2017 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL
3 recalls — 11 complaints
21V523000 Jul 9, 2021
STRUCTURE
Defect Description
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River Blue Ridge, 2014-2019 Forest River Cardinal, 2014-2020 Forest River Cedar... Read more
Consequence
Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1380.
17V336000 May 24, 2017
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Defect Description
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cardinal recreational trailers, model CAF3250RL. The Federal Placard on these vehicles overstates the Gross Axle Weight Rating capacity (GAWR) by 840lbs. for each axle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of ... Read more
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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 15-05192017-041... Read more
16V258000 Apr 29, 2016
TIRES
Defect Description
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Cardinal recreational vehicles, models CAF3455RL, CAF3825FL and CAF3850RL, manufactured from November 20, 2015, through April 1, 2016. These vehicles may be equipped with a Federal Placard that indicates an incorrect tire a... Read more
Consequence
If the operator inflates the tires to the PSI indicated on the label, the tires will be operated while being under-inflated causing pre-mature wear and a possible tire blow out, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Forest River will notify owners, and provide a new corrected Federal Placard, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on, or about, June 23, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-04172016-0179.
Complaint Statistics
11 total complaints
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| WHEELS | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Feb 19, 2025
Incident date: Feb 15, 2025
The headlights, especially the low beam lights, are very dim. When driving with the low beams on at night, they barely light up the road. It is dangerous; I can't see anything when these light are on. There are no warning lights on in the car. This is a known problem; I have found numerous complain... Read more
AIR BAGS
Feb 19, 2025
Incident date: Feb 15, 2025
The airbag light is still flashing on the dashboard after the airbag recall on this vehicle was fixed. It may be related to a different recall, which is safety campaign #16V594000.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Nov 19, 2021
Incident date: Oct 15, 2021
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... Read more
SUSPENSION
Mar 29, 2021
Incident date: Jul 17, 2019
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 INSP... Read more
STRUCTURE:BODY
Jul 25, 2019
Incident date: Jul 17, 2019
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... Read more
TIRES
Jul 25, 2019
Incident date: Jul 17, 2019
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... Read more
TIRES
Jun 9, 2019
Incident date: Jun 8, 2019
PURCHASED NEW 5TH WHEEL TRAILER IN DECEMBER OF 2017 WITH GOODYEAR MARATHON ST235/80R16, LOAD RANGE E TIRES INSTALLED. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A SOMEWHAT CURVY AND HILLY STATE HIGHWAY WITH 4800 MILES ON RV, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE DAMAGING THE RV IN THE PROCESS. I PUL... Read more
WHEELS
Jun 9, 2019
Incident date: Jun 8, 2019
PURCHASED NEW 5TH WHEEL TRAILER IN DECEMBER OF 2017 WITH GOODYEAR MARATHON ST235/80R16, LOAD RANGE E TIRES INSTALLED. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A SOMEWHAT CURVY AND HILLY STATE HIGHWAY WITH 4800 MILES ON RV, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE DAMAGING THE RV IN THE PROCESS. I PUL... Read more
WHEELS
Sep 9, 2018
Incident date: Sep 8, 2018
WE HAVE A 2017 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL, AND IN JUNE 2018 WE GOT BACK FROM CAMPING AND WHILE IN TRAILER EMPTYING OUR THINGS OUT WE HEARD A LOUD BAND. IT ENDED UP BEING THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT GOOD YEAR MARATHON ST TIRE THAT BLEW DUE TO A LARGE BULGE ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE. WE CALLED GOODYEAR AND THEY... Read more
TIRES
Sep 9, 2018
Incident date: Sep 8, 2018
WE HAVE A 2017 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL, AND IN JUNE 2018 WE GOT BACK FROM CAMPING AND WHILE IN TRAILER EMPTYING OUR THINGS OUT WE HEARD A LOUD BAND. IT ENDED UP BEING THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT GOOD YEAR MARATHON ST TIRE THAT BLEW DUE TO A LARGE BULGE ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE. WE CALLED GOODYEAR AND THEY... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
May 10, 2017
Incident date: May 7, 2017
AFTER PURCHASING I REALIZED THAT THE FEDERAL DATA PLACARD ON THE RV LISTS THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS AS 6818 LBS. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE TWO AXLES ON THIS RV ARE 6,000 LB AXLES. BECAUSE THE PLACARD HAS LISTED THE TWO AXLES AT A TOTAL OF 1636 LBS TOO MUCH, THEY HAVE, IN TURN LISTED THE G... Read more
FOREST RIVER CARDINAL — All Years Overview
Complete safety history for the FOREST RIVER CARDINAL across all model years (1997–2024).
48
Total Recalls
81
Total Complaints
0
Investigations
1
Reported Crashes
2
Reported Fires
0
Reported Deaths
FOREST RIVER CARDINAL — Year by Year
Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 2023 | 0 | 3 | View |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | View |
| 2021 | 6 | 2 | View |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | View |
| 2019 | 1 | 2 | View |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | View |
| 2017 (current) | 3 | 11 | |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 | View |
| 2015 | 1 | 17 | View |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | View |
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | View |
| 2012 | 0 | 1 | View |
| 2010 | 0 | 3 | View |
| 2009 | 1 | 5 | View |
| 2008 | 0 | 2 | View |
| 2006 | 1 | 7 | View |
| 2005 | 2 | 6 | View |
| 2004 | 2 | 3 | View |
| 2003 | 3 | 1 | View |
| 2002 | 2 | 1 | View |
| 2001 | 2 | 2 | View |
| 2000 | 1 | 2 | View |
| 1999 | 1 | 3 | View |
| 1998 | 1 | 2 | View |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | View |