2020 Forest River Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 14 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 11 Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 1 involved a fire.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, frame and membersJan 5, 2024
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020 Cherokee travel trailers. The draw bar locking mechanism may break, which can cause the front end of the trailer to contact the road.
A trailer that contacts the road during transit increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will replace the Ice Hose swing arm draw bars, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2024. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River's number for this recall is 95-1705.
Campaign 24V003000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical systemOct 26, 2020
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Cherokee recreational trailers. The shore cord inlet wiring insulation may not have been sufficiently stripped back, causing a poor connection with the set screw.
A poor electrical connection can increase the risk of a fire.
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will remove the inlet, and rewire or replace the inlet completely if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 23, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest River's number for this recall is 17D-1201.
Campaign 20V654000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, recreational vehicle/trailerFeb 12, 2020
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Surveyor, NO BO, Cherokee, R. POD, Clipper, Viking, Independence, Puma and East to West trailers. The spare tire carrier U-bolts may fail allowing the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle.
If the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle while in motion, it can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace U-bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 20, 2020. Owners may contact Surveyor, NO BO, R. and POD customer service at 1-574-642-3119, Independence, Viking, and Clipper customer service at 1-269-467-4600, Puma customer service at -574-642-0606, East and West customer service at 1-574-264-6664 or Cherokee customer service at 1-877-426-5337. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1133.
Campaign 20V075000 on NHTSA.gov
Trailer hitchesNov 25, 2019
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Cascade and Cherokee travel trailers. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of the vehicle exceeds the GVWR of the trailer hitch coupler, potentially resulting in the coupler failing and the trailer detaching.
A trailer that detaches from the tow vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Forest River will notify owners and dealers will replace the coupler, free of charge. The recall began February 17, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100 or 1-541-995-3447. Forest River's number for this recall is 64-1114.
Campaign 19V844000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, recreational vehicle/trailerNov 1, 2019
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020 Cherokee Alpha Wolf Travel Trailers. The wire supplying the 12V power for the refrigerator may have been connected incorrectly to the circuit breaker.
The incorrectly connected wire may not have overcurrent protection, allowing the wire to melt, increasing the risk of fire.
Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will correct the wiring, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest River's number for this recall is 76-1109.
Campaign 19V785000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringSep 20, 2019
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020 Cherokee trailers, models CKT16BF-D, CKT16BFH-D, CKT16GR-D and CKT16GRH-D. The protective paneling may not have been installed around the distribution panel, allowing the distribution panel wiring to be exposed in a storage compartment, which can lead to damage to the panel and wiring.
Damaged distribution panel wiring can increase the risk of electrical shock or fire.
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a divider in the storage compartment to ensure the distribution panel wiring is protected, free of charge. The recall began October 9, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest River's number for this recall is 17D-1089.
Campaign 19V668000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsJun 14, 2019
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cherokee trailers, model CKT294BH. The Federal Placard states incorrect Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) information, which may result in the trailer being overloaded.
An operator may rely on the incorrect Placard information and overload the trailer causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Forest River has notified owners, providing replacement placards that contain accurate Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Cargo Carrying Capacity information, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-541-995-3447. Forest River's number for this recall is 64-1033.
Campaign 19V453000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: structure
5 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Dec 19, 2023
There are 2 major defects that we would like to make the NHTSA aware of and feel that the manufacturer should issue a recall and have these issues properly fixed. Our 2020 Forest River camper/ice house has a structural defect and the entire camper is breaking away from the frame. We had this confirmed by a service company that specializes in RV frames/wheel alignment. Our camper has had structural issues within 2 years of owning it. We are the original owners (bought Aug 2020) and the camper's wheel well is bowing, the exterior walls on the camper are bowing/wavy, interior walls are bowing/wavy. We have made attempts to work with Forest River to fix this major structural issue, but they have denied our claim. We have an extended warranty, but was given the impression that they also will deny our claim. In talking with other owners of Forest River camping/ice house, this is a wide spread issue (both the structural wall and tongue failure). We are also aware of a recall of what appears to be a similar if not exact issue that Forest River had to fix in 2014/15 (NHTSA Recall No. 14V-689 / Manufacturer Recall No. 6-102914). In addition to the wall/structural issues, the trailer's tongue weld failed and snapped while we were in transit. This occurred in Nov 2023. I have documents and pictures to upload and provide, but I was unable to get the upload tool to work when submitting this request.
Structure, Jul 16, 2021
2020 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ROOF LEAKING IN RV. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT NEITHER OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE.
