2017 Forest River Cardinal Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2017 Forest River Cardinal. The contact stated that while her husband was hauling the fifth wheel at approximately 60-65 MPH, the two front emergency exit windows detached. While driving at undisclosed speeds, the rear window detached from the RV. The contact stated that the sleeping quarter window was loose. The contact's husband used tape to secure the window. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V523000 (Equipment, Structure). The RV was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the windows. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed there was no recall coverage on the RV for the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11643651

Incident

Feb 15, 2025

The slide out system cause the frame to separate from the wall of the travel trailer. This allowed water to get into the wall which rotted the support. When traveling, the slide out would separate on its own. Fortunately, I was made aware by a friend and was able to take the RV to the dealership for inspection and repair. I have a another friend that has a Forest River Wildwood that had the same issue which was also corrected before an accident occurred. From what I was told, the wall and screws for the system are were the issue and larger ones were put in place.

NHTSA ID

11440997

Incident

Oct 15, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE OWNING THE TRAILER, HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES A TOTAL OF 11 TIMES DUE TO TIRE BLOWOUTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE TRAILER HE NOTICED A BLOWOUT OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. UPON REPLACING THE TIRE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SIGNIFICANT UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHACKLES INSTALLED ON THE TRAILER HAD UNDERPERFORMED AND HAD LINKED THE DEFECTIVE SHACKLES TO THE RECURRING TIRE FAILURES. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE RV WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT

NHTSA ID

11405415

Incident

Jul 17, 2019

Mileage

4,000 mi

WE HAVE A 2017 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. WE HAVE ONLY TAKEN OUR TRAILER OUT FIVE TIMES FOR APPROXIMATELY 3900 MILES. THE LAST TRIP TO ARIZONA ON INTERSTATE 40 TOWARD FLAGSTAFF. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 80 DEGREES WITH LIGHT RAIN. THE PSI WAS 80 LBS IN THIS TIRE WHEN IT BLEW OUT ON JULY 12TH, 2019. THE SECOND TIRE BLOW OUT ON INTERSTATE 40 NEAR YUCCA REST STOP AROUND 20 MILES FROM NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA. PSI WAS 80 LBS WHEN THIS SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 102 DEGREES. THIS HAPPEN IN JULY 17TH, 2019 THE THIRD TIRE TO BLOW OUT HAPPEN ALSO ON INTERSTATE 40 ABOUT, 40 MILES TO BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA. PSI WAS 80 LBS WHEN THIS THIRD TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 112 DEGREES. THIS HAPPEN IN JULY 17TH, 2019. NOW WE HAD NO SPARE THE ENTIRE TRIP WAS TRAVELED AT 55 MILES PER HOUR, PER CALIFORNIA STATE LAW. STATE LAW IN ARIZONA IS 75 MILES PER HOUR BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE TRAILER WE ALWAYS TRAVEL AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. TIRE SIZE 235/80R16 LOAD RANGE E *AS *TR

NHTSA ID

11234914

Incident

Jul 17, 2019

Mileage

3,900 mi

PURCHASED NEW 5TH WHEEL TRAILER IN DECEMBER OF 2017 WITH GOODYEAR MARATHON ST235/80R16, LOAD RANGE E TIRES INSTALLED. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A SOMEWHAT CURVY AND HILLY STATE HIGHWAY WITH 4800 MILES ON RV, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE DAMAGING THE RV IN THE PROCESS. I PULLED TO SHOULDER AND FAILED TIRE HAD A SIGNIFICANT LEAK, BUT DID NOT BLOW OUT SO I REPLACED IT WITH THE SPARE. I HAVE TPMS INSTALLED ON ALL 4 WHEELS WHICH REPORTS TIRE PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE. ALL 4 TIRES WERE NOMINAL JUST PRIOR TO FAILURE. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AT THE REQUIRED COLD PRESSURE OF 80 PSI PRIOR TO EVERY TRIP. THE RV IS STORED INDOORS WITHOUT ANY SUN EXPOSURE.

NHTSA ID

11218821

Incident

Jun 8, 2019

Mileage

4,800 mi

WE HAVE A 2017 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL, AND IN JUNE 2018 WE GOT BACK FROM CAMPING AND WHILE IN TRAILER EMPTYING OUR THINGS OUT WE HEARD A LOUD BAND. IT ENDED UP BEING THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT GOOD YEAR MARATHON ST TIRE THAT BLEW DUE TO A LARGE BULGE ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE. WE CALLED GOODYEAR AND THEY SAID TO FIND A GOODYEAR PLACE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE AND THE DEALER COULD DEAL WITH THEM. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR OUR REFUND. NOW SEPT 8TH 2018 DRIVING HOME TO CA FROM UT WE PULLED INTO JEAN NV TO GET FUEL AND I NOTICED A BULGE ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. WE PUT THE SPARE ON AND CONTINUED ON THE ROAD. WE PULLED OVER ON THE 58 FRWY IN BARSTOW AND CHECKED TIRES AND ALL WAS WELL. WE CONTINUED ON AND WE EXITED OFF THE 58 IN MOJAVE A CAR CAME BY AND SAID WE WERE ON OUR RIM. WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND IT WAS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THIS HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE SKIRT OF TRAILER, WHEEL WELL. LUCKILY THERE WAS A 24 HOUR TRUCK AND TIRE PLACE, THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIND SOMETHING TO GET US HOME SINCE WE WERE ONLY 20 MINS. AWAY FROM HOME. WE PAID THEM $80 FOR THE USED TIRE AND RIM THEY FOUND IN THEIR SHOP TO GET US HOME. ONCE WE GOT HOME AND PULLED THE SLIDES OUT WE FOUND AND TIRE FLAKES WERE INSIDE THE TRAILER, PIECES OF TIRE STUCK UNDER THE SLIDE, AND DAMAGE TO THE FIBERGLASS. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS GOING AFTER GOODYEAR SINCE THIS IS THE 3RD TIRE TO HAVE A PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON ALL THESE MARATHON ST TIRES. GOODYEAR NEEDS TO PUT SAFETY AS A PRIORITY, AS IF THEIR OWN FAMILY WAS DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES

NHTSA ID

11128375

Incident

Sep 8, 2018

Mileage

3,000 mi

AFTER PURCHASING I REALIZED THAT THE FEDERAL DATA PLACARD ON THE RV LISTS THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS AS 6818 LBS. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE TWO AXLES ON THIS RV ARE 6,000 LB AXLES. BECAUSE THE PLACARD HAS LISTED THE TWO AXLES AT A TOTAL OF 1636 LBS TOO MUCH, THEY HAVE, IN TURN LISTED THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING AT 15,888, WHICH IS 1636 TOO HEAVY A RATING. THE PLACARD SHOULD LIST THE AXLES AS 6,000 GAWR. THE TONGUE WEIGHT OF THE RV IS 2252 LBS. SO, IF THEY WOULD HAVE LISTED THE AXLES AT THE CORRECT 12,000 LBS AND ADDED THAT WEIGHT TO THE TONGUE WEIGHT THE GVWR WOULD HAVE BEEN 14,252. I HAVE SEEN OTHER FOREST RIVER CARDINAL RV'S AT THE LAZY DAYS, TAMPA DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME ERRORS. SOME UNSUSPECTING BUYER MIGHT, SOME DAY HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO OVERLOADING HIS/HER RV BECAUSE OF THE INACCURATE GVWR ON THESE RV'S. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND REISSUING OF FEDERAL PLACARDS FOR THESE RV'S BEING SENT OUT FROM FOREST RIVER.

NHTSA ID

10984693

Incident

May 7, 2017