2013 Forest River Cardinal Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Forest River Cardinal, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure150.0%
- Electrical150.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEALS ON THE TOP AND SIDE OF THE CAMPER DETACHED DUE TO WATER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE CAMPER AND DAMAGED THE INTERIOR. THE CAMPER WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAMPER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 05/05/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS ONLY. UPDATED 09/22/2017*JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR A TRIP I PLUGGED OUR CARDINAL 3550RL IN TO AN AC OUTLET TO RUN THE FRIDGE. THE MORNING OF OUR DEPARTURE I FOUND THAT THE 2 REAR SLIDE ROOMS HAD DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT ON THEIR OWN AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE SLIDE ROOM PUMP HAD RUN ALL NIGHT AND BURNED THE PUMP OUT SO BADLY THAT WE COULD NOT MANUALLY RETRACT THE ROOMS OR THE LANDING GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SCORCHED AND COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE DURING THE NIGHT ACCORDING TO OUR TECH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC GIVEN THE RIGS LOCATION . I WOULD HAVE LOST 2 TRUCKS A BOAT AND 2 PETS ALONG WITH THE TRAILER.UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT 2 WIRE SPADES IN THE INTERIOR CONTROL PANEL HAD VIBRATED OFF AND WERE VERY LOOSE FITTING CAUSING A SHORT. IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING WHILE YOU ARE ON THE ROAD AND THE ROOMS DEPLOY IN TRAFFIC! THERE WERE NO INLINE FUSES, BREAKERS OR OTHER FAIL-SAFES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. IN OUR OPINION THIS WAS CAUSED BY SLOPPY WORKMANSHIP AND POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS STONEWALLED AND NEVER GOT A CALL BACK THAT WAS REQUESTED FROM A MANAGER. CONTACT - FOREST RIVER, ELKHART IN 573-533-5934 ## VIN FAILED ## 2012 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 3550 RL ##
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .