2020 Forest River Cherokee Owner Complaints

The contact owned a 2020 Forest River Cherokee. The contact stated that while inside the vehicle, while it was parked in the driveway, an abnormal chemical odor was emitting from the interior and exterior of the vehicle. In addition, afterward, a fuel-burning odor was emitted from the interior and exterior of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed black smoke emitting from the battery area. No warning lights were illuminated. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The fire department informed the contact that the fire may have started due to a failure of the solar connection. The front end of the vehicle was consumed by the fire. The insurance company was notified. However, no claim has been filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V654000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM).

NHTSA ID

11672371

Incident

Jul 6, 2025

There are 2 major defects that we would like to make the NHTSA aware of and feel that the manufacturer should issue a recall and have these issues properly fixed. Our 2020 Forest River camper/ice house has a structural defect and the entire camper is breaking away from the frame. We had this confirmed by a service company that specializes in RV frames/wheel alignment. Our camper has had structural issues within 2 years of owning it. We are the original owners (bought Aug 2020) and the camper's wheel well is bowing, the exterior walls on the camper are bowing/wavy, interior walls are bowing/wavy. We have made attempts to work with Forest River to fix this major structural issue, but they have denied our claim. We have an extended warranty, but was given the impression that they also will deny our claim. In talking with other owners of Forest River camping/ice house, this is a wide spread issue (both the structural wall and tongue failure). We are also aware of a recall of what appears to be a similar if not exact issue that Forest River had to fix in 2014/15 (NHTSA Recall No. 14V-689 / Manufacturer Recall No. 6-102914). In addition to the wall/structural issues, the trailer's tongue weld failed and snapped while we were in transit. This occurred in Nov 2023. I have documents and pictures to upload and provide, but I was unable to get the upload tool to work when submitting this request.

NHTSA ID

11561005

Incident

Aug 4, 2022

Was driving at speed 60-65 mile per hour and tire blew out caused severe damage to the trailer.

NHTSA ID

11531239

Incident

Jul 9, 2023

Castle Rock ST225/75R15 as originally equipped on 2020 Wolf Pup travel trailer. Approximately 4000-5000 miles total on tire. Properly inflated and visually inspected prior to trip. Load estimated at 70% of rating. Tire explosively failed without warning at highway speed. Second tire same brand/model/age/conditions failed in similar circumstance approximately 45 miles later. Wheels destroyed, trailer damaged. Debris showered onto roadway putting others at risk. Control of vehicle and trailer also became a risk to self and others on road. Continued safety risk as I was forced to change tire on side of interstate. Remnant of tires available for inspection on request.

NHTSA ID

11523350

Incident

May 21, 2023

This warning and complaint pertains to recreational vehicle tires, Castle Rock/Lionshead ST 225/75R15. Three tires blew up, exploded, causing damage to the side and underside of the RV. The 4th shows signs of delamination. The tires have a DOT number JUL T. The tires were on an RV purchased new in 2020, less than 3 years old, with less than 5000 miles on them. They were properly inflated at 80 PSI and monitored with temperature and pressure sensors, which gave no warnings. The first tire exploded January 11, 2023. Tires 2 and 3 exploded January 16. The 4th did not explode but it clearly shows signs of delamination. One trip, 4 defective tires within 1000 miles, something is wrong. We have filed a warranty claim with Lionshead. We ask that the NHTSA get involved with RV tires because they are and have been a problem for years. Photographs of 2 blown tires are available. Photos are available of tire 4 which is delaminating. Tire 4 is in our possession. Tire 4 was inspected by a tire technician who pointed out the delamination. Our safety was compromised by changing tires on the drivers side of high speed highways. We would like to join a class action law suit or other legal remedies to receive full compensation for the costs of new tires, repairs to campers and compensation for stress and aggravation. There is no excuse other than cost savings for trash tires to be placed on any vehicles. We understand new RVs are arriving on the lots with better tires. About time!

NHTSA ID

11507023

Incident

Jan 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 FOREST RIVER Cherokee equipped with Castle Rock Radial ST22, Size: 205/75/r14 DOT Number: JUJTYMT2418. The contact stated while at a standstill the passenger front tire exploded without warning. The manufacturer was informed of failure and the contact is awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

NHTSA ID

11436448

Incident

Sep 17, 2021

Mileage

2,000 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Forest River Cherokee. The contact stated that while the RV was parked, the contact started to unhook the landing the gear on the RV and noticed that the jacking system used to raise and lower the RV was not raised all the way up and keeping the RV in place. The contact took the RV to the local dealer to be inspected. The contact was informed that one of the landing gears leg and motor needed to be replaced. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.

