2015 Forest River Cardinal
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Wheels is the leading concern among 11 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 7 Cardinal model years with reports.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, recreational vehicle/trailerJul 9, 2021
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 Creek, 2014-2021 Forest River Georgetown, 2019 Forest River Legacy, and 2017-2018 Forest River Riverstone recreational vehicles equipped with Hehr 6400 Series windows. The adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may fail.
Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
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.
Campaign 21V523000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: structure
3 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Structure, Wheels, Oct 24, 2015
L GOODYEAR TIRES. ALL FOUR MARATHON ST235/80R16 LOAD RANGE E, DOT NUMBER 2VUN 1KGE 3213 TIRES WITH 80 PSI COLD ON OUR CARDINAL 3880 FIFTH WHEEL VIN NUMBER [XXX] MADE BY FOREST RIVER, PURCHASED NEW ON MAY 16 2015 FAILED WITHIN HOURS OF EACH OTHER ON AUGUST 7, 2015. THE TIRES HAD 7515 MILES ON THEM WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE FIFTH WHEEL TIRE THREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT. I PUT ON THE SPARE AND WE CONTINUED ON TO WESTCLIFF COLORADO WHERE I PURCHASED A NEW REPLACEMENT TIRE. WE CONTINUED ABOUT 10 MILES ON I25 WHEN THE REAR DRIVER?S SIDE TIRE THREAD SEPARATED AND BLEW OUT. THIS WAS WITHIN AN HOUR OF THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE. WE WERE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND WERE ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CALL FOREST RIVER CURBSIDE SERVICE ASSISTANCE. THEY SENT JM TIRE OUT TO REPLACE THE BLOWN OUT TIRE WITH THE SPARE. WE LIMPED INTO TRINIDAD COLORADO TO JM TIRE WHERE, AFTER INSPECTION, THE REMAINING TWO PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE; ONE HAVING A BULGE IN IT, AND ONE WITH ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE OF THREAD SEPARATION. I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. THE BLOWN OUT DRIVER?S SIDE REAR TIRE TORE UP THE DRIVER?S SIDE SLIDE HYDRAULICS OF THE FIFTH WHEEL CAUSING THE SLIDE TO OPEN OUT INTO I25 AND THE LOWER OUTER PANEL OF THE SLIDE TO BE DESTROYED. ALL FOUR GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE WITH THREAD SEPARATIONS. I HAVE WRITTEN STATEMENTS FROM BOTH JM TIRE (WHERE WE BOUGHT 4 NEW LOAD RANGE G TIRES NOT MANUFACTURED BY GOODYEAR) AND DISCOUNT TIRE IN AMARILLO TX, AN AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR TIRE DEALER, THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE PICTURES OF ALL DAMAGE AND OF EACH OF THE FAILED TIRES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, May 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER AIRFLYTE (NA) TRAVEL TRAILER. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WHEEL CLEARANCE, THE TIRES ON EACH SIDE OF THE TRAILER MADE CONTACT WITH THE INTERIOR WHEEL WELL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FRONT JALOUSIE WINDOW AND THE REAR GAUCHO WINDOW BECAME UNSECURED AND FELL OUT DUE TO A FAULTY ADHESIVE USED TO SECURE THE WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50.
Structure, May 4, 2015
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