RoadVitals

2006 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.
7
Latest Aug 7, 2009
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 Jul 7, 2008
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 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Forest River Cardinal, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and interior & seats categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Tires & wheels685.7%
  • Interior & seats114.3%

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

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
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

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 7, 2009

TIRE FAILURE ON 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279703
Incident
Aug 6, 2009
Mileage
7,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 7, 2009

TIRE FAILURE ON 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279702
Incident
Aug 6, 2009
Mileage
7,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 7, 2009

TIRE FAILURE ON 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279700
Incident
Jul 18, 2009
Mileage
7,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 7, 2009

FOUR FAILED TIRES ON 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279699
Incident
Jul 15, 2009
Mileage
7,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 14, 2009

BLOWN TIRE ON RV FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN ST TIRES NOT FIT BY KARRIER TO PROFIED A SAFE TIRE UNDER LOAD CONDITIONS AND CURRENT SPEED LIMITS. FORREST RIVER SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL TIRES. MY TIRES ARE BY KARRIER LOAD STAR CARILES WAS ALL THAT WAS LISTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258681
Incident
Feb 8, 2009
Mileage
10,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 16, 2008

THE OVERHEAD DC LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING AND THE BULB WAS NOT BURNED OUT. I TOOK THE LIGHT FIXTURE DOWN AND FOUND A LARGE SCORCHED AREA ON THE SOFT CEILING. THE PHINALIC (SPELLED WRONG) SPACER IN THE LIGHT FIXTURE HAD CRUMBLED AND THIS WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE BULB NOT WORKING BUT THIS FAILURE DID NOT CAUSE THE SCORCHING ON THE SOFT CEILING. I TOOK PICTURES AND SENT THEM TO A FOREST RIVER REPRESENTATIVE BUT NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I TOOK THE FIXTURE AND THE PICTURES TO THE DEALER I HAD PURCHASED THE RV FROM AND THEY DID NOTHING. I HAVE SINCE PUT MY OWN MAKESHIFT WOOD SPACER IN BETWEEN THE SOFT CEILING AND THE LIGHT FIXTURE. IF THE PHINALIC SPACER HAD NOT BURNED OUT I BELIEVE THE CEILING WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY IGNITED. THE SCORCHING WAS SIGNIFICANT. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THIS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESOLUTION BEFORE THERE IS A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10251995
Incident
Nov 16, 2008
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 8, 2008

OUR CAMPER, 2006 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL, CAME WITH KENDRA KARRIER LOADSTAR ST 235/80 R16 TIRES (DOT 7YHJ ANB 4404). WE BOUGHT CAMPER USED IN AUGUSTA, GA DURING MAY 2007. CAMPER IS IN GREAT SHAPE HAVING BEEN KEPT UNDER COVER AT ALL TIMES. TIRES HAD PLENTY OF THREAD, WERE PROPERLY INFLATED, AND LOOKED GOOD. WE HAVE TAKEN 4 OR 5 SMALL TRIPS WITH THE CAMPER DURING THE PAST 15 MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING FROM COLUMBIA, SC TO CHARLESTON, SC WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH THEN CONTINUED OUR TRIP (MEANING TIRES WERE NOT HOT). ALMOST AS SOON AS WE GOT BACK ON THE ROAD ONE OF OUR LOADSTAR TIRES DETREADED ON US. TREAD CAME OFF ONE OF OUR FRONT RIGHT TIRE JUST LIKE IT WAS A RETREAD. THE TREAD THEN ACTED LIKE A CHAIN SAW THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE CAMPER. PIECES OF RUBBER AND STEEL WIRE WERE EMBEDDED ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE CAMPER. BIG HOLE IN CAMPER FLOOR, DAMAGE TO INSULATION, WIRES, RIPPED FIRE EXTINGUISHER OFF WALL, DAMAGE TO DOOR AND CAMPER OUTSIDE. TIRE NEVER WENT FLAT. KENDRA KARRIER LOADSTAR WARRANTY IS NON-EXISTENT. THEY MAKE BAD TIRES THEN DON?T STAND BEHIND THEM. I HAVE PICTURES OF TIRE AND CAMPER DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244754
Incident
Sep 30, 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—
2006Viewing710—
2005620—
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.