2021 Forest River Cardinal problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (6)
Equipment:electrical 2024-04-17 · campaign 24V272000 · 4,480 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Forest River Cardinal, Wildcat, 2018-2019 Cedar Creek, 2021 Columbus, 2023 Continental Cargo, 2021-2024 Dynamax DX3, Dynamax Dynaquest XL, Dynamax Isata, Forest River IBEX, 2022-2024 Dynamax Europa, Forest River NOBO, 2022-2023 Forest River Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, and 2021-2023 Dynamax Force trailers. The LED backlight circuit board in the cooktop range may fail, causing the board to overheat.
Risk: A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will disconnect and cut the circuit powering the LED backlights and terminate the wiring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed by May 14, 2024. Owners may contact Suburban customer service at 1-574-247-9235 option 5; Cardinal & Wildcat customer service at 1-574-296-7700; Cedar Creek customer service at 1-260-593-4000; Columbus customer service at 1-574-821-1487; Continental Cargo customer service at 1-254-420-0171; Dynamax customer service at 1-574-264-6664; Ibex & No
Tires:tread/Belt 2022-01-07 · campaign 22V004000 · 1,164 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Prime Time Sanibel, Crusader, Forest River Cardinal, and Continental Cargo fifth wheel trailers, equipped with certain Sailun tires, size ST235/80R16/G. Due to a manufacturing issue, the tires may experience a belt separation.
Risk: Belt separation could lead to loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tire DOT codes, and replace the tires as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1449.
Equipment:electrical:accessory Generator 2021-12-17 · campaign 21V988000 · 111 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cardinal fifth wheel recreational vehicles. The generator compartment may not be sealed properly, allowing carbon monoxide to enter the vehicle.
Risk: Carbon monoxide inside the vehicle can increase the risk of injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the generator compartment for proper sealant and apply sealant if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 5, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-296-7700. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-1444.
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2021-03-08 · campaign 21V145000 · 309 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Cardinal and Wildcat Fifth Wheels trailers. The spare tire carrier may be installed incorrectly, allowing it to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached spare tire carrier can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will secure the spare tire carrier, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-296-7700. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-1304.
Equipment 2021-03-05 · campaign 21V141000 · 21 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Cardinal CAF345RLX, CAF366DVLE, CAF390FBX and 2021 Wildcat WCF336RLS, WCF368MB vehicles. The furnace flue may become misaligned due to insufficient furnace hold screws that allow movement during travel.
Risk: A misaligned furnace flue can allow furnace exhaust to leak into the living space, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will secure the furnace and align the flue, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-296-7700. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-1302.
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/Trailer:lpg Systems:furnace 2020-10-26 · campaign 20V655000 · 69 vehicles
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Cardinal fifth wheel trailers. The fresh air intake sleeve for the furnace is too short and does not have proper connection of the furnace to the exterior, allowing furnace exhaust to enter the trailer.
Risk: If exhaust enters the trailer, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can increase the risk of injury or death.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct intake sleeve to allow for proper connection on the furnace, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-296-7700. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-1245.
Service bulletins (3)
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.
Electrical System 2021-06-11 · 151360 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the holding tank monitor panel only allows for five holding tanks. the vehicle has six holding tanks. a separate holding tank monitor panel needs to be installed.
Wheels 2021-05-19 · 831334 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
it was discovered that the manufacturing plant did not cut a stress relief line in the upper deck driver side and in on certain models, passenger side under the slide room(s). the upper deck in the impression fifth-wheel needs to flex, without the "stress relief cut" the sidewall filon may crack und
Visibility 2021-03-26 · 151308 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the pleated shades covering the windows may retract on their own.
What owners report
2025-08-13 · Unknown Or Other“frame and structural integrity - forest river cardinal 366dlve doors and slide-outs open during transport. cracks near the corners of upper deck slide openings. separation of interior or exterior panels. rub marks on floors under slide outs. closet doors always coming off track in front bedroom. (cap) excessive frame flex acknowledged by independen…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.