2014 Forest River Berkshire

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the exterior lighting. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Exterior Lighting1
000
Electrical System1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment17V756000
Filed Nov 22, 2017365,885 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. 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

Risk. 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.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch17V623000
Filed Oct 6, 2017276 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Berkshire XL and XLT buses. The headlights may shut off while switching from low beam to high beam settings, reducing visibility for the operator and other vehicles.

Risk. If the headlights shut off while driving, decreasing or causing a full loss of visibility, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy. Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a supplemental wiring harness that will stop the headlights from shutting off unexpectedly, free of charge. The recall began on October 31, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-295-2117. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-0241.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer › Lpg Systems › Water Heater15V771000
Filed Nov 19, 2015489 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Berkshire, Charleston, Legacy, Dynamax, XLR, Continental Cargo, Work & Play, Shockwave, and Coachmen Brookstone recreational vehicles and toy haulers, equipped with Atwood on demand water heaters, models OD45, OD50, and OD50CW, manufactured January 2, 2012, to August 13, 2015. The affected water heaters have a water and gas valve that may cause the water heater to overheat the water in the hot water supply tap.

Risk. The overheating of the water may result in the release of steam, possibly causing the operator is to scald themselves and increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Forest River will notify owners of a field remedy as provided by Atwood to the Dealerships and O.E.M. A. Inspection and installation instructions for the remedy, to be used and applied only by qualified service center personnel. B. Installation of a water flow adjustment STOP KEY that prevents the adjustment of the water flow down below .5gal/min. C. The addition of a star or lock washer to secure the adjustment screw that prevents unintended adjustment or and adjustment drift from vibration as you travel down the road. D. Securement of the remedy with the application of a warning and tamper proof label applied over the stop key and adjustment screw. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Atwood customer service at 1-574-264-2131. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11092015-0107.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 19, 201820,000 milesTN

THE LIGHTS ON THE MOTORHOME ARE VERY INEFFECTIVE. I HAVE TOLD FOREST RIVER SEVERAL TIMES THAT THEY DON'T LIGHT UP THE FRONT OF THE RV FAR ENOUGH FOR SAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE DARK. EVEN ON NON-LIT COUNTRY ROADS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING AS THESE LIGHTS AFFECT MODELS 2014-PRESENT. *DT

Electrical System
Filed Mar 8, 201815,000 milesSC

ON THE MORNING OF 11/20/17 I AWOKE TO THE SOUND OF ELECTRICAL ARCING. I TURNED THE MAIN BREAKER OFF, GOT A FLASH LIGHT AND A SCREW DRIVER AND TOOK PANEL COVER OFF. THEN I TURNED THE MAIN BREAKER BACK ON AND SAW THAT THE 3RD BREAKER FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WAS ARCING IN THE BOX WHICH I THEN TOOK MY PHONE AND SNAPPED A VIDEO OF THE ARCING. AFTER I PULLED OUT THE BREAKER I COULD SEE WHERE THE TOP OF IT WAS BROKEN.BUT THE FACT WAS I COULD NOW SEE THAT THE BREAKER THAT I REMOVED WAS INTENTIONALLY BROKEN AT THE FACTORY TO INSTALL IT ON THAT SIDE OF THE PANEL BOX WHERE THE TABS OF THE PANEL WERE MADE TO KEEP THAT BREAKER FROM BEING USED. NOT ONLY WAS PART OF THE SHELL TO THE BREAKER BROKEN BUT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A CLIP IN THE BREAKER THAT KEEPS PRESSURE ON THE SOCKET OF THE BREAKER ONTO THE TAB OF THE PANEL. THE ALTERING OF THE BREAKER COMPROMISED THE CONNECTION TO THE PANEL WHICH I BELIEVE AFTER TIME GAVE IT THE CHANCE TO START ARCING. ANOTHER GUY ON THE FORUM FROM INDIANA THAT HAS A BERKSHIRE COACH, BUT IT'S A 2015 PULLED OUT HIS BREAKER FOR THE SAME CIRCUITS, IT WAS BROKEN OUT JUST LIKE MINE WAS ALTHOUGH HIS STILL HAD THE SPRING TO KEEP PRESSURE ON THE TABS OF THE PANEL.SO NOW I ASK MYSELF HERE'S 2 BERKSHIRE COACHES BUILT A YEAR APART WITH THE SAME EXACT BROKEN BREAKER? THERE IS A RECALL17V-799 FOR 16 - 18 BERKSHIRES FOR THIS EXACT PRACTICE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO MUCH FURTHER AS MY COACH IS A 2014 , AND THE OTHER GENTLEMEN'S IS A 2015. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS FOREST RIVERS COMMO

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2019
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20220100Routine
20213800Routine
20201500Routine
20196900Routine
201811100Routine
201701100Routine
20164700Routine
20151300Routine
2014 — this page2300Routine
20130200Routine
20120300Routine
20113300Routine
20101200Routine
20092100Routine
20082300Routine
20070400Routine
20060100Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine
20030100Routine

Compare every Berkshire year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 22, 2017. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.