2015 Forest River Cardinal recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
1 safety recall, most serious first
1. Equipment
What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River Blue Ridge, 2014-2019 Forest River Cardinal, 2014-2020 Forest River Cedar Creek, 2014-2021 Forest River Georgetown, 2019 Forest River Legacy, and 2017-2018 Forest River Riverstone recreational…
What could happen: Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1380.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2015 CARDINAL.
- Book a repair at any authorized Forest River dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V523000 (manufacturer code 51-1380).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-574-825-8600.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
Summary: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River Blue Ridge, 2014-2019 Forest River Cardinal, 2014-2020 Forest River Cedar Creek, 2014-2021 Forest River Georgetown, 2019 Forest River Legacy, and 2017-2018 Forest River Riverstone recreational vehicles equipped with Hehr 6400 Series windows. The adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may fail.
Consequence: Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1380.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- 2015 Forest River Cardinal owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Wheels / tires (8), Suspension (3), Body / structure (3), Unknown Or Other (2), Visibility (wipers / glass) (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
09/29/2017 · Unknown Or Other
OUR 2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL MODEL NO. 3850RL (BOUGHT NEW IN 2015) CAME EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES 235/80R16. WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON THE TIRES, WE EXPERIENCED 3 BLOWOUTS ON ONE TRIP IN 2017. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE TRIP AND WERE ALL SET AT 80 PSI. THE FIRST FAILURE WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE TIRE HAD…
09/07/2017 · Wheels / tires
2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 3 OF THE 4 TIRES HAVE FAILED GOODYEAR MARATHON ONE TIRE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED WHEN I GOT TRAILER THE OTHER 2 BLEW AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF ABOUT 60 MPH I AM SURE THIS HAPPENS MORE THAN IS REPORTED
06/30/2016 · Wheels / tires
WHILE TRAVELING EAST ON INTERSTATE I80 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON MY FIFTH WHEEL BLEW OUT, I CHANGED TIRE AND CONTINUED TO NORTH PLATT NEBRASKA, I PURCHASED A NEW TIRE AND CONTINUED OUR JOURNEY BACK TO PA. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES WHEN BOTH TIRES ON THE LEFT SIDE BLEW OUT AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CHANGED BOTH TIRES I CONTINUED TO KEARN…
05/27/2016 · Wheels / tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR MARATHON ST TIRES, SIZE: ST235/80R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
12/21/2015 · Wheels / tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES, SIZE: ST235/80/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND DAMAGED THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAMPER. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD BUBBLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED…
12/07/2015 · Wheels / tires
ON NOV. 30, 2015 WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH AN ORIGINAL PURCHASED, GOODYEAR MARATHON TRAILER TIRE, ST235/80R16, FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY WITH APPROXIMATELY 7500 MILES OF TRAVEL ON THE RV. THE BLOWOUT CAUSED MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL AREA. ON DEC. 3, 2015 WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES PER HOUR DURING A NORMAL TURN RADIUS, A SECOND O…
10/24/2015 · Suspension
L GOODYEAR TIRES. ALL FOUR MARATHON ST235/80R16 LOAD RANGE E, DOT NUMBER 2VUN 1KGE 3213 TIRES WITH 80 PSI COLD ON OUR CARDINAL 3880 FIFTH WHEEL VIN NUMBER [XXX] MADE BY FOREST RIVER, PURCHASED NEW ON MAY 16 2015 FAILED WITHIN HOURS OF EACH OTHER ON AUGUST 7, 2015. THE TIRES HAD 7515 MILES ON THEM WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE FIFTH WHEEL TIRE THREAD SEPARA…
10/09/2015 · Suspension
THIS RV BOUNCES AS IT TRAVELS, BOTTOMING OUT ON THE ROAD AND CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE RV. IT HAD 2013 TIRES THAT BUBBLED FROM FATIGUE OF THE BOUNCE AND THE SPRING LEAFS WERE FLAT, REPLACED AND FLAT AGAIN. THE BOUNCE CAUSES ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS SOMETIMES NOT WORKING. FOREST RIVER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE 6 MONTHS THAT I…