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2008 Forest River Salem

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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 3 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. 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

3 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2011
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER SALEM TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FRONT AND REAR AXLES WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FOUR LEAF SPRINGS WERE POORLY DESIGNED AND DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE PROBLEM. THE FAILUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOREST RIVER SALEM TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FRONT AND REAR AXLES WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FOUR LEAF SPRINGS WERE POORLY DESIGNED AND DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10416621

510 miles · Apr 18, 2011
Tires

PURCHASED A 2008 FLAGSTAFF TRAILER MODEL 31FKBBS IN JUNE 2009. HAVE HAD THREE TIRE BLOW OUTS ONE EACH IN OCTOBER 2009, JULY 2010, AND FEB 2011 AND A WHEEL BEARING FAILURE POSSIBLY CAUSED BY LAST BLOW OUT IN FEB 2011. UNABLE TO TOW TRAILER IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH BECAUSE OF TIRE PROBLEM. AFTER LAST TIRE BLOWOUT TIRE DEALER POINTED …

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PURCHASED A 2008 FLAGSTAFF TRAILER MODEL 31FKBBS IN JUNE 2009. HAVE HAD THREE TIRE BLOW OUTS ONE EACH IN OCTOBER 2009, JULY 2010, AND FEB 2011 AND A WHEEL BEARING FAILURE POSSIBLY CAUSED BY LAST BLOW OUT IN FEB 2011. UNABLE TO TOW TRAILER IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH BECAUSE OF TIRE PROBLEM. AFTER LAST TIRE BLOWOUT TIRE DEALER POINTED OUT DATA ON TRAILER STATES TIRES SHOULD BE ST225/75R15 LOAD RANDE D VS. ST205R/7515 TIRES THAT CAME ON TRAILER. OVER $3000 IN TIRES AND REPAIR COST. DEALER CLAIMS THAT FORREST RIVER SUPPLIED INCORRECT TIRES. HAVE ONE OF THE BLOWN OUT TIRES AND RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE TRAILER AND TIRE REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396715

10,000 miles · Oct 26, 2009
Suspension

WE HAVE A 2008 FOREST RIVER SURVEYOR MODEL 301 30 FT TRAVEL TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH LIPPERT AXLES. WE WERE ON VACATION AND WE HEARD A LOUD BANG LIKE A TIRE BLOWING OUT. I PULLED OVER GOT OUT AND INSPECTED THE TRAILER AND MY TOW VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WITHIN 600 MILES MY RT REAR TIRE WENT BALD ON THE OUTSIDE AND I TOOK I…

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WE HAVE A 2008 FOREST RIVER SURVEYOR MODEL 301 30 FT TRAVEL TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH LIPPERT AXLES. WE WERE ON VACATION AND WE HEARD A LOUD BANG LIKE A TIRE BLOWING OUT. I PULLED OVER GOT OUT AND INSPECTED THE TRAILER AND MY TOW VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WITHIN 600 MILES MY RT REAR TIRE WENT BALD ON THE OUTSIDE AND I TOOK IT TO A TIRE DEALER IN KALLISPELL MONTANA AND THEY PUT MY SPARE TIRE ON. WE THEN DROVE HOME. I INSPECTED THE TRAILER AND FOUND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BALD AND ONE OTHER TIRE GOING BALD. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED AND TOOK THE TRAILER TO MY DEALER AND POINTED OUT TO THEM THAT THE FRONT AXLE WAS BENT UPWARD IN THE MIDDLE AND THE FRONT AXLE SHACKLES WERE NOT TIGHT AGAINST THE FRAME. THE AXLE IS ACTUALLY TOUCHING THE FLOOR IN THE MIDDLE. PICTURES WERE SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INSIST IT IS A TIRE PROBLEM ANGOODYEAR SAYS IT IS AN AXLE PROBLEM. I FILED A REPORT WITH GOODYEAR AND I TOOK THE TIRE TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE EXPERT AND BOTH CONFIRMED IT WAS A MISALIGNED OR DAMAGED AXLE. I DID NOTHING ON THE TRIP TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM.THE AXLE IS A MODEL 3500 BUT I CANNOT GET ANYONE TO GIVE ME A MANUFACTURE DATE.REPEATED CALLS TO FOREST RIVER HAVE BEEN UNANSWERED.ONE OTHER PROBLEM I FOUND WITH THE AXLES WEREPLASTIC DUST COVERS OVER THE AXLE BEARINGS HAD DISINTEGRATED(THIS WAS BEFORE THE TRIP). I TOOK THE RV TO MY DEALER AND THEY REPACKED THE BEARINGS AND REPLACED THE REAR SEALS.I REPLACED THE DUST COVERS WITH METAL ONES. WHEN I CALLED LIPPERT AND DISCUSSED MY AXLE PROBLEM I BROUGHT THE DUST COVER PROBLEM TO THEIR ATTENTION AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T USING THEM ANY MORE. I ASKED THEM WHEN THEY STOPPED AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHEN. THE RV HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 6 WEEKS AND NOBODY CAN TELL MEWHAT CAUSED THE AXLE TO FAIL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO. I AM NOT MOVING THIS RV UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED PROPERLY REPORTED AND FIXED. NOTE: ON YOUR WEBSITE "SURVEYOR" MODEL NOT LISTED SO I LISTED "SALEM" TO PROCEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289871

