Forest River SALEM problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
98 owner complaints analyzed
63 distinct recall campaigns
1,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2027 model years. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 98 complaints (19.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 17.3% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 3.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 19 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Tires | 17 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Suspension | 12 |
| Wheels | 9 |
| Equipment | 7 |
Structure:Body: 19; Electrical System: 17; Tires: 17; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 15; Unknown Or Other: 13; Suspension: 12; Wheels: 9; Equipment: 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 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (34). 62 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 10; 2017: 4; 2018: 6; 2019: 5; 2020: 8; 2021: 9; 2022: 10; 2023: 6; 2024: 5; 2025: 7; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10860241 · 2016-04-19 (April 19, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FOREST RIVER SALEM. THE CONTACT STATED HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE RV. THE RV WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98E028000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT ONCE MAGNETEK WAS PURCHASED BY THEIR COMPANY, THEY NO LONGER HAD ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/31/16*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10860241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447180 · 2012-02-08 (February 8, 2012)
THE MAIN FRAME OF THE TRAILER HAS FAILED DOE TO A GROSS ERROR OF THE MECHANICAL DESIGN IN MAKING THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER TOO THIN TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. ADDITIONALLY, THE REQUIREMENT TO USE A LOAD LEVELER BY THE DEALER AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER INCREASES THIS LOAD TO THE POINT THAT THE CALCULATED SAFETY MARGIN OF THE CROSSMEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THE TONGUE IS 1:1. THE CROSSMEMBER MATERIAL IS STANDARD A36 STEEL WITH A NOMINAL THICKNESS OF .1 INCHES AND IS BENT IN THE SHAPE OF A C CHANNEL, WELDED TO THE FRONT OF A 10 INCH I-B…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10919075 · 2016-10-26 (October 26, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER HEMISPHERE (NA). WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11499039 · 2022-12-27 (December 27, 2022)
The fresh water and waste water holding tanks are not sufficiently supported in the trailer. We have had the black water tank replaced by the dealer because it shifted and fell out of the supports. The fresh water tank is now also showing signs of "sagging" where is should be supported. When inspecting the issue, it was noted that the tanks are only held in place by two support rails running between the main frame, much like a ladder rack or bed frame. The tanks are inserts between these rails and supported by a 2 inch lip on either side of t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11499039 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 6 |
| 2027 | 1 |
2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 8; 2017: 9; 2018: 9; 2019: 11; 2020: 7; 2021: 10; 2022: 7; 2023: 5; 2024: 10; 2025: 8; 2026: 6; 2027: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 3 | +2 |
| 2004 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 2006 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | +1 |
| 2009 | 0 | 1 | -2 |
| 2010 | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| 2011 | 2 | 3 | +1 |
| 2012 | 3 | 1 | -2 |
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | +1 |
| 2014 | 1 | 4 | +2 |
| 2015 | 8 | 5 | +1 |
| 2016 | 9 | 8 | +3 |
| 2017 | 5 | 9 | +1 |
| 2018 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 | 11 | +2 |
| 2020 | 12 | 7 | -4 |
| 2021 | 4 | 10 | +3 |
| 2022 | 13 | 7 | -3 |
| 2023 | 2 | 5 | -2 |
| 2024 | 4 | 10 | +5 |
| 2025 | 4 | 8 | -2 |
| 2026 | 0 | 6 | -2 |
| 2027 | 0 | 1 | -5 |