What Forest River Cardinal owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Forest River Cardinal safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Forest River Cardinal complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Frame and Structural Integrity - Forest River Cardinal 366DLVE Doors and slide-outs open during transport. Cracks near the corners of upper deck slide openings. Separation of interior or exterior panels. Rub marks on floors under slide outs. Closet doors always coming off track in front bedroom. (cap) Excessive frame flex acknowledged by independent RV/trailer repair. Sawdust in the nose of the RV. Furniture rubbing walls or moving up and down or forward and back, every road trip. Unscrewing, loose, missing, or bent lag screws in the upper deck. Trim pieces on the front exterior move when hitched vs. unhitched. *Stress fractures in fiberglass on the side of the RV* Screws backing out and/or …
The contact owns a 2023 Forest River Cardinal. The contact stated that while driving and making a right turn, the electric living room slide unexpectedly deployed and opened. The RV was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the failure was not determined. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the RV was extremely unstable and difficult to control or steer. The contact stated that the exterior storage door erroneously opened. The contact was concerned that storage items might fall from the RV while driving on the highway. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 300.
The contact owns a 2017 Forest River Cardinal. The contact stated that while her husband was hauling the fifth wheel at approximately 60-65 MPH, the two front emergency exit windows detached. While driving at undisclosed speeds, the rear window detached from the RV. The contact stated that the sleeping quarter window was loose. The contact's husband used tape to secure the window. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V523000 (Equipment, Structure). The RV was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the windows. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed there was no recall coverage on the RV for the fail…
Rv fiberglass is cracking and delaminating because of frame is given to much think they call it frame flexing the fifthwheel hitch Has a lot of frame flexing in it now where before had very little I feel like something is come unwelded and is loose with the hitch contacted Forest River about it they basically told me I was on my own my warranty went out in 2020 this was a $65,000 fifthwheel and have structure failure with and they donât want to help you or talk to you about it I thought well ok maybe I am one in a million but after researching this somebody should have made lippert frames do a recall on these there all over the internet with the same problems different manufacturers but sa…
The slide out system cause the frame to separate from the wall of the travel trailer. This allowed water to get into the wall which rotted the support. When traveling, the slide out would separate on its own. Fortunately, I was made aware by a friend and was able to take the RV to the dealership for inspection and repair. I have a another friend that has a Forest River Wildwood that had the same issue which was also corrected before an accident occurred. From what I was told, the wall and screws for the system are were the issue and larger ones were put in place.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE OWNING THE TRAILER, HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES A TOTAL OF 11 TIMES DUE TO TIRE BLOWOUTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE TRAILER HE NOTICED A BLOWOUT OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. UPON REPLACING THE TIRE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SIGNIFICANT UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHACKLES INSTALLED ON THE TRAILER HAD UNDERPERFORMED AND HAD LINKED THE DEFECTIVE SHACKLES TO THE RECURRING TIRE FAILURES. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT ANCHOR LEGS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT END OF THE RV INDEPENDENTLY LOWERED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DEALER ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO FINDLAY RV (4530 BOULDER HWY, LAS VEGAS, NV 89121) WHERE THEY HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER EACH VISIT. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. *DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*DT*AS
WE HAVE A 2017 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. WE HAVE ONLY TAKEN OUR TRAILER OUT FIVE TIMES FOR APPROXIMATELY 3900 MILES. THE LAST TRIP TO ARIZONA ON INTERSTATE 40 TOWARD FLAGSTAFF. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 80 DEGREES WITH LIGHT RAIN. THE PSI WAS 80 LBS IN THIS TIRE WHEN IT BLEW OUT ON JULY 12TH, 2019. THE SECOND TIRE BLOW OUT ON INTERSTATE 40 NEAR YUCCA REST STOP AROUND 20 MILES FROM NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA. PSI WAS 80 LBS WHEN THIS SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 102 DEGREES. THIS HAPPEN IN JULY 17TH, 2019 THE THIRD TIRE TO BLOW OUT HAPPEN ALSO ON INTERSTATE 40 ABOUT, 40 MILES TO BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA. PSI WAS 80 LBS WHEN THIS THIRD TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND…
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This is a product service bulletin from Global Link concerning counterfeit keys for entry doors being sold on certain websites. Forest River is reporting as we are sharing with the dealer body.
Holding Tank Monitoring System trouble shooting guide for dealers to use for certain tank level sensors and monitors.
This is a LCI authored document in which clarifies the axles' bearing grease frequently asked questions. This document is not tied to a specific make, model or model year. This document covers any recreational trailer manufactured with an LCI axle(s). The owner/operator will know which brand axle(s) are installed by reviewing the axle tag located at the center of the axle beam.
The attached documents are commonly used to verify the camber of a chassis.
According to a Furrion TSB "TB-220919": Irregular cooling performance has been reported on the identified refrigerators. The refrigerator compressor has been found to stop working and requires a ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂhard resetÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàby disconnecting power to reset cooling operation. On occasion, disconnecting power does not reset operation and the refrigerator requires service replacement of the control boards. This TSB may not be applicable for some vehicles.
Intermittent holding tank display accuracy.
The holding tank monitor panel only allows for five holding tanks. The vehicle has six holding tanks. A separate holding tank monitor panel needs to be installed.
It was discovered that the manufacturing plant did not cut a stress relief line in the upper deck Driver Side and in on certain models, Passenger Side under the slide room(s). The upper deck in the Impression Fifth-Wheel needs to flex, without the "stress relief cut" the sidewall filon may crack under the slide room(s).
The pleated shades covering the windows may retract on their own.
A limited number of outer dome skylights have displayed cracks soon after installation. Cracks may originate at the flange of the skylight and extend outward. The cracks may lead to water infiltration of the vehicle if left unchecked.
As Per Lippert Components; Specific 8800 Series windows installed in your recreational vehicle may potentially leak. The windows will be remedied by a Forest River Dealer.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2024, owners most often name: structure, wheels, tires. 32 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.