NHTSA vehicle safety data

2021 Forest River Puma Recalls & Complaints

The 2021 Forest River Puma has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 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 2021 Forest River Puma. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2021 Forest River Puma owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Forest River Puma, describing incidents dated April 19, 2021 to August 25, 2023.

Most-cited components

Equipment 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11543389 · Filed September 8, 2023
Castle Rock Radial ST 225/75R15 When driving North on I81 in West Viginia just outside of Martinsburg my front left camper tire blew out and caused a lot of damage to the sideout on my camper. When traveling back from our camping trip weekend the right front axle tire blew approx. 15 miles from our…
ODI #11518597 · Filed April 24, 2023
2021 FOREST RIVER PUMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ISSUE WITH THE HOT WATER HEATER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ADDITIONAL DEFECTS THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT LOCK, AND THE FLOORING HAD DEFECTS FROM MANUFACTURING. AND THE PROPRANE TANK COVER FIT POORLY.
ODI #11421453 · Filed June 19, 2021
in the course of our first camping trips we weighted the camper multiple times, and the numbers did not add up as they should have. We requested that service look at that as well during the repair process. They discovered though the spec calls out a hitch weight of 700lbs, ours was weighing 1100lbs…

Read all 4 complaints

Incorrectly Routed 7-Way Connector Can Cause Fire

NHTSA #24V395000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer — 120/240 Vac Electrical System — Charger Low Voltage Battery · NHTSA notice

Reported June 4, 2024 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 41,353 vehicles

Repair completion: 10.23% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 51-1786 · Owners notified July 10, 2024

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2004-2024 Cedar Creek and 2006-2024 Puma fifth wheels trailers. The overcurrent protection from the trailer battery may have been incorrectly routed, allowing the wires to be pulled out of the junction box.

Safety consequence

A loose wire can cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will reroute the wires to the protected side of the mini-beaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2024. Owners may contact Puma customer service at 1-574-642-0588 or Cedar Creek customer service at 260-593-4000. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1786.

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.nhtsa.gov.

Wastewater Holding Tank Missing Ventilation Pipe

NHTSA #21V784000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer — Plumbing — Sewage/Black — Storage Tank · NHTSA notice

Reported October 8, 2021 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 44 vehicles

Repair completion: 56.82% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 420-1425 · Owners notified October 22, 2021

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Puma travel trailers. The black wastewater-holding tank may be missing the ventilation pipe, allowing methane gas to build up.

Safety consequence

In the presence of an ignition source, a gas build up increases the risk of fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will properly vent the black wastewater-holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-642-0606. Forest River's number for this recall is 420-1425.

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.nhtsa.gov.

Outdoor Cooktop Can Be Stowed Away While On

NHTSA #20V799000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported December 18, 2020 · Forest River, Inc.

Potentially affected: 15 vehicles

Repair completion: 33.33% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Forest River campaign 425-1269 · Owners notified January 15, 2021

Defect description

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Puma travel trailers. The outdoor cooktop may be stowed away while the propane hose is still attached and the burner is on.

Safety consequence

If the cooktop is stowed away while the propane hose is attached and the burner is on, it will increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the drawer housing the outside cooktop preventing the drawer from being closed while the propane line is still attached, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-0606. Forest River's number for this recall is 425-1269.

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 2021 Forest River Puma. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Forest River Puma.

Tires

ODI #11543389

Incident: August 25, 2023 · Filed: September 8, 2023

Castle Rock Radial ST 225/75R15 When driving North on I81 in West Viginia just outside of Martinsburg my front left camper tire blew out and caused a lot of damage to the sideout on my camper. When traveling back from our camping trip weekend the right front axle tire blew approx. 15 miles from our home in [XXX] . The second tire that blew out damaged the other side of my camper, now I have both sides of my camper damaged from these tires. There was not warnings or anything they just blow out. I always check my tire pressures before I leave on a trip. The tire pressures were all good. I was driving 68 to 70 miles per hour, the tires are rated for 75 miles per hour. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Equipment

ODI #11518597

Incident: April 24, 2023 · Filed: April 24, 2023

2021 FOREST RIVER PUMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ISSUE WITH THE HOT WATER HEATER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ADDITIONAL DEFECTS THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT LOCK, AND THE FLOORING HAD DEFECTS FROM MANUFACTURING. AND THE PROPRANE TANK COVER FIT POORLY.

Structure

ODI #11421453

Incident: April 19, 2021 · Filed: June 19, 2021

in the course of our first camping trips we weighted the camper multiple times, and the numbers did not add up as they should have. We requested that service look at that as well during the repair process. They discovered though the spec calls out a hitch weight of 700lbs, ours was weighing 1100lbs. That is a 57% INCREASE in hitch weight. Enough that it exceed the 1000lb limit of the hitch system (which we purchased at the time with the camper), and the limit of our trucks gross vehicle weight rating. This added weight also limited our rear axle rating

Suspension

ODI #11421193

Incident: May 19, 2021 · Filed: June 16, 2021

We picked up this camper on May 19, 2021 and returned it to the dealer May 28, 2021 because the leaf springs supporting the camper a completely flat.

Other Forest River Puma model years

Check your 2021 Forest River Puma VIN

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