BMW bulletin B320420
What it saysGROANING NOISE DURING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN: A groaning type noise is heard during the height adjustment. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
BMW filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Jun 1, 2023, received Oct 19, 2020, about the steering — 6 documents under this number. It names 53 model years (2016–2023). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationGROANING NOISE DURING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN: A groaning type noise is heard during the height adjustment.
Documents filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B320420 | Service bulletin | Jun 1, 2023 | 10239604 | not found |
| B320420 | Service bulletin | Mar 1, 2023 | 10235181 | not found |
| B320420 | Service bulletin | Nov 1, 2021 | 10205616 | not found |
| B320420 | Service bulletin | Oct 1, 2020 | 10182907 | not found |
| B320420 | Service bulletin | Oct 1, 2020 | 10182608 | not found |
| B320420 | Service bulletin | Sep 1, 2020 | 10181220 | not found |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themAlso filed against model years this site has no page for: 2019 BMW 540D; 2020 BMW 540D; 2020 BMW 640I; 2018 BMW B7 Alpina; 2019 BMW B7 Alpina; 2020 BMW B7 Alpina; 2021 BMW B7 Alpina; 2018 BMW C 400 X; 2021 BMW F 850 GS Adventure; 2017 BMW F800 R; 2021 BMW M760LI; 2022 BMW M760LI; 2019 BMW M850XI; 2021 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure.
A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 39 model years this bulletin names have filed 1,259 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 383 of them name Electrical System, Steering, Back Over Prevention — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
On the 2019 BMW X5, the 19 owners who gave an odometer reading for Electrical System reported it at a median of 55,000 miles. That figure is one model year’s, not the whole range this bulletin covers — medians from different model years are not averaged.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X7. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the message that the starter motor was overheating was displayed and the vehicle failed to start. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the starter motor. The vehicle was repaired.
2019 BMW X7 · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA May 12, 2025 · ODI 11660474
Starter engine failure. Car failed to start multiple times. Major safety hazard that can cause a short circuit, melt wiring harnesses, and spark an engine bay fire posing an immediate threat to life. Problem was inspected and confirmed by a dealer. Multiple waring lamps and messages appeared. Dealer report stated: STARTER MOTOR FAULTY.
2021 BMW 5 Series · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Jul 10, 2026 · ODI 11749530
1.) The Steering Column 2.) The Column will get stuck and cannot be adjusted. 3.) Dealer has confirmed the problem & BMW USA has confirmed the problem 4.) No 5.) No Warnings BMW USA has offered a Fix for this issue and free fix if the car is under 50k miles however this is more of a safety issue as you cannot properaly adjust the…
2017 BMW 5 Series · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Apr 15, 2026 · ODI 11731280
In depth: 2019 BMW X5 electrical problems →
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the steering
Source: same model, same component group12 other manufacturer communications filed against these BMW models under the same component group (steering), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the BMW list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B320526 | Service bulletin | Aug 20, 2026 | “Cracking” noise might be heard when turning the steering wheel from lock to lock. See attached video V3202 26 EPS noise. |
| B320326 | Service bulletin | Apr 23, 2026 | “Groaning” noise from the EPS when the steering wheel is at the end stops. |
| B310426 | Service bulletin | Apr 23, 2026 | SITUATION When turning the steering wheel fully to the steering end stops, a ”groaning” noise can be perceived at the respective steering st… |
| B320123 | Service bulletin | Apr 6, 2026 | When turning the steering wheel while stationary or when driving on uneven roads; cracking, creaking, or knocking noises may be heard. |
| B320825 | Service bulletin | Sep 3, 2025 | When the steering column is adjusted inwards towards the instrument cluster, the noise may occur near thelimit position. |
| 0032680300 | Service campaign | May 2, 2025 | Parts of the steering shaft universal joint may have been joined together without having beengreased. As a result, there can be audible sque… |
| B320225 | Service campaign | Feb 7, 2025 | DELIVERY STOP: STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT |
| B320125 | Service bulletin | Jan 10, 2025 | Rumbling, groaning type noises from the EPS when the steering wheel is at the end stops. |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for BMW, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is BMW B320420 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the B320420 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way. Every BMW warranty extension on file lists the ones BMW has filed.
Which vehicles does B320420 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 53 model years: 2023 BMW 5 Series, 2022 BMW 5 Series, 2021 BMW 5 Series, 2020 BMW 5 Series, 2019 BMW 5 Series, 2018 BMW 5 Series and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.