2015 Forest River XLR: complaints, problems and recalls

WE ARE CONTACTING YOU REGARDING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT OCCURRED WITH OUR XLR NITRO TRAILER (LAST 4 OF VIN IS 9388) ON AUGUST 30, 2015. ON THAT DATE OUR FAMILY WAS TOWING OUR XLR FROM LAKE TEXOMA, TX TO OUR HOME, A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 90 MILES. IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY WE WERE FLAGGED DOWN BY A PASSERBY WHO SEEMED VERY EXCITED. HE SHOWED US THAT THE BATTERY HAD FALLEN OUT OF ITS NORMAL PLACE OF RESIDENCE ON THE TRAILER AND WAS SWINGING IN THE AIR ATTACHED TO THE TRAILER BY ONLY THE BATTERY CABLES. UPON INSPECT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10778947 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-03-03 (March 3, 2015)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015 XLR XLF375AMP, XLR XLF380AMP, XLR XLF386X12HP, XLR XLF395AMP, XLR XLF415AMP, and XLR XLF425AMP recreational vehicles and toy haulers. The vehicles may be equipped with the incorrect hitch assembly rating information. The correct gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 18,000lbs, however the Certification label states that the GVWR rating is 21,000lbs. As such, these trailers fail to conform to Part 567, "Certification."

Consequence: If the trailer is loaded based on the incorrect GVWR, the hitch assembly would be overloaded which may result in hitch assembly failure, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners and will send corrected Certification, Tire Information, and Cargo Carrying Capacity labels, free of charge. The recall began on March 25, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 45-03022015.

Reported: 2015-03-06 (March 6, 2015)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015 XLR Nitro XLT31FQSL recreational vehicles manufactured July 21, 2014, to January 31, 2015 and configured with a garage in the rear of the trailer and an optional fueling station. If the fueling station nozzle is fully extended and pulled as far forward as possible, the hose may be too close to the fuel burning appliance to prevent the fuel vapors from igniting.

Consequence: If the vapor from the fueling nozzle is able to reach the fuel burning appliance, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the fueling station box and hose nozzle to a safe distance from the fuel burning appliance, free of charge. The recall began on March 30, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-0437. Forest River's number for this recall is 45-02102015.

Reported: 2015-03-06 (March 6, 2015)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling one model year 2015 XLR Hyperlite XLR31FDK recreational vehicle manufactured September 30, 2014, to November 25, 2015, and equipped with a front deck for carrying motorcycles and quad runners and an optional fueling station. If the fueling station nozzle is fully extended and pulled as far forward as possible, the hose may be too close to the fuel burning appliance to prevent the fuel vapors from igniting.

Consequence: If the vapors released by fueling a vehicle stored in the trailer is able to reach the flame or heating element of a fuel burning appliance it may ignite, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: The single unit affected by this campaign is still at the dealership and will be repaired by the dealer before delivery to the new owner. Therefore, an owner notification letter will not be issued for this campaign. The recall began on April 3, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-0437. Forest River's number for this recall is 45-02172015.

Reported: 2015-08-05 (August 5, 2015)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 XLR vehicles, models T29HFS, T31FDK, T31FQSL, T30FQSL, T21FQSL, T24FQSL, T24HFS, T27HFS, T28TQDL and T30HDS, manufactured October 20, 2014, to July 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the wiring at the electrical inlet used for connecting external AC power to the trailer may have been strained during the assembly process. As a result, the wiring may loosen at the inlet connector.

Consequence: If the wires are not properly secured to the connector, the wires may arc, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will rewire the inlet to relieve the wiring strain and secure the electrical wiring connections, free of charge. The recall began on August 25, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-0437. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-07302015-0068.

Reported: 2015-11-19 (November 19, 2015)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Berkshire, Charleston, Legacy, Dynamax, XLR, Continental Cargo, Work & Play, Shockwave, and Coachmen Brookstone recreational vehicles and toy haulers, equipped with Atwood on demand water heaters, models OD45, OD50, and OD50CW, manufactured January 2, 2012, to August 13, 2015. The affected water heaters have a water and gas valve that may cause the water heater to overheat the water in the hot water supply tap.

Consequence: The overheating of the water may result in the release of steam, possibly causing the operator is to scald themselves and increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners of a field remedy as provided by Atwood to the Dealerships and O.E.M. A. Inspection and installation instructions for the remedy, to be used and applied only by qualified service center personnel. B. Installation of a water flow adjustment STOP KEY that prevents the adjustment of the water flow down below .5gal/min. C. The addition of a star or lock washer to secure the adjustment screw that prevents unintended adjustment or and adjustment drift from vibration as you travel down the road. D. Securement of the remedy with the application of a warning and tamper proof label applied over the stop key and adjustment screw. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Atwood customer service at 1-574-264-2131. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11092015-0107.

Reported: 2016-06-22 (June 22, 2016)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 XLR toyhaulers manufactured August 28, 2012, to November 5, 2015. These vehicles may have an axle equalizer knurled bolt (axle shackle locating bolt) that may not be properly seated in the chassis axle hanger.

Consequence: If the equalizer knurled bolt is not installed properly, the bolt may not properly secure the axle, allowing it to shift and result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace any equalizer knurled bolts and nuts that were improperly installed, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-0431. Forest River's number for this recall is 45-06102016-0208.

Reported: 2016-11-15 (November 15, 2016)

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 FR3 motorhomes manufactured September 24, 2014, to May 12, 2016; 2015-2017 Prime Time Spartan toyhaulers manufactured June 10, 2014, to May 31, 2016; 2013-2016 Palomino Columbus toyhaulers manufactured October 4, 2012, to December 4, 2015; and 2015-2016 XLR Thunderbolt and Nitro toyhaulers manufactured May 23, 2014, to November 23, 2016. These vehicles were equipped with certain aluminum, black, ladders manufactured by Christianson Industries. The affected ladders have retractable hinges, each with a welded 'top hat' that can separate from the hinge.

Consequence: If the hinges separate from the ladder while in use, the ladder may fall from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a remedy kit to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on January 3, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11102016-0271.

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.