2020 Forest River CARDINAL: complaints, problems and recalls

IN SEPTEMBER 2011 WHILE PULLING MY NEW 2010 FOREST RIVER XLR, WE HAD A TIRE EXPLODE DOWN THE MIDDLE. WE HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 20 MINUTES AND TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. WE HAVE LESS THAN 2400 MILES ON THE TIRES. I PERSONALLY CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE AND LUG NUT ON BOTH MY 5TH WHEEL AND TRUCK BEFORE GETTING ON THE ROAD. I NOTIFIED LIONSHEAD SPECIALTY TIRE & WHEEL AND THEY REFERRED ME TO VOMA TIRE. VOMA TIRE TOLD ME TO SUBMIT PICTURES WHICH I DID AND A ESTIMATE ON THE DAMAGES. I SENT ALL THIS IN AND THE REPRESENTATIVE AT VOMA SENT A CHECK FOR THE…

Look up ODI 10448590 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES, SIZE: ST235/80/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND DAMAGED THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAMPER. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD BUBBLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Look up ODI 10811472 at NHTSA ↗

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 SAID TO FIND A GOODYEAR PLACE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE AND THE DEALER COULD DEAL WITH THEM. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR OUR REFUND. NOW SEPT 8TH 2018 DRIVING HOME TO CA FROM UT WE PULLED INTO JEAN NV TO GET FUEL AND I NOTICED A BULGE ON THE INNER SIDE OF T…

Look up ODI 11128375 at NHTSA ↗

3 CRACKS IN THE ALUMINUM WHEELS ON THE FRONT LEFT OF THE RV TRAILER.

Look up ODI 10789110 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE FRACTURED AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE RV. THE RV WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL HUB AXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE RV WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Look up ODI 10763475 at NHTSA ↗

GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES LESS THAN 3000 MILES, AIR PRESSURE 80 PSI LUG NUT TORQUED. RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW WHILE DRIVING DOWN ]HIGHWAY 19 THRU OCALA NATIONAL FOREST AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. CAMPER IS EQUIPPED WITH TYRON STRAPS BUT STILL DID NOT PREVENT TIRE FROM TEARING FENDER OFF, WIRING, METAL DAMAGE,HYD LINE PUNCTURED AND FIBERGLASS DAMAGE.

Look up ODI 11003551 at NHTSA ↗

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 SAID TO FIND A GOODYEAR PLACE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE AND THE DEALER COULD DEAL WITH THEM. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR OUR REFUND. NOW SEPT 8TH 2018 DRIVING HOME TO CA FROM UT WE PULLED INTO JEAN NV TO GET FUEL AND I NOTICED A BULGE ON THE INNER SIDE OF T…

Look up ODI 11128375 at NHTSA ↗

THIS RV BOUNCES AS IT TRAVELS, BOTTOMING OUT ON THE ROAD AND CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE RV. IT HAD 2013 TIRES THAT BUBBLED FROM FATIGUE OF THE BOUNCE AND THE SPRING LEAFS WERE FLAT, REPLACED AND FLAT AGAIN. THE BOUNCE CAUSES ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS SOMETIMES NOT WORKING. FOREST RIVER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE 6 MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD IT AND THEY SAY IT'S SAFE TO OPERATE ON THE ROAD.

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I CANNOT FIND ANY INFORMATION ON MY FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER WHEN ENTERING THE VIN ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES. THE ONLY THING I CAN FIND IS AN INCORRECT LENGTH AND AN ERROR CODE SAYING THE MODEL YEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE MAY BE INCORRECT. I AM TRYING TO RESALE THIS TRAILER AND I AM HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME DUE TO THIS. IF YOU LOOK AT A 2015 BROCHURE OF CARDINAL TRAILERS, MY 3450RL MODEL IS THERE. IF YOU LOOK AT A 2016 BROCHURE, MY MODEL IS NOT THERE. MY TRAILER IS A 2016 3450RL, HOWEVER, I DISAGREE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS A SHOW TRAILER AT SHOWS OR WHAT …

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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 GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING AT 15,888, WHICH IS 1636 TOO HEAVY A RATING. THE PLACARD SHOULD LIST THE AXLES AS 6,000 GAWR. THE TONGUE WEIGHT OF THE RV IS 2252 LBS. SO, IF THEY WOULD HAVE LISTED THE AXLES AT THE CORRECT 12,000 LBS AND ADDED THAT WEIG…

Look up ODI 10984693 at NHTSA ↗

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 don’t want to help you or talk to you about it I thought well ok maybe I am one in a million but after researching …

Look up ODI 11570369 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Look up ODI 11680535 at NHTSA ↗

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…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEALS ON THE TOP AND SIDE OF THE CAMPER DETACHED DUE TO WATER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE CAMPER AND DAMAGED THE INTERIOR. THE CAMPER WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAMPER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 05/05/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS ONLY. UPD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THREE SLIDERS LEAKED. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS MOLD GROWING FROM THE SLIDERS THAT WERE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SLIDER LEAKAGE WAS A RESULT OF CONDENSATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. UPDATED 7/9/15*CN UPDATED 10/12/2017*CN

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GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES LESS THAN 3000 MILES, AIR PRESSURE 80 PSI LUG NUT TORQUED. RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW WHILE DRIVING DOWN ]HIGHWAY 19 THRU OCALA NATIONAL FOREST AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. CAMPER IS EQUIPPED WITH TYRON STRAPS BUT STILL DID NOT PREVENT TIRE FROM TEARING FENDER OFF, WIRING, METAL DAMAGE,HYD LINE PUNCTURED AND FIBERGLASS DAMAGE.

Look up ODI 11003551 at NHTSA ↗

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 BL…

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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 Y…

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SHACKLE PLATE BOLTS WERE TIGHT WITH LOCK NUTS BUT ALL OF THE BOLT HOLES ON THE 8 SHACKLE PLATES (2 ON EACH PLATE SO 16 HOLES) WERE WALLERED CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, BLOWOUTS, AND TRAILER FENDERSKIRT DAMAGE. FOREST RIVER WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR CLAIMS THE CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING SHACKLE BOLTS HOWEVER SINCE THE BOLTS WERE TIGHT, DAMAGE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. FORTUNATELY THE PROBLEM WAS DETECTED BY THE CONSUMER BEFORE THE SHACKLE PLATES BROKE AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. FACTORY REPLACEMENT SHACKLES WERE 1/2…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE FRACTURED AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE RV. THE RV WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL HUB AXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE RV WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Look up ODI 10763475 at NHTSA ↗

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 UNDE…

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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 t…

Look up ODI 11648972 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Look up ODI 11643651 at NHTSA ↗

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 don’t want to help you or talk to you about it I thought well ok maybe I am one in a million but after researching …

Look up ODI 11570369 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Look up ODI 11680535 at NHTSA ↗

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 t…

Look up ODI 11648972 at NHTSA ↗