RoadVitals

2018 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.
6
Latest Mar 7, 2021
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Forest River Salem, most frequently naming the body & structure, electrical and fuel system categories. 9 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 6 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 & structure228.6%
  • Electrical228.6%
  • Fuel system114.3%
  • Other / unspecified114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

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

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
20V563000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL; TRAILER HITCHES

Sep 18, 2020
4,397 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Wildwood, Salem, and 2020 Sonoma travel trailers. The break-away safety switch may not be wired to constant power, which can cause the trailer brakes to not activate in the event of a trailer separation from the tow vehicle.
The risk: If the brakes of the trailer do not engage, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will rewire the breakaway switch, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2020. Owners may contact Forest customer service at 1-909-873-3777. Forest River's number for this recall is 67A-1230.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 67A-1230View 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

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 7, 2021

TRAVELING ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE, 9:00 A.M., PORT SAINT LUCIE AREA. A LOUD BANG AND THE BLOWN TIRE. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. WE MADE IT SAFELY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WHERE WE AWAITED FHP FOR ASSISTANCE. AFTER SPARE TIRE WAS PUT ON WE TOOK THE NEXT EXIT AND BOUGHT A NEW SPARE BEFORE CONTINUING OUR TRIP TO KEY WEST. AFTER A TWO WEEK STAY WE STARTED OUR RETURN HOME. ONCE AGAIN ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE IN MIAMI, 11:00 A.M., 02/25 WE BLEW ANOTHER TIRE, PASSENGER SIDE, REAR TIRE. RESULT OF THAT FAILED TIRE CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO RV. RETURNED HOME AND HAD FOUR NEW TIRES INSTALLED. CALLAGY TIRE (PALM BAY FL) TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT THE TWO TIRES ON DRIVERS SIDE WERE DETERIORATED AND FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. PLEASE NOTE: RV IS STORED UNDER A TENT ON BOARDS. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED BEFORE OUR TRIP AND ONE AGAIN WHEN WE PICKED UP THE NEW SPARE AT BAYSHORE TIRE SERVICE. BOTH BLOWOUTS WERE ON FL TURNPIKE, 65 MPH, DRY ROADS. *DT*DT Consumer stated trailer did not even have 2000 miles and had 2 blow outs within 15 miles of each other.

NHTSA ID
11399574
Incident
Feb 13, 2021
Mileage
1,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 9, 2020

TRAVELING FROM NEWTON TO PANAMA CITY FL, 5 MILES ACROSS STATE LINE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW APART. SPLIT FROM ONE BEAD TO THE OTHER. TREAD LAYER CAKE OFF AND DAMAGED TRAVEL TRAILER. TIRES WERE ST225/75R15 CASTLEROCK 8PLY TRAILER TIRES. CAME ON TRAILER FROM FACTORY. DOT DATE CODE 4516. JUST OVER 3YRS OLD. I HAVE BEEN IN TIRE BUSINESS FOR OVER 20YRS SO I TAKE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF TIRE MAINTENANCE. THIS IS CLEARLY A TIRE DEFECT AND TIRE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TIRE AND OTHERS MADE BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER ONLINE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE. MAX SPEEDS THAT MORNING OF TRAVEL WERE 50-55MPH DUE TO SUCH A WINDY MORNING.

NHTSA ID
11308054
Incident
Feb 7, 2020
Mileage
1,200 mi
Body & structureFuel system
Filed Mar 13, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER SALEM TRAVEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAVEL TRAILER HAD NOT BEEN HAULED BY A VEHICLE YET BECAUSE ONE OF THE STABILIZERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TWO FUEL TANKS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THERE WAS NO MILEAGE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT*JB *DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11186540
Incident
Nov 23, 2018
Body & structure
Filed Feb 27, 2019

I RECEIVED A NEW FOREST RIVER RV, TRAVEL TRAILER WITH RUSTED GAS LINE PIPING AND FRAME

NHTSA ID
11182734
Incident
Nov 28, 2018
Electrical
Filed Jun 30, 2018
Fire reported

WE WERE SITTING IN OUR TRAVEL TRAILER WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, LIKE AN ELECTRICAL BURN. I WENT AROUND OUR TRAVEL TRAILER AND LOOKED UNDER THE SINK AND SAW THE WATER HEATER SMOKING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ELECTRICITY. IT TURNS OUT, THE AC JUNCTION BOX THAT ATTACHED TO THE WATER HEATER HAD CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE WIRE NUT NOT BEING PROPERLY SECURED TO THE WIRE. TRAVEL TRAILER WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
11104860
Incident
Jun 8, 2018
Mileage
150 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 26, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FOREST RIVER SALEM HEMISPHERE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE FAN, LIGHTS, AND SLIDE, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 6-8 WEEKS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE VIA EMAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11039987
Incident
Oct 3, 2017

Manufacturer communications

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

511435

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Generic instructions for Xantrex - Freedom X Inverter Configuration "Adjusting Feature Settings in Configuration Model".

511323

STRUCTURE

Rear wall backer locations for installation of rear ladders at dealerships.

511213

EQUIPMENT

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

041104

STRUCTURE

The 42DL model has a potential of the side wall bowing when the sliderooms are in the deployed position. Add decorative gussets per notice.

510692

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Per the service bulletin from Dometic ?The nuisance issue enunciates by either blowing the protective fuse, opening the circuit breaker in the furnace circuit, or rendering the furnace inoperative. Our testing has shown that in ALL instances the furnace fails in a safe manner.?

510780

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Per the service bulletin from Dometic ?Dometic Corporation has identified a visual cosmetic defect that has occurred on our Dometic DM2652 refrigerators up in the freezer compartment. This does NOT occur on all units, but may be present on units with serial numbers starting with MB between 805xxxxx and 820XXXXX. The visual cosmetic defect in no way affects the performance, operation, safety, or function of the refrigerator and does not represent a non-compliance issue to one or more of the FMVSS standards or result in a risk of personal injury, death, vehicle crash, or property damage.?

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—
2018Viewing690—
2017590—
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.