2017 Forest River BERKSHIRE: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2016-05-11 (May 11, 2016)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Berkshire manufactured May 29, 2015, to April 26, 2016, and 2016 Coachmen Cross Country recreational vehicles manufactured April 30, 2015, to December 14, 2015 and built on Daimler Trucks chassis. The front sway bar mounting brackets may not fit properly on the axle causing the mounting bolts to bend or loosen.

Consequence: If the sway bar bolts loosen, the sway bar may detach from the axle, affecting the handling and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and Daimler Trucks dealers will modify the mounting of the sway bar, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-05032016-0183.

Reported: 2017-01-26 (January 26, 2017)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Berkshire and Charleston recreational vehicles built on Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) RV chassis. In these vehicles, the power steering hose may be improperly routed causing inadequate clearance between the hose and power stud. As a result, the hose can rub the power stud causing arcing and a power steering fluid leak.

Consequence: Arcing in the presence of power steering fluid leak under high pressure could increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and FCCC dealers will reroute the power steering hose for proper clearance, free of charge. The recall began on March 22, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-295-2117, or FCCC customer service at 1-800-547-0712. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-01182017-0311.

Reported: 2017-08-10 (August 10, 2017)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Berkshire vehicles built on Freightliner Custom Chassis XCR chassis. A battery cable mounting bracket may not have been installed correctly, as a result, the improperly routed and clipped battery cable can contact the frame rail, possibly chafing and short circuiting.

Consequence: A battery cable short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Foreest River will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and revise the battery cable mounting bracket and cable routing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on September 29, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-34-7440 or DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-08032017-0491.

Reported: 2017-10-06 (October 6, 2017)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Berkshire XL and XLT buses. The headlights may shut off while switching from low beam to high beam settings, reducing visibility for the operator and other vehicles.

Consequence: If the headlights shut off while driving, decreasing or causing a full loss of visibility, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental wiring harness that will stop the headlights from shutting off unexpectedly, free of charge. The recall began on October 31, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-295-2117. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-0241.

Reported: 2017-11-22 (November 22, 2017)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2003-2018 Forest River Berkshire, Charleston, Rockport, Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Riverstone, Salem, Sandpiper, Sierra, Vengeance, Wildcat, Wildwood, XLR Boost, Cargo Mate, Continental Cargo, motorhomes, recreational trailers, toyhaulers, cargo trailers and restroom trailers and 2009-2018 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit, Concord, Leprechaun, Freelander, Orion and Prism motorhomes, 2009-2017 Coachmen Apex and Catalina recreational trailers, and 2013-2017 Shasta Oasis and Revere recreational trailers, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on December 27, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Kidde customer service toll free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0544.

Reported: 2017-12-13 (December 13, 2017)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Berkshire XLT motorhomes. Incorrect circuit breakers were used that may not contact the electrical sub-panel correctly.

Consequence: If the breakers do not contact the sub-panel properly, the electrical resistance can cause excessive heat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incorrect circuit breaker, free of charge. The recall began on January 11, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-522-1368. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-0594.

Reported: 2018-03-19 (March 19, 2018)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Forest River Berkshire, 2012-2017 Forest River Charleston, 2013-2015 Coachmen Cross Country and Pathfinder, and 2014-2015 Glaval Synergy motorhomes built on Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) chassis. The power steering hose on the affected vehicles may be routed incorrectly, and, as a result, the hose may rub against the power stud on the starter motor, possibly causing electrical arcing and a power steering fluid leak.

Consequence: Electrical arcing in the presence of leaking power steering fluid can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will reroute the power steering hose to provide proper clearance, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, Forest River customer service at 1-574-295-2117, Coachmen customer service at 1-574-825-8212, or Glaval customer service at 1-574-343-5167. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0665.

Reported: 2018-10-19 (October 19, 2018)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2017-2019 Coachmen Sportscoach and Forest River Berkshire and Legacy and 2017-2018 Forest River Charleston motorhomes built on Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) chassis. The rear mounted Power Distribution Module (PDM) may have been damaged during manufacturing, possibly resulting in the rear marker lights, brake lights, or turn signals not functioning.

Consequence: Nonfunctioning lights can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The remedy for this recall is still under development. Owners will be notified and be sent to FCCC authorized service facilities for free repairs. Forest River issued owners an interim notification on November 16, 2018. A second notice will be mailed once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-3112 or Coachmen customer service at 1-574-825-5821. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0893.

Reported: 2019-01-22 (January 22, 2019)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Glaval Entourage motorhomes and 2017-2018 Berkshire Coach Ultra motorhomes built on a Ford chassis and equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage to the connector, which can result in an electrical short.

Consequence: Prolonged corrosion of the connector may cause a resistive short, overheating or melting the wiring and increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River has notified owners, and Ford dealers will inspect the block heater cable and replace it if damage is found. If no damage is found, the terminal connector will be packed with grease and reconnected. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on February 6, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-343-5111 or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0940.

Reported: 2019-06-17 (June 17, 2019)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Berkshire Coach Ultra UL1912 and UL1913 motorhomes. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.

Consequence: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and Ford dealers will disable the vehicle's engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Forest River's number for this recall is 78-1032.

Reported: 2020-08-18 (August 18, 2020)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Charleston, 2017-2019 Legacy, 2017-2020 Berkshire, 2017 Coachmen Cross Country, and 2017-2020 Sportscoach motorhomes built on certain FCCC XB and XC chassis that received an inspection-only remedy for recall 18V-763. The rear mounted Power Distribution Module (PDM) may have been damaged during manufacturing, possibly resulting in the rear marker lights, brake lights, or turn signals not functioning.

Consequence: Non-functioning exterior marker lights can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Forest Rivers will notify owners, and Daimler Trucks dealers will replace the old Power Distribution Module (PDM) with a new PDM, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 . Forest's number for this recall is 51-1203.