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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 14

Of the 2020 reports, 1 involved a fire.

Primary concernStructure5 reports · 36% of complaints
Owner complaints14Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship7 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Structure5
  2. Tires4
  3. Suspension3
  4. Electrical system2
  5. Other or unspecified2
  6. Equipment1
  7. Service brakes1
  8. Wheels1

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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: suspension

3 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Suspension, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jul 1, 2020

    I PURCHASED A FOREST RIVER WOLF PUP TRAVEL TRAILER JULY 2019. IT WAS DOCUMENTED TO HAVE A 30 GAL FRESH WATER TANK. AFTER PURCHASE I FIND OUT IT HAS 20 GAL FRESH TANK. THE TRAILER WEIGHT LABEL FIXED TO TRAILER STATES WEIGHT INCLUDES WEIGHT OF 30 GAL FRESH WATER CAPACITY. BASED ON THE INCORRECT WEIGHT LISTED, I DO NOT KNOW ACTUAL WEIGHT OF TRAILER MAKING ACCURATE LOADING IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURE AND THEY ADMIT CHANGE IN TANK SIZE BUT DID NOT NOTIFY PURCHASER AT TIME OF SALE. THEY STATE CHANGE MADE MID 2019. SO, EVERY WOLF PUP TRAILER SOLD AFTER MID 2019 MAY HAVE INACCURATE WEIGHT LABELS. TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY LABEL TRAILER WITHOUT IN FACT WEIGHING AS STATED? I HAVE TOWED TRAILER SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER I NOW DON'T FEEL SAFE TOWING UNTIL I FIND OUT ACTUAL WEIGHT. THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO WEIGH EACH TRAILER AND UPDATE WEIGHT PLACARD AT THEIR EXPENSE!*DT*JB*DT*AS*DT*JB*DT*JB

  2. Suspension, Feb 27, 2020

    LPG SUPPLY SUPPORT MOUNT BOLT HAS DAMAGED I-BEAM DIRECTLY BEHIND RIGHT REAR AXLE SPRING HANGER. AXLE SPRING HANGER WELD IS CRACKED I-BEAM IS CRACKED AND CHIPPED. THE LPG SUPPLY LINE IS RUBBING AGAINST BEAM AND AXLE SPRING HANGER BOLT. MULTIPLE FACTORY WELDS HAVE DAMAGED CHASSIS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS OF CHASSIS SHOW SIGNS OF FATIGUE WELD SPATTER RUSTING CHIPS. THIS IS A BRAND NEW 2020 TRAILER. THE ONLY TRIP THE TRAILER HAS MADE WAS 205 MILE FROM DEALERSHIP TO MY RESIDENCE. THE TRAILER HAS BEEN PARKED AT MY RESIDENCE SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT FEBRUARY 1, 2020.

  3. 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.