NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Forest River Sandpiper Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Forest River Sandpiper has 3 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 2004 Forest River Sandpiper. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2004 Forest River Sandpiper owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Forest River Sandpiper, describing incidents dated January 20, 2013 to May 31, 2013.

Most-cited components

Equipment 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10514452 · Filed May 31, 2013
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT DOMETIC WILL DO NOTHING TO REPAIR THE WELL KNOWN DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURE OF THEIR COOLING SYSTEMS CONCERNING THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BOILER TUBE. FIRST OF ALL DOMETRIC ISSUED A RECALL BECAUSE OF FIRES THAT RESULTED WRONGFUL DEATH AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LAWSUITS. THEY CAME…
ODI #10493838 · Filed January 22, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER SANDPIPER SPORT TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ALL THREAD BOLT THAT HELD THE PROPANE TANKS BECAME UNSCREWED AT THE BASE OF THE FRAME. AS A RESULT, THE PROPANE TANKS BECAME LOOSE, ROLLED OFF THE VEHICLE AND UNDER THE TRAILER. THE…

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.

PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR FIREPLACE

NHTSA #10V454000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported October 1, 2010 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 2,207 vehicles

Owners notified January 28, 2011 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIMPLEX ELECTRAFLAME, SYMPHONY, OR OPTIFLAME BRANDED ELECTRIC FIREPLACES, STOVES, AND FIREPLACE INSERTS. THE PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR THE FIREPLACE CAN OVERHEAT.

Safety consequence

AN OVERHEATED RECEIVER COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DIMPLEX AND DIMPLEX WILL PROVIDE OWNERS A FREE REPLACEMENT PLUG-IN REMOTE CONTROL KIT. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DIMPLEX NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-888-346-7539.

Notes

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> .

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.

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

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Forest River Sandpiper.

Equipment

ODI #10514452

Incident: May 31, 2013 · Filed: May 31, 2013

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT DOMETIC WILL DO NOTHING TO REPAIR THE WELL KNOWN DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURE OF THEIR COOLING SYSTEMS CONCERNING THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BOILER TUBE. FIRST OF ALL DOMETRIC ISSUED A RECALL BECAUSE OF FIRES THAT RESULTED WRONGFUL DEATH AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LAWSUITS. THEY CAME OUT WITH A PREVENTATIVE SOLUTION AFTER THE FACT (I'M NOT ALONE HERE) TO INSTALL A HIGH TEMP. CUT OUT SWITCH SO AS TO PREVENT THE UNIT FROM STARTING A FIRE. THIS MEASURE DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BOILER UNIT. THIS LEAVES THE OWNERS OF THEIR UNITS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT COST AND DOMETIC COMPLETELY GETS AWAY WITH A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED POORLY DESIGNED COOLING UNIT. WHEN ONE LISTENS TO THE RECORDING ON THE RECALL LINE DOMETIC ADMITS THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

Structure

ODI #10493838

Incident: January 20, 2013 · Filed: January 22, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER SANDPIPER SPORT TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ALL THREAD BOLT THAT HELD THE PROPANE TANKS BECAME UNSCREWED AT THE BASE OF THE FRAME. AS A RESULT, THE PROPANE TANKS BECAME LOOSE, ROLLED OFF THE VEHICLE AND UNDER THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THEY STATED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO CONTINUOUSLY CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT WAS NOT BECOMING LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 2/12/13 *CN UPDATED 02/15/2013 *JS

Other Forest River Sandpiper model years

Check your 2004 Forest River Sandpiper VIN

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

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