NHTSA ID

11433969

Incident

Aug 29, 2021

Mileage

3,000 mi

2020 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ROOF LEAKING IN RV. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT NEITHER OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID

11425072

Incident

Jul 16, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARING AND TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT FRACTURED AND CONTINUED TO ROTATE. THE CONTACT CALLED OUTLET RECREATION (2088 202ND ST E CLEARWATER, MN 55320; (320) 373-9139) WHERE INFORMED TO UPGRADE TO HYDRAULIC HANDLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11394523

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

I PURCHASED A FOREST RIVER WOLF PUP TRAVEL TRAILER JULY 2019. IT WAS DOCUMENTED TO HAVE A 30 GAL FRESH WATER TANK. AFTER PURCHASE I FIND OUT IT HAS 20 GAL FRESH TANK. THE TRAILER WEIGHT LABEL FIXED TO TRAILER STATES WEIGHT INCLUDES WEIGHT OF 30 GAL FRESH WATER CAPACITY. BASED ON THE INCORRECT WEIGHT LISTED, I DO NOT KNOW ACTUAL WEIGHT OF TRAILER MAKING ACCURATE LOADING IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURE AND THEY ADMIT CHANGE IN TANK SIZE BUT DID NOT NOTIFY PURCHASER AT TIME OF SALE. THEY STATE CHANGE MADE MID 2019. SO, EVERY WOLF PUP TRAILER SOLD AFTER MID 2019 MAY HAVE INACCURATE WEIGHT LABELS. TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY LABEL TRAILER WITHOUT IN FACT WEIGHING AS STATED? I HAVE TOWED TRAILER SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER I NOW DON'T FEEL SAFE TOWING UNTIL I FIND OUT ACTUAL WEIGHT. THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO WEIGH EACH TRAILER AND UPDATE WEIGHT PLACARD AT THEIR EXPENSE!*DT*JB*DT*AS*DT*JB*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11331869

Incident

Jul 8, 2019

Mileage

250 mi

LPG SUPPLY SUPPORT MOUNT BOLT HAS DAMAGED I-BEAM DIRECTLY BEHIND RIGHT REAR AXLE SPRING HANGER. AXLE SPRING HANGER WELD IS CRACKED I-BEAM IS CRACKED AND CHIPPED. THE LPG SUPPLY LINE IS RUBBING AGAINST BEAM AND AXLE SPRING HANGER BOLT. MULTIPLE FACTORY WELDS HAVE DAMAGED CHASSIS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS OF CHASSIS SHOW SIGNS OF FATIGUE WELD SPATTER RUSTING CHIPS. THIS IS A BRAND NEW 2020 TRAILER. THE ONLY TRIP THE TRAILER HAS MADE WAS 205 MILE FROM DEALERSHIP TO MY RESIDENCE. THE TRAILER HAS BEEN PARKED AT MY RESIDENCE SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT FEBRUARY 1, 2020.

NHTSA ID

11311943

Incident

Feb 22, 2020

Mileage

205 mi

AXLE IS BENT AND LEAF SPRINGS ARE BROKEN, SINCE NEW. EVERY DOOR AS WELL AS SLIDES ARE OFF AND DON'T CLOSE. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT TOWS CROOKED AND IS A DANGER TO THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11310603

