NHTSA probes BMW Z4, Mazda3 over steering issues

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

NHTSA probes BMW Z4, Mazda3 over steering issues

By Drew Johnson

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a new investigation involving the BMW Z4 and Mazda3 over steering concerns. The NHTSA’s probe is looking into a possible power-steering defect.

The NHTSA has received a total of 107 steering complaints involving the 2003-2005 BMW Z4 and 33 complaints against the 2007-2009 Mazda3. One of the BMW complaints resulted in a crash while three of the Mazda3’s reported cases ended in a collision.

According to the NHTSA, the BMW Z4’s “steering wheel sticks, binds or locks up, and requires increased steering effort resulting in difficulty controlling the vehicle.” The Mazda3 suffers from a similar problem, with the complaints alleging “loss of power steering assist while driving, requiring excessive force on the driver’s part to maintain control, or in some cases causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.”

No recalls have been announced for either vehicle, but up to 48,764 Z4s and 293,787 Mazda3s could be affected.

link:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/nhtsa-probes-bmw-z4-mazda3-over-steering-issues.html