RoadVitals

2013 Palomino Columbus

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.
16
Latest Dec 20, 2016
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 15, 2016
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.
1
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 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Palomino Columbus, most frequently naming the brakes, suspension and body & structure categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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

  • Brakes1477.8%
  • Suspension316.7%
  • Body & structure15.6%

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
16V828000

EQUIPMENT

Nov 15, 2016
1,104 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 FR3 motorhomes manufactured September 24, 2014, to May 12, 2016; 2015-2017 Prime Time Spartan toyhaulers manufactured June 10, 2014, to May 31, 2016; 2013-2016 Palomino Columbus toyhaulers manufactured October 4, 2012, to December 4, 2015; and 2015-2016 XLR Thunderbolt and Nitro toyhaulers manufactured May 23, 2014, to November 23, 2016. These vehicles were equipped with certain aluminum, black, ladders manufactured by Christianson Industries. The affected ladders have retractable hinges, each with a welded 'top hat' that can separate from the hinge.
The risk: If the hinges separate from the ladder while in use, the ladder may fall from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a remedy kit to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on January 3, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11102016-0271.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-11102016-0271View on NHTSA.gov
13V203000

EQUIPMENT

May 17, 2013
9,526 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Forest River models Blue Ridge, Cardinal, Cherokee, Columbus, EVO, Georgetown, Flagstaff, Forester, Lexington, Puma, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandpiper, Sandstorm, Sierra, Stealth, Sunseeker, Wildcat, Wildwood, Work and Play and XLR; Coachmen models Brookstone, Catalina, Chaparral, Concord, Encounter, Freedom Express, Freelander, Leprechaun, Mirada, Pursuit, and Sportcoach; Prime Time models Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Saniber, and Tracer; Palomino model Maverick Truck Camper; Cargo Mate model Eliminator and Shasta models Revere, Phoenix recreational vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2013, through April 18, 2013. Due to a design change in the power awning motor assembly, the motor assembly screws may unknowingly shear.
The risk: If the motor assembly screws shear, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the vehicle is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with motors of a different design. The safety recall began on July 29, 2013. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-389-4600 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed.
Forest River, Inc.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE14008ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Brake Surface Grease Contamination

Opened Mar 20, 2014
Closed Oct 7, 2014

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 8 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) alleging grease contamination on the trailer brake shoes or drums.This condition could potentially increase the towing vehicle's stopping distance and therefore increase the risk of a crash.During the investigation, ODI received 2 additional VOQs alleging the same problem.ODI sent Information Request letters to Forest River and the component supplier, Lippert Components, Inc. (LCI).In response, each provided complaint and warranty information for the subject & peer vehicles and components respectively.ODI visited multiple Recreational Vehicle (RV) dealers to survey their pre-delivery and maintenance inspections.In addition to local dealerships, ODI visited the Columbus, Forest River and LCI axle plants.ODI observed the hub assembly process at LCI and noted that the hub and bearings are assembled at a subassembly station and greased before transferring them to the main line for assembly on the axle.This allows for grease to escape the seal before ever being assembled.If the grease is not completely removed by the employee just prior to assembly, it may remain on the braking surface. A thorough review of the available data revealed one crash.The crash was minor and although an injury was reported, ODI was not able to confirm as no police report had been generated.ODI attempted to interview both parties; however, the subject vehicle owner was the only respondent.At the time of the incident, no injuries were apparent and the police therefore did not respond.The subject vehicle owner later learned that the other party claimed an injury.ODI's review of warranty data indicated that most owners recognized an issue with their trailer brakes early in the life of the trailer.RVs are typically returned to the dealer for warranty work after the first month or two of ownership.Many units were corrected during this initial break in period.Others were corrected when receiving the first annual service, as is recommended in the owner's manual.Grease on the vehicle's braking surface can diminish the vehicle's brake performance.However, as this issue exists at the time the trailer is originally purchased and does not get progressively worse over time and given that the trailers have one to two years in service with no significant events as the result of brake degradation, ODI does not believe this condition presents an unreasonable risk to safety.Forest River has initiated an Owner Notification Program (ONP) and will alert each subject vehicle owner that their unit should be inspected for grease on the braking surfaces if they have not already done so. LCI claims to have improved their training and material handling practices to reduce future issues.This investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following complaint identification numbers: 110546092, 10560304, 10561961, 10563621, 10563591, 10564143, 10563464, 10567696, 10577479, 10587690

