- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Forest River Aurora, Coachmen Catalina, 2026 Coachmen Viking, Coachmen Clipper, 2016-2026 Wildwood, and Salem recreational trailers. The distribution panel wire may be connected to the battery without over current protection.
- The risk
- Unprotected wiring can increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will relocate the distribution panel wire to the correct side of the breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2025. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River's number for this recall is 205-1987.
Vehicle safety record
2017 Forest River Salem Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2017 Forest River Salem have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 9 recalls, the latest in October 2025 for the wiring.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Salem year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2017 Forest River Salem recalls 9
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 2014-2019 Forest River Salem, Wildcat Maxx, Wildwood, Vibe, and Rainier recreational trailers. The break-away safety switch may not have been wired to a constant power source, and, as a result, the switch may be inadvertently disconnected from the trailer house battery causing the brakes to not engage if the trailer detaches from the tow vehicle.
- The risk
- If the trailer brakes cannot engage if the trailer detaches from tow vehicle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new wiring harness to reroute the wiring, free of charge. The recall began September 25, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22/30-0824.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forest River Wildwood, and 2016-2019 Forest River Salem recreational trailers. The outside auxiliary shower faucet cover may cover the water heater exhaust panel when opened.
- The risk
- The covered water heater exhaust panel could increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will install a replacement outside shower, free of charge. The recall began on July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 44-0762.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2003-2018 Forest River Berkshire, Charleston, Rockport, Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Riverstone, Salem, Sandpiper, Sierra, Vengeance, Wildcat, Wildwood, XLR Boost, Cargo Mate, Continental Cargo, motorhomes, recreational trailers, toyhaulers, cargo trailers and restroom trailers and 2009-2018 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit, Concord, Leprechaun, Freelander, Orion and Prism motorhomes, 2009-2017 Coachmen Apex and Catalina recreational trailers, and 2013-2017 Shasta Oasis and Revere recreational trailers, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
- The risk
- In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on December 27, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Kidde customer service toll free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0544.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Salem, Wildwood, XLR, Sanibel, Wildcat, Vengeance, Chaparral Lite and Columbus recreational trailers. The Federal Placard may inaccurately list the tire and rim combinations that are installed on the trailers. Additionally, the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) information may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims," and 49 CFR part 567, "Certification."
- The risk
- The incorrect information may cause the operator to install an incorrect replacement rim or tire, overinflate the tire, or overload the vehicle, all scenarios that may increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners and will provide a corrected Federal Placard, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-04242017-0393.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017 Salem and Wildwood recreational vehicles. The Federal Placard on these vehicles incorrectly lists the Gross Axle Weight Rating capacity (GAWR) being 5,080 lbs, when the axles actually have a capacity of 4,400 lbs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
- The risk
- The incorrect GAWR may result in the vehicle being overloaded, causing a loss of 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, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-4058. Forest River's number for this recall is 27-03292017-0362.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017 Wildwood recreational trailers, model WDT197BH and Salem recreational trailers, model SMT197BH. The lower sidewall vent for the refrigerator was improperly installed, allowing propane gas to enter the vehicle.
- The risk
- A propane leak into the interior of the vehicle in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire or explosion.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new vent into the vehicle floor, free of charge. The recall began on April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-260-593-4001. Forest River's number for the recall is 72-02162017-0329.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2017 Salem recreational trailers, model SMT186RB, manufactured October 13, 2016 through October 21, 2016 and model year 2017 Wildwood recreational trailers, model WDT186RB, manufactured October 7, 2016, through October 21, 2016. The Federal Placard Label and the VIN incorrectly states that the vehicle has two axles, while the vehicle is only equipped with one axle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
- The risk
- If the owner follows the information on the Federal Placard Label, the operator may overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners and will provide a corrected Certificate of Origin, Federal Placard and VIN plate for each trailer, free of charge. The recall began on November 22, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-1251. Forest River's number for this recall is 6-10252016-0262.
- The problem
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2017 Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers manufactured August 9, 2016, to September 6, 2016. The Federal Placard on the affected vehicles incorrectly lists the tire and rim combination. The placard states ST225/75R15 Load Range C tires with an inflation pressure of 50PSI and a rim size of 15X6.0JJ, however, the trailer is equipped with ST225/75R15 Load Range D tires that have an inflation pressure of 65PSI, installed on 15X6.0JJ rims. 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
- The incorrect tire information on the Federal Label may result in the operator under-inflating the tires. An underinflated tire may cause sudden tire failure, or poor handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected Federal Placard, free of charge. The recall began on October 27, 2016. Salem owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-1251. Wildwood owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-533-2165. Forest River's number for this recall is 27-09082016-0243.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2017 Forest River Salem 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 Salem: every year compared
All Salem years2017 Forest River Salem vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Forest River Salem | 0 | 9 | F | |
| 2017 Forest River Cherokee | 11 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2017 Forest River Cardinal | 7 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2017 Forest River Coachmen | 5 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 2017 Forest River Flagstaff | 4 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2017 Forest River Cedar Creek | 3 | 4 | C | Compare |
| 2017 Forest River Blue Ridge | 3 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 2017 Forest River Amera-Lite | 2 | 2 | - | Compare |
| 2017 Forest River Clipper Camping Trailer | 2 | 0 | F | 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 2017 Forest River Salem
Does the 2017 Forest River Salem have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2017 Forest River Salem: wiring (October 2025); 12v / 24v / 48v battery (August 2018); recreational vehicle / trailer (June 2018); equipment (November 2017) and more. 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 2017 Forest River Salem had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2017 Forest River Salem a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 23 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Forest River Salem 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 Salem years have the most complaints?
2008 (3), 2001 (2), 2011 (2). See every Forest River Salem year compared.
What should I do if my 2017 Forest River Salem 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