RoadVitals

2009 Forest River Berkshire

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Feb 27, 2020
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 22, 2017
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Forest River Berkshire, most frequently naming the engine and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine150.0%
  • Visibility150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
17V756000

EQUIPMENT

Nov 22, 2017
365,885 units potentially affected
The defect: 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
The risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The 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.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-0544View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Feb 27, 2020

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FOGGY AND HINDERS THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO SEE OUT. MANUFACTURE HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPLACE WINDOW.

NHTSA ID
11311916
Incident
Oct 10, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 23, 2013

(REPORT PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED 18 APRIL BUT MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY BEEN DELETED). AT ABOUT 31,600 MILES ON MY RV (2009 FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE MOUNTED ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS WITH CUMMINS 350HP ENGINE), THE ENGINE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED. DURING REPAIR AT A FREIGHTLINER FACILITY, THREE OF FOUR RETAINING BOLTS WERE DISCOVERED BROKEN ON THE FAN HUB MOUNTED ON THE BACK OF THE ENGINE; THE FOURTH HAD BACKED OUT SEVERAL THREADS AND THE FAN TILTED INTO THE SHROUD AND SEIZED IN PLACE. FREIGHTLINER REPAIR TECHNICIAN STATED THEIR FACILITY HAD MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS ON CUMMINS/FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS RVS; THE FAILURE OCCURS WITH SOME FREQUENCY; THE BOLTS AND DESIGN OF FAN HUB APPEAR TO BE INADEQUATE FOR LOADS APPLIED BY THE SERPENTINE ACCESSORY BELT; AND THAT FAILURE OF ALL FOUR BOLTS COULD SHATTER THE FAN BLADES WHEN IT SEIZES IN THE SHROUD RESULTING IN SHRAPNEL DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR AND SEVERED ELECTRICAL AND FLUID LINES. FURTHER CONSEQUENCES COULD INCLUDE A NEED TO QUICKLY EXIT TRAFFIC FLOW TO AVOID BECOMING A COLLISION HAZARD. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE FAN HUB, FAN, RADIATOR AND OTHER ACCESSORIES ARE ADDED BY FREIGHTLINER TO THE CUMMINS ENGINE DURING CHASSIS MANUFACTURE. REPAIR REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE AND EXPENSIVE REMOVAL OF ENGINE ACCESSORIES. USE OF THIS CUMMINS/FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS CONFIGURATION BY OTHER COACH MANUFACTURERS IS UNKNOWN. TECHNICIAN ON MY REPAIR DRILLED AND TAPPED A FIFTH BOLT TO STRENGTHEN THE FAN HUB. ONLINE FORUM INQUIRY AND INTEREST FROM OTHER OWNERS SUGGESTS SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. ONE OTHER OWNER LEARNED THAT FREIGHTLINER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL BUT THEY HAVE A FIVE BOLT FAN HUB FOR PURCHASE THAT EVIDENTLY ADDRESSES A LOAD FAILURE PROBLEM WITH THE FOUR BOLT DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509325
Incident
Mar 21, 2013
Mileage
31,600 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

401951

Generic drawings to aid in trouble shooting components,

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Forest River Berkshire by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025000—
2022010—
2021380—
2020150—
2019690—
20181110—
20170110—
2016471—
2015130—
2014230—
2013020—
2012030—
2011330—
2010120—
2009Viewing210—
2008230—
2007040—
2006010—
2005010—
2004010—
2003010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.