- 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
2018 Forest River Cardinal Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2018 Forest River Cardinal have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in July 2021 for the recreational vehicle / trailer.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Cardinal year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2018 Forest River Cardinal 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 2018 Cardinal recreational trailers, models CAF3045RLLE, CAF304SR, CAF322DS and CAF392RD. These vehicles were manufactured without an emergency exit window in the rear wall of the vehicle.
- The risk
- Without a secondary means of escape from the vehicle, a person may be trapped inside the vehicle during an emergency, which could increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install an emergency exit window, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-0626.
- 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.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2018 Forest River Cardinal 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.
Forest River Cardinal: every year compared
All Cardinal years2018 Forest River Cardinal vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Forest River Cardinal | 0 | 3 | C | |
| 2018 Forest River Cherokee | 14 | 8 | F | Compare |
| 2018 Forest River Flagstaff | 5 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2018 Forest River Georgetown | 4 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 2018 Forest River Cedar Creek | 4 | 4 | D | Compare |
| 2018 Forest River Freedom Express | 3 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2018 Forest River Arctic Wolf | 3 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2018 Forest River FR3 | 3 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 2018 Forest River Columbus | 2 | 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 2018 Forest River Cardinal
Does the 2018 Forest River Cardinal have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Forest River Cardinal: recreational vehicle / trailer (July 2021); escape / egress / exit (January 2018); labels (May 2017). 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 2018 Forest River Cardinal had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2018 Forest River Cardinal a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 44 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as 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 2018 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