Forest River CHEROKEE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
159 owner complaints analyzed
35 distinct recall campaigns
1,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 159 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 8.8% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.9% |
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 | 35 |
| Structure:Body | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Suspension | 23 |
| Wheels | 18 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 9 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 7 |
Tires: 35; Structure:Body: 27; Unknown Or Other: 24; Suspension: 23; Wheels: 18; Electrical System: 13; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 9; Tires:Tread/Belt: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (42). 116 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 34 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2001: 1; 2003: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 6; 2017: 7; 2018: 6; 2019: 7; 2020: 13; 2021: 26; 2022: 34; 2023: 19; 2024: 10; 2025: 12; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 11531482 · 2023-07-10 (July 10, 2023)
The RV had electrical issues that led to a fire.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11531482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583055 · 2014-04-16 (April 16, 2014)
I HAVE A RV RENTAL COMPANY WITH A FLEET OF 15 OF THESE TRAILERS, THE INTERIOR LIGHT WIRING OF THE LIGHTS WILL MELT AT THE BUTTON WHEN LEFT ON FOR A EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I HAD THIS HAPPEN QUITE A FEW TIMES AND IT COULD POSE A FIRE SINCE ITS MELTING NEAR THE INSTALLATION ON THE UNIT. I HAVE PHOTOS TO SUPPORT MY CLAIM. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10583055 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11321119 · 2020-04-14 (April 14, 2020)
I WAS USING MY TRUCK TO PULL THE TRAILER ALONG ON A 70 MPH HIGHWAY, STRAIGHT ROAD, GOING ABOUT 70-71 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN I HEARD A TIRE POP. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I SAW 3 TIRES IN TOTAL HAD FAILED. THE VIN WAS INVALID *DT*TP 1 TIRE FELL APART AND I'M UNABLE TO FIND THE FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TIRE REMAINING. 1 TIRE HAD THE TREAD POP, LOST AIR, AND EXPOSED THE STEEL BELTS. 1 TIRE HAD THE INTERNAL BELTS BREAK, THE TIRE SAT LOPSIDED, BUT STILL HELD AIR LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE THAT FELL APART CAUSE…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11321119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374518 · 2020-11-13 (November 13, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE BRAND: CASTLEROCK TIRES, TIRE LINE: ST226, TIRE SIZE: 225/75/R15, DOT # JULT1NT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE CONTACT TRIED TO SLOW DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE TRAILER STARTED TO SWERVE.THE CONTACT SAW WHITE SMOKE IN HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR BUT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL THE TRAILER OFF THE ROAD , EASE UP ON THE BRAKES AND CAME TO A GRADUAL STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CHANGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 870 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374518 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11449872 · 2022-02-02 (February 2, 2022)
bolts that have attached to cab of trailer have broken and or detached, causing cab of trailer to come off. Because of shifting of cab this has caused leaf springs brackets to bend and frame to crack.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11449872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11309733 · 2020-02-17 (February 17, 2020)
PURCHASED NEW 2020 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE WOLF PUP 16BHS [XXX] FROM DEALER CLOVIS CA. TRAILER HAS MADE 1 ROAD TRIP 205 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP TO MY HOME IN NAPA, CA THAT WAS DAY OF PURCHASE ON 2/1/2020. THE TRAILER HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE 2/1/2020. ON 2/14/2020 I WAS SETTING TRAILER UP WITH SUPPLIES INTERIOR INSPECTION I NOTICED WALL, CEILING SHIFTING TRIM STAPLES COMING LOOSE. FURTHER INSPECTION BED FRAME WOOD BREAKAGE AND SEPARATING. CEILING RIPPLES AROUND AC AND SKY LIGHT INSTALLATIONS. TRIM MOLDING RIPPLES SEPARATING FORM TOP CORNER WALLS. FRON…
Owner-reported narrative. 205 miles reported. Look up ODI 11309733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10965529 · 2018-03-02 (March 2, 2018)
2005 JEEP CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL AFTER SENSOR THROTTLE AND SOLENOID RECALL REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL WAS COMPLETED THE VEHICLE MALFUNTIONED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10965529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11130421 · 2018-09-20 (September 20, 2018)
BOUGHT THIS UNIT IN NOVEMBER 2017. BY FEBRUARY IT WAS HARD TO DRIVE, FISHTAILING AND SWAYING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SAID EVERYTHING (INCLUDING AXLE) WAS FINE. DROVE TO WYOMING IN APRIL, SWAYED A LOT. MOVED AS MUCH WEIGHT FORWARD AS POSSIBLE. PARKED IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. DROVE AGAIN IN JULY AND NEARLY FLIPPED ON I90. DROPPED IT AT AN ALIGNMENT SHOP IN MT WHERE THEY TOLD US THE FRAME WAS TOTALLY BENT, MESSED UP AND THE AXLE WAS WAY TOO SMALL FOR THE RIG. ENDED UP ALSO HAVING A FLAT LEAF SPRING AND A BROKEN SUPPORT MEMBER. FOREST RIVER AND LIPPERT…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130421 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 6; 2018: 8; 2019: 6; 2020: 7; 2021: 3; 2022: 6; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 3 | +2 |
| 2004 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 2005 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 2013 | 2 | 3 | +2 |
| 2014 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 2 | -1 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 | +1 |
| 2017 | 11 | 6 | +3 |
| 2018 | 14 | 8 | +2 |
| 2019 | 9 | 6 | -2 |
| 2020 | 14 | 7 | +1 |
| 2021 | 49 | 3 | -4 |
| 2022 | 23 | 6 | +3 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1 | -5 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 4 | +3 |
| 2026 | 2 | 1 | -3 |