What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 BMW Z4

No clear pattern

0% of complaints about the 2005 BMW Z4 arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2005 vehicle, but with only 204 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is steering (175 complaints), typically at 8.8 yr or about 47,000 miles.

Complaints
204
Median age at failure
8.8 yr
Median mileage
47,000 n=182
Crash / fire / tow
1.5% of reports
Safety recalls
0

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
175 reports · 47,000 mi
8.8 yr
1.1%

In owners’ own words

Steering 17,004 mi 4.0 yr in service
STICKY STEERING ON WARM DAYS OR COOLER DAYS WITH THE HEATER ON. I NEED TO USE MORE FORCE THAN USUAL TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL TO NEGOTIATE LANE CHANGES OR CURVES ON HIGHWAY. I NEED TO STEER THE CAR STRAIGHT AFTER TURNING OFF CENTER. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT STILL UNNERVING. *TR
Steering 12,000 mi 4.0 yr in service
BMW 2005 Z4 3.0 - STICKY ELECTRONIC STEERING THAT CAUSES STEERING OVER REACTION WHEN IT UNSTICKS. OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE IS SITTING THE SUN ON A HOT DAY DURING THE SUMMER. ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH DURING THE LAST OCCURRENCE. BMW JUST ADVISED THERE WAS NOTING WRONG WITH THE STEERING AS THERE WERE NO FAULTS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. *TR
Steering 14,000 mi 4.8 yr in service
MY BMW Z4 2005 2.5 AUTOMATIC HAS DEVELOPED A STICKY STEERING WHEN IS HOT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, OVER-CORRECTING AND UNDER-CORRECTING .THE STEERING ACT LIKE IF DON'T HAVE A DEAD CENTER.YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS TEARING THE CAR. WHEN YOU MAKE A VERY WIDE CURVE THE STEERING STAY PUT IN THAT PARTICULAR DIRECTION. IT FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND IS VERY EXHAUSTING IN LONG TRIPS. *TR

Other Z4 model years

2006200520042003

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