RoadVitals

2021 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.
3
Latest Feb 8, 2022
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.
8
Latest Jan 20, 2023
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Forest River Berkshire, most frequently naming the exterior lighting and driver assistance categories. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 18 manufacturer communications are 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

  • Exterior lighting266.7%
  • Driver assistance133.3%

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

8 campaigns cover this model year

View all 8

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
23V014000

EQUIPMENT

Jan 20, 2023
17 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River Bus, LLC (Forest River Bus) is recalling certain 2021 Berkshire Coach Ultra UL1952 coaches. The retractable awning may extend unintentionally during transit.
The risk: An awning extending unintentionally during transit may become a distraction or road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will install additional support for the internal components of the gearbox housing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2023. Owners may contact Forest River Bus customer service at 1-800-348-7440 or Carefree of Colorado Customer Service Phone Number 1-303-469-3324. Forest River Bus' number for this recall is 42-1594.
Forest River Bus, LLCManufacturer number 42-1594View on NHTSA.gov
22V381000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

May 27, 2022
483 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Forest River Berkshire motorhomes. An incorrect circuit breaker was installed in the vehicle's house distribution subpanel, which prohibits the internal spring retention mechanism from properly contacting the subpanel.
The risk: Improper contact of the internal spring retention mechanism can cause excessive heat, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will install the correct breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-522-1368. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-1516.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 40-1516View on NHTSA.gov
21V691000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Sep 3, 2021
4 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Berkshire recreational vehicles. These vehicles may have been manufactured with unsealed 5-AMP and 20-AMP mini-breakers, which could cause a spark in the battery compartment.
The risk: A spark inside the battery compartment can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will install sealed mini-breakers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-522-1368. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-1414.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 40-1414View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 8, 2022

headlights, headlight switch, lights dont work, no night time driving no day time running lights. these lights are from a audi A5 and no longer available, changed bulbs, no help

NHTSA ID
11450951
Incident
Feb 6, 2022
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 1, 2022

The headlights on my early 2021 Berkshire XL 37A motorhome are not safe to drive at night, the headlights do not provide ANY help in seeing the road at night, in many consumer complaints the same issue is addressed. Forest river corp, is NO HELP they are in denile of any issues, but yet have had many many complaints. I am very affraid of getting in a accident if i have to drive at night, they really dont work and its like they arent even on. Please help us all, we need forest river to step up and take this on, they have many other issues but are the work company i have ever delt with and mad after spending 300K in good faith for a really bad product. Terry

NHTSA ID
11445794
Incident
Dec 20, 2021
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 22, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 FOREST RIVER BERKSHIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA WAS INOPERABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE CAMERAS HAD BEEN INOPERABLE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE MOTORHOME TO LAZY DAYS RV (6130 LAZY DAYS BLVD, SEFFNER, FL 33584, (800)626-7800) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORHOME WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED ANOTHER DEALER TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ID
11404237
Incident
Aug 10, 2020
Mileage
6,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

402026

Generic prints to help dealers trouble shoot.

402012

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Generic helpful prints and documents to help dealers.

401989

Generic troubleshooting documents for dealers.

401963

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Generic drawings to help service centers trouble shoot vehicles.

401557

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

According to the Cummins Notice: A fuel leak may occur in the fuel hoses between the fuel pump and remote filter head. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire. Persons operating in or around the vehicle may see smoke before sufficient heat creates a fire.

511381

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Cummins states per NHTSA Recall 21E-032, “The fuel rail assembly may develop leaks, which may result in an undetected prolonged diesel fuel spray.”

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—
2021Viewing380—
2020150—
2019690—
20181110—
20170110—
2016471—
2015130—
2014230—
2013020—
2012030—
2011330—
2010120—
2009210—
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.