Forest River R-POD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
2,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 54 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 7.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Structure | 5 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 15; Structure:Body: 14; Tires: 8; Electrical System: 6; Structure: 5; Suspension: 5; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Service Brakes: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 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: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 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 (19). 34 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 6; 2021: 10; 2022: 10; 2023: 3; 2024: 9; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10436909 · 2011-11-23 (November 23, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FOREST RIVER R-POD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL SEIZED AND THE TRAILER JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 600.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11341754 · 2020-07-28 (July 28, 2020)
WE BOUGHT 2020 R-POD 172 OFF ROAD PACKAGE TRAVEL TRAILER IN DEC OF 2019 TO BE TAKEN TO PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUNDS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO IT WHEN WE TOOK IT ON A 25 MILE COUNTY ROAD IN MONTANA. IT WAS TOWED AT A AVERAGE SPEED OF 10 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR ON THE TRIP TO THE CAMPGROUND: THE REFRIGERATOR BROKE LOOSE FROM THE 4 SCREWS HOLDING IT AND SLIDE BACK, LUCKILY THE PROPANE LINE DIDN'T BREAK OFF, ALSO THE REFRIGERATOR HAD BEEN IN FOR WARRANTY WORK IN JANUARY 2020 BECAUSE THE REFRIGERATOR WAS MOUNTED IN FROM THE FACTORY. THE EXIT DOOR GOT STUCK …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11341754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876095 · 2016-06-23 (June 23, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 (NA) FOREST RIVER R-POD 178. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS IN THE CAMPER TRAILER, HE SAW A FLASH AND THE SMOKE ALARM SOUNDED. SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE MOLEX CONNECTOR BEHIND THE CABINETRY IN THE KITCHEN. THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS SHUT OFF TO DEFUSE THE FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITHOUT INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10876095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10897858 · 2016-08-23 (August 23, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 (NA) FOREST RIVER R-POD. WHILE THE RV WAS PLUGGED INTO THE CAMPSITE POWER SUPPLY, AN ELECTRICAL ARCHING NOISE WAS PRESENT AND THE FIRE ALARM ACTIVATED DUE TO SMOKE INSIDE THE CAMPER. THE PANELS UNDER THE KITCHEN SINK WERE REMOVED TO ACCESS THE ELECTRICAL PANEL, WHICH HAD SMOLDERING SPARKS AND SMOKE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT THE ARCHING NOISE REMAINED AUDIBLE UNTIL THE CAMPER WAS UNPLUGGED FROM THE CAMPSITE POWER SUPPLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897858 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 0; 2015: 0; 2016: 1; 2017: 0; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 0; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 2