RoadVitals

2005 Forest River Cardinal

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.
6
Latest Aug 16, 2011
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.
2
Latest Oct 1, 2010
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Forest River Cardinal, most frequently naming the body & structure, other / unspecified and tires & wheels categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Body & structure350.0%
  • Other / unspecified233.3%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%

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

2 campaigns 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
10V454000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 1, 2010
2,207 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: AN OVERHEATED RECEIVER COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
The 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.
FOREST RIVER, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
08V346000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Jul 7, 2008
107,417 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
The 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.
FOREST RIVER, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Aug 16, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FRAME WAS POORLY DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ID
10419628
Incident
May 16, 2011
Mileage
1,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 17, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 29TS FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE, THE MECHANIC DECIDED TO CHECK THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. A TRAILER WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED THERE AND A MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. AFTER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS ALSO CRACKED ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPAIR THE FRAME. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FRAME SHOULD NOT HAVE COME APART ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,000. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/26/09*JB

NHTSA ID
10274108
Incident
Jun 10, 2009
Mileage
6,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 28, 2009
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 36TS RV. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH. HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHACKLE FAILED. A MINOR TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY WELDER AND ANOTHER TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN FRAME EXHIBITED A SEVERE CRACK. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ID
10270221
Incident
Apr 8, 2007
Mileage
4,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 29, 2008

TIRE FAILURE OF TWO KENDA KLEVER A/P TIRES ON MY 2005 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL ON JULY 11, AND 12, 2008. FIRST FAILURE (LEFT REAR) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES EAST OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AK ON I-40 WESTBOUND AT 4:30 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER. SECOND FAILURE (LEFT FRONT) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES NORTH OF MARSHALL, TX SOUTHBOUND U.S. 59 AT ABOUT 1:00 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO SEWAGE DISPOSAL PIPEWORK. ALL TIRE WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND DID NOT SHOW SIGNS OF FAILURE (BULGES, CRACKS OR SPLITS) TIRES WERE NOT HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN CHECKED AT REST AREAS AND FOR FUEL STOPS. THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA, AND WERE RECALLED IN 2007. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, BY EITHER KENDA (COOPER TIRE) OR FOREST RIVER THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RV. NO PUBLIC NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE TIRE DEALER THAT INSPECTED THE TIRES AFTER THE FAILURES STATED THESE WERE TREAD SEPARATIONS CAUSED BY BELT FAILURES. THE "TYRE GUARD" WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OF THE RV HAS STATED THEY DON'T COVER MANUFACTURERS DEFECTS AND HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM. THE TOTAL DAMAGE EXCEEDS $ 4000.00 TO THE RV AND ALL THE TIRES (FAILED AND 3 REMAINING) WERE REPLACED WITH NEW 235-85-R16 GOODYEAR WRANGLER HTS LOAD RATED E TIRES AT A COST OF 4 @ 145.00 EACH AND ONE @ $247.00 (FIRST FAILURE) ALL THE OLD TIRES (5) ARE AVAILABLE AND IN MY POSSESSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240166
Incident
Jul 11, 2008
Mileage
7,500 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 12, 2008

2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL TRAVEL TRAILER. DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER STATES THAT DOMETIC WILL NOT REPAIR THEIR PRODUCT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS REFRIGERATOR LEAKED AMMONIA AND STOPPED WORKING. DOMETIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SINCE THE UNIT WAS INOPERATIVE AND MORE THAN 3 YEARS OLD THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10238233
Incident
Jul 17, 2008
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL PULL BEHIND TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLING UNIT ON THE REFRIGERATOR LEAKED AFTER A CRACK FORMED IN THE COOLING TUBE. THE CONTACT DISCONTINUED USING THE REFRIGERATOR. SOMEONE INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL VIA THE INTERNET. HE CALLED DOMETIC AND HAS BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND EVER SINCE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE IS A PULL BEHIND; THEREFORE, NO MILEAGE OR VIN INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10236238
Incident
Mar 15, 2008

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Forest River Cardinal by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024010—
2023100—
2022050—
2021160—
2020110—
2019110—
2018030—
2017730—
2016240—
20151110—
2014140—
2013220—
2012100—
2010300—
2009510—
2008100—
2006710—
2005Viewing620—
2004220—
2003130—
2002120—
2001120—
2000210—
1999210—
1998210—
1997010—

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.