Car Problem DataNHTSA records

2018 Forest River Columbus

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension1
000
Structure1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Tires17V282000
Filed Apr 26, 201771 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Salem, Wildwood, XLR, Sanibel, Wildcat, Vengeance, Chaparral Lite and Columbus recreational trailers. The Federal Placard may inaccurately list the tire and rim combinations that are installed on the trailers. Additionally, the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) information may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims," and 49 CFR part 567, "Certification."

Risk. The incorrect information may cause the operator to install an incorrect replacement rim or tire, overinflate the tire, or overload the vehicle, all scenarios that may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Forest River will notify owners and will provide a corrected Federal Placard, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-04242017-0393.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure
Filed Nov 6, 2025SD

The contact owns a 2018 Forest River Columbus. The contact stated that the pin box behind the tow area had sidewall separation from the frame of the trailer. The trailer was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Suspension
Filed Jun 12, 2025IA

After a trip I found a crack in the fiberglass under the slide out, the dealer sent me to a Bodyshop. They have determined that the welds for the frame have broken. I have contacted forest river they will not try to help with the repair. I believe this is a safety issue with their product.

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2018
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20241000Routine
20221200Routine
20211400Routine
20200100Routine
20190100Routine
2018 — this page2100Routine
20171100Routine
20151000Routine
20141000Routine
20131000Routine

Compare every Columbus year →

Other Forest River models

All Forest River models →
Cherokee 160Georgetown 132Rockwood 119Wildwood 111Salem 98Flagstaff 68Cardinal 61Wildcat 54R-Pod 54Shasta 51

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: Apr 26, 2017. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.