RoadVitals

2017 Forest River Salem

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.
5
Latest May 23, 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.
9
Latest Oct 10, 2025
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 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2017 Forest River Salem, most frequently naming the body & structure, other / unspecified and tires & wheels categories. 9 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 & structure360.0%
  • Other / unspecified120.0%
  • Tires & wheels120.0%

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

9 campaigns cover this model year

View all 9

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
25V682000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Oct 10, 2025
20,305 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Forest River Aurora, Coachmen Catalina, 2026 Coachmen Viking, Coachmen Clipper, 2016-2026 Wildwood, and Salem recreational trailers. The distribution panel wire may be connected to the battery without over current protection.
The risk: Unprotected wiring can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will relocate the distribution panel wire to the correct side of the breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2025. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River's number for this recall is 205-1987.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-1987View on NHTSA.gov
18V550000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Aug 21, 2018
5,847 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Forest River Salem, Wildcat Maxx, Wildwood, Vibe, and Rainier recreational trailers. The break-away safety switch may not have been wired to a constant power source, and, as a result, the switch may be inadvertently disconnected from the trailer house battery causing the brakes to not engage if the trailer detaches from the tow vehicle.
The risk: If the trailer brakes cannot engage if the trailer detaches from tow vehicle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new wiring harness to reroute the wiring, free of charge. The recall began September 25, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22/30-0824.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 22/30-0824View on NHTSA.gov
18V436000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Jun 27, 2018
326 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forest River Wildwood, and 2016-2019 Forest River Salem recreational trailers. The outside auxiliary shower faucet cover may cover the water heater exhaust panel when opened.
The risk: The covered water heater exhaust panel could increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will install a replacement outside shower, free of charge. The recall began on July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 44-0762.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 44-0762View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed May 23, 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Forest River Salem Cruise Lite RV. The contact stated due to water buildup in the roof, the ceiling was leaking during rainy weather. The contact stated that the leak had caused mold to build up on the front side of the camper. The contact stated that the roof slider had previously been repaired with tape due to water leaking and mildew. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

NHTSA ID
11590320
Incident
Aug 15, 2023
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 22, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FOREST RIVER SALEM LITE RV, EQUIPPED WITH FOUR CASTLE ROCK ST BRAND TIRES N/A. TIRE LINE: UNKNOWN - DOT NUMBER: JUMR2MT, SIZE: 23580/R16. THE HE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW AND A COUPLE OF MILES LATER THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ALSO BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT PULLED TO A SAFE PLACE AND CALLED A ROAD SAFETY COMPANY. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILED TIRES WERE DUE TREAD SEPARATION. HE ALSO STATED THAT TWO FRONT TIRES WERE SWOLLEN AND WOULD BLOW OUT ANY TIME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE AYNOR TIRE MART DEALER, LOCATED AT 605 M STREET, AYNOR, SC 29511, (843-358-6837), PURCHASED AND REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE LINE WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 FOR THE RV AND THE TIRES.

NHTSA ID
11330192
Incident
Jun 20, 2020
Mileage
3,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 30, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FOREST RIVER SALEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LEAK EMERGED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDE OUT PORTION OF THE TRAILER. THE LEAK CAUSED MOLD TO FORM. THE DEALER AN MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ID
11277106
Incident
Oct 27, 2019
Mileage
1,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 7, 2018

I REPLACED A LEAKING PROPANE TANK HOSE A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR TRAVEL TRAILER IN MARCH 2017. WHILE PREPARING THE TRAILER FOR A TRIP NEXT WEEKEND, I FOUND THAT THE 2ND TANK HOSE IS LEAKING PROPANE IN THE SAME WAY AS THE FIRST. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MORE THAN JUST MY TRAILER AND THAT THESE DEFECTIVE HOSES MAY BE ON MORE TRAILERS FROM FOREST RIVER OR OTHER MANUFACTURERS. THE HOSE IS A MODEL #GHA7 BY DEKING CORPORATION CO., LTD. LOT #610937, US WORKING MAX PRESSURE OF 350 P.S.I. THE HOSE LEAKS PROPANE AT THE HOSE CONNECTION TO THE FITTING THAT CONNECTS TO THE PROPANE TANK. MOVING THE HOSE WHILE CHANGING TANKS OR EVEN TAKING THE TANK COVER OFF RELEASES GAS AT THIS CONNECTION. ON MY SYSTEM WITH 2 TANKS AND A COMMON SWITCHABLE REGULATOR, THE TANK WITH THE DEFECTIVE HOSE CAN BE SHUT OFF AND THE OTHER TANK WILL STILL PRESSURIZE THE DEFECTIVE HOSE AND LEAK. *TT *CN *TR

NHTSA ID
11083773
Incident
Apr 7, 2018
Mileage
500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 31, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN TITAN HAULING A 2017 FOREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE TRAVEL TRAILER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 40 MPH, THE AWNING ON THE RV PREMATURELY FRACTURED. THE TWO BOTTOM POLES FRACTURED ONTO THE ROADWAY AND THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOTIFIED (BLUE DOG RV, 714 W SELTIZE WAY, POST FALLS, ID 83854) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AWNING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BY THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT FILE A CLAIM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

NHTSA ID
11020948
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
Mileage
300 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

511213

EQUIPMENT

This is a document that describes how to take the required photos to assess the slideroom mechanism for adjustment and function.

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 Salem by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2026060—
2025480—
20244100—
2023250—
20221270—
20214100—
20201270—
20195110—
2018690—
2017Viewing590—
2016980—
2015850—
2014140—
2013220—
2012310—
2011230—
2010120—
2009010—
2008330—
2007020—
2006020—
2005020—
2004330—
2003830—
2002110—
2001210—
2000010—
1999010—
1998010—
1997010—

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.