Forest River CARDINAL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
61 owner complaints analyzed
21 distinct recall campaigns
4,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2024 model years. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 61 complaints (31.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 19 |
| Wheels | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Equipment | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 6 |
| Structure | 5 |
Tires: 19; Wheels: 10; Unknown Or Other: 9; Equipment: 7; Structure:Body: 7; Suspension: 7; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 6; Structure: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 28 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2003: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 8; 2009: 11; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 9; 2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10780987 · 2015-10-09 (October 9, 2015)
THIS RV BOUNCES AS IT TRAVELS, BOTTOMING OUT ON THE ROAD AND CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE RV. IT HAD 2013 TIRES THAT BUBBLED FROM FATIGUE OF THE BOUNCE AND THE SPRING LEAFS WERE FLAT, REPLACED AND FLAT AGAIN. THE BOUNCE CAUSES ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS SOMETIMES NOT WORKING. FOREST RIVER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE 6 MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD IT AND THEY SAY IT'S SAFE TO OPERATE ON THE ROAD.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10780987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11003551 · 2017-07-07 (July 7, 2017)
GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES LESS THAN 3000 MILES, AIR PRESSURE 80 PSI LUG NUT TORQUED. RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW WHILE DRIVING DOWN ]HIGHWAY 19 THRU OCALA NATIONAL FOREST AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. CAMPER IS EQUIPPED WITH TYRON STRAPS BUT STILL DID NOT PREVENT TIRE FROM TEARING FENDER OFF, WIRING, METAL DAMAGE,HYD LINE PUNCTURED AND FIBERGLASS DAMAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11003551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10743444 · 2015-07-25 (July 25, 2015)
PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR A TRIP I PLUGGED OUR CARDINAL 3550RL IN TO AN AC OUTLET TO RUN THE FRIDGE. THE MORNING OF OUR DEPARTURE I FOUND THAT THE 2 REAR SLIDE ROOMS HAD DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT ON THEIR OWN AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE SLIDE ROOM PUMP HAD RUN ALL NIGHT AND BURNED THE PUMP OUT SO BADLY THAT WE COULD NOT MANUALLY RETRACT THE ROOMS OR THE LANDING GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SCORCHED AND COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE DURING THE NIGHT ACCORDING TO OUR TECH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC GIVEN THE RIGS LOCATION . I WOULD HAVE LOST 2 TRUCKS A B…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10743444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11680535 · 2025-08-13 (August 13, 2025)
Frame and Structural Integrity - Forest River Cardinal 366DLVE Doors and slide-outs open during transport. Cracks near the corners of upper deck slide openings. Separation of interior or exterior panels. Rub marks on floors under slide outs. Closet doors always coming off track in front bedroom. (cap) Excessive frame flex acknowledged by independent RV/trailer repair. Sawdust in the nose of the RV. Furniture rubbing walls or moving up and down or forward and back, every road trip. Unscrewing, loose, missing, or bent lag screws in the upper deck…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11680535 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2008: 0; 2009: 1; 2010: 0; 2012: 0; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 6; 2022: 5; 2023: 0; 2024: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1998 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| 2002 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 3 | +1 |
| 2004 | 2 | 2 | -1 |
| 2005 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 7 | 1 | -1 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 2009 | 5 | 1 | +1 |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | -1 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | +2 |
| 2014 | 1 | 4 | +2 |
| 2015 | 11 | 1 | -3 |
| 2016 | 2 | 4 | +3 |
| 2017 | 7 | 3 | -1 |
| 2018 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | -2 |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 6 | +5 |
| 2022 | 0 | 5 | -1 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | -5 |
| 2024 | 0 | 1 | +1 |