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2009 Forest River Cardinal recalls and problems

The 2009 Forest River Cardinal has 1 safety recall and 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Forest River dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
5
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2009 Forest River Cardinal vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2009 Forest River Cardinal recalls

Recall 09V-148: Equipment

Reported May 1, 2009 · 176 vehicles affected · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Problem: Forest river is recalling 176 my 2009 cardinal fifth wheel trailers. These trailers fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars." due to faulty scales in the production facility, the label for the cargo carrying capacity values is incorrect.

Risk: Failure to follow proper vehicle loading specifications or misprint label could increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Forest river will be mailing corrected labels to retail purchasers, and/or to dealers. The safety recall began on april 15, 2009. Owners may contact forest river at 1-574-206-7600.

2009 Forest River Cardinal problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Tires3
Suspension1
Equipment1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 6,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2009 Forest River Cardinal complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Tires · at 3,000 miles · reported Jul 27, 2012
On april 6, 2012 I was on my way to a camp ground when one of the tires on my camper blow out. The only damage was to the tire. On july 18, 2012 I again was on my way to a camp ground and the second tire came a part. This time the tire damaged the camper. The following is tire information: heritage trail trac ap lt235/85r16e DOT oj or4jov 5207 pressure 80 lbs.
Equipment · reported Nov 29, 2010
The contact owns a 2011 forest river cardinal rv equipped with a dometic awning. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the awning opened. The contact was able to drive onto the emergency lane. The dealer tore the awning fabric while the rv remained in the emergency lane. The dealer stated that the awning motor failed causing the arms to release since they were not locked. The dealer replaced the motor and added a lock. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The awning serial and part numbers were unavailable.
Tires · at 6,000 miles · reported Oct 20, 2009
The contact owns a 2008 forest river cardinal trailer(Na). The vehicle has kenda karrier lowstar tires, st255/80/16(Na). While driving approximately 65 MPH on normal road conditions; the trailer began to sway. The contact was able to drive in the emergency lane, shut the engine off and inspect the trailer. The front driver and passenger tires exhibited excessive tire separation. The contact was able to continue driving with caution. The tires were replaced. The contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. The failure and current mileages were 6,000. The DOT number was unavailable.
Suspension · at 700 miles · reported Sep 19, 2009
2009 forest river cedar creek g2 fifth wheel rv was involved in an accident when the shackles and u bolts securing the trailer suspension came off, as per the manufacturer they were not properly secured by locking bolts, and the axles were missing the guide pins for the leaf springs . The trailer had less than 700 miles on it at he time. An accident occurred, and the forest river company is trying to silence the owner of the trailer by telling him not to report it to the insurance company, but rather they will rebuild the rv!

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Forest River Cardinal have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2009 Forest River Cardinal: 09V-148 (equipment). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Forest River Cardinal?

Owners report tires problems most often (3 reports), followed by suspension (1). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 6,000 miles.

Are Forest River recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Forest River dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.