The 2004 Forest River Cardinal has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 109,624 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the equipment. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
EQUIPMENT10V4540002010-10-012,207 affected
Defect
FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIMPLEX ELECTRAFLAME, SYMPHONY, OR OPTIFLAME BRANDED ELECTRIC FIREPLACES, STOVES, AND FIREPLACE INSERTS. THE PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR THE FIREPLACE CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence
AN OVERHEATED RECEIVER COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy
FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DIMPLEX AND DIMPLEX WILL PROVIDE OWNERS A FREE REPLACEMENT PLUG-IN REMOTE CONTROL KIT. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DIMPLEX NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-888-346-7539.
EQUIPMENT08V3460002008-07-07107,417 affected
Defect
FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2003-2006 MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE…
Consequence
IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN…
Complaints by component
EQUIPMENT
1
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
1
TIRES
1
Total complaints3
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“We have a 2004 cardinal 5th wheel that had kenda tires lt23585r16 on a short trip we blew a tire on the way to n.h(7/27/10) and one on the way back to ma(8/3/10). We were going through a toll 10mph when the first tire blew, there was a huge hole with pieces of the belt hanging out.it seems that…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 2004 forest river cardinal fifth wheel trailer. The contact stated that the refrigerator does not work due to a manifold crack. As a result, ammonia leaked out. There was a recall and a technician came out and repaired the vehicle in 2007. In the beginning of 2008, the…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 2004 forest river cardinal fifth wheel trailer. The contact stated that the refrigerator does not work due to a manifold crack. As a result, ammonia leaked out. There was a recall and a technician came out and repaired the vehicle in 2007. In the beginning of 2008, the…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Forest River Cardinal as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.