NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Forest River Cardinal Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Forest River Cardinal has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint 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 2002 Forest River Cardinal. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2002 Forest River Cardinal owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2002 Forest River Cardinal, describing incidents dated April 1, 2007.

Most-cited components

Equipment 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10276773 · Filed July 14, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL FIFTH WHEEL RV. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2852. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS LEAKING A YELLOW LIQUID THAT FILLED THE ENTIRE TRAILER WITH AN AMMONIA ODOR AND CAUSED THE PET DOG TO BECOME ILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT…

Read the full complaint

PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR FIREPLACE

NHTSA #10V454000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported October 1, 2010 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 2,207 vehicles

Owners notified January 28, 2011 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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 CAN OVERHEAT.

Safety consequence

AN OVERHEATED RECEIVER COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DIMPLEX AND DIMPLEX WILL PROVIDE OWNERS A FREE REPLACEMENT PLUG-IN REMOTE CONTROL KIT. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DIMPLEX NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-888-346-7539.

Notes

OWNERS 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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

REFRIGERATOR/DOMETIC

NHTSA #07V085000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported March 5, 2007 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 128,000 vehicles

Owners notified November 13, 2007

Defect description

CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Safety consequence

RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2002 Forest River Cardinal. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Forest River Cardinal.

Equipment

ODI #10276773

Incident: April 1, 2007 · Filed: July 14, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL FIFTH WHEEL RV. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2852. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS LEAKING A YELLOW LIQUID THAT FILLED THE ENTIRE TRAILER WITH AN AMMONIA ODOR AND CAUSED THE PET DOG TO BECOME ILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS. DOMETIC STATED THAT REGARDLESS OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V085000 (EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE), THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR FOR THEIR REFRIGERATOR. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE THE UNIT WAS UNDER A RECALL. THE REFRIGERATOR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 8/7/09 *CN THE UNIT WAS REPLACED ON 07/15/09 AT A COST OF $1,150.00 . UPDATED 08/11/09.*JB

Other Forest River Cardinal model years

Check your 2002 Forest River Cardinal VIN

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

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