CSR

Forest River · NHTSA safety record

2021 Forest River Wildwood

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2021 Forest River Wildwood have filed 10 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2021 and March 2026. The most complained-about system is the tires, named in 4 of them (40%). The typical failure was reported at 4,800 miles, the median across the 1 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 10 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (10)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

25V682000 · October 10, 2025

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Forest River Aurora, Coachmen Catalina, 2026 Coachmen Viking, Coachmen Clipper, 2016-2026 Wildwood, and Salem recreational trailers. The distribution panel wire may be connected to the battery without over current protection.
The risk
Unprotected wiring can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will relocate the distribution panel wire to the correct side of the breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2025. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River's number for this recall is 205-1987.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 20,305 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:PLUMBING:POTABLE WATER:STORAGE TANK

22V729000 · September 30, 2022

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem, Wildwood, and Ozark travel trailers. The fresh water tank may dislodge from the vehicle and fall to the ground when full or overfilled.
The risk
A tank falling to the ground while in transit can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the fresh water tank for straps. and install straps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2022. Owners may contact at Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 72-1559.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 5,168 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY

22V562000 · August 2, 2022

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem and Wildwood fifth wheel travel trailers. The awning rail may not be attached to a backer in the sidewall, which can allow the awning to detach while the vehicle is in motion.
The risk
An awning that detaches increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect for backers and reattach the awning if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-1538.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 609 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:LINES AND FITTINGS

22V243000 · April 13, 2022

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Coachmen Adrenaline, Apex, Catalina, Freedom Express, Spirit, East to West Alta, Della Terra, Silver Lake, Forest River Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Columbus, Flagstaff, Impression, Ozark, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, Stealth Evo, Vengeance, Vibe, Wildwood, XLR Toyhauler, Palomino Puma, Prime Time Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Sanibel, Shasta Oasis, 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail, Prism, Forest River Aurora, Rainier, Wildcat, Work and Play, Prime Time Tracer, 2021-2023 Coachmen Leprechaun, and 2022-2023 Coachmen Freelander fifth wheel and travel trailer recreational vehicles. The quick disconnect fittings in the LP gas system may be cracked, causing a gas leak.
The risk
A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the quick disconnect and perform a LP system check, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2022. Owners may contact the applicable customer service number for their vehicle model. Please see the recall report for the list of phone numbers.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 99,190 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

21V745000 · September 24, 2021

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem and Wildwood fifth wheel trailers. The Federal Placard lists a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) that exceeds the load carrying capacity of the pin box, which could result in an overloaded pin box.
The risk
An overloaded pin box can fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Forest River will mail owners a new Federal Placard, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-1423.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 61 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

21V621000 · August 9, 2021

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem, Wildwood and 2020-2021 Stealth EVO travel trailers. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
The risk
A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1400.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 336 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

21V443000 · June 11, 2021

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Salem Fifth Wheel, Salem Travel Trailer, Wildwood Fifth Wheel, and Wildwood Travel Trailer vehicles. The red and amber clearance lamps do not reflect enough light. As such these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
The risk
Less reflective clearance lamps can affect how other drivers judge the length of the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will add reflex stickers to both the amber and red clearance lamps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1359.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 289 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:FURNACE

20V589000 · September 25, 2020

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. The flame on the cooktop may become inverted, due to the cooktop not being isolated from the furnace return air.
The risk
An inverted flame can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will add sealant to the gaps in the paneling that are allowing the return air from the furnace to cause the inverted flame, free of charge. The recall began October 15, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 72-1232.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 551 vehicles across all model years covered

TRAILER HITCHES

20V563000 · September 18, 2020

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Wildwood, Salem, and 2020 Sonoma travel trailers. The break-away safety switch may not be wired to constant power, which can cause the trailer brakes to not activate in the event of a trailer separation from the tow vehicle.
The risk
If the brakes of the trailer do not engage, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will rewire the breakaway switch, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2020. Owners may contact Forest customer service at 1-909-873-3777. Forest River's number for this recall is 67A-1230.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 4,397 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

20V482000 · August 14, 2020

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem and Wildwood motorhomes. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
The risk
A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. This recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1219.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 643 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 10.

