FOREST RIVER Complaints

MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THERMOSTAT WIRE TO LIQUID PROPANE TANK. (XXXXXX). PROPANE HEAT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. TOOK IN FOR WARRANTY WORK AND WAS ADVISED THE CAUSE WAS A CRIMPED WIRE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IF WE WERE NOT PRESENT TO SHUT OFF THE PROPANE TANK, IT WOULD HAVE BURNT DOWN OR WORSE. *DT PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) CARFAX CANNOT PROCESS THIS REQUEST. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FOREST RIVER SURVEYOR, MODEL: 247-BHDS BEING TOWED BY A 2011 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPRING HANGERS FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME OF THE RV, WHICH AFFECTED THE SUSPENSION OF THE TRAVEL TRAILER. THE DEALER (DREAM CHASERS RV OF BURLINGTON, 1946 PARK LN, BURLINGTON, WA 98233, 360-755-3218) INDICATED THAT THE TRAVEL TRAILER WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY GUIDELINES FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR THE FRAME DESIGNER, LIPPERT. THE TRAVEL TRAILER WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED WELDING FACILITY THAT REPLACED THE LEAF SPRINGS AND SPRING HANGERS. THE WELDERS STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REDESIGN THE SUSPENSION OF THE TRAILER WITH A REINFORCEMENT FRAME DUE TO THE FRAME NOT BEING PROPERLY INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY. THE TRAVEL TRAILER WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST.

NHTSA RECALL: 16V465 THE REAR LIGHTS WE OUT IN DECEMBER 2016, INDOOR OUTDOOR RV REPLACED THE REAR LIGHTING MODULE. LATER IN DECEMBER THE SAFETY RECALL CAME OUT ON THIS LIGHTING MODULE. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. WE WAITED OVER YEAR FOR THESE PARTS AT THE INDOOR OUTDOOR RV DEALER IN LEWISVILLE TEXAS.

IN EARLY SEPTEMBER 2018 I TOOK MY 2015 FOREST RIVER GREY WOLF 23DBH TRAILER TO A SERVICE CENTRE FOR WINTERIZATION. AT SERVICE CHECK-IN IT WAS NOTED THAT THE RUBBER GASKET AROUND THE SLIDE-OUT WAS COMING OUT. WHEN THE DEALER INVESTIGATED THEY FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS FAILING, CAUSING THE WALL TO DROP. THIS WAS CAUSING THE SLIDE-OUT TO DROP. THE SLIDE WAS NOW SCRAPING ALONG THE INTERIOR FLOOR DESTROYING THE FLOORING. THE DEALER'S INVESTIGATION FOUND MULTIPLE PLACES IN THE FRAME WHERE IT WAS FAILING. PICTURES ARE INCLUDED WITH THIS SUBMISSION. THE FAILING OF THE FRAME WAS NOT ONLY CAUSING THE SLIDE TO FAIL, BUT THE BENDING OF THE FRAME HAS NOW CAUSED THE AXLES TO BEND AS WELL. IT WAS DESCRIBED TO ME AS FRAME AND OUTRIGGERS FAILING. I WAS TOLD IT IS PROBABLY UNSAFE TO TOW. LIPPERT COMPONENTS BUILT THE FRAME AND IT IS SOLD BY FOREST RIVER. BOTH ARE TELLING ME THIS IS NOT WARRANTY. HOW CAN A FRAME THAT IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD BE FAILING, AND FURTHERMORE NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. BRANDON AT FOREST RIVER TELLS ME THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM OF FOREST RIVER, AND WILL NOT EVEN HELP TO FIND A SOLUTION. IF A MANUFACTURER CAN SO EASILY DISREGARD A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THEIR PRODUCT, HOW SAFE ARE ANY OF THE OTHER PRODUCTS THEY PRODUCE? HOW SAFE IS THE PUBLIC WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD?

