Model year

2016 Forest River Cardinal

Trailer, Not Applicable, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Jul 7, 2017 to Aug 17, 2018.

Recall campaigns covering this model year4894 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints22.0 times the median 2016 trailer
Severity index0.02016 trailers average 8.7
First 24 months1Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2016 Forest River Cardinal peaked in 2017, with 1 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

00.250.50.75120171201820192020202120222023202420252026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

50% of complaints about the 2016 Forest River Cardinal name electrical system

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Electrical system
1
Structure
1
Wheels
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

4 recall campaigns cover the 2016 Forest River Cardinal

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2016 Forest River Cardinal
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
21V-523Jul 9, 2021Adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may failEquipment825Part replacement
17V-336May 24, 2017Federal Placard on these vehicles overstates the Gross Axle Weight Rating capacity (GAWR) by 840lbs. for each axleEquipment17Label or owner notice
16V-258Apr 29, 2016These vehicles may be equipped with a Federal Placard that indicates an incorrect tire and rim combinationEquipment38Label or owner notice
15V-860Dec 22, 2015Affected vehicles have Federal Certification Placards that list an incorrect gross axle weight from what is actually installed on the vehicleEquipment14Label or owner notice
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2016 Forest River Cardinal

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

2 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Aug 17, 2018Failure Aug 2, 2018Vancouver, WAUnknown or other

    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 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.

    NHTSA complaint 11120627
  2. Filed Jul 7, 2017Failure Jul 4, 20172,800 milesSaint Johns, FLElectrical system, Body, Wheels

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 11003551
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

No manufacturer communications on file

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.