2016 Forest River Wildwood problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body (3) · Tires (1) · Structure:frame And Members (1)
Safety recalls (7)
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.
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
2020-09-07 · Structure:body · 20 mi“i was traveling at 60 mph on highway 87 north of great falls mt. at about 4:40 in the afternoon on september 4th 2020, the tread of rear tire on the drivers side of my 2016 forest river travel trailer came apart from the rest of the tire. after getting the trailer back under control and brought to a safe stop it was noticed that substantial damage…”
2017-12-03 · Structure:body“trailer was purchased new at best rv in turlock ca. it's stored on a dry driveway in ca. no extended exposure to rain or snow. the nuts attaching the body to the frame are completely rusted and deteriorating. the bolts for the suspension are also rusted. incorrect nuts and bolts were used in the manufacturing of the trailer and are unsafe. if the …”
2017-03-04 · Structure:body · 1,000 mi“while towing the trailer through a construction zone in tucson az the right tounge frame rail bent. there was a significant change from lane to lane of about 15 inches. the trailer was tilting while the tow vehicle was level on the lower lane going through the construction zone. *dt carfax cannot process vin.*jb…”
2017-02-08 · Tires · 2,500 mi“we were proceeding south on i-5 just south of san clemente, ca, 55mph in slow (rt) lane pulling our 5th wheel. tire (rt. rr of tandem trailer) blew. i heard it and felt it right away pulled over to shoulder as quickly as i could safely, it took about 200 yds. found that tread had partially blown off and wrapped itself tightly around the axle betwe…”
2016-05-02 · Structure:frame And Members“tl* the contact owns a 2016 forest river wildwood. while reversing into the driveway, the rear passenger side axle detached and fractured. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a defect in the frame. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vin was not available.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.