NHTSA vehicle safety data

2017 Forest River FR3 Recalls & Complaints

The 2017 Forest River FR3 has 2 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 2017 Forest River FR3. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2017 Forest River FR3 owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2017 Forest River FR3, describing incidents dated September 3, 2018.

Most-cited components

Suspension 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11124652 · Filed September 5, 2018
SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER 30MPH, OVER BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS (MOST RECENTLY A RAILROAD CROSSING) THE FRONT END BEGINS TO VIBRATE, SHAKE AND BOUNCE VIOLENTLY INCREASING IN INTENSITY UNTIL STOPPED COMPLETELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 9 TIMES IN NON-TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. THE 10TH…

Read the full complaint

Driver Side Window Shade may Lower Without Warning

NHTSA #18V768000 · Visibility · NHTSA notice

Reported October 31, 2018 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 4,790 vehicles

Repair completion: 48% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 68-0822 · Owners notified November 28, 2018

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Forest River Georgetown and FR3 motorhomes, 2018-2019 Berkshire motorhomes and 2018 Charleston motorhomes. The motorized windshield roller shade at the driver's seating position may unroll without warning while driving.

Safety consequence

If the windshield roller shade unrolls while driving, it could block the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a fastener to ensure the motor will not allow the shade to roll down during while driving. The recall began November 28, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7605. Forest River's number for the recall is 68-0822.

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.

Aluminum Ladder Hinge may Separate

NHTSA #16V828000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported November 15, 2016 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 1,104 vehicles

Repair completion: 32.52% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 51-11102016-0271 · Owners notified January 3, 2017 · Vehicles built September 24, 2014 – May 12, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 FR3 motorhomes manufactured September 24, 2014, to May 12, 2016; 2015-2017 Prime Time Spartan toyhaulers manufactured June 10, 2014, to May 31, 2016; 2013-2016 Palomino Columbus toyhaulers manufactured October 4, 2012, to December 4, 2015; and 2015-2016 XLR Thunderbolt and Nitro toyhaulers manufactured May 23, 2014, to November 23, 2016. These vehicles were equipped with certain aluminum, black, ladders manufactured by Christianson Industries. The affected ladders have retractable hinges, each with a welded 'top hat' that can separate from the hinge.

Safety consequence

If the hinges separate from the ladder while in use, the ladder may fall from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a remedy kit to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on January 3, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11102016-0271.

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 2017 Forest River FR3. 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 2017 Forest River FR3.

Suspension; Unknown or Other

ODI #11124652

Incident: September 3, 2018 · Filed: September 5, 2018

SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER 30MPH, OVER BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS (MOST RECENTLY A RAILROAD CROSSING) THE FRONT END BEGINS TO VIBRATE, SHAKE AND BOUNCE VIOLENTLY INCREASING IN INTENSITY UNTIL STOPPED COMPLETELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 9 TIMES IN NON-TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. THE 10TH TIME, WHILE TRAVELING IN SINGLE LANE TWO-WAY TRAFFIC I WAS FORCED INTO A TREE LINED EMBANKMENT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP AND AVOID A REAR-END COLLISION. AGAIN I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY NORMALLY BUT SUSTAINED DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION TO PARTS OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE RV MANUFACTURER WHO SAID THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM. THIS LAST TIME I WAS COMPELLED TO ELEVATE THIS SINCE IT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. SO FAR I HAVE NOT HAD THIS HAPPEN IN HIGH SPEED SITUATIONS.

Other Forest River FR3 model years

Check your 2017 Forest River FR3 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Forest River FR3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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