RoadVitals

2015 Forest River Forester

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.
6
Latest Aug 7, 2020
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 Jun 27, 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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 Forest River Forester, most frequently naming the electrical, exterior lighting and interior & seats categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Electrical233.3%
  • Exterior lighting233.3%
  • Interior & seats116.7%
  • Visibility116.7%

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

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

Jun 27, 2016
1,999 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Forester motorhomes manufactured June 10, 2014, to May 25, 2016, Sunseeker motorhomes manufactured April 4, 2014, to May 25, 2016, 2015-2016 Solera motorhomes manufactured February 28, 2014, to September 17, 2015, and 2016 Isata motorhomes manufactured October 30, 2015, to May 26, 2016. Water may leak into the electrical module that controls the vehicle taillights, brake lights, turn signal lights, clearance lights and marker lights, making the lights inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: If the rear brake lights fail to illuminate, following motorists may not realize that the vehicle in front of them is stopping. Inoperative taillights, clearance lights and marker lights will make the vehicle less visible to others. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on August 16, 2016. The recall began on December 8, 2016. Forester, Solera, and Sunseeker owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Isata customers should call 1-574-262-3474. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-06012016-0206.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-06012016-0206View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed Aug 7, 2020

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. FUSE 46 IN THE BATTERY JUNCTION BOX WAS BLOWN. CAUSE WAS DURING COACH BUILD AND FRAME EXTENSION, WIRE IN TAPE OUT TO CANISTER VENT SOLENOID CONNECTION CHAFED AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE FRAME RAIL WEARING THROUGH INSULATION CAUSING SHORT TO GROUND AND OPEN FUSE. THIS FUSE CONTROLS COMMUNICATIONS TO THE PCM SO THE SHORT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. THE DAY PRIOR WE WERE TRAVELING ON NARROW, WINDING AND CHALLENGING ROAD CONDITIONS WITH NO SHOULDER SPACE--HAD IT FAILED THEN, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.

NHTSA ID
11343878
Incident
Jul 21, 2020
Mileage
14,926 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 21, 2018

NHTSA RECALL: 16V465 THE REAR LIGHTS WE OUT IN DECEMBER 2016, INDOOR OUTDOOR RV REPLACED THE REAR LIGHTING MODULE. LATER IN DECEMBER THE SAFETY RECALL CAME OUT ON THIS LIGHTING MODULE. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. WE WAITED OVER YEAR FOR THESE PARTS AT THE INDOOR OUTDOOR RV DEALER IN LEWISVILLE TEXAS.

NHTSA ID
11153064
Incident
Nov 5, 2018
Mileage
5,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 9, 2018

I WAS DRIVING AT TEXAS HIGHWAY SPEEDS (85MPH) WHEN I HEARD A SNAP. MY PASSENGER TOLD ME THAT THE WINDSHIELD ON HER SIDE HAD JUST CRACKED. THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND I DID NOT NOTICE ANY IMPACTS PRIOR TO THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO TAKE THE ATTACHED PICTURES. LATER, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD RIGHT UNDER THE PASSENGERS WINDSHIELD WIPER WHERE THE BLADE INTERSECTS THE WINDSHIELD HEATER. THERE IS NO WAY A ROCK COULD HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD IN THAT SPOT AS IT WAS COVERED BY THE WIPER BLADE AND THE CRACK IS EXACTLY AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE BLADE AND HEATER ELEMENT. I BELIEVE THE CRACK TO BE DUE TO THERMAL STRESS INDUCED BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER HEATERS AND WIND PRESSURE FROM DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SUBARU INSPECTED THE WINDSHIELD BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE OF THE SMALL CHIP.

NHTSA ID
11084205
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Mileage
30,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 7, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V465000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,575.

NHTSA ID
10930387
Incident
Dec 7, 2016
Mileage
8,575 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 20, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER FORESTER CLASS A MOTOR HOME. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DOORS FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AND THE STEPS WOULD FALL OUT. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE LOCKS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10860613
Incident
Oct 30, 2015
Mileage
20,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 4, 2015
Fire reported

RV STARTED TRIPPING INSIDE BREAKER. UPON INSPECTION THE NEUTRAL WIRE GOING INTO THE GENERATOR TRANSFER BOX WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE BED WAS FOUND TO BE BURNT THRU THE INSULATOR AND INTO THE HOT LEAD WHICH CREATED A DIRECT SHORT. THIS IS THE MAIN WIRE FROM THE OUTSIDE SOURCE GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE RV. PROBLEM IS WITH THE TWIST CONNECTORS USED TO CONNECT SINGLE STRAND ELECTRIC WIRE TO MULTI STRAND WIRE. UPON INSPECTION OF OTHER WIRES INSIDE THE BOX USING THE SAME SINGLE STRAND WIRE TO MULTI STRAND WIRE AND TWIST CONNECTOR LOOSE CONNECTIONS OR POOR CONNECTIONS WERE FOUND WHICH CAUSES WIRES TO HEAT UP AND CATCH FIRE. THE BURNT WIRES AND CONNECTORS AND PICTURES ARE IN MY POSSESSION IF NEEDED. THE RV WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION DUE TO THE SIX WEEK WAITING PERIOD, SEPTEMBER 13TH, BEFORE IT COULD BE EVEN LOOKED AT AND INSPECTED.

NHTSA ID
10746100
Incident
Aug 1, 2015
Mileage
2,234 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

511312

WHEELS

As per Mercedes Interim Recall Notice 21V042, one or more of the rear-wheel speed sensors may experience an electrical failure, which potentially could lead to a disablement of the Electronic Stability Control control unit functions. If ESP control unit functions are disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

511293

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

In our continuing efforts to assure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, MB USA is extending the warranty on the wheel speed sensors ("WSS") for the affected vehicles to a total of 10 years/ no mileage limitations from the vehicle's original New Vehicle Limited Warranty start date. This addendum to the WSS coverage applies to the vehicle regardless of ownership.

510660

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:DASHBOARD

According to the attached letter from Daimler AG/Mercedes-Benz; ?Daimler AG (DAG), the manufacturer of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles, has determined that the glass cover of the exhaust gas temperature sensor (upstream of turbocharger B16/11) on certain Model Year 2011 ? 2015 Sprinter vans could break when exposed to extreme high or low temperatures. This could result in incorrect temperature sensor readings. If this occurs the ?Check Engine? light will be illuminated and the vehicle will experience a loss of power and enter into a limp home mode.?

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 Forester by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010
2025120
2024120
2023140
2022230
2021250
2020030
2019120
2018131
2017220
2016730
2015Viewing610
2014330
2013041
2012111
2011010
2010010
2006110
2005110
2004320
2003020
2002010
2001110
2000010
1999010
1998010
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.