERING
Power steering wheel went out of power during a trip at about 70mph. Yellow light at the dashboard went ON then so, car became imposible to drive or so.
NHTSA complaint #11664730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seattle, WA
STEERING
Power steering stopped working.
NHTSA complaint #11653689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fox Island, WA
STEERING
The electric steering gets sticky when very often. It feels locked in its position and requires extra force to unstick, once its past the sticking point it over corrects and causes the vehicle to swerve. This failure seems to be quite common and is well known. It seems to be a manufacturing defect inside the electric steering column. I believe it should be investigated by NHTSA. The last time it happened my car went off onto the soft shoulder. The manufacturer should repair the steering. It’s a widely known issue.
NHTSA complaint #11642101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yorktown, VA
STEERING
When driving the steering is loose or sticky. The problem gets worse when the weather is warm. Sometimes it’s hard to keep the car driving in a straight path. This is scary and dangerous. His occurs whenever the car is driven. Other z4 drivers are having the same problem.
NHTSA complaint #11592383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Diego, CA
STEERING
The steering sticks, in warmer weather, at freeway speeds. Continuously trying to unstick the steering wheel, with the possibility of overcorrecting, at freeway speeds, could present a safety hazard. Yes, the alignment company recognized the problem during their post-alignment test drive. The vehicle has not been inspected by "manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives." No warning lamps/lights/messages on dash. However, if you google 2004 BMW with sticky steering, you will find NUMEROUS accounts of this happening to other owners of similar vehicles (specifically 2003-2005 Z4).
NHTSA complaint #11543421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redding, CA
STEERING
The electric steering gets sticky when hot. It feels locked in its position and requires extra force to unstick, once its past the sticking point it over corrects and causes the vehicle to swerve. This failure seems to be quite common and is well known. It seems to be a manufacturing defect inside the electric steering column. I believe it has already been investigated by NHTSA but a recall has not yet been called to protect the consumer. This failure only happens when it is hot or the heater is on in the car, there is no warning before it occurs. Thank you for your attention in this matter. Please help by re-investigating this common failure.
NHTSA complaint #11540623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, IN
STEERING
The steering is sticky, like the steering system is locking up. It isn't smooth but instead very jerky, and requires serious effort to manage. It is becoming dangerous and is very unsafe. I have seen a lot of complaints on the internet and can not believe this isn't a recall item!
NHTSA complaint #11517538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beaufort, SC
STEERING
Component or system failed: Steering Column. It is available for inspection. Safety or the safety of others put at risk: When driving the steering column will lock or stick into place until it is forced back into a normal driving position. This consistently occurs when driving on a corner or making slight steering adjustments on a straight road. Has the problem been reproduced by a dealer: UNKNOWN Has the vehicle or component been inspected: UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps: None
NHTSA complaint #11492581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palmetto, FL
STEERING
Steering is "sticky" with a feel of detents in the steering instead of expected smooth engagement. At highway speeds this is concerning and feels unsafe. Difficult or impossible to steer smoothly.
NHTSA complaint #11478600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesHillsboro, OH
STEERING
The contact owns a 2004 BMW Z4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds in warm weather, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The contact continued driving with caution to his destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #11476051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Des Moines, IA
STEERING
The the vehicle sits out in the sunlight or its warm outside (usually over 80F) the steering wheel will get very notchy and “stick” towards the center position at highway speeds. This makes minor steering corrections at highway speeds very difficult to make without unintentionally leaving your own lane possibly into another car. This is very much a safety issue! This has happened on multiple occasions since the week after I got it in May 2022. Tonight its only 65 degrees and it was acting up (this is 2 hours after sunset).
NHTSA complaint #11468557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kingsport, TN
STEERING
The steering wheel is "sticky" and has play in it when you are driving it. It appears to have steering drift. I feel this car is not safe to drive and is hard to control. No warning messages have come on. When I searched online, it appears that many others are having trouble with their 2004 z4 steering.
