RoadVitals

2019 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 Apr 29, 2023
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.
11
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 2019 Forest River Salem, most frequently naming the other / unspecified, tires & wheels and suspension categories. 11 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 13 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

  • Other / unspecified342.9%
  • Tires & wheels342.9%
  • 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.

Safety recalls

11 campaigns cover this model year

View all 11

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
21V621000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Aug 9, 2021
336 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem, Wildwood and 2020-2021 Stealth EVO travel trailers. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
The risk: A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1400.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 22-1400View 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

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 29, 2023

St205/75r15 Tread separating on the spare tire. Out of 5, this is second tire to fail. Ist incident, Oct 15, 2022. Tread separated from rear passenger trailer tire. Put spare tire on and after 50 miles, tread is raised on 1/2 of the circumference of the tire on inside half

NHTSA ID
11519607
Incident
Oct 15, 2022
Filed Nov 14, 2022

1. Furnace 2. Fire hazard 3. No 4. No 4. No warnings Our RV furnace was putting out a burnt wood smell every time it kicked on. After inspecting it multiple times it wasn’t until taking off the vent duct to get a look inside, we saw the bottom was open and completely exposed to the plywood that the furnace sits on and not covered by metal. This caused the furnace to burn the plywood every time the heat kicked on. There were 2 pieces of plywood under the furnace and then the main floor covered in linoleum. The first board was completely charred from the out put of the heat. The second under the charred board was slightly burned and the main floor with the linoleum was burned. This was a fire hazard that could have potentially started the entire RV on fire because it was burning the plywood every time the furnace kicked on.

NHTSA ID
11493464
Incident
Nov 12, 2022
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Jan 5, 2021

I PURCHASED A 2019 FORREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE FROM CAMPER WORLD THAT CAME WITH CASTLE ROCK ST 205 75R14 TIRES ON IT. I HAVE HAD ALL (4) TIRES EXPLODE GOING 60 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES. THESE TIRE ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I ALWAYS CARRY A SPARE NOW I CARRY TWO. CAMPER HAS VERY LOW MILES ON IT. IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE DONE TO GET THESE TIME BOMB TIRES OFF THE ROAD?

NHTSA ID
11386623
Incident
Dec 6, 2020
Mileage
800 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Dec 1, 2020

WHILE PULLING OUR CAMPER ON I-10 IN FLORIDA AT 65 MPH, OUR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING US TO BE STRANDED.. IT ALSO DAMAGED THE RIM AND PART OF OUR CAMPER. AFTER PUTTING THE SPARE TIRE ON, WE NOTICED IT LOOKED WARPED AND DROVE SLOWLY TO OUR CAMPING LOCATION. AFTER SETTING UP FOR CAMP, WE NOTICED THE REMAINING TIRE LOOKED STRANGE TOO. WE HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE AND RIM TO GET HOME. BOTTOM LINE IS, ALL THREE TIRES THAT CAME ON OUR NEW CAMPER WERE SUSPECT. WE BOUGHT THIS CAMPER NEW AND EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO USE IT MORE THAN 3 TIMES BEFORE NEEDING TO REPLACE TIRES. THE TIRES SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE AND THEY WERE ON OUR FORREST RIVER SALEM CAMPER. CASTLE ROCK TIRES BY LIONSHEAD SPECIALTY TIRE & WHEEL

NHTSA ID
11377379
Incident
Nov 26, 2020
Mileage
900 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jul 20, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RV WAS TILTED AND THAT ONE SIDE WAS LOWER THAN THE OTHER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY NOTICED THE LEAK SPRINGS HAD FAILED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE TIRE TO HIT THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE TRAILER TO THE DEALER DUE TO THEM NOT PURCHASING THE TRAILER AT THAT PARTICULAR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE, HOWEVER, THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE AS OF YET. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
11340398
Incident
Jul 18, 2020
Mileage
45,000 mi

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.

511299

EQUIPMENT

Adding Trim to Cover Screw Holes.

511213

EQUIPMENT

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

721124

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:FURNACE

Certain 210RT travel trailer have a direct discharge furnace that will not produce adequate heat through ducts.

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.

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—
2019Viewing5110—
2018690—
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.