IllustrationTHE LIGHTS ON THE MOTORHOME ARE VERY INEFFECTIVE. I HAVE TOLD FOREST RIVER SEVERAL TIMES THAT THEY DON'T LIGHT UP THE FRONT OF THE RV FAR ENOUGH FOR SAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE DARK. EVEN ON NON-LIT COUNTRY ROADS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING AS THESE LIGHTS AFFECT MODELS 2014-PRESENT. *DT
2014 Forest River Berkshire
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Berkshire years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsON THE MORNING OF 11/20/17 I AWOKE TO THE SOUND OF ELECTRICAL ARCING. I TURNED THE MAIN BREAKER OFF, GOT A FLASH LIGHT AND A SCREW DRIVER AND TOOK PANEL COVER OFF. THEN I TURNED THE MAIN BREAKER BACK ON AND SAW THAT THE 3RD BREAKER FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WAS ARCING IN THE BOX WHICH I THEN TOOK MY PHONE AND SNAPPED A VIDEO OF …
Read full complaint
ON THE MORNING OF 11/20/17 I AWOKE TO THE SOUND OF ELECTRICAL ARCING. I TURNED THE MAIN BREAKER OFF, GOT A FLASH LIGHT AND A SCREW DRIVER AND TOOK PANEL COVER OFF. THEN I TURNED THE MAIN BREAKER BACK ON AND SAW THAT THE 3RD BREAKER FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WAS ARCING IN THE BOX WHICH I THEN TOOK MY PHONE AND SNAPPED A VIDEO OF THE ARCING. AFTER I PULLED OUT THE BREAKER I COULD SEE WHERE THE TOP OF IT WAS BROKEN.BUT THE FACT WAS I COULD NOW SEE THAT THE BREAKER THAT I REMOVED WAS INTENTIONALLY BROKEN AT THE FACTORY TO INSTALL IT ON THAT SIDE OF THE PANEL BOX WHERE THE TABS OF THE PANEL WERE MADE TO KEEP THAT BREAKER FROM BEING USED. NOT ONLY WAS PART OF THE SHELL TO THE BREAKER BROKEN BUT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A CLIP IN THE BREAKER THAT KEEPS PRESSURE ON THE SOCKET OF THE BREAKER ONTO THE TAB OF THE PANEL. THE ALTERING OF THE BREAKER COMPROMISED THE CONNECTION TO THE PANEL WHICH I BELIEVE AFTER TIME GAVE IT THE CHANCE TO START ARCING. ANOTHER GUY ON THE FORUM FROM INDIANA THAT HAS A BERKSHIRE COACH, BUT IT'S A 2015 PULLED OUT HIS BREAKER FOR THE SAME CIRCUITS, IT WAS BROKEN OUT JUST LIKE MINE WAS ALTHOUGH HIS STILL HAD THE SPRING TO KEEP PRESSURE ON THE TABS OF THE PANEL.SO NOW I ASK MYSELF HERE'S 2 BERKSHIRE COACHES BUILT A YEAR APART WITH THE SAME EXACT BROKEN BREAKER? THERE IS A RECALL17V-799 FOR 16 - 18 BERKSHIRES FOR THIS EXACT PRACTICE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO MUCH FURTHER AS MY COACH IS A 2014 , AND THE OTHER GENTLEMEN'S IS A 2015. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS FOREST RIVERS COMMON PRACTICE TO USE INCORRECT BREAKERS IN BERKSHIRES. I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS RECALL EXPANDED TO 2012 AND MAYBE EVEN SOME OF THEIR OTHER MODELS LIKE CHARLSTONS AND LEGACYS AS WELL BEFORE A FIRE TAKES SOMEONES LIFE. I DO HAVE A VIDEO OF THE BREAKER IN THE PANEL ARCING ON THAT MORNING BUT CANNOT SEEM TO LOAD IT ON HERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW IT SEND ME AN EMAIL AND I WILL FORWARD IT TO YOU.
Official recalls
317V756000 · Equipment
Nov 22, 2017
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2003-2018 Forest River Berkshire, Charleston, Rockport, Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Riverstone, Salem, Sandpiper, Sierra, Vengeance, Wildcat, Wildwood, XLR Boost, Cargo Mate, Continental Cargo, motorhomes, recreational trailers, toyhaulers, cargo trailers and restroom trailers and 2009-2018 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit, Concord, Leprechaun, Freelander, Orion and Prism motorhomes, 2009-2017 Coachmen Apex and Catalina recreational trailers, and 2013-2017 Shasta Oasis and Revere recreational trailers, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on December 27, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Kidde customer service toll free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0544.
17V623000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:high/low Beam Dimmer Switch
Oct 6, 2017
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Berkshire XL and XLT buses. The headlights may shut off while switching from low beam to high beam settings, reducing visibility for the operator and other vehicles.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the headlights shut off while driving, decreasing or causing a full loss of visibility, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental wiring harness that will stop the headlights from shutting off unexpectedly, free of charge. The recall began on October 31, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-295-2117. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-0241.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:headlights:high/low Beam Dimmer Switch
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Berkshire XL and XLT buses. The headlights may shut off while switching from low beam to high beam settings, reducing visibility for the operator and other vehicles.
Consequence: If the headlights shut off while driving, decreasing or causing a full loss of visibility, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental wiring harness that will stop the headlights from shutting off unexpectedly, free of charge. The recall began on October 31, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-295-2117. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-0241.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Berkshire XL and XLT buses. The headlights may shut off while switching from low beam to high beam settings, reducing visibility for the operator and other vehicles.
Consequence: If the headlights shut off while driving, decreasing or causing a full loss of visibility, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental wiring harness that will stop the headlights from shutting off unexpectedly, free of charge. The recall began on October 31, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-295-2117. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-0241.
15V771000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer:lpg Systems:water Heater
Nov 19, 2015
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Berkshire, Charleston, Legacy, Dynamax, XLR, Continental Cargo, Work & Play, Shockwave, and Coachmen Brookstone recreational vehicles and toy haulers, equipped with Atwood on demand water heaters, models OD45, OD50, and OD50CW, manufactured January 2, 2012, to August 13, 2015. The affected water heaters have a water and gas valve that may cause the water heater to overheat the water in the hot water supply tap.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The overheating of the water may result in the release of steam, possibly causing the operator is to scald themselves and increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners of a field remedy as provided by Atwood to the Dealerships and O.E.M. A. Inspection and installation instructions for the remedy, to be used and applied only by qualified service center personnel. B. Installation of a water flow adjustment STOP KEY that prevents the adjustment of the water flow down below .5gal/min. C. The addition of a star or lock washer to secure the adjustment screw that prevents unintended adjustment or and adjustment drift from vibration as you travel down the road. D. Securement of the remedy with the application of a warning and tamper proof label applied over the stop key and adjustment screw. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Atwood customer service at 1-574-264-2131. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11092015-0107.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.