LIONSHEAD 16X6 ALUMINUM TRAILER WHEEL BEARCAT BLACK 8-6.5 - TWO HAVE FAILED WITH AIR LEAKS IN THE ALUMINUM WHEEL WITHIN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. *DT CONSUMER WAS SENT A REPLACEMENT WHEEL. CARFAX CANNOT PROCESS THIS REQUEST. VIN INVALID UPDATED 2/1/19*JB

ON MY THIRD USE OF MY 2017 FOREST RIVER R-POD TRAVEL TRAILER, A TRIP TO TEXAS FROM INDIANA, THE LEFT SIDE SINGLE AXLE TRAILER TIRE COMPLETELY DELAMINATED, TEARING THE STEEL FENDER WITH LIGHT AND WIRING FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE INFLATION OF BOTH TIRES WAS CHECKED PRIOR TO LEAVING AND BOTH WERE INFLATED TO THE RECOMMENDED PSI. I INSTALLED THE SPARE AND BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT TIRE ON THE SAME DAY. THE NEXT DAY WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH THE TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BLEW OUT AND WAS TORN TO SHREDS, ALSO TEARING OFF THE FENDER AND WIRING. NEITHER FENDER WAS LOCATED AND I TRUST THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR VEHICLE DAMAGE AS I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS WERE VERY SERIOUS BUT THE TRAILER WAS KEPT UNDER CONTROL AND WAS SAFELY MOVED OFF OF THE ROADWAYS. FOREST RIVER HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY DAMAGES AS THE 1 YEAR WARRANTY WAS OVER. THE TIRE DISTRIBUTER, LION'S HEAD, GOSHEN, IN, ALSO REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OR DAMAGES AS THE 1 YEAR WARRANTY WAS OVER. THESE TIRE POSE A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REMOVED FROM ANY VEHICLES USED ON THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.

THE DOOR LATCH FAILED AND CAUSED A LOCK OUT FROM RV, HAVE LOOKED AT FOREST RIVER FORUM AND READ THAT A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE BEEN EITHER LOCKED IN OR LOCKED OUT, THE ONLY SOLUTION IS EITHER CLIMB OUT OR IN AN OPEN WINDOW OR USE THE EMERGENCY EXIT.THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WORKING FINE DURING ANY AND ALL CAMPING TRIPS, THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FOREST RIVER ROCKWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER HOLDING TANK BOLTS BECAME DETACHED AND THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DRIFTWOOD RV CENTER (1975 U.S. P, CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NH 08210, 609-624-1221) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE RECONSTRUCTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *TT VIN IS INVALID. UPDATED 12/18/18*JB

I HAVE A TRAVEL TRAILER WITH 15' WHITE PAINTED STEEL SPOKE WHEELS, AFTER A YEAR ONE HAD A AIR LEAK WHERE THE RIM AND SPOKES ARE WELDED TOGETHER, ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER ANOTHER WHEEL HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN, I ENDED UP PUTTING INNERTUBES IN THEM. IN SEPT. OF THIS YEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY 80 IN IOWA, WE HAD A WHEEL/TIRE FAILURE SINCE WE NEVER FELT ANYTHING WHEN IT HAPPENED WE DIDN'T PULL OVER RIGHT AWAY, I THOUGHT THE NOISE I HEARD WAS A TRUCK PASSING US BUT AFTER IT PASSED THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. WE PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT ONE TIRE AND RIM WAS MISSING ONLY THE SPOKES WERE LEFT STILL BOLTED TO THE HUB. THE TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 65 PSI COLD THAT MORNING, THE LUG NUTS WERE CHECKED FOR TIGHTNESS ALSO, WE HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR AROUND 5 HOURS. WE NEVER HEARD ANY NOISE THAT I WOULD THINK WAS A TIRE GOING BAD, THE FLAP, FLAP, FLAP SOUND YOU HEAR WHEN A TRUCK GOES BY WITH A BAD TIRE. THERE WAS NOT ANY DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAILER OR MARKS THAT MAY HAVE BEN MADE BY A TIRE COMING APART, THE DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER WAS TO THE PLASTIC FENDER AND METAL IT WAS SCREWED TO. I THINK THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL MANUFACTURE, THAT THE WELDS WERE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. IT WAS SUGGESTED I CONTACT YOU IN CASE THIS PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN JUST MY WHEELS. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE AFTERMATH IF NEEDED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FOREST RIVER FORESTER EQUIPPED WITH IRONMAN TIRES, SIZE: LT225/75R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE INTERIOR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,586 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,403. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.