Model year record

2013 Forest River Rockwood recalls & problems

The 2013 Forest River Rockwood has 2 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is equipment (2 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints6filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

TiresNov 7, 2013

Tires

Recall 13V554000721 vehicles

Problem: Forest River is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Rockwood, Windjammer, Vlite and Flagstaff travel trailers manufactured February 3, 2012, through February 4, 2013. When an affected trailer hits a large bump or pot hole, the trailer tire may contact the bottom of the floor.
Risk: As a result, the tire may become damaged and possibly blow out which may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will add a lift kit between the frame and the axle mounting brackets, free of charge. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-825-7178.

Components: Tires; Suspension › Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assembly

EquipmentMay 17, 2013

Equipment

Recall 13V2030009,526 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Forest River is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Forest River models Blue Ridge, Cardinal, Cherokee, Columbus, EVO, Georgetown, Flagstaff, Forester, Lexington, Puma, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandpiper, Sandstorm, Sierra, Stealth, Sunseeker, Wildcat, Wildwood, Work and Play and XLR; Coachmen models Brookstone, Catalina, Chaparral, Concord, Encounter, Freedom Express, Freelander, Leprechaun, Mirada, Pursuit, and Sportcoach; Prime Time models Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Saniber, and Tracer; Palomino model Maverick Truck Camper; Cargo Mate model Eliminator and Shasta models Revere, Phoenix recreational vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2013, through April 18, 2013. Due to a design change in the power awning motor assembly, the motor assembly screws may unknowingly shear.
Risk: If the motor assembly screws shear, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the vehicle is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.
Fix: Forest River will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with motors of a different design. The safety recall began on July 29, 2013. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-389-4600 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed.

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	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
EquipmentRecreational vehicle/trailer	2	1	3	—
Wheels	2	0	0	—
Structure	1	1	2	—
Service brakes	1	0	0	—
Suspension	1	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Suspension
WE PURCHASED NEW A 2013 ROCKWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER (MODEL 8329SS), THE TRAILER IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT NOTICED THAT THE 4 TIRES WERE RUBBING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER, MOST LIKELY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. WE DID NOTICE AFTER WE TOOK DELIVERY THAT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAILER WAS VERY CLOSE, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DESIGNED WITH THIS CLEARANCE. NOW TIME HAS GONE BY AND WE WENT TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES (TRAILER ONLY HAS MAYBE 7,000 MILES ON IT) AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAVE BEEN RUBBING. AFTER DOING A WEB SEARCH FOUND A RECALL FROM FOREST RIVER REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE (CAMPAIGN #13V554000). WE CALLED SEVERAL PEOPLE AT FOREST RIVER, GAVE OUR SERIAL NUMBER AND WERE…
Nov 28, 2016 · 7,000 miles
Wheels
THE TRAILER WAS FURNISHED WITH TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TOWING ST225/75R15 TIRES FROM THE FACTORY. WITH ONLY ABOUT 2000 MILES ON THE TIRES, ONE STARTED TO HAVE A SLOW LEAK WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT MY HOME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TIRE DEALER AND HE FOUND THAT THE SIDEWALL WAS LEAKING ABOUT A HALF AN INCH FROM THE RIM. I HAVE OPTED TO REPLACE THESE PRACTICALLY NEW TIRES WITH ONES MADE BY MAXXIS. I WOULD NOT WANT TO RISK A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE TOWING THIS LARGE TRAILER. FOREST RIVER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR THESE HAZARDOUS TIRES. ALSO, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE BANNED FROM SELLING THEIR PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
May 13, 2016 · 2,000 miles
Equipment › Recreational vehicle/trailer
CPSC:H1550028A. FOREST RIVER RV. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BUNK BEDS IN THE RV HAVE A FALL SAFETY ISSUE. *LN THE RV DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH GUARD RAILS. *JB
Oct 15, 2013
Service brakes
2013 ROCKWOOD FREEDOM. CONSUMER WRITES IN THE REGARDS TO BRAKES LOCKED DURING TOWING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TRAILER BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT GREASE WAS OOZING FROM THE BEARINGS. THE CONSUMER ALSO FOUND THE BRAKE LANYARD WAS DISENGAGED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BACKING PLATE, HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPACKED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LANYARD DISENGAGED WHICH CAUSED THE TRAILER BRAKES TO LOCK UP, WAS DUE TO A PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE CABLE.
Mar 2, 2015
Equipment › Recreational vehicle/trailerCrash3 injuries
CPSC: I1450340A. 2013 ROCKWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER. CONSUMER STATED THE TRAILER STARTED TO SWAY AND CAUSED THE TRUCK TO ROLL OVER ON ITS ROOF. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED THE TRAILER STARTING TO SWAY, WHEN HE WENT AROUND A CORNER OR CHANGED LANES. THE WIND THEN CAUGHT THE TRAILER, HE HIT THE TRAILER BRAKES, TO SLOW THE SWAYING DOWN. HE THEN LET GO OF THE TRAILER BRAKES AND THE TRAILER JERKED. WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE PICTURES, HE NOTICED THE FRESH WATER TANK WAS EXPOSED AT THE REAR BUMPER OF THE TRAILER. WHEN HE WENT TO RETRIEVE HIS BELONGINGS, HE CHECKED THE TANK FOR BAFFLES, AND DISCOVERED NONE HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN THE TANK. THE CONSUMER REALIZED THE WATER MOVING AROUND IN THE TANK,…
May 16, 2014
StructureCrash2 injuries
WE FILLED THE FRESH WATER TANK FOR A CAMPING TRIP. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MAKING LANE CHANGES OR CORNERING THE TRAILER WOULD START TO SWAY, I WOULD HIT THE TRAILER BRAKES TO GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL. THE TRAILER STARTED TO SWAY AGAIN AND I LOST CONTROL, THIS TIME ROLLING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER. I NOTICED THE FRESH WATER TANK WAS LOCATED AT THE REAR BUMBER. I FEEL THE WATER SWATCHING AROUND IN THE UN BAFFELED TANK CAUSED THE TRAILER TO SWAY OUT OF CONTROL. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS WE HAD TOWED THE TRAILER IN HIGH CROSS WINDS WITH NO PROBLEMS, BUT THERE WAS NO FRESH WATER ON BOARD AT THAT TIME. I TOW THE TRAILER WITH A 2006 FORD F 150 SUPER CAB 4X4 6FT BED AND USE A E-2 STABILIZER…
May 16, 2014 · 100 miles

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

NHTSA defect investigations

Trailer tire may contact floorClosed
ODI opened RQ14-004 based on 3 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) which reported a condition similar to recall 13V-554.This recall addressed insufficient clearance between the tire and trailer floor.The condition was due to a frame supplier change which resulted in reduced clearance between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel wellOf the three VOQs reported in the opening resume two were not included in recall 13V-554 and one was.Both of the vehicles not included used a different frame than the recalled trailers.Upon thorough examination of the condition experienced by the owners it was found that neither unit exhibited insufficient tire clearance between the bottom of the floor and top of the tire.Forest River's initial Information Request Response (IRR) submission did not adequately address all the questions asked by ODI.Following a meetingwith Forest River personnel on…
RQ14004 · opened Sep 10, 2014 · closed Jul 9, 2015