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 5 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.
Tires. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. 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
5 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2012
Tires
VOMA TRAIL EXPRESS TIRES DOT #1KMM16A1410 (2) AND 1KMM161310 ((2)ST235/80R/16 TIRES WHILE TRAVELING WITH 5TH WHEEL SILVERBACK BY CEDAR CREEK (FOREST RIVER)L WE HAD BOTH EQUALIZER REPLACED WHICH WAS CRACKED AND MECHANIC NOTICED 3 OF 4 TIRES HAD BUBBLES ON INSIDE TIRES WHEN THEY REMOVED TO REPLACE EQUALIZERS.. THEY INDICATED A M…
Read full complaint
VOMA TRAIL EXPRESS TIRES DOT #1KMM16A1410 (2) AND 1KMM161310 ((2)ST235/80R/16 TIRES WHILE TRAVELING WITH 5TH WHEEL SILVERBACK BY CEDAR CREEK (FOREST RIVER)L WE HAD BOTH EQUALIZER REPLACED WHICH WAS CRACKED AND MECHANIC NOTICED 3 OF 4 TIRES HAD BUBBLES ON INSIDE TIRES WHEN THEY REMOVED TO REPLACE EQUALIZERS.. THEY INDICATED A MFG DEFECT AND WE WERE LUCKY THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPENED DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON TIRES BUT THE WARRANTY COMPANY SAID IF WAS FOR ROAD HAZARDS. THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE 6/12/12 AND THE WARRANTY CO JUST GOT BACK TO US NOT HONORING THE CLAIM. THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THE MFG PUTS THE BARE MINIMUM ON TRAILERS/FIFTH WHEELS BUT THE EQUALIZERS AND TIRES FOR CLOSED TO 14000LB FIFTH WHEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN GREATER. THE EQUALIZER WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF BUT THE TIRES WE HAVE NOT. WE DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT. THE NEW TIRES ARE DURO SPECIAL TR4AILER 235/856R16 12 PLY WITH A F LOAD RATING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469552
Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2012
Tires
TRAIL EXPRESS TIRES DEVELOPING SIDEWALL BUBBLES BETWEEN RUBBER AND BELTS THEN BLOWING OUT IN SOME CASES. CAMPER UNIT IS MFG BY FOREST RIVER, BRAND IS SIERRA, NOT CRUSADER AS YOUR SITE LISTS, TIRES ARE DIST. BY LIONSHEAD IN INDIANA. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON TRAIL EXPRESS YOU WILL FIND A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, ISSUES ON TH…
Read full complaint
TRAIL EXPRESS TIRES DEVELOPING SIDEWALL BUBBLES BETWEEN RUBBER AND BELTS THEN BLOWING OUT IN SOME CASES. CAMPER UNIT IS MFG BY FOREST RIVER, BRAND IS SIERRA, NOT CRUSADER AS YOUR SITE LISTS, TIRES ARE DIST. BY LIONSHEAD IN INDIANA. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON TRAIL EXPRESS YOU WILL FIND A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, ISSUES ON THE FORUMS FROM CAMPERS HAVING THESE TIRES FAIL AS I DID AS WELL. ALSO YOU DID NOT HAVE THE MFG LISTED ON YOUR SITE IT IS, DOUBLESTAR DONGFENG TYRE CO., LTD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10464241
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2012
Tires
TIRES (TRAIL EXPRESS) ARE DEVELOPING AIR BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALLS AND POPING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10463646
1,600 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FOREST RIVER FREEDOM EXPRESS TRAVEL TRAILER (NA). WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PROVIDED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMED A TEMPORARY REPAIR WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FOREST RIVER FREEDOM EXPRESS TRAVEL TRAILER (NA). WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PROVIDED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMED A TEMPORARY REPAIR WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE REAR AXLE AND BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.
NHTSA ODI #10413732
600 miles · Jul 12, 2011
Tires
THE TREAD SEPARATED ON A TIRE ON OUR BRAND NEW 2011 FOREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE TRAVEL TRAILER. ANOTHER TIRE'S SIDEWALL IS SEVERELY CRACKED AND WOULD BLOW IF IT WERE TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. I HAD THE TIRES REMOVED FROM THE TRAILER, TOOK THEM TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS HA…
Read full complaint
THE TREAD SEPARATED ON A TIRE ON OUR BRAND NEW 2011 FOREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE TRAVEL TRAILER. ANOTHER TIRE'S SIDEWALL IS SEVERELY CRACKED AND WOULD BLOW IF IT WERE TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. I HAD THE TIRES REMOVED FROM THE TRAILER, TOOK THEM TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TIRES AND ARE EVASIVE AND UNWILLING TO CHECK INTO THIS PROBLEM. THIS VERY EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED MANY FATALITIES IF WE HAD NOT BEEN FORTUNATE AND ATTENTIVE. SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS SHOWN THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES REMOVED FROM THE TRAILER AND HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH A MORE FAVORABLE TIRE. THE ONE TIRE THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED ON WE HAD PATCHED TO GET HOME WHERE WE FOUND ANOTHER TO BE IN VERY POOR CONDITION, 50% DEFECT SO FAR, IS NOT A GOOD RECORD. I WILL KEEP THESE TIRES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. *TT
FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SURVEYOR TRAVEL TRAILERS, CRUSADER FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS, RANCE ALUMINUM CARGO TRAILERS, AND WORK AND PLAY TOY HAULER TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH 15" X 6" WHITE SPOKE OR MODULAR DESIGN STEEL WHEELS WITH A SIX HOLE BOLT PATTERN. SOME OF THE WHEELS MAY HAVE INADEQUATE WELD PENETRATION BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE CENTER PLATE DUE TO IMPROPER PLATE ALIGNMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THERE COULD BE A POTENTIAL WHEEL FAILURE AND WHEEL LOSS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, OR PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS ON THE SUSPECT VEHICLES AND REPAIR THE TRAILERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOREST RIVER AT 574-389-4600.
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.
2011 Forest River Crusader Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year