2021 Forest River Salem

Routine

Owners filed 4 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body. It has been recalled 10 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other1
000
Suspension1
010
Structure › Body1
000
Equipment1
000

10 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Wiring25V682000
Filed Oct 10, 202520,305 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Forest River Aurora, Coachmen Catalina, 2026 Coachmen Viking, Coachmen Clipper, 2016-2026 Wildwood, and Salem recreational trailers. The distribution panel wire may be connected to the battery without over current protection.

Risk. Unprotected wiring can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Dealers will relocate the distribution panel wire to the correct side of the breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2025. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River's number for this recall is 205-1987.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer › Plumbing › Potable Water › Storage Tank22V729000
Filed Sep 30, 20225,168 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem, Wildwood, and Ozark travel trailers. The fresh water tank may dislodge from the vehicle and fall to the ground when full or overfilled.

Risk. A tank falling to the ground while in transit can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect the fresh water tank for straps. and install straps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2022. Owners may contact at Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 72-1559.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer22V562000
Filed Aug 2, 2022609 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem and Wildwood fifth wheel travel trailers. The awning rail may not be attached to a backer in the sidewall, which can allow the awning to detach while the vehicle is in motion.

Risk. An awning that detaches increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect for backers and reattach the awning if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-1538.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer › Lpg Systems › Lines and Fittings22V243000
Filed Apr 13, 202299,190 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Coachmen Adrenaline, Apex, Catalina, Freedom Express, Spirit, East to West Alta, Della Terra, Silver Lake, Forest River Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Columbus, Flagstaff, Impression, Ozark, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, Stealth Evo, Vengeance, Vibe, Wildwood, XLR Toyhauler, Palomino Puma, Prime Time Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Sanibel, Shasta Oasis, 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail, Prism, Forest River Aurora, Rainier, Wildcat, Work and Play, Prime Time Tracer, 2021-2023 Coachmen Leprechaun, and 2022-2023 Coachmen Freelander fifth wheel and travel trailer recreational vehicles. The quick disconnect fittings in the LP gas system may be cracked, causing a gas leak.

Risk. A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the quick disconnect and perform a LP system check, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2022. Owners may contact the applicable customer service number for their vehicle model. Please see the recall report for the list of phone numbers.

Equipment › Other › Labels21V745000
Filed Sep 24, 202161 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem and Wildwood fifth wheel trailers. The Federal Placard lists a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) that exceeds the load carrying capacity of the pin box, which could result in an overloaded pin box.

Risk. An overloaded pin box can fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Forest River will mail owners a new Federal Placard, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-1423.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer21V621000
Filed Aug 9, 2021336 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem, Wildwood and 2020-2021 Stealth EVO travel trailers. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.

Risk. A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1400.

Exterior Lighting21V443000
Filed Jun 11, 2021289 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Salem Fifth Wheel, Salem Travel Trailer, Wildwood Fifth Wheel, and Wildwood Travel Trailer vehicles. The red and amber clearance lamps do not reflect enough light. As such these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

Risk. Less reflective clearance lamps can affect how other drivers judge the length of the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will add reflex stickers to both the amber and red clearance lamps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1359.

Equipment › Appliance › Oven/Stove/Cooktop20V589000
Filed Sep 25, 2020551 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. The flame on the cooktop may become inverted, due to the cooktop not being isolated from the furnace return air.

Risk. An inverted flame can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will add sealant to the gaps in the paneling that are allowing the return air from the furnace to cause the inverted flame, free of charge. The recall began October 15, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 72-1232.

Trailer Hitches20V563000
Filed Sep 18, 20204,397 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Wildwood, Salem, and 2020 Sonoma travel trailers. The break-away safety switch may not be wired to constant power, which can cause the trailer brakes to not activate in the event of a trailer separation from the tow vehicle.

Risk. If the brakes of the trailer do not engage, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will rewire the breakaway switch, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2020. Owners may contact Forest customer service at 1-909-873-3777. Forest River's number for this recall is 67A-1230.

Equipment20V482000
Filed Aug 14, 2020643 vehiclesForest River, Inc.

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem and Wildwood motorhomes. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.

Risk. A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. This recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1219.

What owners reported

Newest filings
SuspensionFire
Filed Nov 21, 2024NY

* On the way back home from the dealer in PA for a water-tank recall service, the right leaf spring on the trailer broke on the highway and caused the trailer on fire. The less than 3-years old trailer was totaled. Police and I took photos of the damaged trailer and spring. I also kept the broken spring for inspection. * It could be a FATAL incident. We were luckily stopped for gas otherwise the fire could be breaking out when we were driving on highway! * The spring was permanently broken and was confirmed by the police and towing/service center. * The trailer was inspected by police/fire department and Rossnagle's Service Center (police called). * There were NOT any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. We didn't feel any abnormal behavior of the trailer until we stopped for gas when we saw the smoke start to come out. I don't know how long the trailer body had been sit in the moving tire before the fire started.

Equipment
Filed Aug 11, 2021ID

The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Salem. The contact stated that the strap hooks in the trailer were screwed to the floor but not the frame; therefore, no items of substantial weight were able be strapped in the trailer which would be used for hauling large items. The contact also stated that the hooks were advertised to hold up to 2300 pounds which he deemed impossible, since the hooks were not strapped to the trailer's frame. The contact had called the manufacturer on numerous occasions and sent several emails; however, the contact had yet to receive a response. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 6, 2021PA

While driving this 2021 Travel Trailer down the road the underbelly blew out of the bottom of the trailer. This is causing air now to push up underneath the travel trailer possibly causing further damage to the walls and flooring of the trailer.

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 1, 20211,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Salem. The contact stated while stationary, the bolts attaching the front live-in slide to the body fractured, resulting in the slide detaching from the body. The trailer was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000. The consumer provided photos of the trailer.

4 of 4 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2022
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20270200Routine
20260600Routine
20254800Routine
202441000Routine
20232500Routine
202213700Routine
2021 — this page41010Routine
202012730Routine
201951100Routine
20186910Routine
20175900Routine
20169810Routine
20158500Routine
20141400Routine
20132200Routine
20123100Routine
20112310Routine
20101200Routine
20090100Routine
20083300Routine
20070200Routine
20060200Routine
20050200Routine
20043300Routine
20038310Routine
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: Oct 10, 2025. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.