RoadVitals

2020 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.
8
Latest Mar 29, 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.
3
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 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Forest River R-Pod, most frequently naming the body & structure, visibility and electrical categories. 3 safety recalls have 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 & structure457.1%
  • Visibility228.6%
  • Electrical114.3%

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

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
20V763000

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
20V075000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER; TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

Feb 12, 2020
4,464 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Surveyor, NO BO, Cherokee, R. POD, Clipper, Viking, Independence, Puma and East to West trailers. The spare tire carrier U-bolts may fail allowing the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle.
The risk: If the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle while in motion, it can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace U-bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 20, 2020. Owners may contact Surveyor, NO BO, R. and POD customer service at 1-574-642-3119, Independence, Viking, and Clipper customer service at 1-269-467-4600, Puma customer service at -574-642-0606, East and West customer service at 1-574-264-6664 or Cherokee customer service at 1-877-426-5337. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1133.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-1133View on NHTSA.gov
19V356000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

May 10, 2019
1,346 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2020 R. Pod travel trailers. The wire for the refrigerator's spark igniter may have been connected to a breaker that permits a current higher than the wire can handle.
The risk: Without the proper circuit breaker protection, the wire can melt, increasing the risk of fire.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will move the wire from the 30 AMP circuit to the designated 15 AMP circuit, free of charge. The recall began May 28, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-3119. Forest River's number for this recall is 80-1011.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 80-1011View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Filed Mar 29, 2024

2020 Forest River Rpod 191. Sewer termination bracket failed and the plumbing dragged on the road. Contacted Forest River and was told our VIN was not included in the national recall for the exact same thing. Our RPod model and year is the same in the recall but apparently wasn't included in the recall.

NHTSA ID
11580176
Incident
Sep 3, 2022
Visibility
Filed Jan 21, 2024

Front window randomly shattered while parked for a week with know known impact to trailer or window. The windshield shattered, and did not have an ANSI stamp anywhere on it.

NHTSA ID
11566822
Incident
Nov 14, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Nov 6, 2022

Sagging walls on 2020 Forest River R-Pod RP-190. Walls sag to the point where the tires will contact the fender.

NHTSA ID
11492478
Incident
Nov 6, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Feb 3, 2022

The glass in the front window spontaneously combusts

NHTSA ID
11450170
Incident
Jan 30, 2022
Visibility
Filed Apr 30, 2021

FRONT WINDOW OF CAMPER SHATTERED FOR NO REASON SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. FOREST RIVER HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE ABOUT REPAIRING THIS. IF WE HAD BEEN IN THE CAMPER SLEEPING, THE SHATTERED GLASS WOULD HAVE WENT ALL OVER US, POSSIBLY INTO EYES AND MOUTH. CAMPER WAS PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND WITH STABILIZERS DEPLOYED. HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING. WINDOW FRAME LOOKS TO HAVE SEVERAL SCREW HEADS THAT ARE OVERTIGHTENED, FRAME APPEARS TO BE WARPED WHICH MAY HAVE PUT GLASS IN A BIND.

NHTSA ID
11414584
Incident
Apr 27, 2021
Mileage
200 mi
Filed Jan 19, 2021

WE WERE DRIVING EAST ON HIGHWAY 50 ABOUT 65 MPH.WE LOOKED IN THE SIDE MIRRORS AND SAW THE FRONT WINDOW OF THE RPOD SHATTERED. WHEN WE NOTICED THE WINDOW WE WERE ABOUT 90 MILES WEST OF ELY NEVADA. WE HAD STOPPED ABOUT 30-45 MINUTES PRIOR FOR LUNCH AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. VERY LIMITED TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. THE WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND GLAD WAS ALL OVER INSIDE OF THE POD ON THE BED.

NHTSA ID
11388937
Incident
Jan 19, 2021
Mileage
7,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 15, 2020

FOREST RIVER R-POD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEWER PIPE FAILURE ON TRAILER. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEWER PIPE COULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING CAUSING RAW SEWAGE TO BE RELEASED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS*DT*TR

NHTSA ID
11354675
Incident
Sep 15, 2020
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jul 28, 2020

WE BOUGHT 2020 R-POD 172 OFF ROAD PACKAGE TRAVEL TRAILER IN DEC OF 2019 TO BE TAKEN TO PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUNDS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO IT WHEN WE TOOK IT ON A 25 MILE COUNTY ROAD IN MONTANA. IT WAS TOWED AT A AVERAGE SPEED OF 10 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR ON THE TRIP TO THE CAMPGROUND: THE REFRIGERATOR BROKE LOOSE FROM THE 4 SCREWS HOLDING IT AND SLIDE BACK, LUCKILY THE PROPANE LINE DIDN'T BREAK OFF, ALSO THE REFRIGERATOR HAD BEEN IN FOR WARRANTY WORK IN JANUARY 2020 BECAUSE THE REFRIGERATOR WAS MOUNTED IN FROM THE FACTORY. THE EXIT DOOR GOT STUCK AND WE HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL FELL OUT OF THE WALL. THE MICROWAVE BROKE LOOSE FROM THE 4 TINY SCREWS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. THE SINK WAS JUST SCREWED UP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTER TOP WITH THREE WOOD SCREWS WHICH BROKE THE COUNTER AND FELL DOWN. THE THREE WINDOW VALANCES BROKE LOOSE AND WERE HANGING DOWN. THE ELECTRIC BRAKE WIRES ON THE RIGHTHAND HUB FELL OUT OF THE SPLICES. THE TOP CABINET ABOVE THE SINK WOULD HAVE FELL DOWN BUT I HAD BUILT A SHELF UNDER IT BEFORE WE LEFT ON OUR EXCURSION. EVERYTHING THAT BROKE OR FELL OFF ON THIS TRIP COULD HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED IF FOREST RIVER WOULD HAVE JUST TOOK A LITTLE TIME TO EVALUATE THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESS, BUT I GUESS THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED IN GETTING THEM OUT TO THE DEALER TO SELL THEN PRODUCING A QUALITY PRODUCT.

NHTSA ID
11341754
Incident
Jul 15, 2020
Mileage
2,300 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.

511058

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

The medicine cabinet may detach from the bathroom wall during transit.

801087

EQUIPMENT

The manufacturing plant installed a ducted air conditioner shroud inside the vehicle while the vehicle manufactured with non-ducted air conditioning and requires the non-ducted air conditioning shroud.

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—
2020Viewing830—
2019920—
20181010—
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.