NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Forest River Forester Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Forest River Forester has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 7 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 2016 Forest River Forester. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2016 Forest River Forester owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Forest River Forester, describing incidents dated May 1, 2016 to May 9, 2022.

Most-cited components

Structure 3 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11464345 · Filed May 12, 2022
The Maxxair fan is a component that sits on the roof of the RV. Looking at the install instructions, the unit is installed by attaching the flange to the roof. What failed was that the 'top' portion of the fan, where the motor and and the cover attachments are, flew off at speed, on the highway…
ODI #11408588 · Filed April 17, 2021
THE BRAKES ARE NOT GOOD. YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THEM TO WORK. I JUST HAD TO STOP TO PREVENT HITTING SOMEONE IN THE REAR. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO PUMP BRAKE. I LITERALLY HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE FLOOR TO STOP. THIS WAS REPORTED TO YOU PREVIOUSLY AND WE NEVER HEARD A THING!,
ODI #11403729 · Filed March 18, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FOREST RIVER FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR CAMPER SLIDE OUT STRUCTURE SLID OUT ERRONEOUSLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE CAUSING THE CAMPING STRUCTURE TO EXTEND FROM THE RV WHILE IN MOTION. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER RV WORLD LOCATED…

Read all 7 complaints

Liquid may Leak into Power Window Switch

NHTSA #18V444000 · Visibility — Power Window Devices and Controls · NHTSA notice

Reported July 3, 2018 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 53 vehicles

Forest River campaign 51-0781 · Owners notified July 24, 2018 · Vehicles built March 27, 2015 – April 30, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016 Forest River Forester, 2014-2016 Forest River Sunseeker and Coachmen Leprechaun, 2014 Coachmen Concord, and 2014-2017 Coachmen Freelander vehicles, built on Chevrolet chassis and equipped with power windows. Liquid may leak into the driver's power window switch and cause corrosion, resulting in high electrical resistance.

Safety consequence

High electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River has notified owners, and Chevrolet dealers will replace the driver side window switch, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Forest River Forester and Sunseeker at 1-574-206-7600, Coachmen Concord, Freelander, and Leprechaun customer service at 1-574-825-8602. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0781.

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.

Rear Light Failure due to Water Intrusion

NHTSA #16V465000 · Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights · NHTSA notice

Reported June 27, 2016 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 1,999 vehicles

Repair completion: 72.64% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 51-06012016-0206 · Owners notified December 8, 2016 · Vehicles built June 10, 2014 – May 25, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Forester motorhomes manufactured June 10, 2014, to May 25, 2016, Sunseeker motorhomes manufactured April 4, 2014, to May 25, 2016, 2015-2016 Solera motorhomes manufactured February 28, 2014, to September 17, 2015, and 2016 Isata motorhomes manufactured October 30, 2015, to May 26, 2016. Water may leak into the electrical module that controls the vehicle taillights, brake lights, turn signal lights, clearance lights and marker lights, making the lights inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Safety consequence

If the rear brake lights fail to illuminate, following motorists may not realize that the vehicle in front of them is stopping. Inoperative taillights, clearance lights and marker lights will make the vehicle less visible to others. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on August 16, 2016. The recall began on December 8, 2016. Forester, Solera, and Sunseeker owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Isata customers should call 1-574-262-3474. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-06012016-0206.

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.

Shower Door Flammability/FMVSS 302

NHTSA #16V336000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported May 23, 2016 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 13 vehicles

Repair completion: 69.23% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 34-05052016-0184 · Owners notified July 11, 2016 · Vehicles built February 29, 2016 – April 20, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Forester and Sunseeker recreational vehicles manufactured from February 29, 2016, through April 20, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with a shower door that may not meet the flammability standards. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 302, "Flammability of Interior Materials."

Safety consequence

Failure to meet the flammability standard of FMVSS 302 could enhance the spread of a flame in the event of a fire, increasing the risk serious injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shower doors, free of charge. The recall began on July 11, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 34-05052016-0184.

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 2016 Forest River Forester. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Forest River Forester.

Structure

ODI #11464345

Incident: May 9, 2022 · Filed: May 12, 2022

The Maxxair fan is a component that sits on the roof of the RV. Looking at the install instructions, the unit is installed by attaching the flange to the roof. What failed was that the 'top' portion of the fan, where the motor and and the cover attachments are, flew off at speed, on the highway. Fortunately, I pulled over right away, and found the unit still attached by the power wires. The safety issue would be if a 15"x15"x8" unit weighing about 20 lbs went airborne in traffic, causing an incident for whoever was behind the RV where this happened. IMHO this is a manufacturing defect by Maxxair. These 4 screws should never have worked out, causing the issue. These fans are commonly installed by most major RV mfgrs. We're OK. We have to replace the fan. No one was hurt this time.

Service Brakes

ODI #11408588

Incident: April 3, 2021 · Filed: April 17, 2021

THE BRAKES ARE NOT GOOD. YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THEM TO WORK. I JUST HAD TO STOP TO PREVENT HITTING SOMEONE IN THE REAR. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO PUMP BRAKE. I LITERALLY HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE FLOOR TO STOP. THIS WAS REPORTED TO YOU PREVIOUSLY AND WE NEVER HEARD A THING!,

Electrical System

ODI #11403729

Incident: July 1, 2019 · Filed: March 18, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FOREST RIVER FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR CAMPER SLIDE OUT STRUCTURE SLID OUT ERRONEOUSLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE CAUSING THE CAMPING STRUCTURE TO EXTEND FROM THE RV WHILE IN MOTION. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER RV WORLD LOCATED AT 14025 W FREEWAY DR, HUGO, MN 55038 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMPING SLIDE OUT MOTOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE RV HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR THE SAME FAILURE ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Service Brakes

ODI #11196973

Incident: April 14, 2019 · Filed: April 17, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FOREST RIVER FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RV PRESENTED THE FAILURE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AND FOUR MONTHS. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO FIELDS MOTORCARS (4141 N FLORIDA AVE, LAKELAND, FL 33805) WHERE THEY CHANGED THE BRAKE FLUID AND BLED THE BRAKE LINES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #11100543

Incident: May 13, 2018 · Filed: June 8, 2018

LOST ALL TAIL LIGHTS 4 HAS BEEN FIX OR AND RECALL DONE 2 TIMES. NOW RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT DOES NOT WORK FOR TURN OR BRAKE AND IT BEEN IN A SHOP FOR A MONTH NO ONE KNOWS WHY

Structure

ODI #11034024

Incident: September 29, 2017 · Filed: October 17, 2017

WHITE PLASTIC COMPONENT FELL OUT OF THE RV COACH ENTRY DOOR LOCK MECHANISM CAUSING DOOR LOCK TO JAM. MOST OF THE LOCK MECHANISMS ARE METAL BUT THIS SMALL PIECE IS PLASTIC AND THERE IS NO MECHANISM TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING OUT. AFTER I RE-INSERTED IT AND OPERATED THE MECHANISM A FEW MORE TIMES, IT FELL OUT AGAIN. I WAS REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE LOCK MECHANISM AT COST OF $125.

Structure

ODI #10918551

Incident: May 1, 2016 · Filed: October 24, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FOREST RIVER FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR HOME AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BEEP WHICH INDICATED THAT THE JACKS ON THE MOTORHOME WERE LOWERING DOWN. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER AND LIFT THE JACKS BACK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE JACKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Other Forest River Forester model years

Check your 2016 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.

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