2013 Forest River Sierra

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.

Defect. Forest River is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Forest River models Blue Ridge, Cardinal, Cherokee, Columbus, EVO, Georgetown, Flagstaff, Forester, Lexington, Puma, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandpiper, Sandstorm, Sierra, Stealth, Sunseeker, Wildcat, Wildwood, Work and Play and XLR; Coachmen models Brookstone, Catalina, Chaparral, Concord, Encounter, Freedom Express, Freelander, Leprechaun, Mirada, Pursuit, and Sportcoach; Prime Time models Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Saniber, and Tracer; Palomino model Maverick Truck Camper; Cargo Mate model Eliminator and Shasta models Revere, Phoenix recreational vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2013, through April 18, 2013. Due to a design change in the power awning motor assembly, the motor assembly screws may unknowingly shear.

Risk. If the motor assembly screws shear, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the vehicle is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.

Remedy. Forest River will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with motors of a different design. The safety recall began on July 29, 2013. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-389-4600 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed.

WHEN UNWINTERIZING MY RV I NOTICED THE WHEEL ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE OF MY 2013 FOREST RIVER SIERRA 365SAQ WAS PITCHED SEVERAL INCHES SO THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL WAS 'OUT' FROM THE TRAILER AND THE TOP WAS LEANING TOWARDS THE TRAILER. I JACKED THE TRAILER UP TO REMOVE WEIGHT FROM THE AXLE AND THE PITCH DID NOT IMPROVE. I REMOVED THE WHEEL AND THE HUB TO INSPECT THE AXLE. THE END OF THE AXLE, THE SPINDLE, WAS SLIGHTLY BENT. THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY EXPIRED SO I CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE FOR THE AXLE MANUFACTURER, AL-KO. AL-KO REQUESTED VEHICLE INFORMATION AND INFORMATION FROM THE WEIGHT LABELS ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS THEN ADVISED THAT I WOULD NEED TO CONTACT FOREST RIVER AS THE AXLES WERE POTENTIALLY OVERLOADED AND AS THEY WERE INSTALLED IN A POTENTIALLY IMPROPER APPLICATION AL-KO WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I WAS ADVISED TO REVIEW ECFR TITLE 49, SUBTITLE B, CHAPTER V, PART 571.120 AND FEDERAL REGISTER, VOLUME 72 ISSUE 232 BEFORE CONTACTING FOREST RIVER. FOREST RIVER INITIALLY SUGGESTED THAT I MIGHT NEED TO BRING THE TRAILER (WITH THE BENT AXLE) TO THEIR PLANT IN INDIANA FROM MY HOME IN NEW JERSEY; THOUGH WHEN MANAGEMENT WAS ASKED TO APPROVE THE REPAIR THE REPAIR WAS REJECTED ENTIRELY BASED ON THE AGE (32 MONTHS) OF THE VEHICLE. BASED ON MY REVIEW OF ECFR TITLE 49 I DON'T BELIEVE THEY PROPERLY CALCULATED WEIGHT OR IS DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT THE TRAILER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY EQUIPPED WITH 6K POUND AXLES, ITS LABELED GVWR 14060, ITS FACTORY DRY WEIGHT IS

I PURCHASED A 2013 FOREST RIVER 356 SAQ IN AUGUST OF 2012. I USED IT DURING THE REST OF THAT SEASON. COME TO FIND OUT FOREST RIVER ONLY PUT 6 THOUSAND POUND AXLES UNDER A 40+ FOOT CAMPER. IN THE SPRING I PULLED IT TO A CAT SCALE AND WEIGHED THE UNIT. MY VERY UNLOADED CAMPER REAR AXLE WEIGHT WAS 11,500 LBS. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO OVER LOAD AND NOT EVEN KNOW. IF I WERE TO FILL MY FRESH WATER TANK THIS WOULD SURELY PUT ME VERY CLOSE TO THE AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS AND OVER ONCE I LOAD MY UNIT WITH ALL THE THINGS WE NEED FOR A FAMILY OF 4 TO GO CAMPING. IN THE LATER 2013 MODELS FOREST RIVER CAME OUT WITH THE OPTION OF 7 THOUSAND POUND AXLES. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FOREST RIVER SIERRA DIVISION VIA E-MAIL ANY THEY SAID IF I WOULD TOW MY UNIT FROM MAINE TO INDIANA (ON MARGINAL AT BEST AXLES) AND THEY WOULD DO THE WORK FOR $2500. *TR