AI Damage2008 Forest River Cargo Mate: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 60% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 20% of all complaints
- 4 Wheels 20% of all complaints
- Suspension: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Wheels: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 forest river cargo mate. While driving approximately 65 mph, the wheel stud fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v390000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 forest river work and play trailer (na). The contact stated that when it rained, water leaked inside of the trailer through all of the sidewalls. The failure occurred only during inclement weather.
The contact stated that the tires on her vehicle blew out. The rv was taken to a private mechanic who advised that the axles needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure was repaired on two occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 forest river cargo mate trailer. The contact stated that the axles were defective. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who verified the failure and advised that the axles needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance.
The contact repaired the center tire; however, the axle failed and caused another tire blow out. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility and the mechanic determined that three of the axle arms were bent. The manufacturer stated that the contact would be responsible for the repair cost.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Cargo Mate has 2 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, powertrain, structure. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: tires: bulges, blowouts (40%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Forest River Cargo Mate from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.