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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Forest River Charleston Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Forest River Charleston has 4 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 2008 Forest River Charleston. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2008 Forest River Charleston owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Forest River Charleston, describing incidents dated September 24, 2008 to March 25, 2015.

Most-cited components

  • Structure 2 complaints

Newest complaints

  • ODI #10702421 · Filed

    FRONT SIDE WALLS (STRUCTURE) SEPARATING FROM FRAME SUPPORT, SIDE WALLS SEPARATING MOVING INDEPENDENTLY FROM FLOORING. SCREWS ATTACHING SIDE WALL OF MOTOR HOME SHEARING CAUSING WALL SEPARATION. FRONT OF MOTOR HOME DROP AT LEAST ONE INCH. AIR ENTERING INTO PASSENGER AREA THROUGH GAP CREATED FROM WALL…

  • ODI #10243474 · Filed

    RV STANDING STILL AT THE TIME. PIECE OF TRIM FELL OFF. 1.5" X 1.5" X 13.5', SQUARE 1/8" THICK ALUMINUM TUBING. APPROX. 20 LBS. YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED IF I WAS DOING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY!!! FOUND THAT IT WAS SECURED BY 4, SELF TAPPING SCREWS, THAT HAD SHEARED…

Read all 2 complaints

Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable

NHTSA #17V756000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported November 22, 2017 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 365,885 vehicles

Repair completion: 8.47% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 51-0544 · Owners notified December 27, 2017 · Vehicles built February 1, 2002 – October 17, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2003-2018 Forest River Berkshire, Charleston, Rockport, Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Riverstone, Salem, Sandpiper, Sierra, Vengeance, Wildcat, Wildwood, XLR Boost, Cargo Mate, Continental Cargo, motorhomes, recreational trailers, toyhaulers, cargo trailers and restroom trailers and 2009-2018 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit, Concord, Leprechaun, Freelander, Orion and Prism motorhomes, 2009-2017 Coachmen Apex and Catalina recreational trailers, and 2013-2017 Shasta Oasis and Revere recreational trailers, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Safety consequence

In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on December 27, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Kidde customer service toll free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0544.

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.

ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLIES

NHTSA #10V079000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Pedals and Linkages · NHTSA notice

Reported March 4, 2010 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 456 vehicles

Forest River campaign FL-569 · Owners notified January 11, 2010 · Vehicles built August 16, 2007 – September 23, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 CHARLESTON MOTOR HOMES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 16, 2007 AND SEPTEMBER 23, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH KONGSBERG AUTOMOTIVE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS. THE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL ARM MAY LOOSEN ALLOWING THE ARM TO ROTATE AROUND ITS SHAFT AND SWING IN FRONT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, REDUCING BRAKING FUNCTION.

Safety consequence

A LOOSE BRAKE PEDAL INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER TO NOTIFY OWNERS. REPAIRS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY FREIGHTLINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 10, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS WARRANTY CAMPAIGNS DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-647-0712.

Notes

FOREST RIVER RECALL NO. FL-569.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> .

TRANSVERSE BEAM/SAF HOLLAND

NHTSA #08V345000 · Suspension · NHTSA notice

Reported July 28, 2008 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 57 vehicles

Vehicles built October 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING 57 MY 2007-2008 MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH SAF-HOLLAND REAR SUSPENSIONS. IN SOME INSTANCES THE TRANSVERSE BEAM WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OF THE WELD.

Safety consequence

IF THE WELD FAILS, VEHICLE STABILITY WHILE CORNERING COULD BE AFFECTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSVERSE BEAM COULD DROP TO THE GROUND CAUSING SPARKS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DAIMLER TRUCKS AND SAF-HOLLAND TO HAVE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ADL TRANSVERSE BEAM PERFORMED. IF A WELD DEFECT IS IDENTIFIED, SAF-HOLLAND WILL PROVIDE A SERVICE REPLACEMENT KIT THAT CONTAINS A NEW TRANSVERSE BEAM, ALL NECESSARY INSTALLATION HARDWARE, BEAM REPLACEMENT, AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 08E031 AND 08V269). OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAF-HOLLAND AT 1-231-773-3271, DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712, 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.

STEERING ARM/TIE ROD ARM/FREIGHTLINER

NHTSA #08V204000 · Steering — Linkages — Tie Rod Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported May 6, 2008 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 93 vehicles

Vehicles built February 8, 2007 – August 17, 2007 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING 93 MY 2007-2008 CHARLESTON AND BERKSHIRE MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE FASTENERS THAT ATTACH THE STEERING ARM OR TIE ROD ARMS TO THE SPINDLE MAY BE OVER OR UNDER-TIGHTENED.

Safety consequence

INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED STEERING ARM FASTENERS MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V306). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

Notes

CUSTOMERS 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 HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other Forest River Charleston model years

Check your 2008 Forest River Charleston VIN

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

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