RoadVitals

2008 Forest River Flagstaff

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.
2
Latest Dec 2, 2011
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 Nov 5, 2007
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Forest River Flagstaff, most frequently naming the body & structure, brakes and electrical 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

  • Body & structure133.3%
  • Brakes133.3%
  • Electrical133.3%

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
07V514000

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WINCH

Nov 5, 2007
2,983 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN FOLDING CAMPING TRAILERS (FCT) EQUIPPED WITH A POWER WINCH UNIT, MODEL P55000, BUILT BY CAREFREE OF COLORADO, AN INCORRECT MATERIAL WAS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CABLE SHAFTS ON SOME OF THESE POWER WINCH UNITS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHILE THE FOLDING CAMPING TRAILER TOP IS BEING LIFTED, IF THE WINCH IS PLACED INTO A STALL CONDITION, THE CABLE SHAFT MAY BREAK PRIOR TO THE FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPPING.
The risk: SHOULD THE CABLE SHAFT BREAK, THE FCT TOP COULD THEN FREE-FALL INTO THE LOWER POSITION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.
The remedy: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH CAREFREE OF COLORADO AND WILL INSTALL NEW CABLE SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CAREFREE OF COLORADO AT 1-800-621-2617 OR FOREST RIVER AT 574-389-4615.
FOREST RIVER, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structureElectrical
Filed Dec 2, 2011

PURCHASED NEW FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF 2008 MODEL ON JUNE 20, 2008. I WAS NOT TOLD OF A RECALL ON THE WINCH AND DID NOT KNOW OF IT UNTIL 12/01/2011. THE RECALL WAS 11/2007. ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF MY FIRST TRIP JUNE 24, 2008 I HAD TO HAVE ASSIST FROM THE CAMPGROUND HOST TO RAISE MY CAMPER - THE ELECTRIC LIFT WOULD NOT WORK. ALMOST EVERYTIME I HAVE USED THE CAMPER SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LIFT. I INFORMED THE DEALER (TOM JOHNSON'S RV, MARION, NC) OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIFT (WINCH) IN 2009, WHEN I TOOK THE CAMPER BACK FOR SERVICE FOLLOWING ANOTHER PROBLEM (SEE COMPLAINT ODI # 10438096). THEY DID NOT TELL ME THEN THAT THE WINCH HAD BEEN RECALLED. ON JUNE 13, 2011 @ 1:30AM WHILE CAMPING AT CADES COVE IN THE GREAT SMOKIES THIS CAMPER STARTED SETTING ITSELF DOWN WITH ME AND THREE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN SLEEPING INSIDE. WE WERE AWAKENED BY THE NOISE AND WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY BECAUSE WE HAD THE EMERGENCY BRACES IN PLACE. IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC TO US ALL. I SPENT 2 DAYS ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE AT FOREST RIVER SEVERAL TIMES ASKING FOR REPAIR REFERENCES. THAT REPRESENTATIVE NEVER TOLD ME THAT THE WINCH ON THIS CAMPER MAY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FINALLY ON DAY 3, 2 REPAIRMEN CAME FROM KNOXVILLE AND LOWERED THE CAMPER SO I COULD TAKE IT HOME. THE COST OVER $500.00 + LODGING AND FOOD FOR 3 DAYS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE (PROBABLE) RECALL OF THE WINCH ON THIS CAMPER AT ANYTIME BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. I DID NOT BECOME AWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL 12/01/2011. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438103
Incident
Jun 24, 2008
Mileage
700 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 2011

PURCHASED NEW 2008 FORESTRIVER FLAGSTAFF HW CAMPER JUNE 20, 2008 FROM TOM JOHNSON'S RV IN MARION, NC. I LEFT HOME WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN FOR A 3 WEEK ROADTRIP ON JUNE 23, 2008 PULLING THIS CAMPER. ON OUR ROUTE HOME ON I-29, JUST OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, MY CAR AND CAMPER SWERVED VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL THINKING IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WIND. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN LEAVING THE MOTEL WE STAYED IN - I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. I DROVE ACROSS THE PARKING LOT INTO THE CAMPING WORLD LOT. THERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE ON THE CAMPER HAD "BURNED UP" AND WAS MELTED TO THE AXLE. I ATTEMPTED, AS DID THEY, TO CONTACT TOM JOHNSON'S IN MARION, NC. MY 4 GRANDCHILDREN AND I WAITED IN THE LOBBY ALL DAY WHILE THEY REPAIRED THE CAMPER. WHEN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE WE AGAIN TRIED TO REACH TOM JOHNSON'S BUT RECEIVED A RECORDING THAT THEY WERE CLOSED. WE ALSO CONTACTED FOREST RIVER. NEITHER OF THE TWO COMPANIES OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE EXTRA EXPENSES I INCURRED. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET - MONEY I NEEDED TO COVER EXPENSES ON THE WAY HOME. LATER I DID RECEIVE A CHECK FOR PART OF THE COST FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE BRAKES OR WHEEL. THE REPAIRMEN AT CAMPING WORLD SAID THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH TRAILORS LIKE THE ONE THAT MY CAMPER WAS BUILT ON. THEY SAID IT WAS A BOAT TYPE AND THAT FREQUENTLY MECHANICS WILL PUT TOO MUCH AXLE GREASE IN THE AXLE. TOM JOHNSON'S ADDED AXLE GREASE JUST BEFORE I LEFT THEIR DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438096
Incident
Jul 15, 2008
Mileage
4,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Forest River Flagstaff by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026120—
2024200—
2023010—
2022140—
2021520—
20201120—
2019760—
2018550—
2017470—
2016120—
2015400—
2014221—
2013621—
2012611—
2008Viewing210—
2007220—
2006010—
2005520—
2004210—
2003020—
2002110—
2001010—
2000010—
1999010—
1998110—
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.