2004 Forest River Travel Trailer Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Forest River Travel Trailer, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Tires & wheels1147.8%
- Body & structure521.7%
- Suspension417.4%
- Powertrain (other)28.7%
- Other / unspecified14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAD TWO BLOW OUTS ON THE SAME TRIP HOME. MY TIRES OUR ON TRAILER. THE TIRE NAME IS CARLISLE RADIAL TRAIL ST/225/75R15. I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FOR OVER THREE HOUR'S. I NEED TO KNOW IF MY TIRES ARE RECALLS. *TR
WE OWN A 2004 CEDAR CREEK 5TH WHEEL. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE TIRES INDICATED AN AXLE PROBLEM. ALSO KOBER REFUSED TO REPLACE THEIR BAD AXLES OR REPLACE THE WORN TIRES. FORTUNATELY, WE NOTICED THE FAILURE PRIOR TO BEING INVOLVED IN A BLOWOUT OR ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER OF OUR 5TH WHEEL, CEDAR CREEK, TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO REPLACE THE AXLES AND TIRES. ALSO KOBER HAS KNOWN OF THIS ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW AND CONTINUES TO DENY THEIR FAULTY AXLES! JANESVILLE RV SERVICE DID THE REPAIRS TO REPLACE THE AXLES. THEY TOOK PICTURES OF THE AXLES AND TIRES AND SENT THEM TO STEVE HICKS AT CEDAR CREEK IN INDIANA. THIS IS AN AXLE PROBLEM THAT ALSO KOBER NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF AND A FORCED RECALL ISSUED IMMEDIATELY! ALSO KOBER CONTINUES TO DENY THAT THEY MANUFACTURED FAULTY AXLES. SOMEONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE KILLED FOR A RECALL TO BE ORDERED. PLEASE NOTE, OUR 5TH WHEEL TRAILER IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR DROP DOWN LISTS IN THE NEXT SECTION! *TR
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER TRAVEL TRAILER. WHILE RIDING IN THE TRAVEL TRAILER, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRAILER. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF CRACKS IN THE FRAME OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER CEDAR CREEK 30LBHFS TRAVEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BETWEEN THE FRAME AND TIRE, LIES A PIECE OF IRON THAT RUBS ON THE TIRES. AS A RESULT, THE PIECE OF IRON CUTS AWAY AT THE TIRES AND HAS WORN DOWN THE SIDEWALLS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SINCE HE IS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER NOTICED 4 STEEL BRACKETS PROTRUDING FROM THE FRAME BY EACH TIRE. THE BRACKETS HAD VERY LITTLE CLEARANCE TO EACH TIRE, THEY VARIED A LITTLE BIT BRACKET TO BRACKET. IT APPEARED WHEN TOWED, THE BRACKETS CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE AND ABRADED THE SIDEWALL AWAY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WE OWN A 2004 CEDAR CREEK 5TH WHEEL. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE TIRES INDICATED AN AXLE PROBLEM. ALSO KOBER REFUSED TO REPLACE THEIR BAD AXLES OR REPLACE THE WORN TIRES. FORTUNATELY, WE NOTICED THE FAILURE PRIOR TO BEING INVOLVED IN A BLOWOUT OR ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER OF OUR 5TH WHEEL, CEDAR CREEK, TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO REPLACE THE AXLES AND TIRES. ALSO KOBER HAS KNOWN OF THIS ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW AND CONTINUES TO DENY THEIR FAULTY AXLES! JANESVILLE RV SERVICE DID THE REPAIRS TO REPLACE THE AXLES. THEY TOOK PICTURES OF THE AXLES AND TIRES AND SENT THEM TO STEVE HICKS AT CEDAR CREEK IN INDIANA. THIS IS AN AXLE PROBLEM THAT ALSO KOBER NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF AND A FORCED RECALL ISSUED IMMEDIATELY! ALSO KOBER CONTINUES TO DENY THAT THEY MANUFACTURED FAULTY AXLES. SOMEONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE KILLED FOR A RECALL TO BE ORDERED. PLEASE NOTE, OUR 5TH WHEEL TRAILER IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR DROP DOWN LISTS IN THE NEXT SECTION! *TR
I PURCHASED A 2004 F37 SANDPIPER FIFTHWHEEL TOY HAULER WITH CARLISLE 235/85/16 LOAD RATING E TIRES. LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON TRAILER AND NEVER OVER 350 MILE TRIPS. I HAVE HAD TWO TIRES GO FLAT IN TWO SEPARATE 70 MILE CAMPING TRIPS. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE TRAILER FROM ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND THEY FORWARDED THE COMPLAINT TO THE MANUFATURE WHO STATED THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER AND DID NOTHING ABOUT THE FLATS (FOREST RIVER). THE LAST TIME I TRAVELED, 10 MILES FROM MY HOUSE THE 3RD TIRE EXPLODED AT 50 MILES AND HOUR AND TORE THE SIDE APART AND WHEEL WELL OF OUR TRAILER UP WITHIN THE 100 YDRS OR SO IT TOOK ME TO STOP. THE TIRE TOTALLY SEPARATED AND THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE BELTS. I TOOK THE TRAILER TO THE WEIGHT STATION AND WEIGHED IT TO SEE IF IT WAS OVERLOADED AND IT WAS NOT AT THE TIME. THE TIRES HAD 80 PSI FOR MAX WEIGHT CAPACITY AS PRINTED ON SIDE WALL. AFTER DEALING WITH FOREST RIVER I TOOK THE TRAILER OVER A CERTIFIED SCALE. THE GVWR ON THE TRAILER IS 13,700LBS AND THE GAWR IS 6,000 LBS PER AXEL, I WEIGHED THE TRAILER AT THE AXLE AND IT WEIGHED 10,700 LBS WITH 100 GALLONS OF WATER. NO 4 WHEELERS, NO FLUIDS IN HOLDING TANK AND ABOUT 7 GALLONS OF GAS IN 15 GALLON STATION, NO FOOD AND NO EQUIPMENT. I WAS SOLD A TOY HAULER THAT IS INCAPABLE OF CARRYING THE WATER (100 GAL), FUEL (15 GAL) AND TWO ATV'S AS ADVERTISED WITHOUT BEING OVER THE GVWR. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY CLOTHING, FOOD, EQUIPMENT OR WASTE IN ANY TANKS. WHAT GOOD IS A TOY HAULER THAT IS ADVERTISED TO HAVE THESE CAPACITIES BUT CANNOT CARRY ANYTHING IN THE TANKS OR YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE TOYS AT HOME. I HAVE A GARAGE AT HOME. I PURCHASED THE TRAILER TO HAUL A 735LB HARLEY AND ONE ATV AT ABOUT 1,300LBS IN AN EMAIL FROM FOREST RIVER I SHOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY MORE. I DIDN'T DISCONNECT THE TRAILER FROM THE TRUCK TO SEE THE TRUE GVWR BUT AT 10,700 LBS AT THE AXLE, IF I ADD MY MOTORCYCLE AND ATV I AM DONE!!! NO EQUIPMENT, NO FOOD, NO CLOTHING NOTHING!! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
IMMINENT BLOWOUT AVERTED ON 2004 FOREST RIVER SANDPIPER TRAVEL TRAILER, WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED WITH ALKO-KOBLER AXLES. THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS WORN SMOOTH, AND THE REAR TIRE ALSO HAD EVIDENCE OF WEAR. TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MILES ON THEM. THIS WAS NOTED WHEN WINTERIZING LAST FALL, SO WE BROUGHT IT INTO ARLINGTON RV SALES AS SOON AS WE UNCOVERED THE CAMPER THIS SPRING, NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES ON DRIVING IT FOR PLEASURE. SERVICE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT AXLES WERE BENT. ALKO WAS NOT WILLING TO STAND BEHIND PRODUCT, ALTHOUGH OTHER RV OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD OUR COMPLAINT TO ODI NUMBERS: 10174036, 10174097. SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR SINCE THE TIRE WEAR WAS NOT READILY APPARENT UNLESS SOMEONE PHYSICALLY CRAWLED UNDER THE TRAILER TO CHECK THE TIRES. PLEASE ACT BEFORE SOMEONE WAS KILLED. ALKO-KOBLER SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THE DEFECTIVE AXLES.*AK
NOTICED UNUSUAL WORN TIRES, BROUGHT INTO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, DEALER SAID THE AXLES WERE DEFECTIVE. CAUSING EXCESS WARE ON THE MOUNTING HARDWARE AND TIRES. IF I HAD NOT TAKEN THE TRAILER INTO THE DEALER, THE AXLES COULD HAVE BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE FRAME AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. STILL FIGHTING WITH ALKO TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS. TWO AXLES ARE DEFECTIVE. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL .06E076000 COMPANY RECALL LETTER ON THIS ISSUE SHOWS A RECALL NUMBER OF 07V85000 THIS NUMBER DOES NOT COME UP ON YOUR WEB SITE. I FEEL THEY DID NOT COMPLY WITH RECALL AND REPAIR MY PROBLEM CORRECTLY. THEY ONLY PUT IN WHAT THEY CALLED A HEAT SHIELD INSTEAD OF REPLACING DEFECTIVE TUBE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .