01 Cardinal recall campaigns, newest first
| Campaign | Reported | Cardinal model years | Component | NHTSA’s summary | Units potentially affected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24V272000 | 17 Apr 2024 | 2021–2022 | Equipment | 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… | Not shown: campaign also names 14 other models |
| 24V265000 | 12 Apr 2024 | 2024 | Trailer hitches | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2024 Cardinal and Wildcat Fifth Wheels trailers. The operator may utilize the rear towing hitch without locking the turning point fifth wheel hitch into the "Conventional… | Not shown: campaign also names 1 other model |
| 22V556000 | 29 Jul 2022 | 2022 | Equipment | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Coachmen Catalina, Cross Trail, Pursuit, Sportscoach, East to West Della Terra, Silver Lake, Forest River Forester, FR3, Sunseeker, Wildwood, 2022 Coachmen… | Not shown: campaign also names 56 other models |
| 22V135000 | 8 Mar 2022 | 2022 | Electrical system | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2022 Coachmen Catalina, Aurora, Apex, Freedom Express, Spirit, Work N Play, Forest River XLR Toy Hauler, Vengeance, Sabre, Cherokee, and Cardinal travel trailers and fifth… | Not shown: campaign also names 10 other models |
| 22V004000 | 7 Jan 2022 | 2021–2022 | Tires | 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… | Not shown: campaign also names 3 other models |
| 21V988000 | 17 Dec 2021 | 2020–2022 | Equipment | 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. | 111 |
| 21V523000 | 9 Jul 2021 | 2014–2019 | Equipment | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River… | Not shown: campaign also names 10 other models |
| 21V145000 | 8 Mar 2021 | 2021 | Equipment | 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. | Not shown: campaign also names 1 other model |
| 21V141000 | 5 Mar 2021 | 2021 | Equipment | 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… | Not shown: campaign also names 1 other model |
| 20V655000 | 26 Oct 2020 | 2021 | Equipment | 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… | 69 |
| 18V081000 | 30 Jan 2018 | 2018 | Structure | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018 Cardinal recreational trailers, models CAF3045RLLE, CAF304SR, CAF322DS and CAF392RD. These vehicles were manufactured without an emergency exit window in the rear wall… | 53 |
| 17V336000 | 24 May 2017 | 2016–2018 | Equipment | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cardinal recreational trailers, model CAF3250RL. The Federal Placard on these vehicles overstates the Gross Axle Weight Rating capacity (GAWR) by 840lbs. for each… | 17 |
| 16V258000 | 29 Apr 2016 | 2016–2017 | Equipment | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Cardinal recreational vehicles, models CAF3455RL, CAF3825FL and CAF3850RL, manufactured from November 20, 2015, through April 1, 2016. These vehicles may… | 38 |
| 15V860000 | 22 Dec 2015 | 2016 | Equipment | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cardinal fifth wheel travel trailers, model CAF3850RL. The affected vehicles have Federal Certification Placards that list an incorrect gross axle weight from… | 14 |
| 15V273000 | 11 May 2015 | 2014 | Equipment | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Dynamax, 2014 Cardinal trailers, and 2015 Cedar Creek, Sierra and Sandpiper trailers. In the affected vehicles, a rivet for the quad entry steps may… | Not shown: campaign also names 4 other models |
| 15V203000 | 6 Apr 2015 | 2016 | Equipment | Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015 Georgetown GT335, FR3 FR30, Pursuit 31BD, and 29SB, and 2016 Cardinal CAF3825FL and Tracer TRT270AIR and TRT3200BHT fifth wheel and travel trailers. In the… | Not shown: campaign also names 6 other models |
| 14V449000 | 23 Jul 2014 | 2013–2014 | Equipment | Forest River Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Georgetown, Sunseeker, Forester, Cross Country, Pathfinder, Cardinal, Blue Ridge, Cedar Creek, and Brookstone recreational vehicles manufactured March 11… | Not shown: campaign also names 8 other models |
| 13V203000 | 17 May 2013 | 2013–2014 | Equipment | Forest River is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Forest River models Blue Ridge, Cardinal, Cherokee, Columbus, EVO, Georgetown, Flagstaff, Forester, Lexington, Puma, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandpiper, Sandstorm, Sierra… | Not shown: campaign also names 42 other models |
| 10V454000 | 1 Oct 2010 | 2005 | Equipment | Forest River is recalling certain recreational vehicles equipped with dimplex electraflame, symphony, or optiflame branded electric fireplaces, stoves, and fireplace inserts. The plug in remote control receiver for the fireplace… | Not shown: campaign also names 11 other models |
| 09V148000 | 1 May 2009 | 2009 | Equipment | Forest River is recalling 176 MY 2009 Cardinal fifth wheel trailers. These trailers fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than… | 176 |
| 08V346000 | 7 Jul 2008 | 2005–2006 | Equipment | Forest River is recalling certain MY 2003-2006 motor homes, fifth wheel and travel trailers equipped with a two-door refrigerator manufactured by the Dometic corporation. The refrigerator may have a defect in the boiler tube… | Not shown: campaign also names 27 other models |
NHTSA’s units figure is a total for the whole campaign; it is shown on the 7 of 21 campaigns that name the Cardinal and no other model, and withheld where it would count other models’ trailers.
