2020 Forest River Puma recalls and problems

The 2020 Forest River Puma has 2 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Forest River dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

0 / 1

Injuries / deaths

1 / 2

Recalls may cover only some 2020 Forest River Puma vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2020 Forest River Puma recalls

Recall 24V-395: Equipment

Reported Jun 4, 2024 · 41,353 vehicles affected · Forest River, Inc.

Problem: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2004-2024 Cedar Creek and 2006-2024 Puma fifth wheels trailers. The overcurrent protection from the trailer battery may have been incorrectly routed, allowing the wires to be pulled out of the junction box.

Risk: A loose wire can cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will reroute the wires to the protected side of the mini-beaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2024. Owners may contact Puma customer service at 1-574-642-0588 or Cedar Creek customer service at 260-593-4000. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1786.

Recall 20V-075: Equipment, Tires

Reported Feb 12, 2020 · 4,464 vehicles affected · Forest River, Inc.

Problem: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Surveyor, NO BO, Cherokee, R. POD, Clipper, Viking, Independence, Puma and East to West trailers. The spare tire carrier U-bolts may fail allowing the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle.

Risk: If the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle while in motion, it can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace U-bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 20, 2020. Owners may contact Surveyor, NO BO, R. and POD customer service at 1-574-642-3119, Independence, Viking, and Clipper customer service at 1-269-467-4600, Puma customer service at -574-642-0606, East and West customer service at 1-574-264-6664 or Cherokee customer service at 1-877-426-5337. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1133.

2020 Forest River Puma problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Structure	2
Wheels	2
Electrical System	1
Tires	1

Most reported parts

Structure › Body — 1
Wheels › Rim — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 2,000 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 2020 Forest River Puma complaints

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

Wheels · reported Oct 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Forest River Puma RV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and hauling the RV trailer, he became aware that the rear driver's side tire was flat. The RV was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the flat tire was the result of a crack in the wheelbase of the wheel assembly. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown.

Tires · reported Jun 10, 2023

Castle Rock ST 235/80R16 on the drivers side rear axle tire. I had just exited the interstate when the tire violently exploded. Debris from the side of the trailer and parts of the tire scattered across the opposing lane of traffic. Fortunately, no one was coming. This failure was harmful enough but would have been catastrophic for someone had this occurred on the busy interstate. Tire examined, belts had separated under the tread, leading to the failure. Examination of the remaining three tires, all Castle Rock, revealed one had underlying belt separation and was close to exploding and…

Structure · reported Jan 19, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Forest River Palomino Puma travel trailer. The contact stated that there was brown water leaking from the roof into the ceiling light fixture and walls of the RV. The RV was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the insulation caused the water to change to a brown color. The dealer replaced the wood on the walls of the RV; however, the failure recurred. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.

Structure · at 2,000 miles · reported Aug 11, 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Forest River Puma RV. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the structure underneath the trailer detached from the RV. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he continued driving to his destination. The contact took the RV to an independent mechanic and was informed that the structure underneath the RV has been replaced. The RV was repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

Electrical System · reported May 14, 2021

The contact owned a 2020 forest river palomino puma 28bhss travel trailer. The contact stated that while she and her two children and husband were sleeping, the electrical panel located in the children's room inside the bunkhouse caught fire. The contact's husband was sleeping in the children's room and was awaken by the fire. The contact's husband then screamed for everyone to evacuate the travel trailer. The contact's two pets died from the fire as they were not able to evacuate. The contact was the only person who received medical attention on the scene and was transported to the hospital…

Other Forest River Puma years

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Compare all Forest River Puma years · All Forest River models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Forest River Puma have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2020 Forest River Puma: 24V-395 (equipment), 20V-075 (equipment, tires). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2020 Forest River Puma?

Owners report structure problems most often (2 reports), followed by wheels (2). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 2,000 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.