2005 BMW Z4 problems
NHTSA has received 206 complaints about the 2005 BMW Z4, and 85% of them involve steering. Next are air bags (5%) and electrical system (3%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 206 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 85% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 47,000 miles 182 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 38 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 38 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 43 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 33 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 18 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 182 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 47,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 47,000 miles (161 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 4 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 90% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 8 model years of the BMW Z4 with enough data (47 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 BMW z4. While the contact's husband was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle hydroplaned and crashed into the rear of the preceding vehicle. The air bag deployed with metal shards and a metal rod going through the hand of the driver. The contact also sustained minor burns on the hand and feet from the gases when the air bag deployed. Medical attention was sought several days after the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent facility.
At highway speeds, my 2005 BMW exhibits stiff and erratic steering as follows: steering wheel is very tight, and does not turn unless inordinate pressure is applied. This makes steering very strange and quick movement is difficult to enact. A recent occurrence was july 24, 2011 on highway 101 in central california. A car pulled out in front of me unexpectedly, and at first the steering would not turn. This delayed my action to steer and forced a more violent movement from me.
My driver side seatbelt sensor suddenly would randomly detect no seatbelt despite being buckled and then the steering wheel airbag deployed into me while I was reversing the car under 2mph. I suffered burns and bruises, hearing loss, and disorientation from the deployed airbag. I could have broke my nose, or my wrist or fingers. BMW dealership refused covering towing and inspection. BMW airbags across multiple models and years have experienced recalls and issues.
Steering jerks to the point of being unsafe. At highway speeds the car will drift. When you correct, it jerks either right or left. A few times almost veering into the next lane of traffic. Brought into BMW of ft. Myers. They said I needed a new steering column. $3,487.60 plus $153.44 to calibrate, plus tax. Very, very disapointed in BMW not having a recall on this. It is a serious safety issue aside from speding a lot of money to purchase a "quality????" car.
Steering wheel sticks, mostly when making left turns. BMW is aware of the issue with these vehicles but states "not a safety issue, simply a nuisance" this is not true. When turning to the left, the wheel sticks causing driver to exert more pressure, when the wheel frees, the vehicle veers to the left, occasionally causing the vehicle to cross the center line into oncoming traffic. This is a significant safety issue and ongoing!!