NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Forest River Forester Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Forest River Forester has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 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 2004 Forest River Forester. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2004 Forest River Forester owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Forest River Forester, describing incidents dated June 4, 2004 to September 13, 2007.

Most-cited components

Tires 2 complaints
Suspension 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10204144 · Filed September 26, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 29WB FIFTH WHEEL (NA). WHILE PUTTING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE TREAD ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR KENDA TIRE WAS BALD. HE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS ALSO BALD. HE SENT PICTURES TO KENDA AND THEY STATED THAT…
ODI #10112706 · Filed March 8, 2005
ON OUR 2ND TRIP WITH OUR 24FT ROCKWOOD 5TH WITH ONLY 500 MILES ON IT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, SIZE ST205/75R14 I HAD CHECKED TRIES BEFORE LEAVING SAW NOTHING WRONG, CONTACTED MIKE AT FOREST RIVER HE SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARLISLE TIRES. MY 5TH WHEEL TRAILER GVW IS…
ODI #10080831 · Filed July 12, 2004
PURCHASE A NEW '04 SANDPIPER 5TH WHEEL IN AUG '03. MADE TWO LOCAL TRIPS THAT PUT APPROXIMATELY 1500 MILES ON THE TIRES/UNIT. KEEP ALL THE WHEELS COVERED WHILE IN STORAGE. CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION PRIOR TO LEAVING ON A TRIP FROM S. CA THAT WOULD GO THROUGH TETONS, YELLOWSTONE, RUSHMORE, THEN BACK…

Read all 3 complaints

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.

FOREST RIVER/AMSAFE/FMVSS 209/SEAT BELTS

NHTSA #04V276000 · Seat Belts — Front — Buckle Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported June 1, 2004 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 2,010 vehicles

Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON SOME MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE LOAD REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Safety consequence

THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY UNLATCH IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

AMSAFE WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE BUCKLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AMSAFE AT 1-574-266-8330 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2004 Forest River Forester. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Forest River Forester.

Suspension

ODI #10204144

Incident: September 13, 2007 · Filed: September 26, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 29WB FIFTH WHEEL (NA). WHILE PUTTING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE TREAD ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR KENDA TIRE WAS BALD. HE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS ALSO BALD. HE SENT PICTURES TO KENDA AND THEY STATED THAT THE AXLES (ALKO KOBER) WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE AXLE COMPANY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

Tires

ODI #10112706

Incident: February 21, 2005 · Filed: March 8, 2005

ON OUR 2ND TRIP WITH OUR 24FT ROCKWOOD 5TH WITH ONLY 500 MILES ON IT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, SIZE ST205/75R14 I HAD CHECKED TRIES BEFORE LEAVING SAW NOTHING WRONG, CONTACTED MIKE AT FOREST RIVER HE SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARLISLE TIRES. MY 5TH WHEEL TRAILER GVW IS 1,100 OVER THE MAX TIRE LOAD AND HE SAID (MIKE) THAT THE 1,100 IS THE HITCH WEIGHT, I TOLD HIM THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TOWING THAT YOU LOSE HITCH WEIGHT AND THEN ALL THE WEIGHT IS ON THE TIRES. I ASKED FOR MY TIRES TO BE UPGRADED TO LOAD RANGE D OR E HE SAID NO. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE ON THESE TIRES. SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE.*AK

Tires

ODI #10080831

Incident: June 4, 2004 · Filed: July 12, 2004

PURCHASE A NEW '04 SANDPIPER 5TH WHEEL IN AUG '03. MADE TWO LOCAL TRIPS THAT PUT APPROXIMATELY 1500 MILES ON THE TIRES/UNIT. KEEP ALL THE WHEELS COVERED WHILE IN STORAGE. CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION PRIOR TO LEAVING ON A TRIP FROM S. CA THAT WOULD GO THROUGH TETONS, YELLOWSTONE, RUSHMORE, THEN BACK DOWN THROUGH COLORADO AND 4 CORNERS. THE FIRST TIRE BLEW OUT WEST OF STURGIS. LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THE TIRES. THE TIRE BLEW WITH SUCH FORCE THAT I SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIG. INSPECTED REMAINING TIRES AND PLACED SPARE ON RIG. JUST N. OF FT COLLINS, CO THE SECOND TIRE BLEW. HAD JUST INSPECTED AND CHECKED FOR PROPER TIRE INFLATION LESS THAN 100 MILES BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW. IT APPEARED THAT THE TREAD SIMPLY PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE. CARLISLE REPLACED ALL TIRES AFTER I EXPRESSED CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH LIABILITIES. ESTIMATED REPAIRS TO RIG ARE APPROXIMATELY $1900. CARLISLE REQUIRED WE SHIP THE TIRES TO THEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE PHOTOS OF TIRES AND DAMAGE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. COPIES OF SAME WHERE EMAILED TO CARLISLE TIRES. THESE WERE LOAD RANGE E RADIAL TRAIL SIZE LT235/85R16, WHICH WERE MADE IN CHINA. *LA

Other Forest River Forester model years

Check your 2004 Forest River Forester VIN

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

Check a Forest River VIN