- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Coachmen Galleria, 2021-2023 Forest River Beyond, and 2021-2023 Coachmen Nova Class B motorhomes. The retractable awning may extend unintentionally during transit.
- The risk
- An awning extending unintentionally during transit may become a distraction or road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a wedge to support the internal components in the gearbox and replace the motor as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-825-6319. Forest River's number for this recall is 225-1723.
Vehicle safety record
2021 Coachmen Nova Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2021 Coachmen Nova with NHTSA, most often about the equipment & accessories (2) and the body, doors & structure (1). It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in January 2024 for the body. For comparison, the 2022 has 3.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Nova year, for its age
#264 most complained-about 2021 vehicle
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2021 Coachmen Nova problems
Share of all 3 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2021 Coachmen Nova recalls 4
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 2021-2023 Coachmen Galleria, Beyond, Forester, Sunseeker, and 2021-2024 Nova motorhomes, equipped with certain Cummins Onan QG 2800i, and Onan QG 2800i EVAP generator sets. The fuel hose between the inline fuel filter and the Injection Pump Module (IPM) may have inadequate clamp force, possibly resulting in a gasoline leak.
- The risk
- A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Cummins Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel hose and clamps, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2023. Owners may contact Cummins at: (800) CUMMINS OR (800) 286-6467. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-206-7600, or Coachmen Class B customer service at 1-574-825-8602. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1626.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Coachmen Galleria, Beyond, and Nova motorhomes, equipped with certain 2-burner cooktops. The burner control valves may become damaged, causing a gas leak.
- The risk
- A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the cooktop, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 15, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service Phone Number 1-574-825-6319. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1513.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Coachmen Nova motorhomes. The Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery was incorrectly installed inside the vehicle, which can allow hydrogen gas to enter the vehicle.
- The risk
- Hydrogen gas inside the vehicle can increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a lithium battery, free of charge. Owners were notified of the defect on September 27, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-6319 or 1-574-825-6625. Forest River's number for this recall is 225-1416.
What owners say
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3 complaints about the 2021 Coachmen Nova
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The contact owns a 2022 Coachmen Nova RV constructed on a 2021 Ram Promaster 3500 chassis. The contact stated that the passenger's side awning failed to lock securely. After driving for approximately seven hours in a rainstorm, the awning opened and flipped over the RV. There were no reported injuries. The awning arm then detached. The driver was able to pull over and left the RV on the shoulder. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The RV was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
The vehicle is a 2021 Nova C camper van by Forest River. The defective part of the vehicle is the awning. I've heard many reports of spontaneous deployment of these awnings and pulled the end cap to check out its condition. To my surprise the motor is loose and the bolts have ground an oval hole in the bracket due to the eccentric movement. The bolts are jammed and the heads slightly stripped, eliminating the possibility of tightening the assembly. I contacted Carefree awning to see if it had been recalled and...
Read the full complaint
initially they said yes, that model has been recalled for the Winnebago camper. When I explained my camper was a Nova, they said it was not recalled, but admitted it was the same issue. This is a very serious issue, if the bolts break, the awning will fully deploy, as it is spring loaded. If this should happen on a highway, there could be catastrophic results.
Oct. 15, 2022 my RV awning randomly deployed and would not retract.
Coachmen Nova: every year compared
All Nova years2021 Coachmen Nova vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Coachmen Nova | 3 | 4 | C | |
| 2021 Coachmen Mirada | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2021 Coachmen Encore | 2 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2021 Coachmen Freedom Express | 2 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2021 Coachmen Clipper | 1 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2021 Coachmen Apex | 1 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2021 Coachmen Pursuit | 1 | 0 | A | 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 2021 Coachmen Nova
Does the 2021 Coachmen Nova have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2021 Coachmen Nova: body (January 2024); hoses, lines / piping, and fittings (April 2023); oven / stove / cooktop (May 2022); 12v / 24v / 48v battery (September 2021). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Coachmen Nova?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the equipment & accessories (2), body, doors & structure (1).
How many complaints has the 2021 Coachmen Nova had?
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 2, 2023 and the latest on August 12, 2024. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2021 Coachmen Nova a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 57 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Coachmen Nova 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.
Which Coachmen Nova years have the most complaints?
2021 (3), 2022 (3), 2025 (2). See every Coachmen Nova year compared.
What should I do if my 2021 Coachmen Nova 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