FOREST RIVER CARDINAL (2017) recall — Equipment
Forest River recalls 2016-2018 Cardinal trailers with incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating labels, risking vehicle overload and crashes. Owners must get a corrected placard and label.
Use caution until it’s fixed
The incorrect GAWR makes the Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) label incorrect and may result in the vehicle being overloaded, affecting the vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Forest River is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cardinal recreational trailers because their weight labels overstate the vehicle's capacity. This could cause the trailer to be overloaded, affecting vehicle control and increasing crash risk. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1225884-forest-river-cardinal-2017-trailer-recall-incorrect-weight-labeling-risk.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1225884-forest-river-cardinal-2017-trailer-recall-incorrect-weight-labeling-risk · Updated October 8, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #17V336000
Cite this page
“Forest River Cardinal 2017 Trailer Recall: Incorrect Weight Labeling Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 8, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1225884-forest-river-cardinal-2017-trailer-recall-incorrect-weight-labeling-risk. Based on NHTSA recall #17V336000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=17V336000).
Why it’s dangerous
The trailer's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) label is 840lbs too high for each axle. This means the trailer could be overloaded when used for normal towing, which may cause loss of vehicle control and increase crash risk.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2016-2018 Forest River Cardinal recreational trailers with model CAF3250RL are affected. Trailer operators who frequently carry heavy loads are at higher risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check for 2016-2018 Forest River Cardinal trailers with model CAF3250RL. The Federal Placard shows an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating by 840lbs per axle.
- Brand
Forest River- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Get Corrected Placard
Contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600 to receive a new Federal Placard with the correct Gross Axle Weight Rating and Cargo Carrying Capacity label.
What NHTSA says to do
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will provide a new Federal Placard with the correct GAWR and a new CCC label, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-05192017-0412.
Questions people ask
Why is this recall happening?
The Federal Placard on these vehicles overstates the Gross Axle Weight Rating capacity by 840lbs for each axle, causing potential vehicle overload and crash risk.
How do I know if my trailer is affected?
Check for 2016-2018 Forest River Cardinal trailers with model CAF3250RL. The Federal Placard shows an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating by 840lbs per axle.
What should I do if I have this trailer?
Contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600 to get a new Federal Placard with the correct Gross Axle Weight Rating and Cargo Carrying Capacity label.
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 17V336000 — Forest River Forest River Hello, I own a Forest River that is covered by recall 17V336000 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 and a new CCC label, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-05192017-0412. 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 #17V336000 (May 24, 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.