Model year record

2005 Forest River Cardinal recalls & problems

The 2005 Forest River Cardinal has 2 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (3 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints6filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

EquipmentOct 1, 2010

Equipment

Recall 10V4540002,207 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIMPLEX ELECTRAFLAME, SYMPHONY, OR OPTIFLAME BRANDED ELECTRIC FIREPLACES, STOVES, AND FIREPLACE INSERTS. THE PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR THE FIREPLACE CAN OVERHEAT.
Risk: AN OVERHEATED RECEIVER COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Fix: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DIMPLEX AND DIMPLEX WILL PROVIDE OWNERS A FREE REPLACEMENT PLUG-IN REMOTE CONTROL KIT. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DIMPLEX NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-888-346-7539.

EquipmentJul 7, 2008

Recreational vehicle/trailer

Recall 08V346000107,417 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2003-2006 MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR 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.
Risk: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). 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 THE OWNER 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
StructureFrame and members › Underbody shields; Frame and members	3	1	4,000 mi
EquipmentRecreational vehicle/trailer	2	0	—
Tires	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FRAME WAS POORLY DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
May 16, 2011 · 1,000 miles
Structure › Frame and members
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 29TS FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE, THE MECHANIC DECIDED TO CHECK THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. A TRAILER WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED THERE AND A MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. AFTER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS ALSO CRACKED ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPAIR THE FRAME. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FRAME SHOULD NOT HAVE COME APART ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,000. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/26/09*JB
Jun 10, 2009 · 6,000 miles
Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shieldsFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 36TS RV. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH. HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHACKLE FAILED. A MINOR TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY WELDER AND ANOTHER TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN FRAME EXHIBITED A SEVERE CRACK. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE.…
Apr 8, 2007 · 4,000 miles
Tires
TIRE FAILURE OF TWO KENDA KLEVER A/P TIRES ON MY 2005 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL ON JULY 11, AND 12, 2008. FIRST FAILURE (LEFT REAR) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES EAST OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AK ON I-40 WESTBOUND AT 4:30 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER. SECOND FAILURE (LEFT FRONT) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES NORTH OF MARSHALL, TX SOUTHBOUND U.S. 59 AT ABOUT 1:00 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO SEWAGE DISPOSAL PIPEWORK. ALL TIRE WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND DID NOT SHOW SIGNS OF FAILURE (BULGES, CRACKS OR SPLITS) TIRES WERE NOT HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN CHECKED AT REST AREAS AND FOR FUEL STOPS. THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA, AND WERE…
Jul 11, 2008 · 7,500 miles
Equipment › Recreational vehicle/trailer
2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL TRAVEL TRAILER. DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER STATES THAT DOMETIC WILL NOT REPAIR THEIR PRODUCT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS REFRIGERATOR LEAKED AMMONIA AND STOPPED WORKING. DOMETIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SINCE THE UNIT WAS INOPERATIVE AND MORE THAN 3 YEARS OLD THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. *JB
Jul 17, 2008
Equipment
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL PULL BEHIND TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLING UNIT ON THE REFRIGERATOR LEAKED AFTER A CRACK FORMED IN THE COOLING TUBE. THE CONTACT DISCONTINUED USING THE REFRIGERATOR. SOMEONE INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL VIA THE INTERNET. HE CALLED DOMETIC AND HAS BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND EVER SINCE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE IS A PULL BEHIND; THEREFORE, NO MILEAGE OR VIN INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.
Mar 15, 2008

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.