- The problem
- Certain recreational vehicles equipped with a two-door refrigerator, manufactured by the dometic corporation, may have a defect in the boiler tube. Pressurized coolant solution could be released into an area where an ignition source (gas flame) is present.
- The risk
- Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.
- The fix
- Forest river will be working with dometic in order to repair these refrigerators (please see 06e076). 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 you in locating dealerships or service centers and will provide assistance with scheduling of appointments. Owners may contact dometic/stericycle at 1-888-446-5157 or forest river at 1-574-389-4600,
Vehicle safety record
1998 Forest River Cardinal Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 1998 Forest River Cardinal with NHTSA, most often about the body, doors & structure (1) and the electrical system (1). It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in March 2007 for the recreational vehicle / trailer. For comparison, the 1997 has 0 and the 1999 has 2.
NHTSA data checked
BFewer problems than a typical Cardinal year, for its age
#293 most complained-about 1998 vehicle
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1998 Forest River Cardinal problems
Share of all 2 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1998 Forest River Cardinal recalls 1
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
What owners say
Be the first Cardinal owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
2 complaints about the 1998 Forest River Cardinal
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The thermostat control wire running from my furnace to the AC melted inside the wall. Harper camper land in great bend Ks told the HVAC guys that came out to fix it that they have seen this issue on a lot of campers where it melted the ends of the wires.
Pin box broke loose from vehicle. Upon arriving from a vacation the contact unloaded the 5th wheel trailer and found an 1 inch to 11/2 inch gap in the right top corner, big enough to stick hand right outside. On the left hand side discovered that at the bottom of the slide out the fiberglas was fractured, and there was an 1/2 inch gap in the crack. *Ak
Forest River Cardinal: every year compared
All Cardinal years1998 Forest River Cardinal vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Forest River Cardinal | 2 | 1 | B | |
| 1998 Forest River Georgetown | 1 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 1998 Forest River Flagstaff | 1 | 1 | B | 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 1998 Forest River Cardinal
Does the 1998 Forest River Cardinal have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1998 Forest River Cardinal: recreational vehicle / trailer (March 2007). 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 1998 Forest River Cardinal?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the body, doors & structure (1), electrical system (1).
How many complaints has the 1998 Forest River Cardinal had?
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on April 5, 2006 and the latest on December 7, 2022. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1998 Forest River Cardinal a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 69 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Forest River Cardinal 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 Forest River Cardinal years have the most complaints?
2015 (11), 2006 (7), 2017 (7). See every Forest River Cardinal year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Forest River Cardinal 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