NHTSA vehicle safety data
2003 Forest River Cardinal Recalls & Complaints
The 2003 Forest River Cardinal has 3 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 2003 Forest River Cardinal. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2003 Forest River Cardinal owner complaints
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 Forest River Cardinal, describing incidents dated July 18, 2007.
Most-cited components
- Equipment 1 complaint
Newest complaints
ODI #10235096 · Filed
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 (NA) FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2862. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS UNABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION FROM DOMETIC CONCERNING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V085000 (EQUIPMENT: RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). THE PURCHASE DATE, PART NUMBER, AND…
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 #08V346000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice
Reported July 7, 2008 · FOREST RIVER, INC.
Potentially affected: 107,417 vehicles
Owners notified November 7, 2008 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
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. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
Safety consequence
IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). 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 THE OWNER 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.
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.
Other Forest River Cardinal model years
Check your 2003 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.
Check a Forest River VIN