RecallRepo

2016 Forest River Cardinal Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2016 Forest River Cardinal has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 894 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STRUCTURE 21V523000 2021-07-09 825 affected
Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River Blue Ridge, 2014-2019 Forest River Cardinal, 2014-2020 Forest River Cedar Creek, 2014-2021…

Consequence

Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1380.

EQUIPMENT 17V336000 2017-05-24 17 affected
Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cardinal recreational trailers, model CAF3250RL. The Federal Placard on these vehicles overstates the Gross Axle Weight Rating capacity (GAWR) by 840lbs. for each axle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567,…

Consequence

The incorrect GAWR makes the Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) label incorrect and may result in the vehicle being overloaded, affecting the vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will provide a new Federal Placard with the correct GAWR and a new CCC label, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-05192017-0412.

EQUIPMENT 16V258000 2016-04-29 38 affected
Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Cardinal recreational vehicles, models CAF3455RL, CAF3825FL and CAF3850RL, manufactured from November 20, 2015, through April 1, 2016. These vehicles may be equipped with a Federal Placard that indicates an incorrect tire and rim…

Consequence

If the operator inflates the tires to the PSI indicated on the label, the tires will be operated while being under-inflated causing pre-mature wear and a possible tire blow out, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and provide a new corrected Federal Placard, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on, or about, June 23, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-04172016-0179.

EQUIPMENT 15V860000 2015-12-22 14 affected
Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cardinal fifth wheel travel trailers, model CAF3850RL. The affected vehicles have Federal Certification Placards that list an incorrect gross axle weight from what is actually installed on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with…

Consequence

Incorrect placards may result in improper trailer loading. Improper loading may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Forest River will notify owners and mail them a corrected Federal placard label, free of charge. The recall began on January 13, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-12112015-0122.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
STRUCTURE:BODY
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
WHEELS
1
Total complaints4

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“I cannot find any information on my fifth wheel trailer when entering the vin on multiple websites. The only thing I can find is an incorrect length and an error code saying the model year for this vehicle may be incorrect. I am trying to resale this trailer and I am having a difficult time due to…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2018-08-02

“Goodyear marathon tires less than 3000 miles, air pressure 80 psi lug nut torqued. Right rear tire blew while driving down ]highway 19 thru ocala national forest at 60 miles per hour. Camper is equipped with tyron straps but still did not prevent tire from tearing fender off, wiring, metal…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2017-07-04

“Goodyear marathon tires less than 3000 miles, air pressure 80 psi lug nut torqued. Right rear tire blew while driving down ]highway 19 thru ocala national forest at 60 miles per hour. Camper is equipped with tyron straps but still did not prevent tire from tearing fender off, wiring, metal…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2017-07-04

“Goodyear marathon tires less than 3000 miles, air pressure 80 psi lug nut torqued. Right rear tire blew while driving down ]highway 19 thru ocala national forest at 60 miles per hour. Camper is equipped with tyron straps but still did not prevent tire from tearing fender off, wiring, metal…”

WHEELS · reported 2017-07-04
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2016 Forest River Cardinal as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.