NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Forest River Cardinal Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Forest River Cardinal has 2 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 2004 Forest River Cardinal. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2004 Forest River Cardinal owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Forest River Cardinal, describing incidents dated January 7, 2006 to August 3, 2010.

Most-cited components

Equipment 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10348444 · Filed August 10, 2010
WE HAVE A 2004 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL THAT HAD KENDA TIRES LT23585R16 ON A SHORT TRIP WE BLEW A TIRE ON THE WAY TO N.H(7/27/10) AND ONE ON THE WAY BACK TO MA(8/3/10). WE WERE GOING THROUGH A TOLL 10MPH WHEN THE FIRST TIRE BLEW, THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE WITH PIECES OF THE BELT HANGING OUT.IT SEEMS THAT THE…
ODI #10251561 · Filed December 12, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR DOES NOT WORK DUE TO A MANIFOLD CRACK. AS A RESULT, AMMONIA LEAKED OUT. THERE WAS A RECALL AND A TECHNICIAN CAME OUT AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE IN 2007. IN THE BEGINNING OF 2008, THE…

Read all 2 complaints

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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2004 Forest River Cardinal. 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 2004 Forest River Cardinal.

Tires

ODI #10348444

Incident: August 3, 2010 · Filed: August 10, 2010

WE HAVE A 2004 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL THAT HAD KENDA TIRES LT23585R16 ON A SHORT TRIP WE BLEW A TIRE ON THE WAY TO N.H(7/27/10) AND ONE ON THE WAY BACK TO MA(8/3/10). WE WERE GOING THROUGH A TOLL 10MPH WHEN THE FIRST TIRE BLEW, THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE WITH PIECES OF THE BELT HANGING OUT.IT SEEMS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL PIECES THEY USE TO MAKE THE BELT WERE NOT GLUED TOGETHER PROPERLY OR THEY USED CHEAP PIECES AND THEY GAVE WAY. THESE TIRES ARE MADE AT A KENDA RUBBER FACTORY IN TAIWAN. THE SECOND TIRE BLEW WHEN WE WERE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, THE TIRE SHREDDED INTO PIECES AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE SIDE OF THE CAMPER. THE TIRE HAS PLENTY OF TREAD AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE TIRE IS NOT MADE PROPERLY AND IS DEFECTIVE. THESE TIRES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND THE COMPANY NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT .KENDA WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRODUCT AND IT WILL HAVE TO TAKE A DEATH AND A LAW SUIT FOR THEM TO ADMIT AND FIX THE PROBLEM. WE NOW HAVE TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR FAMILY SAFE. IF YOU HAVE THESE TIRES TAKE THEM OFF.... *TR

Equipment

ODI #10251561

Incident: January 7, 2006 · Filed: December 12, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR DOES NOT WORK DUE TO A MANIFOLD CRACK. AS A RESULT, AMMONIA LEAKED OUT. THERE WAS A RECALL AND A TECHNICIAN CAME OUT AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE IN 2007. IN THE BEGINNING OF 2008, THE REFRIGERATOR STOPPED WORKING. DOMETIC STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE UNIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT WORKING DUE TO THE CRACK MANIFOLD THAT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE. UPDATED 2/9/09 *CN UPDATED 02/13/09. 8BJ

Other Forest River Cardinal model years

Check your 2004 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