Forest River is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Rockwood

Nov 07, 2013 — Recall Campaign #13V554000

Forest River is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Rockwood, Windjammer, Vlite and Flagstaff travel trailers manufactured February 3, 2012, through February 4, 2013. When an affected trailer hits a large bump or pot hole, the trailer tire may contact the bottom of the floor.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 721 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

13V554000

Manufacturer:	Forest River, Inc.
Recall date:	November 07, 2013
NHTSA Campaign #:	13V554000
Units affected:	721

Description:: Forest River is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Rockwood, Windjammer, Vlite and Flagstaff travel trailers manufactured February 3, 2012, through February 4, 2013. When an affected trailer hits a large bump or pot hole, the trailer tire may contact the bottom of the floor.
Consequeces:: As a result, the tire may become damaged and possibly blow out which may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective action:: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will add a lift kit between the frame and the axle mounting brackets, free of charge. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-825-7178.
Notes:: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Affects the following:

2013 FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF Complaints
TOWING TRAILER ON HIGHWAY. SPEED WAS 60 MPH. TRAILER HAS EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SWAYING. PULLED OF HIGHWAY AND INSPECTED THE TIRES TO FIND FOOTBALL SIZED BUBBLE IN ONE OF THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES. THIS COULD HAVE BLOWN OUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLES. THE TIRES ARE KENDA KARRIER LOAD STAR ST205/75R14;
2013 FOREST RIVER ROCKWOOD Complaints
WE PURCHASED NEW A 2013 ROCKWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER (MODEL 8329SS), THE TRAILER IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT NOTICED THAT THE 4 TIRES WERE RUBBING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER, MOST LIKELY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. WE DID NOTICE AFTER WE TOOK DELIVERY THAT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAILER WAS VERY CLOSE, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DESIGNED WITH THIS CLEARANCE. NOW TIME HAS GONE BY AND WE WENT TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES (TRAILER ONLY HAS MAYBE 7,000 MILES ON IT) AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAVE BEEN RUBBING. AFTER DOING A WEB SEARCH FOUND A RECALL FROM FOREST RIVER REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE (CAMPAIGN #13V554000). WE CALLED SEVERAL PEOPLE AT FOREST RIVER, GAVE OUR SERIAL NUMBER AND WERE TOLD OUR UNIT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, WAS ADVISED TO SEND PICTURES WHICH WE DID, AFTER SEVERAL EMAILS AND PHONE MESSAGES WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM FOREST RIVER REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE TRAILER SHOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE A CLEARANCE OF 3.5", OUR TRAILER HAS ONLY CLEARANCE OF 5/8" TO 1 5/8". SO THIS RUBBING FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRES TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RV IS HAPPENING WHEN THE TRAVEL TRAILER IS BEING TOWED, MOST LIKELY WHEN GOING OVER ROAD BUMPS AND BACKING UP INTO CAMP SITES. WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS UNIT IT WAS A NEW MODEL BY ROCKWOOD (FOREST RIVER), AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PRODUCED. WE PURCHASED ON 10/01/2012 FROM WEEKEND RV SALES IN CLINTON TENNESSEE, THE UNIT WAS BUILT ON 9/21/2012. DURING MY FIRST CONVERSATION WITH FOREST RIVER REGARDING IF OUR TRAILER WAS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SEND A LIFT KIT FOR US TO HAVE INSTALLED, THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE LIFT KIT BUT NOT THE INSTALLATION BECAUSE OUR UNIT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL, WE NEVER RECEIVED A LIFT KIT AND AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS WITH FOREST RIVER NO ONE RECALLS STATING THEY WOULD SEND A LIFT KIT.;
2013 FOREST RIVER VLITE Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER VLITE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V554000 (SUSPENSION, TIRES), THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE TO 55 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SWAYED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE HITCH BE LOWERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HITCH WAS ALREADY AT ITS LOWEST POSITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 10/14/14*LJ UPDATED 05/19/2015 *JS;
2013 FOREST RIVER WINDJAMMER Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FOREST RIVER WINDJAMMER RV (NA) EQUIPPED WITH LIONSHEAD CASTLE ROCK TIRES, SIZE: 225/75R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TREAD TO SEPARATE AND THE BELT TO BE EXPOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 598. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *AS;