01 How to read this page
Two thirds of towable buyers buy used, and a brochure for the current model year says nothing about the one on the lot. This page buckets every federal record we hold for the Forest River Cardinal by the model year NHTSA assigns to it, so a 2005 unit can be read on its own terms.
A recall campaign is a manufacturer-filed safety campaign. One campaign usually covers several model years, so the same campaign can appear in more than one row below; the totals in the summary count each campaign once.
An owner complaint is one filing by one owner. It is an allegation, not a finding, and NHTSA does not verify it before publishing. Complaints and recalls are different things and are never added together.
02 Year by year, 2005 to 2024
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Owner complaints | Complaints citing fire | Complaints citing a crash | Complaints reporting injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 7 | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2009 | 2 | 5 | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 | — | 3 | — | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2013 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2015 | 2 | 11 | — | — | — |
| 2016 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 7 | — | — | — |
| 2018 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
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 the record adds up to
Across 19 model years of records, the busiest recall year is 2021 with 7 campaigns, and the busiest complaint year is 2015 with 11 filings. Complaint counts keep accruing for years after a unit is sold.
The component groups named most often in recall campaigns on this line are Equipment (17), Electrical system (1) and Structure (1).
Owner complaints cluster on Tires (15), Structure (10) and Unknown OR other (6).
Of the 50 complaints on file, 1 cite a fire, 1 cite a crash and 1 report an injury. Those three fields are the owner’s own answers on the filing form.
04 The record, year by year
Model year 2024
2 recall campaigns on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2024 | 24V272000 | Equipment | A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire. |
| 12 Apr 2024 | 24V265000 | Trailer hitches | Towing while in a different position can cause the upper front structure to break and the pin box to separate from the vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Model year 2023
2 recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2024 | 24V272000 | Equipment | A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire. |
| 29 Jul 2022 | 22V556000 | Equipment | An awning that drops or extends beyond normal operation can increase the risk of injury. |
Complaints on 2023 units name Structure (1).
Model year 2022
5 recall campaigns on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2024 | 24V272000 | Equipment | A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire. |
| 29 Jul 2022 | 22V556000 | Equipment | An awning that drops or extends beyond normal operation can increase the risk of injury. |
| 8 Mar 2022 | 22V135000 | Electrical system | Loose wires may contact each other and cause an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| 7 Jan 2022 | 22V004000 | Tires | Belt separation could lead to loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 17 Dec 2021 | 21V988000 | Equipment | Carbon monoxide inside the vehicle can increase the risk of injury or death. |
Model year 2021
7 recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2024 | 24V272000 | Equipment | A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire. |
| 7 Jan 2022 | 22V004000 | Tires | Belt separation could lead to loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 17 Dec 2021 | 21V988000 | Equipment | Carbon monoxide inside the vehicle can increase the risk of injury or death. |
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 8 Mar 2021 | 21V145000 | Equipment | A detached spare tire carrier can increase the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 5 Mar 2021 | 21V141000 | Equipment | A misaligned furnace flue can allow furnace exhaust to leak into the living space, increasing the risk of injury or death. |
| 26 Oct 2020 | 20V655000 | Equipment | If exhaust enters the trailer, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can increase the risk of injury or death. |
Complaints on 2021 units name Unknown OR other (1).
Model year 2020
2 recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 2021 | 21V988000 | Equipment | Carbon monoxide inside the vehicle can increase the risk of injury or death. |
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
Complaints on 2020 units name Structure (1).
Model year 2019
2 recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2024 | 24V272000 | Equipment | A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire. |
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
Complaints on 2019 units name Unknown OR other (1).
