Forest River's lineup has 658 recorded NHTSA recalls across 50 models (1997–2026) and averages 4.4/5 for reliability on ForCar. Check any Forest River's open recalls, owner complaints, MPG and NHTSA safety below — or decode its VIN for the exact build. Free, by model and year.
Each model's ForCar Reliability Score is built from NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency (25%) and complaint severity (35%) — not user reviews. Brand score = average of rated models.
Forest River — VIN decoder & full model lineup
Forest River is a prominent North American manufacturer specializing in a wide range of recreational vehicles, including travel trailers, motorhomes, and fifth-wheel trailers. Known for their quality construction and diverse model selection catering to both seasoned RV enthusiasts and first-time buyers, Forest River vehicles are incredibly popular across the United States and Canada. ForCar.org allows you to decode any FOREST RIVER VIN to get full vehicle specs, recall history, and detailed information about your particular model.
Decode a Forest River VIN
Enter any 17-character Forest River VIN for its exact year, trim, engine and assembly plant — then its open recalls, safety ratings and original window sticker.
All Forest River models 50
Every Forest River model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Forest River RVs & campers 50
Forest River recalls
Across the Forest River lineup, ForCar tracks 658 recorded NHTSA recalls — each tied to a specific model and year. There's no single "Forest River recall" number; open a model for its exact campaigns, affected parts and the free dealer fix.
| Forest River model | Recalls | ForCar Score |
|---|---|---|
| Forest River Salem | 128 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Wildwood | 123 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Cherokee | 80 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Cedar Creek | 75 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Rockwood | 51 | 3.5 /5 |
| Forest River Flagstaff | 51 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Puma | 50 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Vibe | 24 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Aurora | 23 | 4.5 /5 |
| Forest River Impression | 16 | 4.0 /5 |
Most-recalled system across Forest River: Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer. Source: NHTSA recall campaigns — open any model for full details by year.
Is Forest River reliable?
Across rated models, Forest River averages a 4.4/5 ForCar Reliability Score, with 49 models rated 4★ or higher. Each model is scored from NHTSA crash-test safety, recall frequency and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury — not user reviews.
Forest River competes across nearly every RV segment — travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class A, Class B, Class C, toy haulers, park models, pop-ups — with sub-brand variations targeting different price points and feature sets. The Cherokee, Wildwood and Salem brands target the mid-market entry segment, while Cardinal and Wildcat compete in mid-tier fifth wheels. Forest River and Thor Industries (with Jayco, Keystone, Heartland, Airstream and Newmar) collectively manufacture approximately 70-80% of all US RV unit sales.
Forest River models by owner-complaint volume (NHTSA):
| Forest River model | Owner complaints | ForCar Score |
|---|---|---|
| Forest River Cherokee | 155 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Rockwood | 116 | 3.5 /5 |
| Forest River Wildwood | 109 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Salem | 96 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Flagstaff | 66 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Cedar Creek | 46 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Puma | 34 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Vibe | 19 | 4.0 /5 |
| Forest River Sunseeker | 16 | 4.5 /5 |
| Forest River Wolf Pack | 7 | 4.5 /5 |
Higher complaint counts often track higher sales volume, not necessarily worse reliability — open a model for its complaints by year and best/worst-year analysis.
Most fuel-efficient Forest River models
Fuel-economy rankings for Forest River are being compiled — check back shortly.
Safest Forest River models
NHTSA safety rankings for Forest River are being compiled — check back shortly.
Get a Forest River window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Forest River's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Forest River window stickers →How to read a Forest River VIN
Every Forest River built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
| Positions | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country and that it's a Forest River |
| 4–8 | VDS | Model, body style, engine and trim |
| 9 | Check digit | Validates the VIN isn't mistyped |
| 10 | Model year | The exact year (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025) |
| 11 | Plant | The factory that assembled it |
| 12–17 | Serial | The unique production sequence number |
Where to find your Forest River VIN: the lower-left corner of the windshield, the driver's door jamb sticker, or your registration and insurance documents. Paste it into the decoder above to read it instantly.
About Forest River
Pete Liegl founded Forest River in 1996 after selling his prior company Cobra Industries to Coachmen. Liegl built Forest River into the largest RV manufacturer in the United States within a decade through aggressive acquisitions and lean manufacturing practices. Berkshire Hathaway acquired Forest River in 2005 in a private transaction; Warren Buffett kept Liegl on as CEO and praised the deal in his 2005 annual letter to shareholders. Liegl remained CEO until his retirement in 2022; Doug Gaeddert succeeded him.
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Elkhart, USA |
| Parent company | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Slogan | "Built with You in Mind" |
| Models tracked | 50 (1997–2026) |
Forest River — frequently asked
How do I decode a Forest River VIN for free?
Enter the 17-character VIN in the decoder at the top of this page. You'll get the exact year, trim, engine and plant, then can check that vehicle's recalls, MPG and safety — free, no signup.
How many Forest River models are there?
ForCar tracks 50 Forest River models spanning 1997–2026. See the full list above, ordered by how often each is searched.
Where is Forest River made?
Forest River is headquartered in Elkhart, USA, founded in 1996. Individual models are assembled at plants worldwide — the VIN's 11th character identifies the exact factory.
How do I check Forest River recalls?
Recalls are tracked per model and year. Open any Forest River model above to see its NHTSA recall campaigns, affected parts and the free dealer fix.
Which Forest River is most reliable?
Reliability varies by model and year. Each model page shows its ForCar Reliability Score (from NHTSA safety, recalls and complaint severity) so you can compare directly.
What's the Forest River warranty?
New Forest River vehicles come with a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Forest River dealer.