- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014 FR3, 2009 Forest River Encore, Sportscoach Elite, and Aurora, 2008-2009 Cruise Master, 2012-2015 Aviator, 2007-2014 Georgetown, 2007-2009 Legend, 2008-2012 Ridgeview, 2008-2014 Cross Country, 2010-2014 Coachmen Encounter, 2009-2014 Pathfinder, Solera, Mirada, Prism, and Pursuit motorhomes. The affected vehicles are equipped with certain Lippert-brand Coachstep Double and Triple Electric Steps. These steps use a bolt to attach the fan gear assembly to the steps. This bolt may fracture allowing the fan gear to disengage from the steps. As a result, the steps may not remain in the expected position and may be unstable.
- The risk
- Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners and dealers will install a retainer bracket to reinforce the operating mechanism, free of charge. Forest River issued an interim notification to owners on January 7, 2016. The recall began on March 3, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service number at 1-574-389-4600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11102015-0109. Or owners can contact Lippert Components at 1-574-537-8900.
Vehicle safety record
2013 Coachmen Encounter Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2013 Coachmen Encounter have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in November 2015 for the recreational vehicle / trailer.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Encounter year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2013 Coachmen Encounter recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc., (Forest River) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Coachmen Pursuit, Mirada, and Encounter motorhomes manufactured from March 1, 2011, through September 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the trailer hitch attaching bolts and nuts may not have been properly tightened, allowing the hitch to detach during use.
- The risk
- If the trailer hitch partially or fully detaches from the motorhome while it is towing a vehicle, a loss of vehicle control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new fastener kit, free of charge. The recall began on October 9, 2015. Owners West of the Mississippi River may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8317. Owners East of the Mississippi River may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8305. Forest River's campaign number for this recall is 310-09112015-0086.
- The problem
- Forest River is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Forest River models Blue Ridge, Cardinal, Cherokee, Columbus, EVO, Georgetown, Flagstaff, Forester, Lexington, Puma, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandpiper, Sandstorm, Sierra, Stealth, Sunseeker, Wildcat, Wildwood, Work and Play and XLR; Coachmen models Brookstone, Catalina, Chaparral, Concord, Encounter, Freedom Express, Freelander, Leprechaun, Mirada, Pursuit, and Sportcoach; Prime Time models Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Saniber, and Tracer; Palomino model Maverick Truck Camper; Cargo Mate model Eliminator and Shasta models Revere, Phoenix recreational vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2013, through April 18, 2013. Due to a design change in the power awning motor assembly, the motor assembly screws may unknowingly shear.
- The risk
- If the motor assembly screws shear, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the vehicle is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with motors of a different design. The safety recall began on July 29, 2013. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-389-4600 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed.
What owners say
Be the first Encounter owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
No complaints about the 2013 Coachmen Encounter yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Coachmen Encounter: every year compared
All Encounter years2013 Coachmen Encounter vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Coachmen Encounter | 0 | 3 | C | |
| 2013 Coachmen Freedom Express | 6 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2013 Coachmen Mirada | 2 | 4 | D | Compare |
| 2013 Coachmen Catalina | 1 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2013 Coachmen Pathfinder | 1 | 1 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2013 Coachmen Encounter
Does the 2013 Coachmen Encounter have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 Coachmen Encounter: recreational vehicle / trailer (November 2015); trailer hitches (September 2015); equipment (May 2013). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2013 Coachmen Encounter had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2013 Coachmen Encounter a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Coachmen Encounter year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 2013 Coachmen Encounter has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data