2003 Forest River Salem

Routine

Owners filed 8 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the equipment › recreational vehicle/trailer. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer2
000
Tires1
000
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly1
000
Suspension › Rear › Axle › Spindle1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Electrical System › Wiring1
010

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.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer08V346000
Filed Jul 7, 2008107,417 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

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.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer07V085000
Filed Mar 5, 2007128,000 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, 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. RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. FOREST RIVER WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). 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 YOU 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,

What owners reported

Newest filings
Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
Filed Jun 24, 2008WI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOREST RIVER SALEM TRAVEL TRAILER. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2652. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS REPAIRED IN JUNE OF 2005 BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT COOL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E076000 (EQUIPMENT: RECREATIONAL VEHICLE) IN DECEMBER OF 2007. DOMETIC STATED THAT HE COULD NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR THE LABOR CHARGES BECAUSE THE REFRIGERATOR WAS REPAIRED BEFORE AUGUST OF 2005. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE BOLIER TUBE CAUSED LOSS OF REFRIGERANT. THE MANUFACTURER PAID FOR THE THE COOLING UNIT, BUT NOT THE LABOR. UPDATED 07/29/08

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
Filed Jun 2, 2008MA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOREST RIVER. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2652. HE SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM DOMETIC (ASIA, 21841034) IN JANUARY OF 2008, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK ONCE THEY REACHED MASSACHUSETTS AND WOULD BE COVERED. THE CONTACT CALLED DOMETIC IN MAY OF 2008 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY CRACKED. UPDATED 06/25/08. *CN THE SERVICE CENTER CAME TO LOOK AT THE REFRIGERATOR AND STATED THERE WAS LEAKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE REFRIGERATOR. THERE WAS YELLOW RESIDUE AND A STRONG SMELL OF AMMONIA. UPDATED 06/25/08. *JB

Tires
Filed Mar 19, 2008UT

I PURCHASED A FOREST RIVER 38' SAND PIPER SPORT F37SP TOY HAULER FIFTH WHEEL NEW IN 2003. THE TRAILER WAS EQUIPED WITH TANDOM AXELS. WE EXPERIANCED NUMEROUS TIRE BLOW OUTS. EACH TIME THE TIRE WOULD BLOW IT WOULD BLOW UP WITH PIECES OF RUBBER FLYING EVERY WHERE CAUSING EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RV AND CAUSING THE TRAILER TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL UNTIL STOPPED AND OFF THE ROADWAY. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF FOREST RIVER AND ALSO CARLISLE TIRE COMPANY. IN 2005 WE WERE CONTACTED BY A LOCAL RV DEALER TO BRING OUR TRAILER IN TO HAVE THE AXELS REPLACED WITH A HEAVER AXEL AND LARGER G RATED TIRES. THE EXPENSE WAS BEING PAID FOR BY FOREST RIVER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE SENDING OUT LETTERS TO ABOUT 13 OTHER OWNERS IN THE UTAH AND WYOMING AREA TO HAVE THIER TRAILERS BROUGHT IN FOR THE TRADE OUT AS WELL. I ALSO KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME TRAILER IN THE LAS VEGAS AREA WHO HAVE EXPERIANCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS ACTION SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE SEVERAL MORE BLOW OUTS. EACH AND EVERY TIME CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RV AND CAUSING A SAFETY PROBLEM TO OUR SELVES AND OTHER VEH'S TRAVELING NEAR TO US. FOREST RIVER HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN ON THESE TRAILERS AND NOW IS SELLING THEM PROVIDED WITH A TRIPLE AXEL TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. I BELIEVE THIS HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, WE AND MANY OTHERS OR STUCK WITH THE TANDOM AXEL TRAILERS THAT WERE PRODUCED BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. I BEL

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Feb 6, 2008IN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOREST RIVER SALEM. THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE IN HIS FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. HE DETECTED SMOKE AND IMMEDIATELY WENT OUTSIDE TO DISCONNECT THE WIRES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED AND THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS APPLICABLE.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 20, 2007300 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE FIFTH WHEEL (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GREY WATER TANK FELL OFF. THE TANK, WHICH COULD WEIGH UP TO 400 POUNDS, WAS SECURED WITH ONLY FOUR SCREWS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, POWERTRAIN, AND FUEL INFORMATION WERE INAPPLICABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 300.

Suspension › Rear › Axle › Spindle
Filed Jul 22, 2007MI

PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATED TIRE WEAR ON A 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. I HAVE A CEDAR CREEK 5TH WHEEL MODEL YEAR 2003, MANUFACTURED 11.02, MODEL # 30RLBS. THE TRAILER HAS 5200# AXLES MANUFACTURED BY AL-KOBER AND THEY ARE CAUSING EXTREME TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF THE TIRES. HAVE SPOKEN TO AL-KO AND THEY DENY ANY PROBLEMS BUT IT HAS BEEN DETAILED ON QUITE A FEW WEB SITES THAT THEY HAD A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT THE VISUAL ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM IS RAPID WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF TIRES CAUSING BLOW OUTS AND DAMAGE AND SAFETY ISSUES DUE TO THESE DEFECTS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO CEDAR CREEK, STEVE HICKS, AND HE AGREES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS SENT ME REPLACEMENT AXLES NO CHARGE BUT I THINK THAT AL-KOBER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND FORCED TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS AND REPLACE THE TIRED DAMAGED BY THIS DEFECT AND POSSIBLY CAUSING MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. I STILL HAVE THE OLD AXLES AND THE TIRES ARE STILL ON THE TRAILER AS I ONLY MAKE 1 MAJOR TRIP EACH YEAR, PUTTING LESS THAN 3,000 MILES EACH YEAR ON UNIT. *TR

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly
Filed May 18, 20067,500 milesMA

DROVE OVER TWO OR THREE ROUGH BRIDGES. LEAF SPRINGS ON LEFT SIDE OF TRAILER FLATTENED & LOST THEIR SUPPORT, CAUSING THE TIRES TO RUB ON UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER WITH A BREAKING ACTION TO THAT SIDE, CAUSING TRAVEL TRAILER TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. TRAILER WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO BENT FRAME AFTER LOSS OF CONTROL. NO ONE WAS INJURED NOTHING WAS HIT NOTHING HIT TRAILER. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A STOP ON THE UNDERSIDE OF EVERY TRAVEL TRAILER ON THE ROAD, TO STOP THE AXLE BEFORE THE TIRE CAN BREAK ON THE UNDERSIDE OF ANY TRAILER. THIS IS NOT ONLY A DANGER TO PEOPLE TOWING TRAILERS BUT TO EVERYONE DRIVING ON THE ROADWAYS. *NM

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Mar 7, 200615,000 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOREST RIVER SALEM TRAVEL TRAILER. WHEN THE TRAILER WAS TOWED THE LEFT TIRES RUBBED AGAINST THE FRAME SUPPORTS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK UPDATED 3/28/2006 - THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREE TO REPAIR THE UNIT AND REPLACE THE TIRE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

8 of 8 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2022
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20270200Routine
20260600Routine
20254800Routine
202441000Routine
20232500Routine
202213700Routine
202141010Routine
202012730Routine
201951100Routine
20186910Routine
20175900Routine
20169810Routine
20158500Routine
20141400Routine
20132200Routine
20123100Routine
20112310Routine
20101200Routine
20090100Routine
20083300Routine
20070200Routine
20060200Routine
20050200Routine
20043300Routine
2003 — this page8310Routine
20021100Routine
20012100Routine
20000100Routine
19990100Routine
19980100Routine
19970100Routine

Compare every Salem 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.