Incident

May 24, 2019

Mileage

2 mi

PURCHASED NEW 2020 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE WOLF PUP 16BHS [XXX] FROM DEALER CLOVIS CA. TRAILER HAS MADE 1 ROAD TRIP 205 MILES FROM DEALERSHIP TO MY HOME IN NAPA, CA THAT WAS DAY OF PURCHASE ON 2/1/2020. THE TRAILER HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE 2/1/2020. ON 2/14/2020 I WAS SETTING TRAILER UP WITH SUPPLIES INTERIOR INSPECTION I NOTICED WALL, CEILING SHIFTING TRIM STAPLES COMING LOOSE. FURTHER INSPECTION BED FRAME WOOD BREAKAGE AND SEPARATING. CEILING RIPPLES AROUND AC AND SKY LIGHT INSTALLATIONS. TRIM MOLDING RIPPLES SEPARATING FORM TOP CORNER WALLS. FRONT BED OVERHEAD CABINET SEPARATING FROM ATTACHED SIDEWALL. EXIT DOOR FRAME TRIM MISALIGNED. EXTERIOR INSPECTION REAR LEFT SIDE CORNER BEHIND WHEEL LOWER ALUMINUM SIDING SEPARATION SMALL GAP. EXTERIOR FRONT RIGHT CORNER WALL ALUMINUM SIDING SEPARATION GAP AT ROOF. EXTERIOR RIGHT FRONT SIDE WINDOW AND STORAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR TRIM SEPARATING. REAR ROOF CORNER TRIM CRACKED. ON THE FRONT OF TRAILER UPPER BODY TOP RIGHT AND LEFT JUST INSIDE OF SIDE TRIM BODY DIMPLE. UNDERBODY INSPECTION I FOUND TWO BODY MOUNTS ATTACHING TRAILER BODY TO FRAME ARE BENT ON LEFT SIDE. I THINK THE BODY MOUNTS FRAME FAILED CAUSING THE SHIFTING, SEPARATION AND BREAKAGE OF TRAILER PARTS. I DO NOT FEEL VEHICLE IS SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD IT WILL REMAIN PARKED UNTIL REPAIRED BY WARRANTY. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL NAPA FOREST RIVER AUTHORIZED DEALER SOONEST SERVICE APPOINTMENT 2-3 WEEKS. I MESSAGED CLOVIS DEALERSHIP SATURDAY 2/15 FOR ADVICE/OPTIONS NO RESPONSE YET. I NOTIFIED FOREST RIVER INC CHEROKEE WOLF PUP SERVICE CONTACT PERSON VIA EMAIL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11309733

Incident

Feb 14, 2020

Mileage

205 mi

SAFETY ISSUE WITH A NEW MODEL RV. HAVEN'T HEARD ANY RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AFTER REPORTING IT TO THEM VIA EMAIL TO SABRINA SHANNON OF THEIR CHEROKEE OWNER RELATIONS OFFICE ON SEPT 7 2019. I TOLD THE BLUE DOG RV DEALERSHIP SALESMAN DEREK BROWN IN BEND OR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE CONTACTED HIS FACTORY REP ABOUT IT. FOREST RIVER HAS NOT COMMUNICATED TO ME ON THIS ISSUE. THIS SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNS OVERLOADING (TOO MUCH WEIGHT) OF THE CONNECT POINT BETWEEN THE TOW VEHICLE AND THE RV. THE PART BEING OVERLOADED IS THE FRAME COUPLER WHICH FITS OVER THE HITCH BALL FROM THE TOW VEHICLE. THE PARTICULARS ARE AS FOLLOWS: MANUFACTURER: FOREST RIVER DIVISION: CHEROKEE MODEL: WOLF PUP 18TO (WESTERN DIVISION MADE IN OREGON ONLY MODEL YEAR: 2020. I HAVE THE SAME MODEL RV- 18TO -BUT IT'S THE MIDWESTERN DIVISION ( MADE IN INDIANA) MODEL YEAR 2019. THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (CALLED GVWR) OF MY 18TO IS 4999LBS AND THE A FRAME COUPLER IS RATED FOR 5000 POUNDS. ITS CLOSE BUT NOT OVERLOADED. THE PROBLEM I'VE NOTED IS THAT THE 2020 MODEL MADE IN OREGON IS CERTIFIED BY FOREST RIVER AT 5600+ LBS GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT, BUT THE A FRAME COUPLER HAS THE SAME RATING AS THE RV I HAVE 5000LBS. THE PROBLEM IS A 600LBS OVERLOAD IN WEIGHT AND EVENTUALLY THE PART MAY WEAR PREMATURELY AND/OR EVENTUALLY FAIL, POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I'VE SEEN A TOTAL OF TWO 18TO UNITS AT TWO BLUE DOG RV DEALERSHIPS. 1 IN BEND OR AND IN REDMOND OR THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, SO ITS NOT A ONE UNIT MISTAKE. NOTE THE 2019 18TO WESTERN DIVISION ALSO HAS A GVWR OF 5600+. I HAVE NOT SEEN A MODEL TO DETERMINE IF THE A FRAME COUPLER HAS THE SAME ISSUE. IF IT DOES IT ENLARGES THE RANGE TO THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT 2018 OR EARLIER MODEL YEARS THE FIX IS SIMPLE. A DIFFERENT A FRAME COUPLER RATED AT 6000-8000LBS - GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT. THE 2019 MODEL MADE IN INDIANA STILL HAS THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT AT 4999LBS SO ONLY THE OREGON LOCATED DIVISION MADE THE CHANGE. *TR *JS *DT *DT VIN UNAVAILABLE *JB*JB

NHTSA ID

11270775

Incident

Sep 5, 2019