RoadVitals

2016 Forest River Sierra

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.
3
Latest Aug 27, 2025
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.
2
Latest Nov 22, 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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Forest River Sierra, most frequently naming the body & structure and tires & wheels categories. 2 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 & structure266.7%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

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
17V756000

EQUIPMENT

Nov 22, 2017
365,885 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2003-2018 Forest River Berkshire, Charleston, Rockport, Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Riverstone, Salem, Sandpiper, Sierra, Vengeance, Wildcat, Wildwood, XLR Boost, Cargo Mate, Continental Cargo, motorhomes, recreational trailers, toyhaulers, cargo trailers and restroom trailers and 2009-2018 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit, Concord, Leprechaun, Freelander, Orion and Prism motorhomes, 2009-2017 Coachmen Apex and Catalina recreational trailers, and 2013-2017 Shasta Oasis and Revere recreational trailers, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
The risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on December 27, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Kidde customer service toll free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0544.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-0544View on NHTSA.gov
15V480000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Jul 30, 2015
207 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Sandpiper and Sierra recreational vehicles manufactured October 15, 2013, to July 13, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with Certification labels with an inaccurate gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 567, "Certification."
The risk: Inaccurate weight information can mislead an owner as to the vehicle's weight carrying capacity which could result in vehicle overloading and a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new set of corrected certification labels, free of charge. The recall began on August 25, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-8386. Forest River's number for this recall is 03-07292015-0067.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 03-07292015-0067View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Aug 27, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Forest River Sierra RV. The contact stated that there was a fracture on the passenger’s side wall of the RV, extending across one-third of the length of the RV. The RV was not taken to a dealer to be inspected or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

NHTSA ID
11683387
Incident
Aug 1, 2025
Mileage
20,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FOREST RIVER SIERRA EQUIPPED WITH CONSTANCY LY188 TIRES (NA), SIZE: 235/85/16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,400.

NHTSA ID
10915392
Incident
Oct 7, 2016
Mileage
1,400 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FOREST RIVER SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOWER DRAIN WAS LEAKING ONTO THE WIRES AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE UNDERCARRIAGE SATURATED AND DETACHED, WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES, CABLES, WATER LINE, AND OTHER UNKNOWN COMPONENTS NEAR THAT AREA TO DETACH AND FAIL. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10875659
Incident
Jun 21, 2016

Manufacturer communications

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

BULLETIN A33-6A

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

NON-SAFETY AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATE LEAK INTO THE LIVING SPACE OF THE RV

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 Sierra by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2025010—
2024020—
2022020—
2021310—
2020000—
2019110—
2018020—
2017310—
2016Viewing320—
2015130—
2014130—
2013220—
2012010—
2011020—
2010120—
2009310—
2008210—
2007010—
2006320—
2005120—
2004030—
2003330—
2002210—
2001010—
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.