2004 BMW Z4 Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

362Steering complaints

88.1%Of all 411 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

STEERING362 · 88.1%

AIR BAGS17 · 4.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM14 · 3.4%

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM9 · 2.2%

STEERING:COLUMN7 · 1.7%

Share of the 411 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2004 BMW Z4 overview page.

What owners report

“VEHICLE HAS A STEERING ISSUE WHERE IT BECOMES 'STICKY'; IT HOLDS VERY TIGHTLY TO THE CENTER POSITION AND IS DIFFICULT TO TURN. ONCE IT 'BREAKS…”NHTSA complaint 10410004 — filed 06/30/2011

“WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO FIX A 2004 BMW Z4 THAT HAS NOTCHY/STICKY STEERING THE CAR HAS 23000 MILES ON IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN WHEN…”NHTSA complaint 10408733 — filed 06/23/2011

“THE POWER STEERING BECOMES "STICKY" IN WARM WEATHER. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING IN COOL WEATHER. I KEEP THE CAR IN COVERED PARKING…”NHTSA complaint 10406953 — filed 06/15/2011

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 BMW Z4 have steering problems?

Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2004 BMW Z4: 362 of 411 complaints on file (88.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2004 BMW Z4 have in total?

411 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 1 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 0 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.