FOREST RIVER SALEM (2017) recall — Equipment
Forest River is recalling 2017 Salem RVs with incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) that could cause loss of control and crashes. Owners must get a new placard for safety.
Use caution until it’s fixed
The incorrect GAWR may result in the vehicle being overloaded, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Forest River is recalling certain 2017 Salem recreational vehicles because their Federal Placard shows an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of 5,080 lbs instead of 4,400 lbs. This could cause the vehicle to be overloaded, leading to loss of control and a crash risk. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1225878-forest-river-2017-salem-rv-recall-incorrect-gross-axle-weight.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1225878-forest-river-2017-salem-rv-recall-incorrect-gross-axle-weight · Updated October 8, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #17V218000
Cite this page
“Forest River 2017 Salem RV Recall: Incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 8, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1225878-forest-river-2017-salem-rv-recall-incorrect-gross-axle-weight. Based on NHTSA recall #17V218000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=17V218000).
Why it’s dangerous
The vehicle's Federal Placard incorrectly lists a Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of 5,080 lbs when the actual capacity is 4,400 lbs. This means the vehicle could become overloaded, causing loss of control and increasing crash risk when carrying heavy loads.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2017 Forest River Salem and Wildwood recreational vehicles are affected. Drivers using these vehicles on roads with heavy loads are most at risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check for a Federal Placard on your 2017 Salem or Wildwood recreational vehicle that lists a Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of 5,080 lbs. The recall applies to vehicles sold between April 18, 2017 and the current date.
- Brand
Forest River- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Get New Federal Placard
Contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-4058 to receive a new Federal Placard with the correct Gross Axle Weight Rating.
What NHTSA says to do
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will provide a new Federal Placard with the correct GAWR, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-4058. Forest River's number for this recall is 27-03292017-0362.
Questions people ask
Why is this recall happening?
The Federal Placard on these vehicles incorrectly lists a Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of 5,080 lbs instead of the actual 4,400 lbs capacity, which could cause the vehicle to be overloaded and lead to loss of control.
What should I do if I own a recalled vehicle?
Contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-4058 to get a new Federal Placard with the correct Gross Axle Weight Rating.
When did this recall start?
The recall began on April 18, 2017.
Contact Forest River
We’ve drafted a message you can send Forest River to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 17V218000 — Forest River Forest River Hello, I own a Forest River that is covered by recall 17V218000 from Forest River. The official recall notice states: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will provide a new Federal Placard with the correct GAWR, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-4058. Forest River's number for this recall is 27-03292017-0362. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #17V218000 (March 31, 2017)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 8, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.