02 Year by year, 2005 to 2024
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Owner complaints | Components named |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | 6 | Equipment; Structure; Tires |
| 2006 | 1 | 7 | Equipment; Interior lighting; Tires |
| 2007 | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | 1 | Electrical system |
| 2009 | 1 | 5 | Equipment; Suspension; Tires |
| 2010 | — | 3 | Suspension; Tires |
| 2011 | — | — | — |
| 2012 | — | 1 | Wheels |
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | Electrical system; Equipment; Structure |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | Equipment; Visibility/wiper |
| 2015 | 1 | 11 | Equipment; Structure; Suspension; Tires; Unknown or other; Visibility/wiper; Wheels |
| 2016 | 5 | 2 | Equipment; Structure; Unknown or other |
| 2017 | 3 | 7 | Equipment; Structure; Suspension; Tires; Unknown or other; Wheels |
| 2018 | 3 | — | Equipment; Structure |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | Equipment; Unknown or other |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | Equipment; Structure |
| 2021 | 6 | 1 | Equipment; Tires; Unknown or other |
| 2022 | 5 | — | Electrical system; Equipment; Tires |
| 2023 | — | 1 | Structure |
| 2024 | 1 | — | Trailer hitches |
Range is the span of the federal record for this line, not a production span. Every record we hold for this line falls inside the range shown.
03 What Cardinal owners reported
| Component | Owner complaints | Model years named |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 15 | 2005–2006, 2009–2010, 2015 and 2017 |
| Structure | 10 | 2005, 2013, 2015–2017, 2020 and 2023 |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 2015–2017, 2019 and 2021 |
| Wheels | 6 | 2012, 2015 and 2017 |
| Equipment | 4 | 2005, 2009 and 2017 |
| Suspension | 4 | 2009–2010, 2015 and 2017 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 2008 and 2013 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2014–2015 |
| Interior lighting | 1 | 2006 |
50 complaints are on file; the most were filed against 2015 units (11). Of them, 1 cites a fire (model year 2005), 1 cites a crash (model year 2009) and 1 reports an injury (model year 2009).
04 The record, year by year
Model year 2024
1 recall campaign on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Apr 2024 | 24V265000 | Trailer hitches |
Model year 2023
1 owner complaint on file.
Complaints on 2023 units name Structure (1).
Model year 2022
5 recall campaigns on file.
Model year 2021
6 recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2024 | 24V272000 | Equipment |
| 7 Jan 2022 | 22V004000 | Tires |
| 17 Dec 2021 | 21V988000 | Equipment |
| 8 Mar 2021 | 21V145000 | Equipment |
| 5 Mar 2021 | 21V141000 | Equipment |
| 26 Oct 2020 | 20V655000 | Equipment |
Complaints on 2021 units name Unknown or other (1).
Model year 2020
1 recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 2021 | 21V988000 | Equipment |
Complaints on 2020 units name Structure (1).
Model year 2019
1 recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment |
Complaints on 2019 units name Unknown or other (1).
Model year 2018
3 recall campaigns on file.
Model year 2017
3 recall campaigns and 7 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment |
| 24 May 2017 | 17V336000 | Equipment |
| 29 Apr 2016 | 16V258000 | Equipment |
Complaints on 2017 units name Unknown or other (2), Equipment (1), Structure (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1) and Wheels (1).
Model year 2016
5 recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment |
| 24 May 2017 | 17V336000 | Equipment |
| 29 Apr 2016 | 16V258000 | Equipment |
| 22 Dec 2015 | 15V860000 | Equipment |
| 6 Apr 2015 | 15V203000 | Equipment |
Complaints on 2016 units name Structure (1) and Unknown or other (1).
Model year 2015
1 recall campaign and 11 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment |
Complaints on 2015 units name Wheels (4), Structure (2), Tires (2), Suspension (1), Unknown or other (1) and Visibility/wiper (1).
Model year 2014
4 recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment |
| 11 May 2015 | 15V273000 | Equipment |
| 23 Jul 2014 | 14V449000 | Equipment |
| 17 May 2013 | 13V203000 | Equipment |
Complaints on 2014 units name Visibility/wiper (1).
Model year 2013
2 recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file.
Complaints on 2013 units name Electrical system (1) and Structure (1).
Model year 2012
1 owner complaint on file.
Complaints on 2012 units name Wheels (1).
Model year 2010
3 owner complaints on file.
Complaints on 2010 units name Tires (2) and Suspension (1).
Model year 2009
1 recall campaign and 5 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2009 | 09V148000 | Equipment |
Complaints on 2009 units name Tires (3), Equipment (1) and Suspension (1).
Model year 2008
1 owner complaint on file.
Complaints on 2008 units name Electrical system (1).
Model year 2006
1 recall campaign and 7 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jul 2008 | 08V346000 | Equipment |
Complaints on 2006 units name Tires (6) and Interior lighting (1).
05 The Cardinal in this site’s records
Spec pages: 9 floorplans on the Forest River Cardinal line page, for model year 2027. None of those years falls inside the federal record above, which runs 2005 to 2024.
None of the 9 Cardinal floorplans here has separate records for two model years, so this site measures no change between years for this line.
Owner documents from the maker: Forest River Owner's Manual.
What was queried: NHTSA’s recall lookup under FOREST RIVER CARDINAL for model years 2005–2006, 2008–2010, 2012–2017, 2019–2021 and 2023; for 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2023 it answered HTTP 400 with a count of zero, which means no entry in NHTSA’s index under that name and year, not that no recall reached those trailers. The complete recall file added 3 of the 21 campaigns above, and every complaint count comes from the complete complaint file.
Counts of NHTSA records matched on NHTSA’s own model field; a complaint is one owner’s unverified report, and an empty year is an empty record, not a clean one (how this record is built). Check a trailer by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.