AI DamageForest River Travel Trailer: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Forest River Travel Trailer across 3 model years: 44 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Tires 41% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 25% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- 4 Equipment 7% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 6 Wheels 5% of all complaints
- 7 Electrical system 2% of all complaints
- Tires: 18 complaints (41% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 11 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 11 complaints (25% of all).
- Equipment: 3 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (5% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 44 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 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.
Dt*: the contact stated while pulling the 5th wheel trailer 20 mph, the pin box sheered. As a result the trailer collapsed onto the truck and caused a separation between the trailer and the truck. Both the trailer and truck sustained significant damage; however no injuries occurred.
Three blew out both on the tread and sidewall. On the fourth tire the tread came off. Carlisle tires, st235/85r16. They blew out at different locations on the trailer. Consumer has not been able to get in touch with the manufacturer. On july 31, 2005, the trailer got off the road swiftly.
On april 18, 2005 I picked up my car trailer from the dealer. I began towing my trailer home and noticed an extreme amount of instability with the way it was towing. I proceeded towards my house and slowed way down. I continued traveling and the trailer continued to sway.
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.
While traveling southbound, just crossed mason-dixon line on the interstate, had a blowout on the left front of my 5th wheel camper. The blowout caused damage to the wiring going to the slideout and part of the structure.
At about 3:00 pm on the 29th of july, 2009 my wife myself and two grandchildren departed our home in bel aire, ks destined for taylor park, co. We were driving our 2002 ford e-350 van with v-10, towing a work and play trailer made by forest river (frame by lipert components).
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other models of this make
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.