Does the 2021 Forest River Cardinal have any recalls?

Transport Canada lists 4 campaigns and the U.S. NHTSA lists 6 for the 2021 Forest River Cardinal. Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.

How do I know if a recall applies to my 2021 Forest River Cardinal?

Recalls are matched by make, model and model year, but many cover only certain VIN ranges. Confirm with your manufacturer or dealer using your full VIN, or use the official Transport Canada or NHTSA lookup.

Are recall repairs free?

Yes. In both Canada and the United States the manufacturer must fix a recalled defect at no charge, through a franchised dealer.

RECALLS — MAKE · MODEL · YEAR

2021 Forest River Cardinal recalls

10 safety recall campaigns have been filed for the 2021 Forest River Cardinal with Transport Canada and the U.S. NHTSA. Here is what both agencies say.

Canadian recalls: 04
U.S. recalls: 06
Total campaigns: 10

Transport Canada recalls

Accessories#2024227April 17, 2024
156 units affected
Issue: On certain motorhomes and RV trailers, the circuit board for the LED light rings on the cooktop knobs could fail. As a result, the wiring and/or LED lights could overheat and melt. Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with certain Suburban cooktops. Safety Risk: Wiring and/or lights that overheat and melt can create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Forest River will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your motorhome or RV trailer to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, disable or remove the LED light rings.
Tires#2022002January 7, 2022
60 units affected
Issue: Certain RV trailers were built with tires that may have a defect. As a result, the tire tread and belts could separate. If this happens, the tire could fail and suddenly lose air pressure. Note: This recall only affects trailers equipped with certain ST235/80R16 G tires. The tires are marked with plant code 1YJ, and within the date code range of 2020 - 4120. If you have tires with a different date code, please also see Transport Canada recall 2021-729. Safety Risk: A tire failure could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Forest River will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your trailer to a dealer to inspect the tires. If the tires are within the date code range, they will be replaced.
Accessories#2021773December 17, 2021
6 units affected
Issue: On certain RV trailers, the generator compartment may not be sealed properly. As a result, exhaust fumes and carbon monoxide could enter the trailer. Safety Risk: A buildup of exhaust inside the trailer could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Corrective Actions: Forest River will notify owners by mail and instruct you to bring your trailer to a dealer to inspect the generator compartment. If necessary, the dealer will apply sealant to any openings.
Structure#2021122March 8, 2021
17 units affected
Issue: On certain travel trailers, the spare tire carrier was not properly attached to the travel trailer. As a result, the tire and carrier could separate from the trailer. Safety Risk: A spare tire carrier that falls from the trailer could become a hazard for other road users and bystanders. This could create a risk of injury and/or a crash. Corrective Actions: Forest River will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your travel trailer to a dealer to replace the fasteners that attach the spare tire carrier.

Canadian data updated August 24, 2026

U.S. NHTSA recalls

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL#24V272000April 17, 2024
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Forest River Cardinal, Wildcat, 2018-2019 Cedar Creek, 2021 Columbus, 2023 Continental Cargo, 2021-2024 Dynamax DX3, Dynamax Dynaquest XL, Dynamax Isata, Forest River IBEX, 2022-2024 Dynamax Europa, Forest River NOBO, 2022-2023 Forest River Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, and 2021-2023 Dynamax Force trailers. The LED backlight circuit board in the cooktop range may fail, causing the board to overheat.
Risk: A circuit board that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will disconnect and cut the circuit powering the LED backlights and terminate the wiring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed by May 14, 2024. Owners may contact Suburban customer service at 1-574-247-9235 option 5; Cardinal & Wildcat customer service at 1-574-296-7700; Cedar Creek customer service at 1-260-593-4000; Columbus customer service at 1-574-821-1487; Continental Cargo customer service at 1-254-420-0171; Dynamax customer service at 1-574-264-6664; Ibex & Nobo customer service at 1-574-6421612; and Sandstorm & Shockwave customer service at 1-909-873-3777. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1760.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT#22V004000January 7, 2022
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Prime Time Sanibel, Crusader, Forest River Cardinal, and Continental Cargo fifth wheel trailers, equipped with certain Sailun tires, size ST235/80R16/G. Due to a manufacturing issue, the tires may experience a belt separation.
Risk: Belt separation could lead to loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tire DOT codes, and replace the tires as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1449.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ACCESSORY GENERATOR#21V988000December 17, 2021
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cardinal fifth wheel recreational vehicles. The generator compartment may not be sealed properly, allowing carbon monoxide to enter the vehicle.
Risk: Carbon monoxide inside the vehicle can increase the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the generator compartment for proper sealant and apply sealant if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 5, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-296-7700. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-1444.
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER#21V145000March 8, 2021
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Cardinal and Wildcat Fifth Wheels trailers. The spare tire carrier may be installed incorrectly, allowing it to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached spare tire carrier can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will secure the spare tire carrier, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-296-7700. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-1304.
EQUIPMENT#21V141000March 5, 2021
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Cardinal CAF345RLX, CAF366DVLE, CAF390FBX and 2021 Wildcat WCF336RLS, WCF368MB vehicles. The furnace flue may become misaligned due to insufficient furnace hold screws that allow movement during travel.
Risk: A misaligned furnace flue can allow furnace exhaust to leak into the living space, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will secure the furnace and align the flue, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-296-7700. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-1302.
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:FURNACE#20V655000October 26, 2020
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Cardinal fifth wheel trailers. The fresh air intake sleeve for the furnace is too short and does not have proper connection of the furnace to the exterior, allowing furnace exhaust to enter the trailer.
Risk: If exhaust enters the trailer, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can increase the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct intake sleeve to allow for proper connection on the furnace, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-296-7700. Forest River's number for this recall is 15-1245.

Does this recall apply to my vehicle?

Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.

What to do

Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer in both countries. To confirm a recall applies to your specific vehicle, or to book the work, contact your manufacturer or dealer with your full VIN, or use the official channel:

NHTSA recall lookup (search by VIN) — U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Defects and recalls database — Transport Canada

Check a 2021 Forest River Cardinal VIN

A VIN decode confirms your vehicle's exact model year, trim and assembly plant, then runs this same recall check against it.

Data sources and coverage limits →