2016 Forest River Wildcat Maxx

Defect. Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016 Evo, Salem, Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, Wildwood, Cherokee Grey Wolf, Wildcat Maxx, Vibe, R-Pod, and Surveyor trailers. In the affected trailers, the studs that are used to attach the wheels to the axle hubs may break.

Risk. If the wheel studs break, the wheel could detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected wheel hub, free of charge. The recall began on June 25, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-909-873-3777. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-05142015-0037.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL STUDS AND TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STUDS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.

EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT OF CASTLE ROCK ST225/75R15 LOAD RANGE D 113L WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-5 IN CALIFORNIA ON A SUNNY DAY AND 80 DEG F. TRAILER IS FOREST RIVER WILDCAT MAXX 23DKS. SPEED WAS 63 MPH. TIRE IS RATED 75 MPH AND SPEED HAS NEVER EXCEEDED 70 MPH. LIFE TIME MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE SHOWN BY THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR WAS 119 DEG F WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH THE MOJAVE DESERT WITH A 108 DEG F AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR DID NOT SHOW LOSS OF PRESSURE UNTIL THE BLOWOUT. BUILD DATE IS 2915. DOT NUMBER IS JULT 1MT 2915. TRAILER WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE 2016. TIRE HAD ABOUT 1750 MILES ON IT. TIRE WAS CARRYING 1260 POUNDS ACCORDING TO CAT SCALE AND TIRE IS RATED 2540 POUNDS. PERFORMED A SPIN TEST OF THREE REMAINING TIRES AND FOUND BULGES IN TREAD ON 2 OF 3 TIRES. INSPECTION OF TIRES PRIOR TO START OF TRIP DID NOT SHOW ANY BULGES. WE REPLACED ALL FOUR OF THE CASTLE ROCK TIRES MOUNTED TO THE AXLES. MINOR DAMAGE TO BOTTOM OF TRAILER SLIDE OUT ($200). COST OF NEW TIRES WAS $600.