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2017 Forest River Cherokee

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.
11
Latest Dec 4, 2024
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.
6
Latest Mar 21, 2018
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.
3

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2017 Forest River Cherokee, most frequently naming the suspension, body & structure and other / unspecified categories. 6 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

  • Suspension535.7%
  • Body & structure428.6%
  • Other / unspecified321.4%
  • Engine17.1%
  • Tires & wheels17.1%

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

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

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
18V186000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Mar 21, 2018
448 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee recreational trailers, models CCKT16BF, CCKT16BHS, CCKT16FQ, CCKT16GR, CCKT16GRH, CCKT17RP and CCKT18TO. These vehicles are equipped with Norcold N306 mini refrigerators that may have a loose or missing propane gas valve test port screw, allowing propane to leak out when the refrigerator is used in 'gas' mode.
The risk: A propane leak increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and Norcold dealers will install and tighten the gas valve port screw, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 19, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100, or Norcold customer service at 1-800-543-1219. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0687.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-0687View on NHTSA.gov
18V034000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Jan 11, 2018
223 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee travel trailers. On the affected trailers, a 14 gauge and a 12 gauge neutral wire for the 110V Air Conditioning were connected to the same lug in the 120V panel neutral bus bar.
The risk: If both wires were connected to same lug, the smaller wire may overheat and fail due to trying to handle a higher load, thereby increasing the risk of an electrical fire.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the subject wire to another 14 gauge terminal, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest River's number for this recall is 17A-0609.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 17A-0609View on NHTSA.gov
17V838000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Dec 21, 2017
3,297 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Cascade and Cherokee recreational trailers. The trailer wiring may have been improperly routed, allowing the wires to be pinched between the chassis and the vehicle body.
The risk: Pinched wires may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the trailers, rerouting the wires, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 7, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-541-644-8072. Forest River's number for this recall is 64-0456.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 64-0456View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 11
Suspension
Filed Dec 4, 2024
Fire reported

Leaf spring fractured and failed twice on the same side of RV following NTHSA mandated recall repair 16V579, and safety modification kit part# 425750. This time the leaf spring failure caused the tire to rub the wheel well and create enough friction to start the interior wheel well carpeting and a garment bag on there to ignite and smolder filling the interior cabin with smoke. Contacted manufacturer Forest River regarding this issue and to obtain information including torque settings and recall kit spacer dimensions on their installed recall modification kit. After not hearing back from Andrew at Forest River- Cherokee customer service for a week regarding (claim reference # [XXX]) I contacted him again and he claimed to have no resolution/answers for me. Following that telephone conversation , It has been well over 2 weeks and he has not responded back to my request regarding the NHTSA safety recall kit issues. If my personal safety is at risk while pulling this travel trailer I would like to know about it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11628807
Incident
Oct 30, 2024
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2022

Driving through construction zone on 70 at 70/71 interchange and tire exploded. 2nd one to explode on same side of the camper. First was a while ago but damaged tire was the same condition as this one.

NHTSA ID
11480355
Incident
Aug 14, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Apr 4, 2022

All the bolts holding camper on frame were loose & 2 we're missing... Screws around slide out loose. Causing the side to split.

NHTSA ID
11459623
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Body & structure
Filed Aug 6, 2021

The contact owns a 2017 Forest River Cherokee Toy Hauler. The contact stated that he was informed by an independent mechanic that the box on the rooftop of the RV frame had detached and slipped to the passenger’s side of the RV. The contact also stated that the sliding door inside the RV had pierced the ceiling of the RV. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The RV was taken to a second dealer United RV Center (5100 Airport Fwy, Haltom City, TX 76117) who diagnosed that the substructure of the RV was not cut and aligned properly which caused the box on the rooftop to slip due to vibration while driving the RV. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the RV was out of warranty. The RV was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11428087
Incident
Apr 8, 2021
Suspension
Filed May 4, 2021

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ARRANGE FOR MY DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE 11/16/20. I ALSO CALLED 01/02/21,ON 3/05/21 I PERSONALLY STOP IN . EACH TIME WAS TOLD THEY WOULD ORDER PART. I CONTACTED A MANAGER ON 05/04 - WE HAVE BEEN TEXTING - STILL NO ACTION. RECALL:16V579

NHTSA ID
11415146
Incident
Nov 16, 2020
Mileage
2,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 15, 2021
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT, SMOOTH ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRAILER AXLE SUDDENLY BROKE FREE, CAUSING THE TRAILER TO FLIP ONTO ITS SIDE. THE TRAILER APPEARS TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. THE TOWING VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED SLIGHTLY. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE RIDE SIDE LEAF SPRING BROKE, CAUSING THE AXLE TO BREAK FREE. THE AXLE TUBE BENT AND BROKE COMPLETELY NEAR THE LEFT SIDE LEAF SPRING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN ISSUE PRIOR TO THIS. THE TRAILER WAS RIDING LEVEL AND NOT PULLING OR JERKING THE TOWING VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE SPONTANEOUS, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11403106
Incident
Mar 13, 2021
Mileage
20,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 22, 2019

SITTING IN HOUSE AND HEARD A LOUD POP. GO OUTSIDE AND TRAVEL TRAILER IS LEANING. THE TIRE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TRAILER HAS BLOWN SITTING STILL 5 DAYS FROM WHEN THE TIRE ON THE OTHER SIDE BLEW GOING DOWN THE ROAD. NOT SAFE

NHTSA ID
11209194
Incident
May 22, 2019
Mileage
70,600 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed May 22, 2019

TIRE BLOW OUT AND TRAILER DAMAGE WHILE DRIVING ON US 239 GOING SOUTH IN LIVE OAK, FL

NHTSA ID
11209190
Incident
May 17, 2019
Mileage
7,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Forest River Cherokee by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026110—
2025040—
2024110—
2023310—
20222260—
20214930—
20201470—
2019960—
20181480—
2017Viewing1160—
2016330—
2015620—
2014530—
2013230—
2012210—
2011020—
2010120—
2009120—
2008120—
2007020—
2006520—
2005220—
2004120—
2003130—
2002010—
2001010—
2000210—
1999110—
1998010—
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.