2013 Forest River Rockwood Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Forest River Rockwood, 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
- Other / unspecified457.1%
- Body & structure114.3%
- Brakes114.3%
- Suspension114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WE PURCHASED NEW A 2013 ROCKWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER (MODEL 8329SS), THE TRAILER IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT NOTICED THAT THE 4 TIRES WERE RUBBING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER, MOST LIKELY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. WE DID NOTICE AFTER WE TOOK DELIVERY THAT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAILER WAS VERY CLOSE, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DESIGNED WITH THIS CLEARANCE. NOW TIME HAS GONE BY AND WE WENT TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES (TRAILER ONLY HAS MAYBE 7,000 MILES ON IT) AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAVE BEEN RUBBING. AFTER DOING A WEB SEARCH FOUND A RECALL FROM FOREST RIVER REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE (CAMPAIGN #13V554000). WE CALLED SEVERAL PEOPLE AT FOREST RIVER, GAVE OUR SERIAL NUMBER AND WERE TOLD OUR UNIT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, WAS ADVISED TO SEND PICTURES WHICH WE DID, AFTER SEVERAL EMAILS AND PHONE MESSAGES WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM FOREST RIVER REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE TRAILER SHOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE A CLEARANCE OF 3.5", OUR TRAILER HAS ONLY CLEARANCE OF 5/8" TO 1 5/8". SO THIS RUBBING FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRES TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RV IS HAPPENING WHEN THE TRAVEL TRAILER IS BEING TOWED, MOST LIKELY WHEN GOING OVER ROAD BUMPS AND BACKING UP INTO CAMP SITES. WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS UNIT IT WAS A NEW MODEL BY ROCKWOOD (FOREST RIVER), AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PRODUCED. WE PURCHASED ON 10/01/2012 FROM WEEKEND RV SALES IN CLINTON TENNESSEE, THE UNIT WAS BUILT ON 9/21/2012. DURING MY FIRST CONVERSATION WITH FOREST RIVER REGARDING IF OUR TRAILER WAS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SEND A LIFT KIT FOR US TO HAVE INSTALLED, THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE LIFT KIT BUT NOT THE INSTALLATION BECAUSE OUR UNIT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL, WE NEVER RECEIVED A LIFT KIT AND AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS WITH FOREST RIVER NO ONE RECALLS STATING THEY WOULD SEND A LIFT KIT.
THE TRAILER WAS FURNISHED WITH TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TOWING ST225/75R15 TIRES FROM THE FACTORY. WITH ONLY ABOUT 2000 MILES ON THE TIRES, ONE STARTED TO HAVE A SLOW LEAK WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT MY HOME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TIRE DEALER AND HE FOUND THAT THE SIDEWALL WAS LEAKING ABOUT A HALF AN INCH FROM THE RIM. I HAVE OPTED TO REPLACE THESE PRACTICALLY NEW TIRES WITH ONES MADE BY MAXXIS. I WOULD NOT WANT TO RISK A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE TOWING THIS LARGE TRAILER. FOREST RIVER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR THESE HAZARDOUS TIRES. ALSO, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE BANNED FROM SELLING THEIR PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WE FILLED THE FRESH WATER TANK FOR A CAMPING TRIP. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MAKING LANE CHANGES OR CORNERING THE TRAILER WOULD START TO SWAY, I WOULD HIT THE TRAILER BRAKES TO GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL. THE TRAILER STARTED TO SWAY AGAIN AND I LOST CONTROL, THIS TIME ROLLING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER. I NOTICED THE FRESH WATER TANK WAS LOCATED AT THE REAR BUMBER. I FEEL THE WATER SWATCHING AROUND IN THE UN BAFFELED TANK CAUSED THE TRAILER TO SWAY OUT OF CONTROL. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS WE HAD TOWED THE TRAILER IN HIGH CROSS WINDS WITH NO PROBLEMS, BUT THERE WAS NO FRESH WATER ON BOARD AT THAT TIME. I TOW THE TRAILER WITH A 2006 FORD F 150 SUPER CAB 4X4 6FT BED AND USE A E-2 STABILIZER HITCH. I HAD USE THIS SET UP ON THE 25 FT R-VISION FOR 3 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. WE LOST OUR DOG FROM INJURIES FROM THE CRASH. UPDATED 12/1/2014 *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
2013 ROCKWOOD FREEDOM. CONSUMER WRITES IN THE REGARDS TO BRAKES LOCKED DURING TOWING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TRAILER BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT GREASE WAS OOZING FROM THE BEARINGS. THE CONSUMER ALSO FOUND THE BRAKE LANYARD WAS DISENGAGED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BACKING PLATE, HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPACKED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LANYARD DISENGAGED WHICH CAUSED THE TRAILER BRAKES TO LOCK UP, WAS DUE TO A PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE CABLE.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WE PURCHASED NEW A 2013 ROCKWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER (MODEL 8329SS), THE TRAILER IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT NOTICED THAT THE 4 TIRES WERE RUBBING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER, MOST LIKELY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. WE DID NOTICE AFTER WE TOOK DELIVERY THAT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAILER WAS VERY CLOSE, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DESIGNED WITH THIS CLEARANCE. NOW TIME HAS GONE BY AND WE WENT TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES (TRAILER ONLY HAS MAYBE 7,000 MILES ON IT) AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAVE BEEN RUBBING. AFTER DOING A WEB SEARCH FOUND A RECALL FROM FOREST RIVER REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE (CAMPAIGN #13V554000). WE CALLED SEVERAL PEOPLE AT FOREST RIVER, GAVE OUR SERIAL NUMBER AND WERE TOLD OUR UNIT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, WAS ADVISED TO SEND PICTURES WHICH WE DID, AFTER SEVERAL EMAILS AND PHONE MESSAGES WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM FOREST RIVER REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE TRAILER SHOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE A CLEARANCE OF 3.5", OUR TRAILER HAS ONLY CLEARANCE OF 5/8" TO 1 5/8". SO THIS RUBBING FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRES TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RV IS HAPPENING WHEN THE TRAVEL TRAILER IS BEING TOWED, MOST LIKELY WHEN GOING OVER ROAD BUMPS AND BACKING UP INTO CAMP SITES. WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS UNIT IT WAS A NEW MODEL BY ROCKWOOD (FOREST RIVER), AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PRODUCED. WE PURCHASED ON 10/01/2012 FROM WEEKEND RV SALES IN CLINTON TENNESSEE, THE UNIT WAS BUILT ON 9/21/2012. DURING MY FIRST CONVERSATION WITH FOREST RIVER REGARDING IF OUR TRAILER WAS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SEND A LIFT KIT FOR US TO HAVE INSTALLED, THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE LIFT KIT BUT NOT THE INSTALLATION BECAUSE OUR UNIT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL, WE NEVER RECEIVED A LIFT KIT AND AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS WITH FOREST RIVER NO ONE RECALLS STATING THEY WOULD SEND A LIFT KIT.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .