2015 Forest River Salem problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (2) · Structure:body (2) · Structure:body:roof And Pillars (1)
Safety recalls (5)
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery 2018-08-21 · campaign 18V550000 · 5,847 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Forest River Salem, Wildcat Maxx, Wildwood, Vibe, and Rainier recreational trailers. The break-away safety switch may not have been wired to a constant power source, and, as a result, the switch may be inadvertently disconnected from the trailer house battery causing the brakes to not engage if the trailer detaches from the tow vehicle.
Risk: If the trailer brakes cannot engage if the trailer detaches from tow vehicle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new wiring harness to reroute the wiring, free of charge. The recall began September 25, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22/30-0824.
Equipment 2017-11-22 · campaign 17V756000 · 365,885 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2003-2018 Forest River Berkshire, Charleston, Rockport, Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Riverstone, Salem, Sandpiper, Sierra, Vengeance, Wildcat, Wildwood, XLR Boost, Cargo Mate, Continental Cargo, motorhomes, recreational trailers, toyhaulers, cargo trailers and restroom trailers and 2009-2018 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit, Concord, Leprechaun, Freelander, Orion and Prism motorhomes, 2009-2017 Coachmen Apex and Catalina recreational trailers, and 2013-20
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on December 27, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Kidde customer service toll free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0544.
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2014-11-07 · campaign 14V712000 · 40 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015 Salem Ice Cabin trailers manufactured October 10, 2014, to October 28, 2014, and certain model year 2015 Wildwood Ice Cabin trailers manufactured October 10, 2014, to October 22, 2014. Due to insufficient thickness, the Lippert Components-brand draw bar of the affected trailers may break.
Risk: If the draw bar breaks, the front of the trailer may fall or the trailer may detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Forest River has notified the dealers who have the affected trailers quarantined on their lots. Lippert Components personnel will reinforce the draw tube, free of charge. The recall began on November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-353-7383. Forest River's number for this recall is 06-11032014.
Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring Assembly:hanger/Bracket 2014-10-31 · campaign 14V689000 · 206 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015 Salem 8X16FK, 8X18RB, 8X20RD, 8X20RC, 8X20SV, 8X21RV, 8X22RDV, and 8X22RHV, and 2015 Wildwood 8X16FK, 8X18RB, 8X20RD, 8X20RC, 8X20SV, 8X21RV, 8X22RDV, and 8X22RHV ice house fishing cabin trailers manufactured September 22, 2014, to October 23, 2014. The affected trailers may have been built with frame spring hangers that may be brittle and susceptible to fracturing.
Risk: A spring hanger that fractures may result in a loss of control of the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Forest River has notified the dealers that have the affected trailers quarantined. Dealers will install a spring hanger reinforcement kit, free of charge. The recall began in late October 2014. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-353-7383. Forest River's number for this recall is 6-102914.
Equipment:other:labels 2014-10-07 · campaign 14V625000 · 205 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Salem and Wildwood T174BH recreational vehicles manufactured September 18, 2013, to August 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have an incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on the certification and tire information labels. As such, the vehicles do not conform to Part 567, "Certification."
Risk: If the trailer is loaded to the specifications listed on the label, tire failure may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and will provide corrected labels to the owners, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-353-7383. Forest River's number for this recall is 2014-PLT6.
Service bulletins (1)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment 2020-08-05 · 511213 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a document that describes how to take the required photos to assess the slideroom mechanism for adjustment and function.
What owners report
2018-10-16 · Unknown Or Other · 875 mi“june 8, 2017, we were traveling southbound on i-15 in central utah. we were traveling at or near 60 miles per hour, when the vinyl roof separated from the top front of our trailer. we immediately stopped at the 1st off ramp we could safely get too, and secured it with ropes to prevent any hazard to the public. at the time of this roof failure w…”
2016-11-07 · Suspension“i bought an rv 2015 for major rv in hesperia california forest river salem two weeks after i bought it the pain started pulling off the front then trailer brakes kept shorting in and out and then quit working altogether took it back to major rv told him about the paint and trailer brakes they told me they put a switch in that from wherever made the…”
2016-10-26 · Service Brakes · 10,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2015 forest river hemisphere (na). while driving various speeds, the brakes failed to respond without warning. the failure recurred intermittently. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 10,000. …”
2016-07-15 · Structure:body“tl* the contact owns a 2015 forest villa salem villa (na). while the vehicle was parked, the awning detached from the trailer. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was unknown. updated 09/08/16*lj *js…”
2016-07-14 · Suspension“the suspension and axles do not adequately support the chassis at the advertised curb weight of the trailer, causing the axles to warp and all 4 of the tires to fail. the attach points to the chassis also dislodged and require replacement.…”
2016-01-21 · Unknown Or Other“**advised by public.affairs@dot.gov to forward to you for action** extensive mold damage - compromised structural/suspension integrity due to water leakage fine/recall levied against manufacturer forest river (july 2015) for failure to comply reporting safety issues. we own a forest river salem cruise lite, bought new aug 2015, faulty constru…”
2015-10-27 · Structure:body“tl* the contact owns a 2015 forest river salem. the contact stated that the air conditioning unit only emitted warm air, the chassis twisted, the electric jacks did not function, and seals were fractured. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the air conditioner unit was replaced on five separate occasions. the chassis was welded back into posi…”
2015-08-03 · Structure:body:roof And Pillars“tl* the contact owns a 2015 forest river salem fifth wheel trailer. while driving at 60 mph, the rubberized roof separated from the vehicle. the trailer was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. the contact was informed that the roof was improperly installed and improperly glued to the vehicle surface. the vehicle was not repaired. the m…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.