RoadVitals

2017 Forest River Rockwood

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 May 28, 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.
7
Latest Oct 26, 2017
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 2017 Forest River Rockwood, most frequently naming the body & structure, other / unspecified and suspension categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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 & structure222.2%
  • Other / unspecified222.2%
  • Suspension222.2%
  • Tires & wheels222.2%
  • Brakes111.1%

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

7 campaigns cover this model year

View all 7

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
17V677000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Oct 26, 2017
77 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Rockwood and Flagstaff travel trailers. The slide room arm may contact and damage the passenger side rear tire.
The risk: The damaged tire may leak air, resulting in a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a lift kit to elevate the chassis and replace any tire that has evidence of damage, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-5164. Forest River's number 10-0588.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 10-0588View on NHTSA.gov
17V445000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Jul 14, 2017
12 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017 Rockwood travel trailers, models RLF8301WS and RLF8301WS-W. The affected vehicles have a Federal Placard with an incorrect ninth place check digit printed on the VIN label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
The risk: The incorrect Check Digit will hinder the registration of the vehicle, which can lead to improper licensing and the failure to properly account for the vehicle in the event of a safety recall.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and will provide a corrected Federal Placard, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-5164. Forest River's number for this recall is 10C-07142017-0480.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 10C-07142017-0480View on NHTSA.gov
17V235000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Apr 7, 2017
7 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017 Rockwood and Flagstaff recreational vehicles. The Federal Placard may indicate an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of 2,200 lbs when the correct GAWR actually is 3,000 lbs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
The risk: Inaccurate GAWR information on the Federal placard can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owner's, and dealers will install a corrected Federal Placard, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2017. Owner's may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-2640. Forest River's number for this recall is 10-04042017-0366.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 10-04042017-0366View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed May 28, 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Forest River Rockwood RV equipped with Castle Rock Tires, Tire Line: Radial ST226, Tire Size: 225/75/R15, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the front and rear driver's side tires experienced blowouts. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The tires were replaced with a spare tire and a replacement tire. The tires were original tires. Additionally, the contact stated while driving to the residence, the rear passenger's side tire experienced a blowout. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and noticed that the front passenger's side tire was also damaged. The contact's husband was in the process of purchasing two replacement tires from the tire shop. The front and rear passenger's side tires were not replaced. The tires were original tires. The manufacturer was not contacted. The RV failure mileage was approximately 2,500. The tires failure mileage was approximately 2,500.

NHTSA ID
11591024
Incident
May 24, 2024
Mileage
2,500 mi
Suspension
Filed May 24, 2023

All four locations on my vehicle have FAILED Maryland State Inspection because the weld point between the axle and the mounting bracket have BROKEN. There is no justification for Dexter Axle to sell products with such potentially serious manufacturing defects.

NHTSA ID
11523610
Incident
May 9, 2023
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 6, 2021

Despite never being used, and always stored with a tire cover and proper inflation, this ~4 year old spare tire spontaneously developed a tread bulge. The bulge decreased in size, but still remained visible, after deflation and removal from the wheel. An air bubble exists between the inner liner and the casing.

NHTSA ID
11423608
Incident
Jul 6, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Sep 29, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FOREST RIVER ROCKWOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER METAL BRACKETS WERE BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WATER TANK MAY FALL OFF THE TRAILER. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. A FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. *DT*DT *TR

NHTSA ID
11361770
Incident
Jul 15, 2020
Filed Nov 30, 2018

NHTSA RECALL 17V129 THE SLIDE ROOM MOUNTING BRACKET DOES NOT MEET THE TOLERANCE OF 3 1/2 INCH MINIMAL DIMENSION AWAY FROM THE TREAD OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. FOREST RIVER HAD SENT A REPLACEMENT BRACKET WHICH HAS BEEN INSTALLED BY ORCHARD TRAILERS IN WHATELY, MA WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMAL TOLERANCE. WE ARE UNABLE TO GET THIS RECALL RESOLVED AS OF 11/30/18 ( THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE WAS DATED 02/24/2017). WE PURCHASED THIS TRAILER ON 04/15/2017, UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL IN EFFECT AT THE TIME WHICH HAD NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.*DT *AS

NHTSA ID
11155241
Incident
Feb 24, 2017
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 21, 2018

WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM CAMPING ON I-4, THE LEFT REAR TRAILER TIRE BLEW. AFTER SAFELY GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, I DISCOVERED THE RIGHT SIDE TIRE WAS ALSO BLOWN ON THE SAME AXLE. I HAD TO PUT TWO NEW TIRES ON MY CAMPER. WHILE DRIVING TO THE TIRE STORE TO REPLACE THE FRONT TWO TIRES, A THIRD TIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE BLEW. THE TIRES IN QUESTION ARE CASTLE ROCK ( MADE IN CHINA ) ST225/75R15 LOAD RANGE D-DOT JULT IMT 0216. I HAD EXACTLY 65 PSI IN THOSE TIRES PRIOR TO GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
11121244
Incident
Aug 9, 2018
Mileage
2,500 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Oct 16, 2017

SLIDE OUT MECHANISM IN RIGHT REAR WHEEL PASSENGER SIDE IS INSTALLED/BUILT/DESIGNED SO THAT PART OF IT'S MECHANISM MADE OF 1/4" STEEL STICKS INTO THE TIRE OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAS CUT INTO THE TIRE AS SEEN IN PHOTOS (ATTACHED) THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED HOWEVER IT CONTINUALLY BEING CUT/DAMAGED BY THIS METAL. THIS TRAVEL TRAILER CANNOT BE USED UNDER IT CURRENT CONDITION DUE TO POTENTIAL DANGER INVOLVED, NOT TO MENTION RUINING AN OTHERWISE NEW TIRE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS. I BELIEVE, HAD I NOT NOTICED THIS, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE UNDER USE COULD CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY.

NHTSA ID
11033483
Incident
Oct 13, 2017
Mileage
160 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 1, 2017

A SPRING IN THE DEXTER ELECTRIC BRAKE ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING BRAKE COMPONENTS TO FALL INTO THE BRAKE DRUM WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THIS LED TO BRAKE FAILURE, COMPONENT DESTRUCTION, AND OVERHEATING OF THE WHEEL. BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED ON A TRAILER, WE DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED UNTIL WE REACHED OUR DESTINATION. WE HAD PUT APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MILES ON THIS NEW VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENED. (THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR REPORTS ON VARIOUS RV OWNER INTERNET DISCUSSION GROUPS.)

NHTSA ID
11030693
Incident
Jul 22, 2017
Mileage
1,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

10C1387

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

Helpful document to remove and replace a flush floor slideroom box/floor.

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 Rockwood by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026020—
2024200—
2023220—
20221240—
2021630—
20201310—
2019850—
20181060—
2017Viewing870—
2016910—
20151200—
2014621—
2013621—
2012811—
2010100—
2008010—
2007120—
2006110—
2005020—
2004110—
20031020—
2002110—
2001010—
2000010—
1999010—
1998010—
1997010—
1993100—

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.