2018 Forest River CHEROKEE: complaints, problems and recalls

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE ON A DUAL AXLE TRAVEL TRAILER (CAMPER) (FOREST RIVER, CHEROKEE 19RR, VEHICLE ID NO. [XXX]; LENGTH WITH HITCH, 23 FEET 11 INCHES, WIDTH 8 FEET) UNLOADED VEHICLE WEIGHT: 4,180 LBS. GVWR: 7,574 LBS. MANUFACTURED DATE 3/30/2017. THE TIRE INVOLVED WAS A REAR, DRIVER?S SIDE AXLE, CASTLE ROCK BRAND ST205/75R14; DOT JUJT YMT 4716; MAX LOAD 800KG (1760 LBS) @ 50 PSI COLD; TREAD 2 NYLON + 2 STEEL SIDEWALL PLY 2 NYLON; SPEED RATING ?L?; MADE IN CHINA MLR06. I HAD PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD IN SAINT CLAIR, PA FOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992230 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE 325 PACK 13. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE CAMPER, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (COASTAL RV, 21373 BREWERS NECK BLVD, CARROLLTON, VA 23314) WHERE IT WAS BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300. *TT UPDATED 7/27/18*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032015 at NHTSA ↗

LEAKING FROM MIDDLE OF RAIN GUARD ON AWNING CAUSING WATER TO DRIP OVER LED LIGHTING, AND FRIDGE/OUTSIDE STOVE COMPARTMENT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11090929 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER WAS HITCHED TO A CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE REVERSING, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT COMPARTMENT OF THE TRAILER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE TRAILER WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11097852 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

RV BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE HVAC UNIT. PER VIDEO RECORDING FIRE FELL FROM THE CEILING IGNITING THE MATTRESS. THE ENTIRE RV FILLED WITH SMOKE WITHIN MINUTES, AND THE ENTIRE TOP OF RV WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT BURNT THE ENTIRE RV, HOME AND CARS BESIDE. IT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW JUNE 2018. FIRE OCCURRED JULY 1, 2019. FOREST RIVER WAS NOTIFIED JULY 2019. WE WERE FORTUNATE NOT TO BE IN THE RV WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED.. HAD WE BEEN WE WOULD HAVE NOT SURVIVED. THE HEAT INDEX WAS 98 DEGREES THAT DAY. THE RV HAD A FRONT AND …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11289747 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

HAD CASTLE ROCK TIRE ST225/75R15, THIS PAST WEEKEND 7/17/20, WHILE DRIVING ON I40, THE FIRST 5 MILE THE FIRST TIRE EXPLODED, 38 MILE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD ANOTHER TIRE EXPLODED. THEN WHEN PARKED AT THE HOME THE SPARE TIRE EXPLODED AND IT WAS JUST LAYING IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE REMOVED AND REPLACED ALL FOR OF THE TIRE FROM MY RV. I DIDN'T KEEP THE OTHER TWO TIRE AS PROOF.*DT*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11340570 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2017-12-21 (December 21, 2017)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Cascade and Cherokee recreational trailers. The trailer wiring may have been improperly routed, allowing the wires to be pinched between the chassis and the vehicle body.

Consequence: Pinched wires may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the trailers, rerouting the wires, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 7, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-541-644-8072. Forest River's number for this recall is 64-0456.

Reported: 2018-01-11 (January 11, 2018)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee travel trailers. On the affected trailers, a 14 gauge and a 12 gauge neutral wire for the 110V Air Conditioning were connected to the same lug in the 120V panel neutral bus bar.

Consequence: If both wires were connected to same lug, the smaller wire may overheat and fail due to trying to handle a higher load, thereby increasing the risk of an electrical fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the subject wire to another 14 gauge terminal, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest River's number for this recall is 17A-0609.

Reported: 2018-01-22 (January 22, 2018)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018 Cherokee recreational trailers. The amber side marker lights are not located as far to the front as feasible on the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicles may also be missing the intermediate side reflex reflectors located at, or near, the midpoint of the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the marker lights are in the wrong location or if the reflectors are missing, it can reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install amber side marker lights as far forward as feasible, and mount side marker reflectors, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest River's number for this recall is 75-0613.

Reported: 2018-03-21 (March 21, 2018)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee recreational trailers, models CCKT16BF, CCKT16BHS, CCKT16FQ, CCKT16GR, CCKT16GRH, CCKT17RP and CCKT18TO. These vehicles are equipped with Norcold N306 mini refrigerators that may have a loose or missing propane gas valve test port screw, allowing propane to leak out when the refrigerator is used in 'gas' mode.

Consequence: A propane leak increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and Norcold dealers will install and tighten the gas valve port screw, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 19, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100, or Norcold customer service at 1-800-543-1219. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0687.

Reported: 2018-10-25 (October 25, 2018)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cherokee Alpha Wolf and 2019 Cherokee Arctic Wolf recreational trailers. The awnings may have been mounted with fasteners that are insufficient in length and/or quantity, possibly resulting in the awning arm detaching from the wall.

Consequence: If the awning arm detaches, it can increase the risk of injury or a crash.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace with the correct fastener, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest River's number for this recall is 75-0867.

Reported: 2019-05-10 (May 10, 2019)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cherokee ACKT39CL and ACKT39RL travel trailers. The Federal Placard may have incorrect axle rating, cargo carrying capacity, and tire/wheel combination information.

Consequence: Due to the incorrect Federal Placard, an operator may overload the vehicle, which may decrease vehicle stability and increase the risk of crash.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will provide replacement placards that contain the accurate information, free of charge. The recall began May 28, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest River's number for this recall is 17A-1012.

Reported: 2019-11-25 (November 25, 2019)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Cascade and Cherokee travel trailers. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the vehicle exceeds the GVWR of the trailer hitch coupler, potentially resulting in the coupler failing and the trailer detaching.

Consequence: A trailer that detaches from the tow vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners and dealers will replace the coupler, free of charge. The recall began February 17, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100 or 1-541-995-3447. Forest River's number for this recall is 64-1114.