RoadVitals

2020 Forest River Surveyor

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.
4
Latest Sep 11, 2020
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.
4
Latest Jun 19, 2020
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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Forest River Surveyor, most frequently naming the body & structure and suspension categories. 4 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%
  • Suspension133.3%

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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
20V360000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:FURNACE

Jun 19, 2020
176 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020 Surveyor recreational trailers equipped with a specific 30K BTU furnace. The furnace may not have been properly secured inside the furnace cabinet, allowing it to move freely inside the cabinet.
The risk: If the furnace moves within the cabinet, it may detach from the exhaust vent, possibly causing a build up of carbon monoxide inside the vehicle, increasing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or death.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will secure the furnace and verify the exhaust vent connections, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-3119 Option 2. Forest River's number for this recall is 47-1175.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 47-1175View on NHTSA.gov
20V297000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER; TRAILER HITCHES

May 22, 2020
88 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Surveyor Travel Trailers, model SVT296QBLE. The safety chains are insufficient for the trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and may break in the event of the trailer coming unhitched.
The risk: If the vehicle trailer becomes detached from the tow-vehicle, the safety chains may break, leading to complete detachment and potential property damage, personal injury or a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and a dealer or service center will replace the safety chains, free of charge. The recall began June 8, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-3112. Forest River's number for this recall is 37-1170.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 37-1170View on NHTSA.gov
20V075000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER; TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

Feb 12, 2020
4,464 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Surveyor, NO BO, Cherokee, R. POD, Clipper, Viking, Independence, Puma and East to West trailers. The spare tire carrier U-bolts may fail allowing the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle.
The risk: If the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle while in motion, it can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace U-bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 20, 2020. Owners may contact Surveyor, NO BO, R. and POD customer service at 1-574-642-3119, Independence, Viking, and Clipper customer service at 1-269-467-4600, Puma customer service at -574-642-0606, East and West customer service at 1-574-264-6664 or Cherokee customer service at 1-877-426-5337. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1133.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-1133View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structureSuspension
Filed Sep 11, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FOREST RIVER SURVEYOR TOWED BY A 2019 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED AND GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY, THE TIRES RUBBED UNDERNEATH THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE RV AND DETERMINED THAT THE UNDER BODY OF THE RV WAS LOW. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO JOHNS RV SALES AND SERVICE / AIRSTREAM SOUTH CAROLINA ( 165 BUSINESS PARK RD, LEXINGTON, SC 29072, 800-779-2957) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE RV SAT LOW. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPRINGS AND U-BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RV WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 5,000. THE TRAILER FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 499.*DT *AS*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE SPRINGS AND BOLTS CHANGED, BUT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.*AS*DT *TR*DT*TR*DT*TR*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAS REPLACED ORIGINAL SPRINGS AND AXLES WITH A HIGHER 4400LB UNITS. *TR

NHTSA ID
11354436
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
Mileage
499 mi
Filed Aug 10, 2020

WE HAD A ROCK OR SOME SOLID OBJECT (WE DIDN'T SEE IT HAPPEN) HIT THE FRONT WINDOW OF OUR TRAILER, WHILE DRIVING. THE GLASS COMPLETELY SHATTERED (NOT LIKE SAFETY GLASS) AND RESULTED IN SMALL PIECES AND SHARDS OF GLASS ALL OVER OUR MURPHY BED (WHICH FOLDED UP AGAINST THE WINDOW) AND ALL THROUGHOUT THE FRONT END OF TRAILER. THE SHARDS OF GLASS ARE SO SMALL THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN IT ALL UP SAFELY. MYSELF AND MY YOUNG CHILD HAVE STEPPED ON SHARDS AND IMPALED OUR FEET. I ALSO CUT UP MY HANDS WHILE TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE GLASS.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11348403
Incident
Aug 5, 2020
Body & structure
Filed Jul 27, 2020

THIS WAS THE FIRST ROAD TRIP WITH OUR NEW 2020 FOREST RIVER LEGACY TRAILER, 19RBLE. WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT, APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH. CLEAR DAY, WITH APPROX. 35-40 MPH WINDS. NO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF US. WHILE DRIVING, THE SLIDE PROTRUDED ABOUT A FOOT FROM THE TRAILER WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE FRONT WINDOW OF THE TRAILER HAD BLOWN OUT AND THE PRESSURE FROM THE WIND INTO THE TRAILER FORCED THE SLIDE TO PUSH OUT, MAKING FOR A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO ROAD DEBRIS OR FOREIGN OBJECTS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE WINDOW TO SHATTER. WE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY REALIZE WHY THE SLIDE HAD PUSHED OUT WHILE DRIVING. WE FORCED THE SLIDE BACK IN, AND ATTEMPTED TO GO DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN. SLIDE PUSHED OUT AGAIN. WE REALIZED THE PRESSURE OF THE WIND FROM THE BROKEN WINDOW WAS FORCING THE SLIDE TO PUSH OUT. WE STOPPED, OPENED THE WINDOWS IN THE TRAILER TO ALLOW THE AIR TO FLOW THROUGH THE TRAILER WHICH THEN PREVENTED THE SLIDE FROM PUSHING OUT UNTIL WE COULD STOP SOMEWHERE SAFELY AND SECURE A COVER FOR THE FRONT WINDOW. THE 2020 TRAILER IS THE FIRST YEAR TO HAVE THE FRONT WINDOW. THE WINDOW SHOULD NOT HAVE SHATTERED. IN ADDITION, THE SLIDE CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUSH OUT FROM THE FORCE OF THE WIND. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS HURT. THE SLIDE IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO FOREST RIVER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN US AN EXPLANATION OR AGREED TO REPAIR ALL THE DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER. THIS IS A DESIGN OR INSTALLATION DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER BOTH FOR THE WINDOW AND THE SLIDE. THE WINDOW SHOULD NOT SHATTER LIKE IT DID AND THERE SHOULD BE SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES THE SLIDE SHOULD EXTEND WHILE DRIVING! FRONT WINDOWS IN TRAILERS SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH SOME SORT OF ATTACHABLE COVER TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.*DT*JB*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11341729
Incident
Jul 4, 2020
Mileage
1,500 mi
Filed May 20, 2020

FRESH WATER TANK FELL OUT FROM BOTTOM OF THE TRAILER. SUPPORT FOR TANK GAVE OUT WHILE TOWING TRAILER, NEARLY TOOK OUT A MOTORCYCLIST. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325293
Incident
May 15, 2020
Mileage
300 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

511086

EQUIPMENT

The P-Trap swivel fitting may crack during normal use, potentially allowing water to leak, which may lead to premature degradation of any non-water resistant components.

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 Surveyor by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2024000—
2023000—
2022020—
2021110—
2020Viewing440—
2019410—
2018450—
2017230—
2016060—
2015210—
2014110—
2013120—
2012120—
2011020—
2010010—
2006010—
2005010—
2004210—
2003020—
2002010—
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.