NHTSA vehicle safety data

2014 Forest River Cardinal Recalls & Complaints

The 2014 Forest River Cardinal has 4 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 2014 Forest River Cardinal. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2014 Forest River Cardinal owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2014 Forest River Cardinal, describing incidents dated March 29, 2017.

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10969728 · Filed March 31, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE RV WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW INDEPENDENTLY DETACHED FROM THE RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REACHING THEIR DESTINATION THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE WINDOW WAS MISSING. THE…

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Window Adhesive Failure

NHTSA #21V523000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported July 9, 2021 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 825 vehicles

Repair completion: 37.09% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 51-1380 · Owners notified September 2, 2021

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River Blue Ridge, 2014-2019 Forest River Cardinal, 2014-2020 Forest River Cedar Creek, 2014-2021 Forest River Georgetown, 2019 Forest River Legacy, and 2017-2018 Forest River Riverstone recreational vehicles equipped with Hehr 6400 Series windows. The adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may fail.

Safety consequence

Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1380.

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.nhtsa.gov.

Quad Entry Step Rivet Failure

NHTSA #15V273000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported May 11, 2015 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 689 vehicles

Repair completion: 16.84% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 15-05062015-0034 · Owners notified June 11, 2015

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Dynamax, 2014 Cardinal trailers, and 2015 Cedar Creek, Sierra and Sandpiper trailers. In the affected vehicles, a rivet for the quad entry steps may shear and fail, causing the steps to give when being used.

Safety consequence

If the rivet shears causing the quad step to fail, the step user may fall, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will remove the rivets and the step sections will be bolted together, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-389-4600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-05062015-0034.

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.

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 · 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 2014 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 2014 Forest River Cardinal.

Visibility/Wiper

ODI #10969728

Incident: March 29, 2017 · Filed: March 31, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE RV WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW INDEPENDENTLY DETACHED FROM THE RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REACHING THEIR DESTINATION THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE WINDOW WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Other Forest River Cardinal model years

Check your 2014 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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