RoadVitals

2011 Forest River Crusader

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.
5
Latest Aug 7, 2012
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.
1
Latest Dec 20, 2010
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Forest River Crusader, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Tires & wheels480.0%
  • Powertrain (other)120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

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
10V648000

WHEELS

Dec 20, 2010
53 units potentially affected
The defect: FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SURVEYOR TRAVEL TRAILERS, CRUSADER FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS, RANCE ALUMINUM CARGO TRAILERS, AND WORK AND PLAY TOY HAULER TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH 15" X 6" WHITE SPOKE OR MODULAR DESIGN STEEL WHEELS WITH A SIX HOLE BOLT PATTERN. SOME OF THE WHEELS MAY HAVE INADEQUATE WELD PENETRATION BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE CENTER PLATE DUE TO IMPROPER PLATE ALIGNMENT.
The risk: THERE COULD BE A POTENTIAL WHEEL FAILURE AND WHEEL LOSS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, OR PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS ON THE SUSPECT VEHICLES AND REPAIR THE TRAILERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOREST RIVER AT 574-389-4600.
FOREST RIVER, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 7, 2012

VOMA TRAIL EXPRESS TIRES DOT #1KMM16A1410 (2) AND 1KMM161310 ((2)ST235/80R/16 TIRES WHILE TRAVELING WITH 5TH WHEEL SILVERBACK BY CEDAR CREEK (FOREST RIVER)L WE HAD BOTH EQUALIZER REPLACED WHICH WAS CRACKED AND MECHANIC NOTICED 3 OF 4 TIRES HAD BUBBLES ON INSIDE TIRES WHEN THEY REMOVED TO REPLACE EQUALIZERS.. THEY INDICATED A MFG DEFECT AND WE WERE LUCKY THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPENED DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON TIRES BUT THE WARRANTY COMPANY SAID IF WAS FOR ROAD HAZARDS. THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE 6/12/12 AND THE WARRANTY CO JUST GOT BACK TO US NOT HONORING THE CLAIM. THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THE MFG PUTS THE BARE MINIMUM ON TRAILERS/FIFTH WHEELS BUT THE EQUALIZERS AND TIRES FOR CLOSED TO 14000LB FIFTH WHEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN GREATER. THE EQUALIZER WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF BUT THE TIRES WE HAVE NOT. WE DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT. THE NEW TIRES ARE DURO SPECIAL TR4AILER 235/856R16 12 PLY WITH A F LOAD RATING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10469552
Incident
Jun 12, 2012
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 5, 2012

TRAIL EXPRESS TIRES DEVELOPING SIDEWALL BUBBLES BETWEEN RUBBER AND BELTS THEN BLOWING OUT IN SOME CASES. CAMPER UNIT IS MFG BY FOREST RIVER, BRAND IS SIERRA, NOT CRUSADER AS YOUR SITE LISTS, TIRES ARE DIST. BY LIONSHEAD IN INDIANA. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON TRAIL EXPRESS YOU WILL FIND A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, ISSUES ON THE FORUMS FROM CAMPERS HAVING THESE TIRES FAIL AS I DID AS WELL. ALSO YOU DID NOT HAVE THE MFG LISTED ON YOUR SITE IT IS, DOUBLESTAR DONGFENG TYRE CO., LTD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10464241
Incident
Jun 20, 2012
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 30, 2012

TIRES (TRAIL EXPRESS) ARE DEVELOPING AIR BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALLS AND POPING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10463646
Incident
Jun 22, 2012
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 20, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FOREST RIVER FREEDOM EXPRESS TRAVEL TRAILER (NA). WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PROVIDED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMED A TEMPORARY REPAIR WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE REAR AXLE AND BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.

NHTSA ID
10413732
Incident
Jul 7, 2011
Mileage
1,600 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 12, 2011

THE TREAD SEPARATED ON A TIRE ON OUR BRAND NEW 2011 FOREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE TRAVEL TRAILER. ANOTHER TIRE'S SIDEWALL IS SEVERELY CRACKED AND WOULD BLOW IF IT WERE TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. I HAD THE TIRES REMOVED FROM THE TRAILER, TOOK THEM TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TIRES AND ARE EVASIVE AND UNWILLING TO CHECK INTO THIS PROBLEM. THIS VERY EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED MANY FATALITIES IF WE HAD NOT BEEN FORTUNATE AND ATTENTIVE. SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS SHOWN THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES REMOVED FROM THE TRAILER AND HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH A MORE FAVORABLE TIRE. THE ONE TIRE THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED ON WE HAD PATCHED TO GET HOME WHERE WE FOUND ANOTHER TO BE IN VERY POOR CONDITION, 50% DEFECT SO FAR, IS NOT A GOOD RECORD. I WILL KEEP THESE TIRES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. *TT

NHTSA ID
10412060
Incident
Jul 4, 2011
Mileage
600 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Forest River Crusader by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2022000—
2021300—
2020010—
2017200—
2015100—
2014710—
2011Viewing510—

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.