2019 Forest River Sandpiper

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Coachmen Catalina and Apex travel trailers and Forest River Shasta, Wildwood, Salem, Vibe, Sierra, Sandpiper, XLR and Prime Time travel trailers. The axles may be missing inner bearing races on the hubs, which can cause the bearing to burnout or cause the hub to overheat.

Risk. The missing bearing race may cause premature hub bearing failure, possibly resulting in a separation of the hub from the axle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective hubs with new hubs or replace the axles, free of charge. The recall began October 9, 2018. For customer service, Catalina owners may contact Coachmen at 1-574-825-8657, Apex owners should call 1-574-358-0401, Shasta owners: 1-574-825-8717, Wildwood and Salem owners: 1-574-534-3167, Vibe owners: 1-574-296-2084, Sierra and Sandpiper owners: 1-574-534-4574, XLR owners: 1-574-642-0432, Prime Time owners: 1-574-862-1025. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0851.

RV WAS PARKED AND WAS PLUGGED INTO SHORE POWER. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN THE UNDERBELLY MELTED. THIS CONNECTOR IS USED BETWEEN ROMEX CABLE FROM THE SUPPLY SIDE AND THE OUTLET WHICH IS FEED WITH SO CORD. THERE WAS NO LOAD ON THE OUTLET WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE CONNECTOR AT THE TIME IT FAILED. THE FIRST 2 PICTURES ARE OF EACH SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR WHICH FAILED. THE THIRD PICTURE IS THE PLASTIC BARRIER UNDER THE FLOOR WHICH MELTED.

THE SANDPIPER MAIN POWER CORD HOOK UP IS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE RV'S FURNACE EXHAUST VENT. THIS FURNACE EXHAUST GETS VERY HOT AND IT HEATS UP THE ELECTRICAL POWER CORD PUTTER RUBBER COVERING TO THE POINT IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I KNOW THIS IS A HAZARD, BUT EVEN MORE SO MY WIFE IS HANDY CAPPED AND STAYS IN THE CAMPER. I FEAR FOR LIFE AS WELL AS MY OWN. I KNOW HOW FAST THESE RV CAN BURN. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE IT BECOMES A DISASTER. I'M WRITING THIS TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT I SEE AS A VERY SERIOUS AND POSSIBLE DEADLY PROBLEM WITH THIS RV. MY WIFE AND I WILL NOT SLEEP WITH THE FURNACE ON. PLEASE WARN OTHER SANDPIPER OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL. MY RV IS IN THE SHOP AND NOT ABLE TO GET A PICTURE.*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB *TR