NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Forest River Cardinal Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 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 2013 Forest River Cardinal. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 Forest River Cardinal owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Forest River Cardinal, describing incidents dated July 22, 2015 to December 23, 2016.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10957874 · Filed March 1, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEALS ON THE TOP AND SIDE OF THE CAMPER DETACHED DUE TO WATER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE CAMPER AND DAMAGED THE INTERIOR. THE CAMPER WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS…
ODI #10743444 · Filed July 25, 2015
PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR A TRIP I PLUGGED OUR CARDINAL 3550RL IN TO AN AC OUTLET TO RUN THE FRIDGE. THE MORNING OF OUR DEPARTURE I FOUND THAT THE 2 REAR SLIDE ROOMS HAD DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT ON THEIR OWN AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE SLIDE ROOM PUMP HAD RUN ALL NIGHT AND BURNED THE PUMP OUT SO BADLY THAT WE…

Read all 2 complaints

Microwave May Start On Its Own And Cause A Fire

NHTSA #14V449000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported July 23, 2014 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 1,041 vehicles

Repair completion: 6.24% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified February 6, 2015 · Vehicles built March 11, 2013 – April 26, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Forest River Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Georgetown, Sunseeker, Forester, Cross Country, Pathfinder, Cardinal, Blue Ridge, Cedar Creek, and Brookstone recreational vehicles manufactured March 11, 2013, through April 26, 2013 and equipped with certain Frigidaire Convection Microwave models CFMV152CLB and CFMV154CLS. The microwave may start on it's own and begin heating when unattended.

Safety consequence

If the microwave starts on its own and there are contents inside, a fire could result.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will repair the membrane/keypad component, free of charge. The recall began in February 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-353-7383.

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.

Unexpected Unfurling of the Awning

NHTSA #13V203000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported May 17, 2013 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 9,526 vehicles

Owners notified July 29, 2013 · Vehicles built February 13, 2013 – April 18, 2013 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Forest River is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Forest River models Blue Ridge, Cardinal, Cherokee, Columbus, EVO, Georgetown, Flagstaff, Forester, Lexington, Puma, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandpiper, Sandstorm, Sierra, Stealth, Sunseeker, Wildcat, Wildwood, Work and Play and XLR; Coachmen models Brookstone, Catalina, Chaparral, Concord, Encounter, Freedom Express, Freelander, Leprechaun, Mirada, Pursuit, and Sportcoach; Prime Time models Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Saniber, and Tracer; Palomino model Maverick Truck Camper; Cargo Mate model Eliminator and Shasta models Revere, Phoenix recreational vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2013, through April 18, 2013. Due to a design change in the power awning motor assembly, the motor assembly screws may unknowingly shear.

Safety consequence

If the motor assembly screws shear, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the vehicle is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with motors of a different design. The safety recall began on July 29, 2013. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-389-4600 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed.

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 www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2013 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 2013 Forest River Cardinal.

Structure

ODI #10957874

Incident: December 23, 2016 · Filed: March 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEALS ON THE TOP AND SIDE OF THE CAMPER DETACHED DUE TO WATER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE CAMPER AND DAMAGED THE INTERIOR. THE CAMPER WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAMPER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 05/05/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS ONLY. UPDATED 09/22/2017*JS

Electrical System

ODI #10743444

Incident: July 22, 2015 · Filed: July 25, 2015

PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR A TRIP I PLUGGED OUR CARDINAL 3550RL IN TO AN AC OUTLET TO RUN THE FRIDGE. THE MORNING OF OUR DEPARTURE I FOUND THAT THE 2 REAR SLIDE ROOMS HAD DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT ON THEIR OWN AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE SLIDE ROOM PUMP HAD RUN ALL NIGHT AND BURNED THE PUMP OUT SO BADLY THAT WE COULD NOT MANUALLY RETRACT THE ROOMS OR THE LANDING GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SCORCHED AND COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE DURING THE NIGHT ACCORDING TO OUR TECH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC GIVEN THE RIGS LOCATION . I WOULD HAVE LOST 2 TRUCKS A BOAT AND 2 PETS ALONG WITH THE TRAILER.UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT 2 WIRE SPADES IN THE INTERIOR CONTROL PANEL HAD VIBRATED OFF AND WERE VERY LOOSE FITTING CAUSING A SHORT. IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING WHILE YOU ARE ON THE ROAD AND THE ROOMS DEPLOY IN TRAFFIC! THERE WERE NO INLINE FUSES, BREAKERS OR OTHER FAIL-SAFES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. IN OUR OPINION THIS WAS CAUSED BY SLOPPY WORKMANSHIP AND POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS STONEWALLED AND NEVER GOT A CALL BACK THAT WAS REQUESTED FROM A MANAGER. CONTACT - FOREST RIVER, ELKHART IN 573-533-5934 ## VIN FAILED ## 2012 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 3550 RL ##

Other Forest River Cardinal model years

Check your 2013 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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