Model year

2020 Forest River Surveyor

Trailer, Not Applicable, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from May 20, 2020 to Sep 11, 2020.

Recall campaigns covering this model year44,747 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints44.0 times the median 2020 trailer
Severity index0.02020 trailers average 7.3
First 24 months4Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2020 Forest River Surveyor peaked in 2020, with 4 filed

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

0123420204202120222023202420252026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

50% of complaints about the 2020 Forest River Surveyor name structure

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

Structure
2
Suspension
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 2020 Forest River Surveyor

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 2020 Forest River Surveyor
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
20V-360Jun 19, 2020Furnace may not have been properly secured inside the furnace cabinet, allowing it to move freely inside the cabinetEquipment176Repair or modification
20V-297May 22, 2020Safety chains are insufficient for the trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and may break in the event of the trailer coming unhitchedEquipment88Part replacement
20V-075Feb 12, 2020POD, Clipper, Viking, Independence, Puma and East to West trailersEquipment4,464Part replacement
19V-772Oct 25, 2019Fuse of the incorrect amperage was installed for the 12V refrigerator, potentially allowing the wiring to overheatElectrical system19Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2020 Forest River Surveyor

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.

4 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Sep 11, 2020Failure Jun 1, 2020499 milesAiken, SCBody, Suspension

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FOREST RIVER SURVEYOR TOWED BY A 2019 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED AND GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY, THE TIRES RUBBED UNDERNEATH THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE RV AND DETERMINED THAT THE UNDER BODY OF THE RV WAS LOW. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO JOHNS RV SALES AND SERVICE / AIRSTREAM SOUTH CAROLINA ( 165 BUSINESS PARK RD, LEXINGTON, SC 29072, 800-779-2957) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE RV SAT LOW. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPRINGS AND U-BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RV WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 5,000. THE TRAILER FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 499.*DT *AS*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE SPRINGS AND BOLTS CHANGED, BUT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.*AS*DT *TR*DT*TR*DT*TR*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAS REPLACED ORIGINAL SPRINGS AND AXLES WITH A HIGHER 4400LB UNITS. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 11354436
  2. Filed Aug 10, 2020Failure Aug 5, 2020Kent, WAUnknown or other

    WE HAD A ROCK OR SOME SOLID OBJECT (WE DIDN'T SEE IT HAPPEN) HIT THE FRONT WINDOW OF OUR TRAILER, WHILE DRIVING. THE GLASS COMPLETELY SHATTERED (NOT LIKE SAFETY GLASS) AND RESULTED IN SMALL PIECES AND SHARDS OF GLASS ALL OVER OUR MURPHY BED (WHICH FOLDED UP AGAINST THE WINDOW) AND ALL THROUGHOUT THE FRONT END OF TRAILER. THE SHARDS OF GLASS ARE SO SMALL THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN IT ALL UP SAFELY. MYSELF AND MY YOUNG CHILD HAVE STEPPED ON SHARDS AND IMPALED OUR FEET. I ALSO CUT UP MY HANDS WHILE TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE GLASS.*DT*JB

    NHTSA complaint 11348403
  3. Filed Jul 27, 2020Failure Jul 4, 20201,500 milesCopper Canyon, TXBody

    THIS WAS THE FIRST ROAD TRIP WITH OUR NEW 2020 FOREST RIVER LEGACY TRAILER, 19RBLE. WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT, APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH. CLEAR DAY, WITH APPROX. 35-40 MPH WINDS. NO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF US. WHILE DRIVING, THE SLIDE PROTRUDED ABOUT A FOOT FROM THE TRAILER WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE FRONT WINDOW OF THE TRAILER HAD BLOWN OUT AND THE PRESSURE FROM THE WIND INTO THE TRAILER FORCED THE SLIDE TO PUSH OUT, MAKING FOR A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO ROAD DEBRIS OR FOREIGN OBJECTS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE WINDOW TO SHATTER. WE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY REALIZE WHY THE SLIDE HAD PUSHED OUT WHILE DRIVING. WE FORCED THE SLIDE BACK IN, AND ATTEMPTED TO GO DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN. SLIDE PUSHED OUT AGAIN. WE REALIZED THE PRESSURE OF THE WIND FROM THE BROKEN WINDOW WAS FORCING THE SLIDE TO PUSH OUT. WE STOPPED, OPENED THE WINDOWS IN THE TRAILER TO ALLOW THE AIR TO FLOW THROUGH THE TRAILER WHICH THEN PREVENTED THE SLIDE FROM PUSHING OUT UNTIL WE COULD STOP SOMEWHERE SAFELY AND SECURE A COVER FOR THE FRONT WINDOW. THE 2020 TRAILER IS THE FIRST YEAR TO HAVE THE FRONT WINDOW. THE WINDOW SHOULD NOT HAVE SHATTERED. IN ADDITION, THE SLIDE CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUSH OUT FROM THE FORCE OF THE WIND. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS HURT. THE SLIDE IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO FOREST RIVER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN US AN EXPLANATION OR AGREED TO REPAIR ALL THE DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER. THIS IS A DESIGN OR INSTALLATION DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER BOTH FOR THE WINDOW AND THE SLIDE. THE WINDOW SHOULD NOT SHATTER LIKE IT DID AND THERE SHOULD BE SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES THE SLIDE SHOULD EXTEND WHILE DRIVING! FRONT WINDOWS IN TRAILERS SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH SOME SORT OF ATTACHABLE COVER TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.*DT*JB*DT*JB

    NHTSA complaint 11341729
  4. Filed May 20, 2020Failure May 15, 2020300 milesMission Hills, CAUnknown or other

    FRESH WATER TANK FELL OUT FROM BOTTOM OF THE TRAILER. SUPPORT FOR TANK GAVE OUT WHILE TOWING TRAILER, NEARLY TOOK OUT A MOTORCYCLIST. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 11325293
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

1 manufacturer communication cover this model year

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

  • 511086 May 15, 2020 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    The P-Trap swivel fitting may crack during normal use, potentially allowing water to leak, which may lead to premature degradation of any non-water resistant components.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.