2021 Forest River Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Tires is the leading concern among 49 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 11 Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 1 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, recreational vehicle/trailer, lpg systems, lines and fittingsApr 13, 2022
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Coachmen Adrenaline, Apex, Catalina, Freedom Express, Spirit, East to West Alta, Della Terra, Silver Lake, Forest River Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Columbus, Flagstaff, Impression, Ozark, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, Stealth Evo, Vengeance, Vibe, Wildwood, XLR Toyhauler, Palomino Puma, Prime Time Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Sanibel, Shasta Oasis, 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail, Prism, Forest River Aurora, Rainier, Wildcat, Work and Play, Prime Time Tracer, 2021-2023 Coachmen Leprechaun, and 2022-2023 Coachmen Freelander fifth wheel and travel trailer recreational vehicles. The quick disconnect fittings in the LP gas system may be cracked, causing a gas leak.
A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the quick disconnect and perform a LP system check, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2022. Owners may contact the applicable customer service number for their vehicle model. Please see the recall report for the list of phone numbers.
Campaign 22V243000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsNov 12, 2021
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cherokee ACKT29TEBL travel trailers. The tire size and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the Federal Placard are incorrect, which could result in the vehicle being overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims" and 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
An overloaded vehicle can lead to a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Forest River will mail owners a new Federal Placard, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest Rivers number for this recall is 17A-1439.
Campaign 21V877000 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
Representative owner complaints
49 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Aug 31, 2022, fire
On the morning of August 1st, 2022 we were notified by a neighbor of some damage on our 2021 Artic Wolf 5th wheel. After inspection it appeared that a small fire had occurred earlier in the morning- unknown time and it apparently was contained to the one compartment without spreading. The previous evening the camper was fine. The fire was contained to a specific compartment which housed the water hook-up, cable hook-ups and the motion light. This was reported to our insurance who did an inspection and determined that most likely it was an electrical issue and started with the motion light. Upon discovery of the issue the trailer was unplugged and battery was disconnected. We had gone camping the weekend before the fire happened. Unable to be "recreated". The insurance adjuster inspected it on 8/10/22. No concerns or issues the weekend before. We have been having issues with the light randomly staying on/not turning on etc.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Jun 25, 2022
No current incidents that I'm aware of. Landing gear on the 5th wheel isn't designed for this heavy trailer. There is a potential for someone to be seriously hurt, or killed if they have to resort to using bottle Jack's to lift trailer. Also the suspension is very weak, and i believe could break, and cause a major accident...
Tires, Jun 11, 2022
Over a period of 2 months all four tires blew out while traveling with less than 3500 miles on them. None of the tires blew out due to running over anything, each tire blew while traveling on interstate highways. Tires are ST225/75R15 Load Range E Castle Rock made by LionsHead Tire and Wheel, all 4 had DOT of JULT. Tire pressure was maintained at 70 psi and driving speed was 60 mph with ambient temperatures ranging from 75 to 95 degrees. Tires came with 5th wheel camper by Forrest River when purchased new in 2021. Tires have been replaced and disposed of but pictures are attached.
Structure, Jun 1, 2022
We have had our travel trailer for about 1 year and have had it in for service to the bedroom door as we noted it was sticking. This weekend the bedroom door failed. The frame of the door itself came away from the door making it difficult to open. At the same time the other entry door was stuck shut. My wife was unable to open the door. I was able to open it with great difficulty. The door side of the trailer was in direct afternoon sunlight it it appeared to have swollen and jammed itself in the doorway. It did not resolve itself until the outside temperature dropped and we ran the air-conditioning inside the trailer. If my wife would have been inside alone and would have needed to escape the trailer should would not have been able to. In researching forums and forest river related Facebook groups this appears to be a common issue.
Structure, Apr 5, 2022
Mounting nuts from body to frame are loose after only 2 years of use.
