← New search

2003 Forest River Salem

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 Salem 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: 3 of 8 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.

  • Equipment. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 2 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Suspension complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2007
Suspension

PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATED TIRE WEAR ON A 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. I HAVE A CEDAR CREEK 5TH WHEEL MODEL YEAR 2003, MANUFACTURED 11.02, MODEL # 30RLBS. THE TRAILER HAS 5200# AXLES MANUFACTURED BY AL-KOBER AND THEY ARE CAUSING EXTREME TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF THE TIRES. HAVE SPOKEN TO AL-KO AND THEY DENY ANY PROBLEMS BUT I…

Read full complaint

PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATED TIRE WEAR ON A 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. I HAVE A CEDAR CREEK 5TH WHEEL MODEL YEAR 2003, MANUFACTURED 11.02, MODEL # 30RLBS. THE TRAILER HAS 5200# AXLES MANUFACTURED BY AL-KOBER AND THEY ARE CAUSING EXTREME TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF THE TIRES. HAVE SPOKEN TO AL-KO AND THEY DENY ANY PROBLEMS BUT IT HAS BEEN DETAILED ON QUITE A FEW WEB SITES THAT THEY HAD A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT THE VISUAL ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM IS RAPID WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF TIRES CAUSING BLOW OUTS AND DAMAGE AND SAFETY ISSUES DUE TO THESE DEFECTS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO CEDAR CREEK, STEVE HICKS, AND HE AGREES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS SENT ME REPLACEMENT AXLES NO CHARGE BUT I THINK THAT AL-KOBER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND FORCED TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS AND REPLACE THE TIRED DAMAGED BY THIS DEFECT AND POSSIBLY CAUSING MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. I STILL HAVE THE OLD AXLES AND THE TIRES ARE STILL ON THE TRAILER AS I ONLY MAKE 1 MAJOR TRIP EACH YEAR, PUTTING LESS THAN 3,000 MILES EACH YEAR ON UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10197143

7,500 miles · May 18, 2006
Suspension

DROVE OVER TWO OR THREE ROUGH BRIDGES. LEAF SPRINGS ON LEFT SIDE OF TRAILER FLATTENED & LOST THEIR SUPPORT, CAUSING THE TIRES TO RUB ON UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER WITH A BREAKING ACTION TO THAT SIDE, CAUSING TRAVEL TRAILER TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. TRAILER WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO BENT FRAME AFTER LOSS OF CON…

Read full complaint

DROVE OVER TWO OR THREE ROUGH BRIDGES. LEAF SPRINGS ON LEFT SIDE OF TRAILER FLATTENED & LOST THEIR SUPPORT, CAUSING THE TIRES TO RUB ON UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER WITH A BREAKING ACTION TO THAT SIDE, CAUSING TRAVEL TRAILER TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. TRAILER WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO BENT FRAME AFTER LOSS OF CONTROL. NO ONE WAS INJURED NOTHING WAS HIT NOTHING HIT TRAILER. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A STOP ON THE UNDERSIDE OF EVERY TRAVEL TRAILER ON THE ROAD, TO STOP THE AXLE BEFORE THE TIRE CAN BREAK ON THE UNDERSIDE OF ANY TRAILER. THIS IS NOT ONLY A DANGER TO PEOPLE TOWING TRAILERS BUT TO EVERYONE DRIVING ON THE ROADWAYS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157832

Official recalls

3

17V756000 · 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.

08V346000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer

Jul 7, 2008

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2003-2006 MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

07V085000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer

Mar 5, 2007

CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: FOREST RIVER WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600,

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.