RoadVitals

2015 Forest River Dynamax

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.
3
Latest Aug 4, 2017
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.
3
Latest Jul 25, 2016
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 Forest River Dynamax, most frequently naming the body & structure, other / unspecified and suspension categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Body & structure125.0%
  • Other / unspecified125.0%
  • Suspension125.0%
  • Tires & wheels125.0%

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

3 campaigns 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

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Jul 25, 2016
1,330 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Dynamax and Coachmen Pursuit recreational vehicles and 2016-2017 Freelander and Orion recreational vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with shower curtains that may not adequately resist catching fire in the presence of an ignition source. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 302, "Flammability of Interior Materials."
The risk: A flammable shower curtain may further fuel a fire, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shower curtains with curtains made with fire retardant, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2016. Owners may contact Dynamax customer service at 1-574-262-3474, Pursuit customer service at 1-574-825-8305 (east of the Mississippi) or 1-574-825-8317 (west of the Mississippi) and Freelander or Orion customer service at 1-574-825-8602. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-07152016-0225.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-07152016-0225View on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:WATER HEATER

Nov 19, 2015
489 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Berkshire, Charleston, Legacy, Dynamax, XLR, Continental Cargo, Work & Play, Shockwave, and Coachmen Brookstone recreational vehicles and toy haulers, equipped with Atwood on demand water heaters, models OD45, OD50, and OD50CW, manufactured January 2, 2012, to August 13, 2015. The affected water heaters have a water and gas valve that may cause the water heater to overheat the water in the hot water supply tap.
The risk: The overheating of the water may result in the release of steam, possibly causing the operator is to scald themselves and increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners of a field remedy as provided by Atwood to the Dealerships and O.E.M. A. Inspection and installation instructions for the remedy, to be used and applied only by qualified service center personnel. B. Installation of a water flow adjustment STOP KEY that prevents the adjustment of the water flow down below .5gal/min. C. The addition of a star or lock washer to secure the adjustment screw that prevents unintended adjustment or and adjustment drift from vibration as you travel down the road. D. Securement of the remedy with the application of a warning and tamper proof label applied over the stop key and adjustment screw. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Atwood customer service at 1-574-264-2131. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11092015-0107.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-11092015-0107View on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

May 11, 2015
689 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Dynamax, 2014 Cardinal trailers, and 2015 Cedar Creek, Sierra and Sandpiper trailers. In the affected vehicles, a rivet for the quad entry steps may shear and fail, causing the steps to give when being used.
The risk: If the rivet shears causing the quad step to fail, the step user may fall, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will remove the rivets and the step sections will be bolted together, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-389-4600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-05062015-0034.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 15-05062015-0034View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 4, 2017

3 ST235/80R16 TOMAX 10 PLY TIRES BLEW OUT WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AND 8/32 TREAD DEPTH. WE HAD 3 SEPARATE BLOWOUTS IN THE COURSE OF A 14 DAY PERIOD. ALL INVOLVED BELT SEPARATION

NHTSA ID
11012863
Incident
Jun 16, 2017
Mileage
9,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 28, 2016

WHILE MAKING A SHARP 90 DEGREE PLUS RIGHT TURN ON A CITY STREET MOVING AT LESS THAN 5 MPH THE TORQUE CAUSED BY THE TURN CAUSED THE CURB SIDE REAR SPRING HANGER (LIPPERT COMPONENTS INC, LCI CORRECT TRACK SUSPENSION SYSTEM) TO DETACH FROM THE RV FRAME AND BROKE THE SPRING EYE COMPLETELY OFF. THE STREET SIDE SPRING HANGER BENT AND WAS PARTIALLY REMOVED FROM THE FRAME. WHILE CAREFULLY DRIVING TO A REPAIR FACILITY THE RIGHT SIDE COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. ONLY THE SPRING SHACKLES ATTACHED TO THE EQUALIZERS KEPT THE REAR AXLE FROM FALLING OFF COMPLETELY. MY OPINION IS THAT THE FRAME MANUFACTURER (LCI) USES A SPRING HANGER THAT IS TOO LIGHT OF A GRADE AND THICKNESS AND THE SPRING BOLT ATTACHES TOO FAR FROM THE FRAME WHICH CAUSES THE SPRING HANGER TO BEND AND OR DETACH WHILE BEING SUBJECTED TO A SOMETIMES NECESSARY HARD TURN AT LOW SPEED. ON THE FOREST RIVER FORUM (WEB SITE FOR FOREST RIVER OWNERS) I FOUND 3 OTHER TRILOGY 5TH WHEEL RV'S THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SPRING HANGER PROBLEMS. THE LCI CORRECT TRACK SYSTEM IS BEING INSTALLED ON MANY NEW TRAVEL TRAILERS AND 5TH WHEEL RV'S ON RV FRAMES MANUFACTURED BY LCI. THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS NOT LOOKING FOR FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FROM THIS ISSUE, BUT WANTS TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE MODIFICATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING. THE CONSUMERS' VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS

NHTSA ID
10889265
Incident
May 24, 2016
Mileage
9,300 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 21, 2015

RIVETS IN THE CAMPER STAIRS WERE REPLACED WITH BOLTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE ACTIVE RECALL. I INSPECTED UNIT BEFORE PICKING BACK UP FROM THE SELLING DEALERSHIP. THE LOWER STEP IN THE STAIRCASE MAKE A LOUD POP WHEN YOU STEP ON IT WHILE EITHER ASCENDING OR DESCENDING THE STAIRCASE. I HAVE CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ([XXX]) AT FOREST RIVER DYNAMAX AND ALSO SENT AN E-MAIL TO HIM ABOUT THE RECALL REPAIR NOT MAKING SATISFACTORY REPAIRS TO THE STEPS ON MY NEW CAMPER. I AM SCARED THAT MY WIFE WILL LOSE HER BALANCE AND FALL DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT THAT THESE STEPS GIVE WHEN WEIGHT IS PLACED ON THE BOTTOM STEP, BUT I AM NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THE SELLING DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT TOM JOHNSON CAMPING WORLD DEALERSHIP BEFORE I PICKED UP THE UNIT FOR A PLANNED WEEK VACATION. THE UNIT HAD BEEN AT THEIR FACILITY FOR A MONTH TRYING TO GET THE PARTS TO ACCOMPLISH THE RECALL THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN ISSUED FOR THESE DANGEROUS STEPS. PLEASE ASSIST IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE HAS ALREADY TUNED ME OUT, AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO MAKE PROPER REPAIRS TO THESE STEPS. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10750385
Incident
Aug 1, 2015

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

511388

WHEELS

The flanged wheel lug nuts on your vehicle may have been over-torqued during service to an incorrect torque specification in the Service & Owner's manuals. A yielded wheel stud may eventually break, which could lead to a wheel separating from the vehicle during operation. A wheel separating from the vehicle could cause a vehicle crash without prior warning and/or the wheel/tire could pose a risk to other vehicles or pedestrians.

551332

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The add on component separates the tail light signal from an actual brake signal so the customers no longer need to mess with their brake controller when towing as the Freightliner M2 Chassis applies brake signal to the four-way flashers, which in turn will activate the brakes of a towed item, such as a trailer. In some states, it is required to activate the vehicle four-way flashers on certain Grades.

511078

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Per notice from Cummins, the engine may be releasing air pollutants, which exceed California and Federal Standards.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Forest River Dynamax by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2021000
2020100
2019000
2018020
2017120
2016020
2015Viewing330
2014030
2013130
2012010

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.