Suspension, Structure, Wheels, Feb 21, 2020
AXLE IS BENT AND LEAF SPRINGS ARE BROKEN, SINCE NEW. EVERY DOOR AS WELL AS SLIDES ARE OFF AND DON'T CLOSE. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT TOWS CROOKED AND IS A DANGER TO THE ROAD.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 17, 2020
PURCHASED NEW 2020 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE WOLF PUP 16BHS [XXX] FROM DEALER CLOVIS CA. TRAILER HAS MADE 1 ROAD TRIP 205 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP TO MY HOME IN NAPA, CA THAT WAS DAY OF PURCHASE ON 2/1/2020. THE TRAILER HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE 2/1/2020. ON 2/14/2020 I WAS SETTING TRAILER UP WITH SUPPLIES INTERIOR INSPECTION I NOTICED WALL, CEILING SHIFTING TRIM STAPLES COMING LOOSE. FURTHER INSPECTION BED FRAME WOOD BREAKAGE AND SEPARATING. CEILING RIPPLES AROUND AC AND SKY LIGHT INSTALLATIONS. TRIM MOLDING RIPPLES SEPARATING FORM TOP CORNER WALLS. FRONT BED OVERHEAD CABINET SEPARATING FROM ATTACHED SIDEWALL. EXIT DOOR FRAME TRIM MISALIGNED. EXTERIOR INSPECTION REAR LEFT SIDE CORNER BEHIND WHEEL LOWER ALUMINUM SIDING SEPARATION SMALL GAP. EXTERIOR FRONT RIGHT CORNER WALL ALUMINUM SIDING SEPARATION GAP AT ROOF. EXTERIOR RIGHT FRONT SIDE WINDOW AND STORAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR TRIM SEPARATING. REAR ROOF CORNER TRIM CRACKED. ON THE FRONT OF TRAILER UPPER BODY TOP RIGHT AND LEFT JUST INSIDE OF SIDE TRIM BODY DIMPLE. UNDERBODY INSPECTION I FOUND TWO BODY MOUNTS ATTACHING TRAILER BODY TO FRAME ARE BENT ON LEFT SIDE. I THINK THE BODY MOUNTS FRAME FAILED CAUSING THE SHIFTING, SEPARATION AND BREAKAGE OF TRAILER PARTS. I DO NOT FEEL VEHICLE IS SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD IT WILL REMAIN PARKED UNTIL REPAIRED BY WARRANTY. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL NAPA FOREST RIVER AUTHORIZED DEALER SOONEST SERVICE APPOINTMENT 2-3 WEEKS. I MESSAGED CLOVIS DEALERSHIP SATURDAY 2/15 FOR ADVICE/OPTIONS NO RESPONSE YET. I NOTIFIED FOREST RIVER INC CHEROKEE WOLF PUP SERVICE CONTACT PERSON VIA EMAIL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Structure, Oct 23, 2019
SAFETY ISSUE WITH A NEW MODEL RV. HAVEN'T HEARD ANY RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AFTER REPORTING IT TO THEM VIA EMAIL TO SABRINA SHANNON OF THEIR CHEROKEE OWNER RELATIONS OFFICE ON SEPT 7 2019. I TOLD THE BLUE DOG RV DEALERSHIP SALESMAN DEREK BROWN IN BEND OR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE CONTACTED HIS FACTORY REP ABOUT IT. FOREST RIVER HAS NOT COMMUNICATED TO ME ON THIS ISSUE. THIS SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNS OVERLOADING (TOO MUCH WEIGHT) OF THE CONNECT POINT BETWEEN THE TOW VEHICLE AND THE RV. THE PART BEING OVERLOADED IS THE FRAME COUPLER WHICH FITS OVER THE HITCH BALL FROM THE TOW VEHICLE. THE PARTICULARS ARE AS FOLLOWS: MANUFACTURER: FOREST RIVER DIVISION: CHEROKEE MODEL: WOLF PUP 18TO (WESTERN DIVISION MADE IN OREGON ONLY MODEL YEAR: 2020. I HAVE THE SAME MODEL RV- 18TO -BUT IT'S THE MIDWESTERN DIVISION ( MADE IN INDIANA) MODEL YEAR 2019. THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (CALLED GVWR) OF MY 18TO IS 4999LBS AND THE A FRAME COUPLER IS RATED FOR 5000 POUNDS. ITS CLOSE BUT NOT OVERLOADED. THE PROBLEM I'VE NOTED IS THAT THE 2020 MODEL MADE IN OREGON IS CERTIFIED BY FOREST RIVER AT 5600+ LBS GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT, BUT THE A FRAME COUPLER HAS THE SAME RATING AS THE RV I HAVE 5000LBS. THE PROBLEM IS A 600LBS OVERLOAD IN WEIGHT AND EVENTUALLY THE PART MAY WEAR PREMATURELY AND/OR EVENTUALLY FAIL, POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I'VE SEEN A TOTAL OF TWO 18TO UNITS AT TWO BLUE DOG RV DEALERSHIPS. 1 IN BEND OR AND IN REDMOND OR THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, SO ITS NOT A ONE UNIT MISTAKE. NOTE THE 2019 18TO WESTERN DIVISION ALSO HAS A GVWR OF 5600+. I HAVE NOT SEEN A MODEL TO DETERMINE IF THE A FRAME COUPLER HAS THE SAME ISSUE. IF IT DOES IT ENLARGES THE RANGE TO THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT 2018 OR EARLIER MODEL YEARS THE FIX IS SIMPLE. A DIFFERENT A FRAME COUPLER RATED AT 6000-8000LBS - GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT. THE 2019 MODEL MADE IN INDIANA STILL HAS THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT AT 4999LBS SO ONLY THE OREGON LOCATED DIVISION MADE THE CHANGE. *TR *JS *DT *DT VIN UNAVAILABLE *JB*JB