TIRES 4 40%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 20%
EQUIPMENT 2 20%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 10%
STRUCTURE 1 10%
SUSPENSION 1 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 10%
WHEELS 1 10%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 3.

2021 2022 2026
2021 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

My wife and I went camping to our favorite RV park in Lyndon Station Wisconsin, my sister met us there for a weekend of relaxation and visit. During the first nights stay we were suddenly woke by a smoke filled bedroom/bathroom. Got up and flipped light on and our bedroom was filled with smoke immediately my wife heard a buzzing noise and then the sound of light switch being flipped off hard. I immediately woke my sister up in the front of the coach. Opened the door to get fresh air. Its 1:18 in the morning. Searched frantically for the source, had extinguisher ready. Opened every compartment underneath, the very rear of the RV has storage underneath. The smell of burning wires were strong

NHTSA complaint 11721864, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES
CASTL ROCK RADIAL ST226 235/80R16. WHILE TRAVEL AT 65 MPH THE TIRE TREAD ON THE FRONT AXLE OF MY CAMPER CAME APART AND WHIPPED AROUND. THIS WHIPPING CAUSED MULTIPLE PUNCTURE HOLES IN THE REAR TIRE CAUSING THE REAR TIRE TO GO FLAT. THIS CAUSED DAMGAGE TO THE SKIRT OF THE CAMPER AND A DRAIN VALVE. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED WITH THE CAMPER WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN MAY OF 2021 AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES ON THE TIRES. THE TIRES ARE CHECKED MONTHY AND ARE ALWAYS INFLATED TO 80 PSI COLD. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS AND FORTUNATELY THE TIRE THAT LOST THE TREAD STAYED INFLATED SO I COULD SAFELY GET TO THE SHOULDER TO EVALUATE THE DAMAGE. I THEN IDLED TO THE NEXT EXIT TO UNHOOK THE TRAILER SO I

NHTSA complaint 11615823, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES
Tire exploded while driving, causing loss of control. Spare tire replaced and also did the same thing. Tires had under 5,000 miles on them, tire pressures checked before trip, and tires have been stored indoors. Many people online are having the same issue with these particular tires.

NHTSA complaint 11607103. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EQUIPMENT
Recently, I was extending the awning on my travel trailer and it free spooled out without motor resistance. After researching this, it seems like a very common problem for the Dometic 9200 awning. (Motor part # 3316605.001) There is a design flaw in the motor where the metal drive rod is injected into a plastic gear. Over time 0-2 years this plastic piece wears out and start to spin/slip freely under load. This causes the awning to become unstable and allows it to extend at any time. This is a serious safety issue as it came out for a second time on the highway, while I was hauling it. Luckily, I saw it immediately and was able to pull over and secure it. It could have been a lot worse or

NHTSA complaint 11528089, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
In the mid summer of 2021 I purchased a 2021 FOREST RIVER WILDWOOD TRIM LEVEL 178BHSK VIN # [XXX] for a considerable amount of money., I have had nothing but problems with this trailer and now the water leak ( for a second time on a second location) has damaged the integrity of the floor structure. With mold growing, a trailer I can NEVER level and wobbles terribly and many problems. I want this trailer to be bought back. I would like to know what I need to do to have someone consider these issues as I have children and refuse to camp in a trailer with Mold , spongy floors from damage and a door that never closes no matter how flat the ground is. I would like a response as currently my

NHTSA complaint 11518851, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES
The tire blew out. We noticed it as we were merging onto I65. It could have happened before then. As we have a tandem axel trailer, it was not catastrophic. We have owned the trailer/tires for 13-14 months and have put around 5000 miles on them via monthly trips. I still have the tire and rim. It could have caused a wreck. “No” to all other questions.

NHTSA complaint 11475113. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Forest River Wildwood

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 9 7
2018 11 8
2014 8 4

Other 2021 Forest River models

Every Forest River on this site — 30 vehicles, 428 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst