2016 Forest River Salem problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Wheels (3) · Structure:body (2) · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer:lpg Systems:lines And Fittings (1)
Safety recalls (8)
Electrical System:wiring 2025-10-10 · campaign 25V682000 · 20,305 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Forest River Aurora, Coachmen Catalina, 2026 Coachmen Viking, Coachmen Clipper, 2016-2026 Wildwood, and Salem recreational trailers. The distribution panel wire may be connected to the battery without over current protection.
Risk: Unprotected wiring can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will relocate the distribution panel wire to the correct side of the breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2025. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River's number for this recall is 205-1987.
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:recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2018-06-27 · campaign 18V436000 · 326 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forest River Wildwood, and 2016-2019 Forest River Salem recreational trailers. The outside auxiliary shower faucet cover may cover the water heater exhaust panel when opened.
Risk: The covered water heater exhaust panel could increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will install a replacement outside shower, free of charge. The recall began on July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 44-0762.
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:lpg Systems 2015-12-10 · campaign 15V831000 · 721 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016 Evo, Salem, Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, and Wildwood recreational trailers. The affected vehicles were mistakenly not equipped with a carbon monoxide detector to warn occupants of elevated levels of carbon monoxide.
Risk: If occupants are not warned elevated carbon monoxide levels, they are at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will remove the existing Liquid Propane (L.P.) Detector and install a combination L.P./carbon monoxide detector, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-909-873-3777, extension 53. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-12072015-0119.
Equipment:other:labels 2015-10-13 · campaign 15V645000 · 78 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016 Salem recreational trailers manufactured June 2, 2015, to October 6, 2015 and 2015 Wildwood recreational trailers manufactured June 3, 2015, to October 1, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the tire and wheel placard incorrectly states the wheel rim and tire size. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk: If the incorrect tire and rim is installed, there may be instability of the vehicle when towing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners and will provide a corrected tire placard, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-453-6064. Forest River's recall number is 19-10082015-0093.
Suspension:rear:axle:non-Powered Axle Assembly 2015-06-09 · campaign 15V359000 · 1,497 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016 Evo, Salem, Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, Wildwood, Cherokee Grey Wolf, Wildcat Maxx, Vibe, R-Pod, and Surveyor trailers. In the affected trailers, the studs that are used to attach the wheels to the axle hubs may break.
Risk: If the wheel studs break, the wheel could detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected wheel hub, free of charge. The recall began on June 25, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-909-873-3777. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-05142015-0037.
Suspension:rear:axle:non-Powered Axle Assembly 2015-04-20 · campaign 15V231000 · 691 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016 Amera-Lite ATTX and WATTX, Forest River Cherokee, Cherokee Grey Wolf, Cherokee Wolf Pup, Salem, Salem Laminated, Salem Limited Edition, Vengeance, Wildwood, Wildwood Laminated, and Wildwood Limited Edition, Cargo Mate Blazer, E Series, E Series Wedge, Eliminator, and Qualifier, Continental Cargo Auto Master, Elite Series, Tailwind and Value Hauler, Coachmen Catalina and Freedom Express, Palomino Puma and US Cargo Patriot X, P
Risk: If the wheel studs break, the wheel could detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace any affected wheel hub, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-453-6064. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-03312015-0025.
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
2020-08-10 · Wheels“the unit has castle-rock 225/75/15 original tires installed on unit. august of 2019 was returning home from a trip in panama city beach fla, had a blowout in dothan ala. did not think of a defective tire at the time and just considered it bad luck.i replace the blown tire with the new spare that came with the unit and had never touched the ground.s…”
2019-07-10 · Wheels“in february 2016 we purchased a 2016 salem forest camper. we only pull it less than 6 times a year (less than 161 miles each way). we were having flat tires (blow outs) on most trips causing damage underneath and damage on both sides. prior to the blow out the camper pulls to one side making it difficult to control, you hear a pop and then less …”
2018-07-03 · Unknown Or Other · 750 mi“the kidde fire extinguisher provided by the manufacturer was the subject of a recall due to potential failure to operate. the recall id referenced by the manufacturer is 17v756. it appears that kidde has reported the recall corrective actions complete. they are not. i reported my vehicle (a travel trailer) to kidde in march 2018 and have yet to…”
2018-04-21 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer:lpg Systems:lines And Fittings · 1,000 mi“the liquid propane (lp) line does not have enough clearance causing excessive friction on metal bar resulting in creating a hole in the gas line. which causes a propane leak and possibly resulting into an unwanted fire. camper was in a parked position when noticed. *tt *tr…”
2018-03-21 · Unknown Or Other“tl* the contact owns a 2016 forest river salem cruise. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 17v756000 (equipment). the parts were not available for the repair. the contact was unable to have the recall repair completed due to the manufacturer not communicating with the contact. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceede…”
2017-06-28 · Structure:body · 3,500 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 forest river salem. the contact stated that the rear outdoor kitchen door flap latching mechanism failed to remain secure. as a result, the door flap fell down and struck the contact's wife in the head. she was not injured. the vehicle was taken to the toy hauler liquidation dealer, in rocklin, ca where the latch was rep…”
2017-05-16 · Electrical System · 500 mi · 🔥 fire“electrical device caught fire and caused significant damage to the rv. heavy smoke and damage to electrical wiring…”
2016-07-06 · Wheels · 10 mi“brand new travel trailer was sold by camping world with bias ply and radial tires mixed on the axles, water tank was left unbolted from frame and electrical under the trailer was fixed with wire nuts. this is all a serious safety defects, that could lead to major problems on the highways, pulling the trailer home it had major sway problems. i d…”
2016-05-31 · Structure:body · 50 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 forest river salem. the contact stated that the grey water tank detached while the rv was idle. the vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 50. the vin was not provided.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.