RoadVitals

2018 Forest River R-Pod

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.
10
Latest Oct 24, 2024
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 10, 2020
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 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Forest River R-Pod, most frequently naming the body & structure, tires & wheels and suspension 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

  • Body & structure330.0%
  • Tires & wheels330.0%
  • Suspension220.0%
  • Electrical110.0%
  • Fuel system110.0%

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

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:PLUMBING:SEWAGE/BLACK:PIPE/FITTINGS

Dec 10, 2020
2,828 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2020 RPOD travel trailers. The sewer termination bracket may fail, causing the plumbing to drag on the ground or to detach completely.
The risk: If the plumbing were to detach, it can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new securement bracket, free of charge. The recall began January 12, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-3119, option 2. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1265.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-1256View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Suspension
Filed Oct 24, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Forest River R-Pod Towable. The contact stated while stepping on the RV floor, the contact noticed that the side of the floor located behind the axle was sagging. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's side outriggers were significantly corroded, fractured, and bent. Additionally, the contact stated that there was less than an inch clearance between the driver's side wheel well and tire, and there was 2-inch clearance between the passenger's side wheel well and the tire. The contact also stated that the passenger's side wheel was protruding 3-5 inches outside of the wheel well. The RV was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11621800
Incident
Oct 24, 2024
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Aug 29, 2024

There is a problem with the Axel on this trailer. It is making the floor buckle and the slide is sagging.

NHTSA ID
11611620
Incident
Feb 15, 2024
Fuel system
Filed Aug 2, 2022

I just encountered an issue that could have been disastrous with our Rpod 177 travel trailer camper. The other day I happened to pull back the bed plywood and noticed that the propane hose and also 120 wire were chewed up from two long, sharp screws that hold some of the wood together by the water pump and go through into the bed frame/panel wood. The wire and hose are held together by cable ties attached to to bed frame to keep it away from heater I assume but as a result hold the bundle close to the screws. The rubbing from vibrations during travel nearly cut clear through the propane hose insulation and also cut the wire insulation. Considering the hose is right next to the heater this could have easily created a massive fire if it suddenly started to leak when the heater was on. I can't believe the manufacturer would use long screws in this area; they're extremely sharp and extend nearly an inch beyond the wood. I would imagine there are many other Rpod models with the same or similar layout that might have this issue.

NHTSA ID
11477159
Incident
Jul 25, 2022
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 21, 2021

The contact owns a 2018 Forest River R-Pod equipped with Lionhead Tires, Tire Line: Castle rock, Tire size: 225/75/R15, Dot Number: JULT-1MT. The contact stated while the RV was parked outside of the residence, he heard a load pop coming from the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the spare tire had exploded, and the thread of the tire was separated and split into two pieces and separated from the frame. The tire was the original spare tire and had never been used. The spare tire was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure.

NHTSA ID
11433854
Incident
Sep 19, 2021
Filed Sep 8, 2021

This is a 2018 Forest River Rpod RPT180 travel trailer, total about 10 trips or 4500 travel mileage. The underneath 2 support carriage beam for the whole structure buckle and bent down due to the manufacturer design/material failure. Both supporting beams above the axle buckle and the passenger side is more sever. On passenger side: there's about 4 inch drop/bent start from the axle; the rear wall frame already separated to the carriage beam; the wheel tilt in and about to loose. On driver side: there's about 1/2 inch bent down right above the axle. Inside the trailer, the wall buckle, floor buck up. At the current stage, it is not road worthy and not towable. It poses hazardous to any road user. This is an inexcusable major structure failure to design a beam not been able to carry the designated load.

NHTSA ID
11432185
Incident
Sep 2, 2021
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 26, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER R-POD TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH CASTLE ROCK TIRES, TIRE LINE: LIONSHEAD, TIRE SIZE: ST225/75/R15, DOT NUMBER(S): JULT1MT1917 AND JULT1MT2217. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE FENDER OVER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE THREAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED FENDER TO COME OFF. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE CONTACT THEN STATED UPON DRIVING FIVE MORE MILES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE TRAILER WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS 2,347. CONSUMER UPDATE: STATED THE FENDER OVER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE THREAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED FENDER TO COME OFF. SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT.*JB

NHTSA ID
11413943
Incident
Apr 23, 2021
Mileage
2,347 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 10, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER R-POD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY REPAIRED THE FAILURE WITH A SCREW TO HOLD THE BRACKET TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V763000 (EQUIPMENT) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11400205
Incident
Mar 8, 2021
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 10, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER R-POD EQUIPPED WITH CASTLE ROCK RADIAL ST226 TIRES, SIZE: ST225/75/R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 66 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AXIAL TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11230672
Incident
Jun 29, 2019
Mileage
2,200 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

511086

EQUIPMENT

The P-Trap swivel fitting may crack during normal use, potentially allowing water to leak, which may lead to premature degradation of any non-water resistant components.

470961

EQUIPMENT

The silicone sealant used to seal the vehicle may not adhere to all surfaces as intended. This may allow water to leak into the vehicle.

510780

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Per the service bulletin from Dometic ?Dometic Corporation has identified a visual cosmetic defect that has occurred on our Dometic DM2652 refrigerators up in the freezer compartment. This does NOT occur on all units, but may be present on units with serial numbers starting with MB between 805xxxxx and 820XXXXX. The visual cosmetic defect in no way affects the performance, operation, safety, or function of the refrigerator and does not represent a non-compliance issue to one or more of the FMVSS standards or result in a risk of personal injury, death, vehicle crash, or property damage.?

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 R-Pod by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010
2026010
2025040
2024120
2023010
2022330
2021800
2020830
2019920
2018Viewing1010
2017300
2016310
2015300
2012100
2011310
2010110
2009010

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.