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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Wheels. 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2015
StructureSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FOREST RIVER VLITE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MORE THAN SIX TMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOORING WAS BUCKLING ON THE DRIVER SIDE, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE FLOOR ENTRY DOOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FL…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FOREST RIVER VLITE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MORE THAN SIX TMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOORING WAS BUCKLING ON THE DRIVER SIDE, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE FLOOR ENTRY DOOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FLOORING WITH FLOORING THAT WAS SHORTER THAN THE ORIGINAL FLOORING. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED THREE TIRES BLOWING OUT DUE TO THE FRAME NOT SUPPORTING THE WHEELS FOR THE TRAILER. THE WHEELS STRUCK THE TOP OF THE FENDER BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE TO SUPPORT THE TRAVEL TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SIDEWALL CRACKS ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SIX TIMES, THE UNDER BODY FRACTURED DUE TO THE BOLTS SHEARING OFF WITHOUT WARNING, A NEW AXLE POD WAS INSTALLED MORE THAN 5 TIMES AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FRAME FAILED TO SUPPORT THE TRAVEL TRAILER AND THE FRAMING WAS 8 INCHES INSTEAD OF 6 INCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRAMING, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE ROOF LEAKING AND WALL CRACKS ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE REPAIR FOR THE TRAVEL TRAILER AND WANTED THE CONTACT TO SIGN A WAIVER TO PICK UP THE TRAVEL TRAILER. THE TRAVEL TRAILER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10781708
5,264 miles · Sep 15, 2014
SuspensionTiresWheels
TRAIL EXPRESS TIRE ST 225/75R15 LR C DOT# 1KMM16A 2311 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND LOSS OF AIR RESULTING IN MODERATE VEHICLE DAMAGE. THIS TIRE FAILURE HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AFTER A PREVIOUS TIRE FAILURE OF SAME BRAND AND DOT#. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10633448
5,229 miles · Sep 15, 2014
SuspensionTiresWheels
TRAIL EXPRESS TIRE ST 225/75R15 LR C DOT# 1KMM16A 2311 HAD A SUDDEN SIDEWALL AT TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING A BLOWOUT. MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED AND VERIFIED AT 50PSI AND NO VISIBLE CRACKS OR DEFORMITIES AT BEGINNING OF TRIP 25 MILES BEFORE.
Forest River is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Rockwood, Windjammer, Vlite and Flagstaff travel trailers manufactured February 3, 2012, through February 4, 2013. When an affected trailer hits a large bump or pot hole, the trailer tire may contact the bottom of the floor.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: As a result, the tire may become damaged and possibly blow out which may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will add a lift kit between the frame and the axle mounting brackets, free of charge. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-825-7178.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Tires
Forest River is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Rockwood, Windjammer, Vlite and Flagstaff travel trailers manufactured February 3, 2012, through February 4, 2013. When an affected trailer hits a large bump or pot hole, the trailer tire may contact the bottom of the floor.
Consequence: As a result, the tire may become damaged and possibly blow out which may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will add a lift kit between the frame and the axle mounting brackets, free of charge. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-825-7178.
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED Axle Assembly
Forest River is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Rockwood, Windjammer, Vlite and Flagstaff travel trailers manufactured February 3, 2012, through February 4, 2013. When an affected trailer hits a large bump or pot hole, the trailer tire may contact the bottom of the floor.
Consequence: As a result, the tire may become damaged and possibly blow out which may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will add a lift kit between the frame and the axle mounting brackets, free of charge. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-825-7178.
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
1
RQ14004 · Trailer Tire May Contact Floor
Opened Sep 10, 2014 · Closed Jul 9, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, Leaf Spring To Axle
ODI opened RQ14-004 based on 3 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) which reported a condition similar to recall 13V-554.This recall addressed insufficient clearance between the tire and trailer floor.The condition was due to a frame supplier change which resulted in reduced clearance between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel wellOf the three VOQs reported in the opening resume two were not included in recall 13V-554 and one was.Both of the vehicles not included used a different frame than the recalled trailers.Upon thorough examination of the condition experienced by the owners it was found that neither unit exhibited insufficient tire clearance between the bottom of the floor and top of the tire.Forest River's initial Information Request Response (IRR) submission did not adequately address all the questions asked by ODI.Following a meetingwith Forest River personnel on March 20, 2015 an IRR was submitted on May 22, 2015, which satisfied ODI.This submission is included in the public repository.When asked how Forest River identified the recall population they used a production change to determine the start and end dates.On February 3, 2012 Forest River introduced a new frame.The engineering drawings used to launch this new frame failed to identify the frame rail height.Furthermore, Forest River failed to verify that the new frame rail height was the same as the one it replaced.This created a half inch reduction in clearance.This issue was not identified and remedied untilFebruary 4, 2013 which is the end of the recall population. A thorough review of the complaint and warranty informationreceived during this investigation was preformed.After removing claims that could be associated with recall 13V-554 a defect trend was not identified on the remaining population.The only crash which also included an injurycould not be positively associated with the alleged defect. This investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following complaint identification numbers: 10598458, 10598344, 10538519.
2012 Forest River Vlite Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration