2021 Forest River Puma recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
3 safety recalls, 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 2021-2022 Puma travel trailers. The black wastewater-holding tank may be missing the ventilation pipe, allowing methane gas to build up.
What could happen: In the presence of an ignition source, a gas build up increases the risk of fire.
The fix: Dealers will properly vent the black wastewater-holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-642-0606. Forest River's number for this recall is 420-1425.
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 2021 PUMA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Forest River dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V784000 (manufacturer code 420-1425).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-574-642-0606.
- 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:PLUMBING:SEWAGE/BLACK:STORAGE TANK
Summary: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Puma travel trailers. The black wastewater-holding tank may be missing the ventilation pipe, allowing methane gas to build up.
Consequence: In the presence of an ignition source, a gas build up increases the risk of fire.
Remedy: Dealers will properly vent the black wastewater-holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-642-0606. Forest River's number for this recall is 420-1425.
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.
2. Equipment
What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Puma travel trailers. The outdoor cooktop may be stowed away while the propane hose is still attached and the burner is on.
What could happen: If the cooktop is stowed away while the propane hose is attached and the burner is on, it will increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the drawer housing the outside cooktop preventing the drawer from being closed while the propane line is still attached, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-0606. Fores…
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 2021 PUMA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Forest River dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 20V799000 (manufacturer code 425-1269).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-574-642-0606.
- 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 2021 Puma travel trailers. The outdoor cooktop may be stowed away while the propane hose is still attached and the burner is on.
Consequence: If the cooktop is stowed away while the propane hose is attached and the burner is on, it will increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the drawer housing the outside cooktop preventing the drawer from being closed while the propane line is still attached, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-0606. Forest River's number for this recall is 425-1269.
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.safercar.gov.
3. Electrical system
What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2004-2024 Cedar Creek and 2006-2024 Puma fifth wheels trailers. The overcurrent protection from the trailer battery may have been incorrectly routed, allowing the wires to be pulled out of the junction box.
What could happen: A loose wire can cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will reroute the wires to the protected side of the mini-beaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2024. Owners may contact Puma customer service at 1-574-642-0588 or Cedar Creek customer service at 260-593-4000. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1786.
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 2021 PUMA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Forest River dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 24V395000 (manufacturer code 51-1786).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-574-642-0588.
- 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:120/240 VAC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:CHARGER LOW VOLTAGE BATTERY
Summary: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2004-2024 Cedar Creek and 2006-2024 Puma fifth wheels trailers. The overcurrent protection from the trailer battery may have been incorrectly routed, allowing the wires to be pulled out of the junction box.
Consequence: A loose wire can cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will reroute the wires to the protected side of the mini-beaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2024. Owners may contact Puma customer service at 1-574-642-0588 or Cedar Creek customer service at 260-593-4000. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1786.
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
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- Portable jump starter
- 2021 Forest River Puma owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Wheels / tires (1), Equipment (1), Body / structure (1), Suspension (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (4)
09/08/2023 · Wheels / tires
Castle Rock Radial ST 225/75R15 When driving North on I81 in West Viginia just outside of Martinsburg my front left camper tire blew out and caused a lot of damage to the sideout on my camper. When traveling back from our camping trip weekend the right front axle tire blew approx. 15 miles from our home in [XXX] . The second tire that blew out damaged the…
04/24/2023 · Equipment
2021 FOREST RIVER PUMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ISSUE WITH THE HOT WATER HEATER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ADDITIONAL DEFECTS THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT LOCK, AND THE FLOORING HAD DEFECTS FROM MANUFACTURING. AND THE PROPRANE TANK COVER FIT POORLY.
06/19/2021 · Body / structure
in the course of our first camping trips we weighted the camper multiple times, and the numbers did not add up as they should have. We requested that service look at that as well during the repair process. They discovered though the spec calls out a hitch weight of 700lbs, ours was weighing 1100lbs. That is a 57% INCREASE in hitch weight. Enough that it…
06/16/2021 · Suspension
We picked up this camper on May 19, 2021 and returned it to the dealer May 28, 2021 because the leaf springs supporting the camper a completely flat.