- The problem
- Forest river is recalling 176 my 2009 cardinal fifth wheel trailers. These trailers fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars." Due to faulty scales in the production facility, the label for the cargo carrying capacity values is incorrect.
- The risk
- Failure to follow proper vehicle loading specifications or misprint label could increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Forest river will be mailing corrected labels to retail purchasers, and/or to dealers. The safety recall began on april 15, 2009. Owners may contact forest river at 1-574-206-7600.
Vehicle safety record
2009 Forest River Cardinal Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2009 Forest River Cardinal with NHTSA, most often about the wheels & tires (3) and the equipment & accessories (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 2 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in May 2009 for the labels. For comparison, the 2008 has 1 and the 2010 has 3.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical Cardinal year, for its age
#261 most complained-about 2009 vehicle
- Complaints
- 5
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2009 Forest River Cardinal problems
Share of all 5 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2009 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
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5 complaints about the 2009 Forest River Cardinal
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
On april 6, 2012 I was on my way to a camp ground when one of the tires on my camper blow out. The only damage was to the tire. On july 18, 2012 I again was on my way to a camp ground and the second tire came a part. This time the tire damaged the camper. The following is tire information: heritage trail trac ap lt235/85r16e dot oj or4jov 5207 pressure 80 lbs. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2011 forest river cardinal rv equipped with a dometic awning. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the awning opened. The contact was able to drive onto the emergency lane. The dealer tore the awning fabric while the rv remained in the emergency lane. The dealer stated that the awning motor failed causing the arms to release since they were not locked. The dealer replaced the motor and added a lock. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The awning serial and part numbers were unavailable.
Goodyear tire less than one year old blew out causing damage to the trailer and loss of the tire. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 forest river cardinal trailer(na). The vehicle has kenda karrier lowstar tires, st255/80/16(na). While driving approximately 65 mph on normal road conditions; the trailer began to sway. The contact was able to drive in the emergency lane, shut the engine off and inspect the trailer. The front driver and passenger tires exhibited excessive tire separation. The contact was able to continue driving with caution. The tires were replaced. The contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. The failure and current mileages were 6,000. The dot number was unavailable.
2009 Forest river cedar creek g2 fifth wheel rv was involved in an accident when the shackles and u bolts securing the trailer suspension came off, as per the manufacturer they were not properly secured by locking bolts, and the axles were missing the guide pins for the leaf springs . The trailer had less than 700 miles on it at he time. An accident occurred, and the forest river company is trying to silence the owner of the trailer by telling him not to report it to the insurance company, but rather they will rebuild the rv! *Tr
Forest River Cardinal: every year compared
All Cardinal years2009 Forest River Cardinal vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Forest River Cardinal | 5 | 1 | D | |
| 2009 Forest River Georgetown | 3 | 3 | B | Compare |
| 2009 Forest River Berkshire | 2 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 2009 Forest River Cedar Creek | 2 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2009 Forest River Sandpiper | 2 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2009 Forest River G2 Silverback | 1 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2009 Forest River Cherokee | 1 | 2 | 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 2009 Forest River Cardinal
Does the 2009 Forest River Cardinal have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2009 Forest River Cardinal: labels (May 2009). 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 2009 Forest River Cardinal?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the wheels & tires (3), equipment & accessories (1), suspension (1).
How many complaints has the 2009 Forest River Cardinal had?
5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 19, 2009 and the latest on July 27, 2012. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2009 Forest River Cardinal a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 32 out of 100 (grade D: more 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 2009 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