2004 Forest River Forester

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON SOME MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE LOAD REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY UNLATCH IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy. AMSAFE WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE BUCKLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AMSAFE AT 1-574-266-8330 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 29WB FIFTH WHEEL (NA). WHILE PUTTING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE TREAD ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR KENDA TIRE WAS BALD. HE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS ALSO BALD. HE SENT PICTURES TO KENDA AND THEY STATED THAT THE AXLES (ALKO KOBER) WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE AXLE COMPANY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

ON OUR 2ND TRIP WITH OUR 24FT ROCKWOOD 5TH WITH ONLY 500 MILES ON IT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, SIZE ST205/75R14 I HAD CHECKED TRIES BEFORE LEAVING SAW NOTHING WRONG, CONTACTED MIKE AT FOREST RIVER HE SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARLISLE TIRES. MY 5TH WHEEL TRAILER GVW IS 1,100 OVER THE MAX TIRE LOAD AND HE SAID (MIKE) THAT THE 1,100 IS THE HITCH WEIGHT, I TOLD HIM THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TOWING THAT YOU LOSE HITCH WEIGHT AND THEN ALL THE WEIGHT IS ON THE TIRES. I ASKED FOR MY TIRES TO BE UPGRADED TO LOAD RANGE D OR E HE SAID NO. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE ON THESE TIRES. SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE.*AK

PURCHASE A NEW '04 SANDPIPER 5TH WHEEL IN AUG '03. MADE TWO LOCAL TRIPS THAT PUT APPROXIMATELY 1500 MILES ON THE TIRES/UNIT. KEEP ALL THE WHEELS COVERED WHILE IN STORAGE. CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION PRIOR TO LEAVING ON A TRIP FROM S. CA THAT WOULD GO THROUGH TETONS, YELLOWSTONE, RUSHMORE, THEN BACK DOWN THROUGH COLORADO AND 4 CORNERS. THE FIRST TIRE BLEW OUT WEST OF STURGIS. LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THE TIRES. THE TIRE BLEW WITH SUCH FORCE THAT I SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIG. INSPECTED REMAINING TIRES AND PLACED SPARE ON RIG. JUST N. OF FT COLLINS, CO THE SECOND TIRE BLEW. HAD JUST INSPECTED AND CHECKED FOR PROPER TIRE INFLATION LESS THAN 100 MILES BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW. IT APPEARED THAT THE TREAD SIMPLY PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE. CARLISLE REPLACED ALL TIRES AFTER I EXPRESSED CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH LIABILITIES. ESTIMATED REPAIRS TO RIG ARE APPROXIMATELY $1900. CARLISLE REQUIRED WE SHIP THE TIRES TO THEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE PHOTOS OF TIRES AND DAMAGE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. COPIES OF SAME WHERE EMAILED TO CARLISLE TIRES. THESE WERE LOAD RANGE E RADIAL TRAIL SIZE LT235/85R16, WHICH WERE MADE IN CHINA. *LA