NHTSA complaint #11456655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dahloenga, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The Electric Top Malfunctions because of fault design Behind the driver seat is a hydraulic cylinder that sits in a cabin. Water leaks into the cabin causing the hydraulics to go out. The cabin fills up with water, and submerges the pump. This is a major design flaw. It is common with all Z4 models 2003 - 2008. I have a roadster rental business, comprised specifically of the Z4 model. I can give you 4 different vehicles I own as an example. Plus I can quote every seller, that says the top does not work. If people are not aware of this it can lead to accidents, the claw hooks disengaging, unable to get the top up in a lightning storm, rain storm etc., I haven't seen any recalls on the tops. There are no warning lamps on the vehicle that indicate the top motor or its hydraulic cylinder are malfunctioning. Most of these tops quit working in the same year or a couple year after the car was purchased, from manufacturing date. My car, I have reported here, only has 75,000 Original miles.
NHTSA complaint #11434978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
STEERING
I own a 2004 BMW Z4 2.5i I bought it used in 2010 with 22,000 miles. It was on a cool December day when I test drove the car and I loved it. No sign of any steering problems. On a warmer day after driving for a while I suddenly experienced a unexpected binding of the steering and almost binding ended up steering into oncoming traffic. This really scared me and I started investigating. Yes, this is a known safety defect, but BMW doesn’t do anything about it. NHTSA, which supposed to protect us from unsafe vehicles, did not do their job either. I am a retired Automotive engineer with Fiat-Iveco and NHTSA made my company recall vehicles for much less. The defect gets worse in hot weather and I don’t let my son, friends or anybody else drive the vehicle, as I am afraid that they could get hurt, aside from a liability issue on my side. I can’t really sell the vehicle with a known safety defect from a moral standpoint and I definitely would be liable should the car get involved in an accident caused by a known defect. BMW and NHTSA do your job before somebody gets hurt or killed! Doing nothing, will cost you more in Settlements and Reputation in a long run…the problem will not go away by doing nothing! Following site lists 137 BMW Z4 owners reporting problems related to steering column: https://www.carproblemzoo.com/bmw/z4/steering-column-problems.php This is a major design and safety defect and justifies a safety recall!
NHTSA complaint #11432357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morehead City, NC
STEERING
Whenever the temperature Is above 80 degrees the steering becomes very stiff with no power assist due to a design defeat within the steering column. The vehicle because very dangerous to drive due to the lack of steering control. This problem effects all BMW Z4s from 2003 to 2006. BMW wants the owners to have the dealer replace the steering column for $6,000. Please assist us in having BMW issue a Recall for a very dangerous situation they created with a defectively designed steering column.
NHTSA complaint #11431210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 51,590 milesRaleigh, NC
STEERING
STEERING STICKS CAUSES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN STEERING DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING
NHTSA complaint #11406128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Punta Gorda, FL
STEERING
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2005 BMW Z4. IT IS COMPLETELY UNSTABLE. FOR INSTANCE: 1)IT KEEPS PULLING TO THE LEFT, OR TO THE RIGHT. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS SO THAT I COULD KEEP THE CAR ALIGNED, OR CENTERED. 2)I EXPERIENCE SUDDEN JERKS TO THE LEFT, OR TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS SLIGHTINGLY UNEVEN. I CAN NEVER PREDICT WHICH WAY THE CAR PULLS ME. I STRUGGLE A LOT TO KEEP THE STEERING CENTERED WHEN STOPPING AT ANY RED LIGHTS. 3) SOMETIMES, THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK
NHTSA complaint #11384494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Desert, CA
AIR BAGS
THEY DO NOT WORK
NHTSA complaint #11343502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesLees Summit, MO
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 BMW Z4 WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN 2016 WITH 67000 MILES ON IT. OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, THE STEERING HAS BECOME STICKY AND HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN MY LANE WHEN TRAVELLING STRAIGHT. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING AS THE CAR TRIES TO PULL EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. ALSO, IT IS HARD TO CORRECT THE PULL, RESULTING IN JERKY DRIVING OR OVERCORRECTION. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING BOTH STRAIGHT AND ON CURVES. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN WARMER WEATHER, BUT HAVE EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT PROBLEM EVEN IN COOLER WEATHER. IT HAS OCCURRED AT BOTH SLOWER SPEEDS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 80000 MILES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR 5 YEARS AND HAVE PUT LESS THAN 20000 MILES ON IT IN THAT TIME PERIOD, SO IT IS NOT DRIVEN EXCESSIVELY OR UNDER HARSH DRIVING CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #11341767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 77,400 milesHarrison, AR
STEERING
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES THE STEERING STARTS TO STICK AND BECOMES JERKY IN ORDER TO STAY IN THE DRIVING LANE. IT GETS INCREASINGLY WORSE AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WHILE IN ROUTE TO MY DESTINATION, IT BECOMES EXHAUSTING TO DRIVE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE ON THE ROAD IN THE SUMMER, WHICH IS THE BEST TIME FOR DRIVING A ROADSTER WITH THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11341366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,000 milesNorfolk, VA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REOCCURING ISSUE: -DOOR LOCKS NOT FUNCTIONING BY REMOTE OR CENTRAL BUTTON -WIPERS NOT FUNCTIONING -TRUNK RELEASE NOT FUNCTIONING BY REMOTE OR BUTTON -WINDOWS NOT FUNCTIONING -LIGHTING OF INTERIOR NOT WORKING, TO INCLUDE GAUGE CLUSTER -TOP NOT FUNCTIONING ISSUES INTENSIFY ON DAYS OF LOW/HIGHER TEMPERATURES. SEEMS TO RESET BY DISCONNECTING BATTERY AND RECONNECTING AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. ISSUES POINTS TO GM5 MODULE BEING FAULTY/FAILING THIS IS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL YOU START THE CAR, SEEMS TO BE A RANDOM OCCURRENCE, BUT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE WEEKLY. SOMETIMES IT IS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.
NHTSA complaint #11341390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,000 milesNorfolk, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REOCCURING ISSUE: -DOOR LOCKS NOT FUNCTIONING BY REMOTE OR CENTRAL BUTTON -WIPERS NOT FUNCTIONING -TRUNK RELEASE NOT FUNCTIONING BY REMOTE OR BUTTON -WINDOWS NOT FUNCTIONING -LIGHTING OF INTERIOR NOT WORKING, TO INCLUDE GAUGE CLUSTER -TOP NOT FUNCTIONING ISSUES INTENSIFY ON DAYS OF LOW/HIGHER TEMPERATURES. SEEMS TO RESET BY DISCONNECTING BATTERY AND RECONNECTING AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. ISSUES POINTS TO GM5 MODULE BEING FAULTY/FAILING THIS IS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL YOU START THE CAR, SEEMS TO BE A RANDOM OCCURRENCE, BUT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE WEEKLY. SOMETIMES IT IS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.
NHTSA complaint #11341390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,000 milesNorfolk, VA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
REOCCURING ISSUE: -DOOR LOCKS NOT FUNCTIONING BY REMOTE OR CENTRAL BUTTON -WIPERS NOT FUNCTIONING -TRUNK RELEASE NOT FUNCTIONING BY REMOTE OR BUTTON -WINDOWS NOT FUNCTIONING -LIGHTING OF INTERIOR NOT WORKING, TO INCLUDE GAUGE CLUSTER -TOP NOT FUNCTIONING ISSUES INTENSIFY ON DAYS OF LOW/HIGHER TEMPERATURES. SEEMS TO RESET BY DISCONNECTING BATTERY AND RECONNECTING AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. ISSUES POINTS TO GM5 MODULE BEING FAULTY/FAILING THIS IS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL YOU START THE CAR, SEEMS TO BE A RANDOM OCCURRENCE, BUT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE WEEKLY. SOMETIMES IT IS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.
NHTSA complaint #11341390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,000 milesKawkawlin, MI
STEERING
STEERING GETS STICKY INTERMITTENTLY, MORE COMMON WHEN VEHICLE IS HOT. SEEMS LIKE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 42K MILES. DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN LANE ESPECIALLY ON CURVES AND IN CITY TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS AND UNEXPECTED.
NHTSA complaint #11338862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.