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 16
Suspension
Filed Dec 20, 2016
Fire reported

THE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER WE PURCHASED CAME WITH SUPPLIED 6000 PND LIPPERT AXLES. THE AXLES ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE WEIGHT CARRIED ON THIS TRAILER. 7000 OR 8000 POUND AXLES SHOULD BE STANDARD. IN 2013 THIS IS WHAT THEY USED. IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, THEY USED HEAVIER AXLES. WE ARE EDUCATED TO THIS AND ARE SENSITIVE TO BRAKE, AXLE SEAL, AND OVERALL TIRE MAINTENANCE. LIPPERT SEALS ARE ALSO KNOWN TO BE INFERIOR. WE HAD THE SEALS REPLACED WITH HIGHER QUALITY DEXTER SEALS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO SO THAT WE COULD AVOID ANY ISSUES. ON 11/26/16 WE WERE RETURNING FROM A TRIP WHEN WE LOST A WHEEL WEST OF CLAYTON NM ON A STATE HIGHWAY. WE ARE ASSUMING THE AXLE BEARING FAILED, WHICH CAUSE THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BECOME SO HOT, IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CATCH FIRE. THE WHEEL, HUB, LUGS, TIRE CAME AWAY FROM THE AXLE. AND BOUNCED ACROSS THE NM STATE HIGHWAY. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, IT DIDN'T HIT ANYONE.

NHTSA ID
10936422
Incident
Nov 26, 2016
Mileage
20,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER COLUMBUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR IN THE KITCHEN OF THE RV HAD BECOME VERY SOFT. THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80.

NHTSA ID
10864568
Incident
May 1, 2016
Mileage
80 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 16, 2015

THE TRAVEL TRAILER IS UNABLE TO STOP DUE TO FAULTY SEALS LEAKING AND GETTING GREASE ON THE BRAKE HARDWARE. I AM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE SEALS DUE TO OTHER TRAILERS IDENTIFIED WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE OF THE AXEL ASSEMBLY LCI (LIPPERT) AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY TRAILER WAS 2 YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY NOTHING COULD BE DONE. ALSO I WAS MADE AWARE THAT LETTERS WHERE SENT OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I NEVER RECEIVED ONE, AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY TRAILER WAS 2 YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10706113
Incident
Apr 15, 2015
Mileage
5,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 15, 2015

BRAKES WERE NOT STOPPING 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. PULLED OFF BRAKE HUB AND FOUND GREASE ON BRAKE SHOES FROM FAULTY GREASE SEALS. I AM IN CONTACT WITH LIPPERT COMPONENTS AT THIS TIME, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THEY WANT TO HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705823
Incident
Apr 3, 2015
Mileage
3,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2014

BOTH TRAILER AXLES, 6000#, WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND TO HAVE GREASE CONTAMINATION ON BRAKE SHOES AND HARDWARE. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION. THE GREASE FROM THE WHEEL BEARINGS PASSED THE SEAL, CAUSING THE CONTAMINATION. *JS

NHTSA ID
10661860
Incident
Oct 20, 2014
Mileage
5,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Nov 20, 2014

ALL AXLE SEALS LEAKING ON 2013 COLUMBUS 320 RS...6000# AXLES. APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES ON UNIT THAT WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2014....THIS IS BEING REPORTED IN NOVEMBER 2014. GREASE LEAKED THROUGH AXLE SEALS INTO HUB ASSEMBLY, CONTAMINATING BRAKING MECHANISM CAUSING REDUCED TO NO BRAKES ON 14,000# 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. THIS 5TH WHEEL IS USED PRIMARILY IN COLORADO, ON MOUNTAIN ROADS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH LITTLE TO NO ACTION BEING TAKEN BY LIPPERT INDUSTRIES TO ISSUE A RECALL OF THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659688
Incident
Nov 19, 2014
Mileage
6,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 19, 2014

RV BRAKES FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659202
Incident
Sep 29, 2014
Brakes
Filed Nov 13, 2014

WHEEL SEALS FAILED ALLOWING BEARING GREASE TO SPREAD AROUND ALL BRAKE SURFACES. ALL 4 BRAKES WERE EFFECTED. ALL EFFECTED PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10654850
Incident
Nov 13, 2014
Mileage
2,500 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Palomino Columbus by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2021010—
2018100—
2017010—
2016110—
2015110—
2014182149.6
2013Viewing162151.7
2012200—

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.