RoadVitals

2021 Forest River Puma

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.
4
Latest Sep 8, 2023
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 Jun 4, 2024
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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Forest River Puma, most frequently naming the body & structure, heating & air conditioning and suspension categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 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%
  • Heating & air conditioning125.0%
  • 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
24V395000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:120/240 VAC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:CHARGER LOW VOLTAGE BATTERY

Jun 4, 2024
41,353 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2004-2024 Cedar Creek and 2006-2024 Puma fifth wheels trailers. The overcurrent protection from the trailer battery may have been incorrectly routed, allowing the wires to be pulled out of the junction box.
The risk: A loose wire can cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will reroute the wires to the protected side of the mini-beaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2024. Owners may contact Puma customer service at 1-574-642-0588 or Cedar Creek customer service at 260-593-4000. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1786.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-1786View on NHTSA.gov
21V784000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:PLUMBING:SEWAGE/BLACK:STORAGE TANK; STRUCTURE

Oct 8, 2021
44 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Puma travel trailers. The black wastewater-holding tank may be missing the ventilation pipe, allowing methane gas to build up.
The risk: In the presence of an ignition source, a gas build up increases the risk of fire.
The remedy: Dealers will properly vent the black wastewater-holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-642-0606. Forest River's number for this recall is 420-1425.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 420-1425View on NHTSA.gov
20V799000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Dec 18, 2020
15 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Puma travel trailers. The outdoor cooktop may be stowed away while the propane hose is still attached and the burner is on.
The risk: If the cooktop is stowed away while the propane hose is attached and the burner is on, it will increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the drawer housing the outside cooktop preventing the drawer from being closed while the propane line is still attached, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-0606. Forest River's number for this recall is 425-1269.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 425-1269View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 8, 2023

Castle Rock Radial ST 225/75R15 When driving North on I81 in West Viginia just outside of Martinsburg my front left camper tire blew out and caused a lot of damage to the sideout on my camper. When traveling back from our camping trip weekend the right front axle tire blew approx. 15 miles from our home in [XXX] . The second tire that blew out damaged the other side of my camper, now I have both sides of my camper damaged from these tires. There was not warnings or anything they just blow out. I always check my tire pressures before I leave on a trip. The tire pressures were all good. I was driving 68 to 70 miles per hour, the tires are rated for 75 miles per hour. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11543389
Incident
Aug 25, 2023
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Apr 24, 2023

2021 FOREST RIVER PUMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ISSUE WITH THE HOT WATER HEATER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ADDITIONAL DEFECTS THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT LOCK, AND THE FLOORING HAD DEFECTS FROM MANUFACTURING. AND THE PROPRANE TANK COVER FIT POORLY.

NHTSA ID
11518597
Incident
Apr 24, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Jun 19, 2021

in the course of our first camping trips we weighted the camper multiple times, and the numbers did not add up as they should have. We requested that service look at that as well during the repair process. They discovered though the spec calls out a hitch weight of 700lbs, ours was weighing 1100lbs. That is a 57% INCREASE in hitch weight. Enough that it exceed the 1000lb limit of the hitch system (which we purchased at the time with the camper), and the limit of our trucks gross vehicle weight rating. This added weight also limited our rear axle rating

NHTSA ID
11421453
Incident
Apr 19, 2021
Suspension
Filed Jun 16, 2021

We picked up this camper on May 19, 2021 and returned it to the dealer May 28, 2021 because the leaf springs supporting the camper a completely flat.

NHTSA ID
11421193
Incident
May 19, 2021

Manufacturer communications

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

511377

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

As per Lippert Components Technical Service Bulletin 11-004-21. The slide room actuator was assembled incorrectly, which may cause the room to become stuck in the out position and prevent from fully retracting.

831334

WHEELS

It was discovered that the manufacturing plant did not cut a stress relief line in the upper deck Driver Side and in on certain models, Passenger Side under the slide room(s). The upper deck in the Impression Fifth-Wheel needs to flex, without the "stress relief cut" the sidewall filon may crack under the slide room(s).

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 Puma by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025130—
2024040—
2023110—
2022340—
2021Viewing430—
2020620—
2019510—
2018330—
2017230—
2016230—
2015130—
2014140—
2013140—
2012020—
2011120—
2010120—
2009020—
2008120—
2007010—
2006110—

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.