← New search

2015 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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Cardinal years →

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 9 of 11 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.

  • Wheels. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 3 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

Suspension complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
7,515 miles · Oct 24, 2015
StructureSuspensionWheels

L GOODYEAR TIRES. ALL FOUR MARATHON ST235/80R16 LOAD RANGE E, DOT NUMBER 2VUN 1KGE 3213 TIRES WITH 80 PSI COLD ON OUR CARDINAL 3880 FIFTH WHEEL VIN NUMBER [XXX] MADE BY FOREST RIVER, PURCHASED NEW ON MAY 16 2015 FAILED WITHIN HOURS OF EACH OTHER ON AUGUST 7, 2015. THE TIRES HAD 7515 MILES ON THEM WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE F…

Read full complaint

L GOODYEAR TIRES. ALL FOUR MARATHON ST235/80R16 LOAD RANGE E, DOT NUMBER 2VUN 1KGE 3213 TIRES WITH 80 PSI COLD ON OUR CARDINAL 3880 FIFTH WHEEL VIN NUMBER [XXX] MADE BY FOREST RIVER, PURCHASED NEW ON MAY 16 2015 FAILED WITHIN HOURS OF EACH OTHER ON AUGUST 7, 2015. THE TIRES HAD 7515 MILES ON THEM WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE FIFTH WHEEL TIRE THREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT. I PUT ON THE SPARE AND WE CONTINUED ON TO WESTCLIFF COLORADO WHERE I PURCHASED A NEW REPLACEMENT TIRE. WE CONTINUED ABOUT 10 MILES ON I25 WHEN THE REAR DRIVER?S SIDE TIRE THREAD SEPARATED AND BLEW OUT. THIS WAS WITHIN AN HOUR OF THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE. WE WERE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND WERE ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CALL FOREST RIVER CURBSIDE SERVICE ASSISTANCE. THEY SENT JM TIRE OUT TO REPLACE THE BLOWN OUT TIRE WITH THE SPARE. WE LIMPED INTO TRINIDAD COLORADO TO JM TIRE WHERE, AFTER INSPECTION, THE REMAINING TWO PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE; ONE HAVING A BULGE IN IT, AND ONE WITH ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE OF THREAD SEPARATION. I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. THE BLOWN OUT DRIVER?S SIDE REAR TIRE TORE UP THE DRIVER?S SIDE SLIDE HYDRAULICS OF THE FIFTH WHEEL CAUSING THE SLIDE TO OPEN OUT INTO I25 AND THE LOWER OUTER PANEL OF THE SLIDE TO BE DESTROYED. ALL FOUR GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE WITH THREAD SEPARATIONS. I HAVE WRITTEN STATEMENTS FROM BOTH JM TIRE (WHERE WE BOUGHT 4 NEW LOAD RANGE G TIRES NOT MANUFACTURED BY GOODYEAR) AND DISCOUNT TIRE IN AMARILLO TX, AN AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR TIRE DEALER, THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE PICTURES OF ALL DAMAGE AND OF EACH OF THE FAILED TIRES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10785773

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2015
SuspensionUnknown Or OtherWheels

THIS RV BOUNCES AS IT TRAVELS, BOTTOMING OUT ON THE ROAD AND CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE RV. IT HAD 2013 TIRES THAT BUBBLED FROM FATIGUE OF THE BOUNCE AND THE SPRING LEAFS WERE FLAT, REPLACED AND FLAT AGAIN. THE BOUNCE CAUSES ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS SOMETIMES NOT WORKING. FOREST RIVER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE P…

Read full complaint

THIS RV BOUNCES AS IT TRAVELS, BOTTOMING OUT ON THE ROAD AND CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE RV. IT HAD 2013 TIRES THAT BUBBLED FROM FATIGUE OF THE BOUNCE AND THE SPRING LEAFS WERE FLAT, REPLACED AND FLAT AGAIN. THE BOUNCE CAUSES ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS SOMETIMES NOT WORKING. FOREST RIVER HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE 6 MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD IT AND THEY SAY IT'S SAFE TO OPERATE ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10780987

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2015
SuspensionWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE FRACTURED AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE RV. THE RV WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL HUB AXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE RV WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE F…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE FRACTURED AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE RV. THE RV WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL HUB AXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE RV WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10763475

Official recalls

1

21V523000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer; Structure

Jul 9, 2021

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River Blue Ridge, 2014-2019 Forest River Cardinal, 2014-2020 Forest River Cedar Creek, 2014-2021 Forest River Georgetown, 2019 Forest River Legacy, and 2017-2018 Forest River Riverstone recreational vehicles equipped with Hehr 6400 Series windows. The adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1380.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River Blue Ridge, 2014-2019 Forest River Cardinal, 2014-2020 Forest River Cedar Creek, 2014-2021 Forest River Georgetown, 2019 Forest River Legacy, and 2017-2018 Forest River Riverstone recreational vehicles equipped with Hehr 6400 Series windows. The adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may fail.

Consequence: Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1380.

Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River Blue Ridge, 2014-2019 Forest River Cardinal, 2014-2020 Forest River Cedar Creek, 2014-2021 Forest River Georgetown, 2019 Forest River Legacy, and 2017-2018 Forest River Riverstone recreational vehicles equipped with Hehr 6400 Series windows. The adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may fail.

Consequence: Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1380.

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.