RoadVitals

2018 Forest River R-Pod Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Forest River R-Pod, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • 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.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 11611620 · filed Aug 29, 2024

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 · filed Mar 10, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 21, 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 · filed Apr 26, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Oct 24, 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 · filed Aug 29, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THERMOSTAT WIRE TO LIQUID PROPANE TANK. (XXXXXX). PROPANE HEAT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. TOOK IN FOR WARRANTY WORK AND WAS ADVISED THE CAUSE WAS A CRIMPED WIRE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IF WE WERE NOT PRESENT TO SHUT OFF THE PROPANE TANK, IT WOULD HAVE BURNT DOWN OR WORSE. *DT PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) CARFAX CANNOT PROCESS THIS REQUEST. *JB

NHTSA ID 11154513 · filed Nov 28, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Aug 2, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .