Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Forest River Cherokee. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–14 of 14
Castle Rock ST Radial ST 226 - Tire Size 205/75R14 - Load Range C - This tire had never been used and was stored with a cover over it - on the back of our camper. The tire blew - see attached pictures - when it was not in use. Concern - someone could have been hurt - and we have 4 more of these tires on our camper. Am concerned after reading all the reviews - this will happen to the other 4 tires while we are in transit.
The contact owns a 2018 Forest River Cherokee equipped with Castle Rock tires, the Tire Line was unavailable , ST205/75R15, DOT Number was unavailable. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger tire exploded. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The tires were original tires. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
After purchasing the travel trailer near Chicago, and returning to Kentucky, I noticed that the tires were rubbing the wheel well above them, on one side. The tires had worn through the cover, and had made burn marks on the wood frame. A local dealer replaced the leaf springs on that side under warranty in the summer of , and replaced the covering material above the tires. Recently, I noticed that all four tires are rubbing above the wheel well, and have worn through the cover and insulation, exposing the floor. There is only 1" to 1-1/2" of clearance between the tires and the wheel well. The trailer weighs 5799 lbs dry, has approx. 1,900 lbs payload, and approx 7,800 GVWR. It has two 3500 lb axles, and it looks to me like they are not strong enough for the weight. The leaf springs are somewhat flattened, and one is nearly straight. I contacted Forest River, and was told to take it back to the dealer where the repair was done, for an estimate of repairs, because it was out of warranty. I'm thinking that the problem was not diagnosed and taken care of correctly on my original warranty claim, and they should still stand behind it. I contacted Forest River, but they refused to help me, only suggesting that I have a dealer examine it and make repairs as necessary. It seems that the installed axles are insufficient for the trailer, and replacement is the best alternative. Longer shackles, etc., are a possible approach, but I'm not sure it is the best one.
On June 12, 2022 my husband and I were towing our 5th wheel on 99W in Salem/KeizerOregon about 4pm when a car on our left waved us down saying that we had a wobbly tire on the passenger side of the 5th wheel. We got off onto Cherry Lane and pulled over to inspect and could not readily determine the problem. We went to our final destination for the night Keizer Elks which was a mile down the road. It appeared the core of the rim had separated from the rest of the rim. We had Les Schwab a local tire service come over to our 5th wheel the next morning and the repair tech had never seen this before. Tire was replaced and put on a new rim. The original rim is not welded all the way around. Just spot welded. If this had broke when we were traveling at normal highway speed this would of been far more dangerous than a blowout. This needs be reported.
TWO TIRE TRAILERS BLEW UP GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE FROM A CAMPING TRIP. FIRST TIRE BLEW APART AFTER LEAVING THE CAMP SITE AROUND 15 MINS DOWN THE ROAD. 2ND TIRE BLEW WHEN WE WERE STANDING STILL REPLACING THE OTHER TIRE. THIS IS A SINGLE AXLE TRAILER WITH TWO TIRES. 205-75-R14 CASTLE ROCK WITH 65PSI AND LESS THAN 2,000 MILES. TIRES WERE ON TRAILER FOR JUST OVER 2 YEARS.
GLASS PANELS ATTACHED TO THE CABINET DOORS WILL FALL AND BREAK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAMPER WAS PARKED, LEVEL, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR 2 DAYS. THE CABINET HAD BEEN OPENED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. THE GLASS PANEL WAS NOT LOOSE BUT POPPED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE CABINET DOOR WAS OPENED AND SHATTERED ON THE FLOOR SPREADING SHARDS AND PIECES OF GLASS THROUGHOUT THE CAMPER. I HAD SENT THIS TOPIC TO FOREST RIVER PERSONNEL PREVIOUSLY.
HAD CASTLE ROCK TIRE ST225/75R15, THIS PAST WEEKEND 7/17/20, WHILE DRIVING ON I40, THE FIRST 5 MILE THE FIRST TIRE EXPLODED, 38 MILE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD ANOTHER TIRE EXPLODED. THEN WHEN PARKED AT THE HOME THE SPARE TIRE EXPLODED AND IT WAS JUST LAYING IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE REMOVED AND REPLACED ALL FOR OF THE TIRE FROM MY RV. I DIDN'T KEEP THE OTHER TWO TIRE AS PROOF.*DT*JB
I WAS USING MY TRUCK TO PULL THE TRAILER ALONG ON A 70 MPH HIGHWAY, STRAIGHT ROAD, GOING ABOUT 70-71 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN I HEARD A TIRE POP. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I SAW 3 TIRES IN TOTAL HAD FAILED. THE VIN WAS INVALID *DT*TP 1 TIRE FELL APART AND I'M UNABLE TO FIND THE FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TIRE REMAINING. 1 TIRE HAD THE TREAD POP, LOST AIR, AND EXPOSED THE STEEL BELTS. 1 TIRE HAD THE INTERNAL BELTS BREAK, THE TIRE SAT LOPSIDED, BUT STILL HELD AIR LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE THAT FELL APART CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER AND RIPPED THE TRAILER BRAKE CABLES OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE TRAILER BRAKES AND ONLY ABLE TO STOP USING MY TRUCK'S BRAKES. *TR
