BMW bulletin B320526
What it says“Cracking” noise might be heard when turning the steering wheel from lock to lock. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
BMW filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Aug 20, 2026, received Aug 26, 2026, about the steering. It names 14 model years (2021–2025). 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 communication“Cracking” noise might be heard when turning the steering wheel from lock to lock. See attached video V3202 26 EPS noise.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B320526 | Service bulletin | Aug 20, 2026 | 11036379 | PDF, 143 KB |
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: 2021 BMW IX.
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 13 model years this bulletin names have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 6 of them name Steering — 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 11/11 I was driving my vehicle and for the first time ever I received a error message in the vehicle of reduced driver steering. It said driving was still possible but take the vehicle to a dealer for evaluation when possible. This message popped up and went away the rest of the day and first half of the following day.
2022 BMW iX · Steering · filed with NHTSA Nov 12, 2025 · ODI 11698875
Not sure what happened, there is a warning saying the steering effort has changed, I have found there are many ix users received this warning and get their steering rack replaced by the dealer
2023 BMW iX · Steering · filed with NHTSA May 21, 2024 · ODI 11589818
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 group14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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… |
| B320825 | Service bulletin | Sep 3, 2025 | When the steering column is adjusted inwards towards the instrument cluster, the noise may occur near thelimit position. |
| 0032630300 | Service campaign | Jul 8, 2025 | A check control (CC) message (‘Steering behavior. Drive moderately. Have it checked by the nearest service partner.’) will light up and ther… |
| 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. |
| B320324 | Service campaign | Dec 6, 2024 | DELIVERY STOP: REPLACE STEERING GEAR – I20 |
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 B320526 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 B320526 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 B320526 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 14 model years: 2025 BMW 5 Series, 2024 BMW 5 Series, 2025 BMW 7 Series, 2024 BMW 7 Series, 2025 BMW i5, 2024 BMW i5 and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.