Structure, Apr 4, 2022
On my camper, there are bolts from the body through the frame to hold the two together. While inspecting my camper nearly all the bolts could be unscrewed by hand, with a few having a noticeable gap where they had backed away. There were only 3 bolts on the entire camper that were tight. If these bolts had continued to loosen it is possible the body could separate from the frame while driving. I contacted the manufacturer over this issue and was told to inspect those bolts each time. Nowhere in the owners manual could I find where this is a requirement.
Tires, Mar 13, 2022
Towing the trailer at approximately 50 mph I seen in the rear view mirror the tread of 1 tire. The front drivers side come off of the tire and fly off and damage the wheel well and rip out the electrical going to the trailers pop out. The tire delaminated only loosing the tread the tire was still holding air pressure not leaking at all. I have contacted my insurance company they have not viewed in person. No police report was made. I have replaced all 4 tires for the safety of my family and still have damaged tire in my garage for proof of incident
Power train, Feb 14, 2022
I purchased a 2021 Cherokee Grey Wolf travel trailer in May of 2021. After pulling only twice I noticed that the unit side trekked when in tow towards the passenger side shifting the rear of the trailer approximately 6-8 inches toward the passenger side compared to the trailer's front body lines. I scheduled service for the unit at my locale Forest River Repair Shop where they identified that the 1 of the 2 axles were bent. This defect caused this unit to sway very dramatically at times when traveling down the road. It also increased the blind spot on the passenger side and increased tire wear due to the fact that the wheels were not in line with one another which could have resulted in premature tire failure if not noticed.
Suspension, Jan 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Cherokee RV. The contact stated that as the tires of the RV were frequently flat, the RV was taken to the dealer to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer diagnosed that one of the axles was bent due to the overloading of the RV. The contact stated that the dealer did not provide any further information on the axle that had failed. The contact stated that the load capacity of the two axles was 7,000 pounds, 3,500 pounds each. The contact stated that the load capacity of the RV was 7,934 pounds with a dry weight or unloaded weight of 5,960 pounds, which allowed him to load a maximum of 1,974 pounds per the manufacturer's instructions; however, the contact had never exceeded the maximum of 1,974 pounds when loading the RV even though the manufacturer’s sticker indicated not to overload the camper with more than 1,500 pounds. The contact had been trying to reach the manufacturer and was awaiting a callback. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 1,900.
Tires, Jan 4, 2022
Castle Rock ST radial ST226 by Lionshead. Size ST225/75/R15 on the RV I purchased. I bought a new Forest River Cherokee 274RK in June 2021. On 10-08-2021 the first tire with a date code of 1120 had a blow out with the tread completely separating from the tire at 50 mph near Payson, UT. Doing damage to the underside of my trailer. I had the tire replaced at Wal-Mart in Payson, UT. Then on Sunday 01-02-2021 a second tire exploded while the RV trailer is parked in Quartzsite, AZ. (the date code on that one was also 1120) it has been parked here since 10/11/2021 and has not moved. The second tire is available for inspection. I have not had the inspected. DOT: JULT 1MT Speed rating: L Load range: E
Suspension, Nov 18, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Cherokee Travel trailer. The contact stated that while the travel trailer was parked at a park, the contact performed an inspection and noticed a metal bar had fractured and detached from the rear passenger's side shock. A park host informed the contact that she could not drive the travel trailer on the highway. The travel trailer was towed to the dealer and diagnosed that the shocks were too small to handle the weight of the travel trailer. The travel trailer was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the shocks were adequate for the weight of the travel trailer.
Tires, Aug 30, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Cherokee travel trailer. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the rear spare tire had detached from the fifth wheel onto the roadway. The contact was made aware of the failure after parking the travel trailer and noticed that the rear spare tire was missing. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure.
Electrical system, Aug 19, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Cherokee. The contact stated that he experienced several electrical failures with the trailer including a defective refrigerator. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the wiring within the circuit breaker panel was not properly secured. Upon further investigation, the contact discovered that the propane wiring was crimped and not properly secured, which he stated could lead to a severe failure. The contact was able to repair the wiring failures himself. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that he would receive a call back. The contact had not received a response despite numerous attempts to reach the manufacturer by phone and email. The dealer was also notified of the failure and denied reimbursement to the contact for the repairs. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000. Consumer stated where it says propane wiring it should say main propane supply line was crimped causing leakage. Issues with electrical and loss of power once in awhile, 12 volt line black unattached.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2021
On my 2021 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16TS, I observed on the passenger side frame where the wheel is that at some point the axle/leaf spring components came in contact (perhaps many times) with the frame of the trailer. This had made a noticeable dent in the frame. The trailer was not heavily loaded and within GVAWR, GVWR, & CCC limits. From my observations, had I not already changed out the brake assembly's after discovering a failed component inside them, it is clear that the axle collision would have severed the electric brake cables resulting in the trailer brakes being unable to respond and/or failing altogether. My personal assessment of this is that the combination of the 3500lb rated axle as well as the capacity of the leaf springs on these trailers is not sufficient enough to account for allowed cargo weight, plus standard road conditions to avoid having the axle come in contact with the frame above it.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 19, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150 used for hauling a 2021 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup travel trailer. The contact stated that while driving at 5 mph, the trailer disconnected warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and inspected underneath the travel trailer and found that the brake line was fractured and had detached. The contact reattached the brake line with electrical tape however, the failure recurred. The contact noticed upon inspection that there were two brake lines that had fractured and were detached. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that it would be several months before the RV could be diagnose or repaired. The contact left a voicemail to notify the manufacturer of the failure and was awaiting a callback. The failure mileage was 7,000.
Other or unspecified, Jul 6, 2021
I purchased a 2021 315Pack12 last Aug 2020 - Vin Number [XXX]. During some routine maintenance on 6/26/2021, I noticed that the factory had mounted a propane hose so that it was being pressed hard against a support bar on the underbody of the trailer. It was being held against the support bar by a propane splitter that was mounted to the underbody frame. The pointy part of the support bar was digging into the hose. (see pictures). Had this issue not been discovered it could have led to a serious propane leak and in worse case could have resulted in the trailer burning to the ground and/or possible personal injury. This is a very dangerous installation and I would suggest that all 315s (Forest River Toy haulers) be inspected for this issue. At this point I have corrected the issue myself by installing a ¾” spacer between the frame and the splitter (see pictures). However, the propane hose was compromised (see pictures). I have asked Forest River to have a dealer near me replace this hose ASAP. Forest River has not responded to my e-mails to date. ****The installation location is on the underbody right frame, approximately 21” in front of the right side forward tire. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2021
Our travel trailer door on a 2021 forrest river fell off while driving and is stuck open. They have been trying to fix it for since April 17th but are now ghosting me after telling me it was a known issue with the new door system they are using. 2ndly there is metal shards and shavings under my sink in the fridge area and no one seems to know why there is busted metal all over some electrical components. Also the outdoor shower door and the side compartment door are falling off and will not stay closed during operation.
Other or unspecified, Jun 2, 2021, crash
The Kingpin ripped away from the pinbox on our 5th wheel. We were told by some that it appears to be inferior material and/or poor weld. Our truck almost flipped down the hill where our rv landed. Others could have been injured or killed had the RV gone a different direction. I have contacted the RV manufacturer and currently awaiting a response. No warnings. Police and tow drivers said they have never seen this in over 50 years of service. Photos available.
Suspension, May 11, 2021
TRAILER WAS BUILT WITH THE DRY WEIGHT OF 3,527 POUNDS. FACTORY INSTALLED AN AXLE AND SUSPENSION THAT IS RATED AT 3,500 POUNDS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL BE UNSAFE TO OPERATE ON THE ROADWAY AS THE COMPONENTS WEAR. CURRENTLY THE LEAF SPRINGS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY FLAT WITHOUT ANY EXTRA LOAD IN THE TRAILER.
Service brakes, Apr 18, 2021
WHILE TAKING OUR FIRST TRIP TO THE COAST OF NC FROM RALEIGH, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND GOT A MESSAGE ON MY DASH SAYING TO CHECK TRAILER CONNECTIONS. WE PULLED OVER AND CHECKED, AND THE CONNECTOR WAS SEATED, AND EVERYTHING SEEM TO BE WORKING. WHEN WE GOT TO THE CAMPGROUND, I HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING UNDER THE CAMPER, AND FOUND THE WIRES THAT FEED THE ELECTRIC BRAKES WERE CUT. THEY WERE PINCHED BETWEEN THE U-BOLTS ON THE AXLE AND THE FRAME. I HAD A MOBILE RV TECH REPAIR IT SO I COULD SAFELY DRIVE IT HOME. IF IT HAPPENED ON A TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. I FOUND FROM FORUMS AND ON FACEBOOK, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES HAVING THE PROBLEM, AND ONE PERSON FOUND HIS WIRES IN THE SAME PLACE TO HAVE THE SAME OUTCOME (HE SAID " MINE WAS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK ALSO) AND HE WAS GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
Structure, Mar 8, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAFETY CHAINS WERE WELDED INCORRECTLY ON THE HOOKUP AREA OF RV. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE LOCAL DEALER AC NELSEN RV WORLD - OMAHA (11818 L ST, OMAHA, NE 68137, (402) 333-1122) AND WAS INFORMED TO TOW THE RV IN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.*DT CONSUMER STATED SAFETY CHAINS FELL OFF IN FRONT OF THE CAMPER.*JB*DT*JB*DT
Tires, Nov 13, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE BRAND: CASTLEROCK TIRES, TIRE LINE: ST226, TIRE SIZE: 225/75/R15, DOT # JULT1NT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE CONTACT TRIED TO SLOW DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE TRAILER STARTED TO SWERVE.THE CONTACT SAW WHITE SMOKE IN HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR BUT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL THE TRAILER OFF THE ROAD , EASE UP ON THE BRAKES AND CAME TO A GRADUAL STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE AND TOOK IT TO A TIRE STORE. THEY NOTICED THE OTHER TIRES WERE ALL WEARING DOWN THE CENTER TREAD AND WOULD EVENTUALLY BLOW OUT AS WELL. THE CONTACT HAD THE ONE TIRE REPLACED AT THE TIRE SHOP. THE TRAILER DEALER CAMPING WORLD OF POTEAU 34203 US-59, POTEAU, OK 74953 (877) 886-6503 GAVE THE CONTACT THE TIRE WARRANTY AGREEMENT TO GET THE TIRE EXPENSE REIMBURSED. THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE NOT COVERED FOR REPLACEMENT. THE RV MANUFACTURER JUST PROVIDED A QUESTIONER FOR THE CONTACT AND PROMISED A CALLBACK. THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE RV VEHICLE WAS 870. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Wheels, Jul 22, 2020
THE ALUMINUM WHEELS BEING USED ON THE FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE BUILT TRAVEL TRAILERS ARE DEFECTIVE. THE WHEELS HAVE PIN HOLES WHICH ALLOW AIR TO ESCAPE AND CAN CAUSE AN OUT OF CONTROL CONDITION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AIR SLOWLY LEAKS OUT OF THE TIRES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE WHEELS HAVE A CASTING OF DOT-T MADE IN CHINA BY SR WHEELS.
Other or unspecified, Jul 10, 2020
THE BRACKETS TO THE AWNING ON OUR 2021 CHEROKEE ALPHA WOLF TRAILER IS SCREWED IN TO THE WALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRAILER USING 1-INCH SCREWS. IT CAME OUT AND BENT THE BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE SIDE WALL OF THE TRAILER AFTER THE FIRST RAIN. HAVE ONLY OWNED IT 30 DAYS!! DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT, SAYS AWNING SHOULD NOT BE OPEN DURING A RAIN, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH ANY OTHER CAMPER AWNING WE HAVE EVER OWNED. OTHER TRAILERS IN THE CAMPGROUND HAD NO ISSUES WITH THEIR AWNING.