NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Forest River Berkshire Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Forest River Berkshire has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Forest River dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Forest River Berkshire. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2008 Forest River Berkshire owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Forest River Berkshire, describing incidents dated August 8, 2012 to September 29, 2012.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10508774 · Filed April 19, 2013
MY 2008 FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE 390QS MOTORHOME (FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS WITH A CUMMINS 340 HP, 6.7 ENGINE) WITH 13,200 MILES ON IT SUDDENLY OVERHEATED FORTUNATELY ON A 2 LANE ROAD. THE UNIT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THE 4 BOLTS THAT HELD THE FAN HUB IN…
ODI #10486453 · Filed November 29, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FOUR SLIDES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTOR HOME AND THE HYDRAULIC HOSES FOR THE SLIDES AND LEVELING SYSTEM WERE LEAKING OIL DIRECTLY THROUGH THE FABRIC OF THE HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO…

Read all 2 complaints

Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable

NHTSA #17V756000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported November 22, 2017 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 365,885 vehicles

Repair completion: 8.47% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 51-0544 · Owners notified December 27, 2017 · Vehicles built February 1, 2002 – October 17, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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 2013-2017 Shasta Oasis and Revere recreational trailers, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Safety consequence

In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

TRANSVERSE BEAM/SAF HOLLAND

NHTSA #08V345000 · Suspension · NHTSA notice

Reported July 28, 2008 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 57 vehicles

Vehicles built October 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING 57 MY 2007-2008 MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH SAF-HOLLAND REAR SUSPENSIONS. IN SOME INSTANCES THE TRANSVERSE BEAM WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OF THE WELD.

Safety consequence

IF THE WELD FAILS, VEHICLE STABILITY WHILE CORNERING COULD BE AFFECTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSVERSE BEAM COULD DROP TO THE GROUND CAUSING SPARKS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DAIMLER TRUCKS AND SAF-HOLLAND TO HAVE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ADL TRANSVERSE BEAM PERFORMED. IF A WELD DEFECT IS IDENTIFIED, SAF-HOLLAND WILL PROVIDE A SERVICE REPLACEMENT KIT THAT CONTAINS A NEW TRANSVERSE BEAM, ALL NECESSARY INSTALLATION HARDWARE, BEAM REPLACEMENT, AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 08E031 AND 08V269). OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAF-HOLLAND AT 1-231-773-3271, DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712, OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

STEERING ARM/TIE ROD ARM/FREIGHTLINER

NHTSA #08V204000 · Steering — Linkages — Tie Rod Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported May 6, 2008 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 93 vehicles

Vehicles built February 8, 2007 – August 17, 2007 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING 93 MY 2007-2008 CHARLESTON AND BERKSHIRE MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE FASTENERS THAT ATTACH THE STEERING ARM OR TIE ROD ARMS TO THE SPINDLE MAY BE OVER OR UNDER-TIGHTENED.

Safety consequence

INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED STEERING ARM FASTENERS MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V306). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2008 Forest River Berkshire. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Forest River Berkshire.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10508774

Incident: August 8, 2012 · Filed: April 19, 2013

MY 2008 FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE 390QS MOTORHOME (FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS WITH A CUMMINS 340 HP, 6.7 ENGINE) WITH 13,200 MILES ON IT SUDDENLY OVERHEATED FORTUNATELY ON A 2 LANE ROAD. THE UNIT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THE 4 BOLTS THAT HELD THE FAN HUB IN PLACE HAD SHEARED CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. HE INFORMED ME THAT IN HIS OPINION 4 BOLTS CANNOT HANDLE THE STRESS PLACED ON THE FAN HUB. HE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT FREIGHTLINER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. I PROCEEDED TO DO THAT AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS NO RECALL BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOW OFFER A NEW FAN HUB WITH 5 BOLTS. THIS TELLS ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FURTHER FOUND OUT ON THE FOREST RIVER FORUMS WEBSITE THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE BOLTS COULD AGAIN SHEAR OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY CAUSING ACCIDENTS, INJURY, AND, PERHAPS, DEATH! COSTS TO REPAIR THIS WORK IS CONSIDERABLE AS IT REQUIRES REMOVAL OF ENGINE ACCESSORIES AND INTERNAL FLOORING. I HAVE NO IDEA AS TO WHAT OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE THE SAME CHASSIS AND ENGINE CONFIGURATIONS AS I HAVE. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Structure

ODI #10486453

Incident: September 29, 2012 · Filed: November 29, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FOUR SLIDES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTOR HOME AND THE HYDRAULIC HOSES FOR THE SLIDES AND LEVELING SYSTEM WERE LEAKING OIL DIRECTLY THROUGH THE FABRIC OF THE HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500. UPDATED 12/20/12 *CN UPDATED 1/9/2013 *JS

Other Forest River Berkshire model years

Check your 2008 Forest River Berkshire VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Forest River Berkshire at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Forest River VIN