Model year 2018
4 recall campaigns on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2024 | 24V272000 | Equipment | A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire. |
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 30 Jan 2018 | 18V081000 | Structure | Without a secondary means of escape from the vehicle, a person may be trapped inside the vehicle during an emergency, which could increase the risk of injury. |
| 24 May 2017 | 17V336000 | Equipment | The incorrect GAWR makes the Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) label incorrect and may result in the vehicle being overloaded, affecting the vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. |
Model year 2017
3 recall campaigns and 7 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 24 May 2017 | 17V336000 | Equipment | The incorrect GAWR makes the Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) label incorrect and may result in the vehicle being overloaded, affecting the vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 29 Apr 2016 | 16V258000 | Equipment | If the operator inflates the tires to the PSI indicated on the label, the tires will be operated while being under-inflated causing pre-mature wear and a possible tire blow out, increasing… |
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 | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 24 May 2017 | 17V336000 | Equipment | The incorrect GAWR makes the Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) label incorrect and may result in the vehicle being overloaded, affecting the vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 29 Apr 2016 | 16V258000 | Equipment | If the operator inflates the tires to the PSI indicated on the label, the tires will be operated while being under-inflated causing pre-mature wear and a possible tire blow out, increasing… |
| 22 Dec 2015 | 15V860000 | Equipment | Incorrect placards may result in improper trailer loading. Improper loading may increase the risk of a crash. |
| 6 Apr 2015 | 15V203000 | Equipment | If the room extends while vehicle is in motion, there is an increased risk of a crash. |
Complaints on 2016 units name Structure (1) and Unknown OR other (1).
Model year 2015
2 recall campaigns and 11 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 11 May 2015 | 15V273000 | Equipment | If the rivet shears causing the quad step to fail, the step user may fall, increasing the risk of personal injury. |
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 | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 11 May 2015 | 15V273000 | Equipment | If the rivet shears causing the quad step to fail, the step user may fall, increasing the risk of personal injury. |
| 23 Jul 2014 | 14V449000 | Equipment | If the microwave starts on its own and there are contents inside, a fire could result. |
| 17 May 2013 | 13V203000 | Equipment | If the motor assembly screws shear, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the vehicle is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury… |
Complaints on 2014 units name Visibility/wiper (1).
Model year 2013
4 recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 11 May 2015 | 15V273000 | Equipment | If the rivet shears causing the quad step to fail, the step user may fall, increasing the risk of personal injury. |
| 23 Jul 2014 | 14V449000 | Equipment | If the microwave starts on its own and there are contents inside, a fire could result. |
| 17 May 2013 | 13V203000 | Equipment | If the motor assembly screws shear, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the vehicle is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury… |
Complaints on 2013 units name Electrical system (1) and Structure (1).
Model year 2012
1 recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2021 | 21V523000 | Equipment | Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
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
2 recall campaigns and 5 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2010 | 10V454000 | Equipment | AN overheated receiver could cause A fire. |
| 1 May 2009 | 09V148000 | Equipment | Failure TO follow proper vehicle loading specifications OR misprint label could increase the risk OF A crash. |
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 2007
1 recall campaign on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2010 | 10V454000 | Equipment | AN overheated receiver could cause A fire. |
Model year 2006
2 recall campaigns and 7 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2010 | 10V454000 | Equipment | AN overheated receiver could cause A fire. |
| 7 Jul 2008 | 08V346000 | Equipment | IF this solution IS exposed TO AN ignition source under certain specific circumstances, IT can result IN A vehicle fire. |
Complaints on 2006 units name Tires (6) and Interior lighting (1).
Model year 2005
2 recall campaigns and 6 owner complaints on file.
| Reported | Campaign | Component | What can go wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2010 | 10V454000 | Equipment | AN overheated receiver could cause A fire. |
| 7 Jul 2008 | 08V346000 | Equipment | IF this solution IS exposed TO AN ignition source under certain specific circumstances, IT can result IN A vehicle fire. |
Complaints on 2005 units name Structure (3), Equipment (2) and Tires (1).
05 Where the numbers come from
Recall campaigns come from NHTSA’s recall record, read two ways: the public API and a direct read of NHTSA’s complete recall flat file. Owner complaints come from a direct read of the complete complaint flat file. Both are attributed on NHTSA’s own model field, never on owner free text — several of our line names are ordinary English words and one of them is a US state, so matching prose would attribute thousands of unrelated filings.
Model-year bucketing uses the year NHTSA records against each affected-vehicle row. Where a campaign covers several years it appears in each of those years and is counted once in the totals.
The specification side of this catalog documents 7 floorplans of the Forest River Cardinal in full, for the 2027 model year — verified weights, capacities and dimensions on the Forest River Cardinal line page.
Safety information here is a summary of public records and is not a substitute for NHTSA’s own listing. Check an individual trailer by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.