Official recalls

3

20V727000 · Equipment:appliance:oven/stove/cooktop; Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer:lpg Systems

Nov 23, 2020

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Coachmen Chaparral and Shasta, 2019-2020 Coachmen Concord and Orion, 2020-2021 Coachmen Cross Trek and Forest River Berkshire, 2019-2021 Coachmen Freelander, Leprechaun and Prism, 2020 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit and Sportscoach, Dynamax Force, DX3, Dynaquest XL and Isata and Forest River Wildwood and 2008 and 2020 Forest River Salem vehicles equipped with Dometic 3 burner cooking stoves. The saddle valve securing bolt may be overtightened, possibly damaging the o-ring seal and causing a continuous gas leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A gas leak can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a remedy kit of gaskets, washers, thread locker bolts, and two round orange labels, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995, or Dometic customer service at 1-574-293-0681. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1259.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Equipment:appliance:oven/stove/cooktop

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Coachmen Chaparral and Shasta, 2019-2020 Coachmen Concord and Orion, 2020-2021 Coachmen Cross Trek and Forest River Berkshire, 2019-2021 Coachmen Freelander, Leprechaun and Prism, 2020 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit and Sportscoach, Dynamax Force, DX3, Dynaquest XL and Isata and Forest River Wildwood and 2008 and 2020 Forest River Salem vehicles equipped with Dometic 3 burner cooking stoves. The saddle valve securing bolt may be overtightened, possibly damaging the o-ring seal and causing a continuous gas leak.

Consequence: A gas leak can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a remedy kit of gaskets, washers, thread locker bolts, and two round orange labels, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995, or Dometic customer service at 1-574-293-0681. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1259.

Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer:lpg Systems

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Coachmen Chaparral and Shasta, 2019-2020 Coachmen Concord and Orion, 2020-2021 Coachmen Cross Trek and Forest River Berkshire, 2019-2021 Coachmen Freelander, Leprechaun and Prism, 2020 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit and Sportscoach, Dynamax Force, DX3, Dynaquest XL and Isata and Forest River Wildwood and 2008 and 2020 Forest River Salem vehicles equipped with Dometic 3 burner cooking stoves. The saddle valve securing bolt may be overtightened, possibly damaging the o-ring seal and causing a continuous gas leak.

Consequence: A gas leak can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a remedy kit of gaskets, washers, thread locker bolts, and two round orange labels, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995, or Dometic customer service at 1-574-293-0681. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1259.

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.

07V487000 · Equipment:other:labels

Oct 16, 2007

CERTAIN TRAVEL TRAILERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." THE LABEL LOCATED ON THE LOWER ROADSIDE FRONT OF THE UNIT CONTAINS AN IMPROPER LISTING OF THE TIRE AND RIM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THERE MAY BE CONFUSION AS TO THE PROPER REPLACEMENT TIRE IF IT IS NECESSARY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL THE CORRECTED FEDERAL COMPLIANCE TAG AND TIRE LOAD INFORMATION TO THE DEALERS OR RETAIL CUSTOMERS. THEY CAN BE PLACED OVER THE INCORRECT LABEL AFTER CLEANING THE SURFACE WITH ALCOHOL. CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOREST RIVER AT 574-534-3167.

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.