NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Forest River Sierra Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Forest River Sierra has 3 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 2003 Forest River Sierra. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Forest River Sierra owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Forest River Sierra, describing incidents dated February 8, 2009 to August 1, 2011.

Most-cited components

  • Equipment 2 complaints
  • Suspension 1 complaint

Newest complaints

  • ODI #10467111 · Filed

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOREST RIVER SIERRA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SHACKLES HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE FAILURE…

  • ODI #10435914 · Filed

    CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR NOT WORKING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE CHECKED THE REAR OF THE REFRIGERATOR, HE DISCOVERED YELLOW RESIDUE, AND A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE BOILER TUBE, IN WHICH AMMONIA LEAKED OUT. A REPAIRMAN INSTALLED THE REQUIRED SBH KIT ON THE REFRIGERATOR AT…

  • ODI #10261502 · Filed

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOREST RIVER SIERRA RV. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2652. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE REFRIGERATOR IN THE BEGINNING OF 2008. SHE HAD THE BURNER HOUSING INSTALLED TO PREVENT A FIRE SPREAD, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. IN FEBRUARY OF 2009…

Read all 3 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.

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.

REFRIGERATOR/DOMETIC

NHTSA #07V085000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported March 5, 2007 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 128,000 vehicles

Owners notified November 13, 2007

Defect description

CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, 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

RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). 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 YOU 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.

Other Forest River Sierra model years

Check your 2003 Forest River Sierra VIN

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

Check a Forest River VIN