AI Damage2002 Forest River Wildcat: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Forest River Wildcat filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about equipment and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Equipment 33% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 33% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 33% of all complaints
- 4 Tires 33% of all complaints
- Equipment: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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.
On three occasions, carlisle tires properly maintained and inflated to their published specifications blew out causing extensive damage to a fifth wheel trailer. Vehicle was being operated at 60 mph when the failure occurred.
The release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire. He contacted the manufacturer in reference to recall# 08e032000 (equipment). A representative stated that the remedy only states to install a secondary burner housing free of charge, but since his unit failed he is not entitled to free…
Dt*: the contact stated three tires blew out on the travel trailer. Upon inspecting of the vehicle the weld was noticed to be broken where the rear spring connects to the frame. The contact stated that the broken weld may be the reason for the tire failures.
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 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Wildcat has 3 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 3, about average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Forest River Wildcat?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: equipment, structure, suspension. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: tires: bulges, blowouts (67%), smoke, burning smell, fire (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 Forest River Wildcat?
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 2002 Forest River Wildcat 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 2002 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.