RV BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE HVAC UNIT. PER VIDEO RECORDING FIRE FELL FROM THE CEILING IGNITING THE MATTRESS. THE ENTIRE RV FILLED WITH SMOKE WITHIN MINUTES, AND THE ENTIRE TOP OF RV WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT BURNT THE ENTIRE RV, HOME AND CARS BESIDE. IT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW JUNE 2018. FIRE OCCURRED JULY 1, 2019. FOREST RIVER WAS NOTIFIED JULY 2019. WE WERE FORTUNATE NOT TO BE IN THE RV WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED.. HAD WE BEEN WE WOULD HAVE NOT SURVIVED. THE HEAT INDEX WAS 98 DEGREES THAT DAY. THE RV HAD A FRONT AND REAR AC. SMOKE EXITED THE FRONT MASTER BEDROOM AC FIRST, PRIOR TO WINDOWS AND DOORS. PLEASE PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS, AND SAVE THEIR LIVES.*DT*DT*JB*JB
BOUGHT THIS UNIT IN NOVEMBER 2017. BY FEBRUARY IT WAS HARD TO DRIVE, FISHTAILING AND SWAYING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SAID EVERYTHING (INCLUDING AXLE) WAS FINE. DROVE TO WYOMING IN APRIL, SWAYED A LOT. MOVED AS MUCH WEIGHT FORWARD AS POSSIBLE. PARKED IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. DROVE AGAIN IN JULY AND NEARLY FLIPPED ON I90. DROPPED IT AT AN ALIGNMENT SHOP IN MT WHERE THEY TOLD US THE FRAME WAS TOTALLY BENT, MESSED UP AND THE AXLE WAS WAY TOO SMALL FOR THE RIG. ENDED UP ALSO HAVING A FLAT LEAF SPRING AND A BROKEN SUPPORT MEMBER. FOREST RIVER AND LIPPERT HAVE SPENT THE LAST 8 WEEKS PASSING BLAME AND STALLING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ON THE STICKER, THE DRY WEIGHT SHOULD BE 9614 POUNDS (WE WEIGHED IT, IT IS 11,000 NEARLY EMPTY), THE GROSS WEIGHT IS 11,680, THE AXLES ARE RATED FOR A TOTAL OF 10,160 AND THE WHEELS FOR A TOTAL OF 10,000. WE ARE TOLD BY FR THAT THE HITCH IS SUPPOSE TO BEAR 10% OF THE WEIGHT. IF THAT IS TRUE AND WE LOOK AT THE MAX WEIGHT MINUS 10% WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT 10,528 POUNDS ON THE AXLES AND WHEELS NOT RATED FOR THAT MUCH WEIGHT. FR REFUSES TO UPGRADE OUR AXLES AND TIRES AND HAS ONLY AUTHORIZED LIPPERT TO REPAIR THE BROKEN MEMBER AND FLAT LEAF SPRING, ALSO LEAVING US WITH A WARPED FRAME AND DOORS THAT WON'T LATCH. *DT *DT *DT CARFAX CANNOT PROCESS THIS REQUEST. *JB CONSUMER HAS STATED UNIT HAS BEEN REPAIRED.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER WAS HITCHED TO A CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE REVERSING, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT COMPARTMENT OF THE TRAILER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE TRAILER WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE WAS NO MILEAGE. *TT *TR
LEAKING FROM MIDDLE OF RAIN GUARD ON AWNING CAUSING WATER TO DRIP OVER LED LIGHTING, AND FRIDGE/OUTSIDE STOVE COMPARTMENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE 325 PACK 13. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE CAMPER, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (COASTAL RV, 21373 BREWERS NECK BLVD, CARROLLTON, VA 23314) WHERE IT WAS BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300. *TT UPDATED 7/27/18*JB
THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE ON A DUAL AXLE TRAVEL TRAILER (CAMPER) (FOREST RIVER, CHEROKEE 19RR, VEHICLE ID NO. [XXX]; LENGTH WITH HITCH, 23 FEET 11 INCHES, WIDTH 8 FEET) UNLOADED VEHICLE WEIGHT: 4,180 LBS. GVWR: 7,574 LBS. MANUFACTURED DATE 3/30/2017. THE TIRE INVOLVED WAS A REAR, DRIVER?S SIDE AXLE, CASTLE ROCK BRAND ST205/75R14; DOT JUJT YMT 4716; MAX LOAD 800KG (1760 LBS) @ 50 PSI COLD; TREAD 2 NYLON + 2 STEEL SIDEWALL PLY 2 NYLON; SPEED RATING ?L?; MADE IN CHINA MLR06. I HAD PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD IN SAINT CLAIR, PA FOR GAS AND COFFEE AND WHEN STOPPED SAW PRIMARILY A RIM EXPOSED. THE TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 980 MILES ON IT, HAVING PICKED UP THE TRAILER NEW, IN WOLCOTT, IOWA ON MAY 17, 2017 AND THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON MAY 20TH, 2017. DUE TO VERY HIGH WINDS EXPERIENCED THE FIRST TWO DAYS, WE SELDOM REACHED 65 MILES AN HOUR AND, EVEN ON THE THIRD DAY NEVER EXCEEDED 70 MILES AN HOUR. TOTAL LOADED WEIGHT WAS LESS THAN 1,000 LBS. ALL FOUR (4) TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE IDENTICAL AND WERE SAID TO BE INFLATED WITH NITROGEN AND, EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORS. EACH TIME, BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I INSPECTED EACH WHEEL PRESSURE MONITOR TO ENSURE THEY REMAINED GREEN (50 LBS OF PRESSURE INDICATED AND INITIALLY CONFIRMED WITH A RELIABLE TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE) AND AFTER DRIVING FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME FELT EACH OF THE FOUR SIDE WALLS WITH THE BACK OF MY HAND AND NEVER FELT AS THOUGH THEY WERE HOT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE FAILED TIRE/WHEEL ON THE TRAILER AND HAVE RETAINED THE WHEEL (LOWER SECTIONS OF BOTH SIDEWALLS REMAIN INTACT, ON THE WHEEL.) I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND I AM UNCOMFORTABLE CONTINUING TO USE THE THREE THAT REMAIN ON THE TRAILER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE IF THESE TIRES ARE SAFE AND IF THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.
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