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2013 Forest River Cardinal

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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20101
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201411
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2016
Compare all Cardinal years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Structure
1

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: 1 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. 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 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2017
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEALS ON THE TOP AND SIDE OF THE CAMPER DETACHED DUE TO WATER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE CAMPER AND DAMAGED THE INTERIOR. THE CAMPER WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAMPER …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEALS ON THE TOP AND SIDE OF THE CAMPER DETACHED DUE TO WATER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE CAMPER AND DAMAGED THE INTERIOR. THE CAMPER WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAMPER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 05/05/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS ONLY. UPDATED 09/22/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI #10957874

15,000 miles · Jul 25, 2015
Electrical System

PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR A TRIP I PLUGGED OUR CARDINAL 3550RL IN TO AN AC OUTLET TO RUN THE FRIDGE. THE MORNING OF OUR DEPARTURE I FOUND THAT THE 2 REAR SLIDE ROOMS HAD DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT ON THEIR OWN AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE SLIDE ROOM PUMP HAD RUN ALL NIGHT AND BURNED THE PUMP OUT SO BADLY THAT WE COULD NOT MANUALLY RETRACT THE …

Read full complaint

PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR A TRIP I PLUGGED OUR CARDINAL 3550RL IN TO AN AC OUTLET TO RUN THE FRIDGE. THE MORNING OF OUR DEPARTURE I FOUND THAT THE 2 REAR SLIDE ROOMS HAD DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT ON THEIR OWN AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE SLIDE ROOM PUMP HAD RUN ALL NIGHT AND BURNED THE PUMP OUT SO BADLY THAT WE COULD NOT MANUALLY RETRACT THE ROOMS OR THE LANDING GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SCORCHED AND COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE DURING THE NIGHT ACCORDING TO OUR TECH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC GIVEN THE RIGS LOCATION . I WOULD HAVE LOST 2 TRUCKS A BOAT AND 2 PETS ALONG WITH THE TRAILER.UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT 2 WIRE SPADES IN THE INTERIOR CONTROL PANEL HAD VIBRATED OFF AND WERE VERY LOOSE FITTING CAUSING A SHORT. IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING WHILE YOU ARE ON THE ROAD AND THE ROOMS DEPLOY IN TRAFFIC! THERE WERE NO INLINE FUSES, BREAKERS OR OTHER FAIL-SAFES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. IN OUR OPINION THIS WAS CAUSED BY SLOPPY WORKMANSHIP AND POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS STONEWALLED AND NEVER GOT A CALL BACK THAT WAS REQUESTED FROM A MANAGER. CONTACT - FOREST RIVER, ELKHART IN 573-533-5934 ## VIN FAILED ## 2012 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 3550 RL ##

NHTSA ODI #10743444

Official recalls

2

14V449000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer

Jul 23, 2014

Forest River Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Georgetown, Sunseeker, Forester, Cross Country, Pathfinder, Cardinal, Blue Ridge, Cedar Creek, and Brookstone recreational vehicles manufactured March 11, 2013, through April 26, 2013 and equipped with certain Frigidaire Convection Microwave models CFMV152CLB and CFMV154CLS. The microwave may start on it's own and begin heating when unattended.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the microwave starts on its own and there are contents inside, a fire could result.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will repair the membrane/keypad component, free of charge. The recall began in February 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-353-7383.

13V203000 · Equipment

May 17, 2013

Forest River is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Forest River models Blue Ridge, Cardinal, Cherokee, Columbus, EVO, Georgetown, Flagstaff, Forester, Lexington, Puma, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandpiper, Sandstorm, Sierra, Stealth, Sunseeker, Wildcat, Wildwood, Work and Play and XLR; Coachmen models Brookstone, Catalina, Chaparral, Concord, Encounter, Freedom Express, Freelander, Leprechaun, Mirada, Pursuit, and Sportcoach; Prime Time models Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Saniber, and Tracer; Palomino model Maverick Truck Camper; Cargo Mate model Eliminator and Shasta models Revere, Phoenix recreational vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2013, through April 18, 2013. Due to a design change in the power awning motor assembly, the motor assembly screws may unknowingly shear.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the motor assembly screws shear, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the vehicle is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with motors of a different design. The safety recall began on July 29, 2013. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-389-4600 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.