NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Forest River Cardinal Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Forest River Cardinal has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 6 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 2005 Forest River Cardinal. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2005 Forest River Cardinal owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Forest River Cardinal, describing incidents dated April 8, 2007 to May 16, 2011.

Most-cited components

Structure 3 complaints
Equipment 2 complaints
Tires 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10419628 · Filed August 16, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FRAME WAS POORLY DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO…
ODI #10274108 · Filed June 17, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 29TS FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE, THE MECHANIC DECIDED TO CHECK THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. A TRAILER WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED THERE AND A MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. AFTER…
ODI #10270221 · Filed May 28, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 36TS RV. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH. HE…

Read all 6 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 2005 Forest River Cardinal. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Forest River Cardinal.

Structure

ODI #10419628

Incident: May 16, 2011 · Filed: August 16, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FRAME WAS POORLY DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

Structure

ODI #10274108

Incident: June 10, 2009 · Filed: June 17, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 29TS FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE, THE MECHANIC DECIDED TO CHECK THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. A TRAILER WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED THERE AND A MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. AFTER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS ALSO CRACKED ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPAIR THE FRAME. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FRAME SHOULD NOT HAVE COME APART ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,000. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/26/09*JB

Structure

ODI #10270221

Fire

Incident: April 8, 2007 · Filed: May 28, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 36TS RV. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH. HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHACKLE FAILED. A MINOR TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY WELDER AND ANOTHER TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN FRAME EXHIBITED A SEVERE CRACK. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Tires

ODI #10240166

Incident: July 11, 2008 · Filed: August 29, 2008

TIRE FAILURE OF TWO KENDA KLEVER A/P TIRES ON MY 2005 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL ON JULY 11, AND 12, 2008. FIRST FAILURE (LEFT REAR) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES EAST OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AK ON I-40 WESTBOUND AT 4:30 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER. SECOND FAILURE (LEFT FRONT) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES NORTH OF MARSHALL, TX SOUTHBOUND U.S. 59 AT ABOUT 1:00 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO SEWAGE DISPOSAL PIPEWORK. ALL TIRE WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND DID NOT SHOW SIGNS OF FAILURE (BULGES, CRACKS OR SPLITS) TIRES WERE NOT HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN CHECKED AT REST AREAS AND FOR FUEL STOPS. THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA, AND WERE RECALLED IN 2007. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, BY EITHER KENDA (COOPER TIRE) OR FOREST RIVER THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RV. NO PUBLIC NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE TIRE DEALER THAT INSPECTED THE TIRES AFTER THE FAILURES STATED THESE WERE TREAD SEPARATIONS CAUSED BY BELT FAILURES. THE "TYRE GUARD" WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OF THE RV HAS STATED THEY DON'T COVER MANUFACTURERS DEFECTS AND HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM. THE TOTAL DAMAGE EXCEEDS $ 4000.00 TO THE RV AND ALL THE TIRES (FAILED AND 3 REMAINING) WERE REPLACED WITH NEW 235-85-R16 GOODYEAR WRANGLER HTS LOAD RATED E TIRES AT A COST OF 4 @ 145.00 EACH AND ONE @ $247.00 (FIRST FAILURE) ALL THE OLD TIRES (5) ARE AVAILABLE AND IN MY POSSESSION. *TR

Equipment

ODI #10238233

Incident: July 17, 2008 · Filed: August 12, 2008

2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL TRAVEL TRAILER. DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER STATES THAT DOMETIC WILL NOT REPAIR THEIR PRODUCT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS REFRIGERATOR LEAKED AMMONIA AND STOPPED WORKING. DOMETIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SINCE THE UNIT WAS INOPERATIVE AND MORE THAN 3 YEARS OLD THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. *JB

Equipment

ODI #10236238

Incident: March 15, 2008 · Filed: July 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL PULL BEHIND TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLING UNIT ON THE REFRIGERATOR LEAKED AFTER A CRACK FORMED IN THE COOLING TUBE. THE CONTACT DISCONTINUED USING THE REFRIGERATOR. SOMEONE INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL VIA THE INTERNET. HE CALLED DOMETIC AND HAS BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND EVER SINCE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE IS A PULL BEHIND; THEREFORE, NO MILEAGE OR VIN INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

Other Forest River Cardinal model years

Check your 2005 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