NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Forest River Cargo Mate Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 5 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 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2008 Forest River Cargo Mate owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate, describing incidents dated November 5, 2008 to October 18, 2015.

Most-cited components

Suspension 3 complaints
Power Train 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Wheels 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10786379 · Filed October 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER CARGO MATE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE WHEEL STUD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V390000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE…
ODI #10658968 · Filed November 18, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER WORK AND PLAY TRAILER (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IT RAINED, WATER LEAKED INSIDE OF THE TRAILER THROUGH ALL OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT ALL OF THE SIDEWALLS…
ODI #10497793 · Filed February 11, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER CARGO MATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES ON HER VEHICLE BLEW OUT. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE AXLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE…

Read all 5 complaints

Wheel Attaching Studs may Break

NHTSA #15V390000 · Suspension — Rear — Axle — Non-Powered Axle Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported June 19, 2015 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 44 vehicles

Repair completion: 15.91% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 51-05282015-0042 · Owners notified July 8, 2015 · Vehicles built May 2, 2008 – May 2, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2013 XLR and Vengeance, 2010 Sandpiper, 2004 Auto Plus, 2008 Cargo Mate and 2015-2016 Hydra-Lift trailers. In the affected trailers, the studs that are used to attach the wheels to the axle hubs may break.

Safety consequence

If the wheel studs break, the wheel could detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace any affected wheel hub, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-05282015-0042.

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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate.

Wheels

ODI #10786379

Incident: October 18, 2015 · Filed: October 27, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER CARGO MATE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE WHEEL STUD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V390000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Structure

ODI #10658968

Incident: June 30, 2014 · Filed: November 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER WORK AND PLAY TRAILER (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IT RAINED, WATER LEAKED INSIDE OF THE TRAILER THROUGH ALL OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT ALL OF THE SIDEWALLS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/20/15*LJ THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF OVER $17,000. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF HAVING THE VEHICLE SHIPPED. UPDATED 4/26/2016*JS UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

Suspension

ODI #10497793

Incident: February 10, 2009 · Filed: February 11, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER CARGO MATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES ON HER VEHICLE BLEW OUT. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE AXLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE AXLES WERE FAILING. THE AXLES WERE CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR ON THE INSIDE PREMATURELY AND ALSO CAUSING STRESS ON THE BEARING AND SEALS. UPDATED 03/12/13.....UPDATED 03/27/13 *BF

Suspension

ODI #10451266

Incident: October 7, 2009 · Filed: March 12, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER CARGO MATE TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AXLES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE AXLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Suspension; Power Train

ODI #10282056

Incident: November 5, 2008 · Filed: August 28, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER CARGO MATE RV. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT HIS LEFT CENTER TIRE FAILED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE CENTER TIRE; HOWEVER, THE AXLE FAILED AND CAUSED ANOTHER TIRE BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THREE OF THE AXLE ARMS WERE BENT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT ADVISED THE MANUFACTURER THAT HE WAS NOT WILING TO PURCHASE THE SAME AXLE THAT HAS CAUSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE REPLACEMENT AXLE HAS TO BE THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 26,000. UPDATED 10/06/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ALL 6 TIRES WERE WEARING ON THE INSIDE. UPDATED 10/09/09

Other Forest River Cargo Mate model years

Check your 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Forest River Cargo Mate at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Forest River VIN