- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Coachmen Cross Country, 2015 Coachmen Encore, 2016-2020 Coachmen Mirada, 2018-2021 Coachmen Sportscoach, 2019-2021 Forest River Berkshire, 2011-2016 Forest River Blue Ridge, 2014-2019 Forest River Cardinal, 2014-2020 Forest River Cedar Creek, 2014-2021 Forest River Georgetown, 2019 Forest River Legacy, and 2017-2018 Forest River Riverstone recreational vehicles equipped with Hehr 6400 Series windows. The adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may fail.
- The risk
- Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1380.
Vehicle safety record
2016 Forest River Cardinal Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2016 Forest River Cardinal with NHTSA, most often about the body, doors & structure (1) and the electrical system (1). It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in July 2021 for the recreational vehicle / trailer. For comparison, the 2015 has 11 and the 2017 has 7.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical Cardinal year, for its age
#327 most complained-about 2016 vehicle
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2016 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.
2016 Forest River Cardinal 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 2016-2018 Cardinal recreational trailers, model CAF3250RL. The Federal Placard on these vehicles overstates the Gross Axle Weight Rating capacity (GAWR) by 840lbs. for each axle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
- The risk
- The incorrect GAWR makes the Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) label incorrect and may result in the vehicle being overloaded, affecting the vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will provide a new Federal Placard with the correct GAWR and a new CCC label, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-05192017-0412.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Cardinal recreational vehicles, models CAF3455RL, CAF3825FL and CAF3850RL, manufactured from November 20, 2015, through April 1, 2016. These vehicles may be equipped with a Federal Placard that indicates an incorrect tire and rim combination. The placard states the tire and rim combination is ST235/80R16 LRE Tires with 80 PSI and a rim designation of 16X6.00JJ, when the actual combination on the vehicle is LT235/85T16 LRG Tires with 110 PSI and a rim designation of 16X6.00HD. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- The risk
- If the operator inflates the tires to the PSI indicated on the label, the tires will be operated while being under-inflated causing pre-mature wear and a possible tire blow out, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners, and provide a new corrected Federal Placard, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on, or about, June 23, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-04172016-0179.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cardinal fifth wheel travel trailers, model CAF3850RL. The affected vehicles have Federal Certification Placards that list an incorrect gross axle weight from what is actually installed on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
- The risk
- Incorrect placards may result in improper trailer loading. Improper loading may increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners and mail them a corrected Federal placard label, free of charge. The recall began on January 13, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-12112015-0122.
What owners say
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2 complaints about the 2016 Forest River Cardinal
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
I cannot find any information on my fifth wheel trailer when entering the vin on multiple websites. The only thing I can find is an incorrect length and an error code saying the model year for this vehicle may be incorrect. I am trying to resale this trailer and I am having a difficult time due to this. If you look at a 2015 brochure of cardinal trailers, my 3450rl model is there. If you look at a 2016 brochure, my model is not there. My trailer is a 2016 3450rl, however, I disagree. I don't know if this was a...
Read the full complaint
show trailer at shows or what the deal is, but I would have liked to have known all of this before I purchased this thing new at an outrageous price. I am super upside down on a 2016 trailer now. This industry needs regulation.
Goodyear marathon tires less than 3000 miles, air pressure 80 psi lug nut torqued. Right rear tire blew while driving down ]highway 19 thru ocala national forest at 60 miles per hour. Camper is equipped with tyron straps but still did not prevent tire from tearing fender off, wiring, metal damage,hyd line punctured and fiberglass damage.
Forest River Cardinal: every year compared
All Cardinal years2016 Forest River Cardinal vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Forest River Cardinal | 2 | 4 | D | |
| 2016 Forest River Forester | 7 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2016 Forest River Amera-Lite | 4 | 2 | - | Compare |
| 2016 Forest River Berkshire | 4 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2016 Forest River Cherokee | 3 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2016 Forest River Cherokee Grey Wolf | 2 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 2016 Forest River Evo | 2 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 2016 Forest River Coachmen | 2 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2016 Forest River Blue Ridge | 2 | 1 | C | 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 2016 Forest River Cardinal
Does the 2016 Forest River Cardinal have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 Forest River Cardinal: recreational vehicle / trailer (July 2021); labels (May 2017); labels (April 2016); labels (December 2015). 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 2016 Forest River Cardinal?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the body, doors & structure (1), electrical system (1), wheels & tires (1).
How many complaints has the 2016 Forest River Cardinal had?
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on July 7, 2017 and the latest on August 17, 2018. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2016 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 2016 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