2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORREST RIVER CARDINAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FRAME WAS POORLY DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 29TS FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE, THE MECHANIC DECIDED TO CHECK THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. A TRAILER WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED THERE AND A MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. AFTER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS ALSO CRACKED ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPAIR THE FRAME. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FRAME SHOULD NOT HAVE COME APART ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,000. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/26/09*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 36TS RV. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH. HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHACKLE FAILED. A MINOR TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY WELDER AND ANOTHER TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE MAIN FRAME EXHIBITED A SEVERE CRACK. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

TIRE FAILURE OF TWO KENDA KLEVER A/P TIRES ON MY 2005 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL ON JULY 11, AND 12, 2008. FIRST FAILURE (LEFT REAR) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES EAST OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AK ON I-40 WESTBOUND AT 4:30 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER. SECOND FAILURE (LEFT FRONT) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES NORTH OF MARSHALL, TX SOUTHBOUND U.S. 59 AT ABOUT 1:00 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO SEWAGE DISPOSAL PIPEWORK. ALL TIRE WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND DID NOT SHOW SIGNS OF FAILURE (BULGES, CRACKS OR SPLITS) TIRES WERE NOT HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN CHECKED AT REST AREAS AND FOR FUEL STOPS. THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA, AND WERE RECALLED IN 2007. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, BY EITHER KENDA (COOPER TIRE) OR FOREST RIVER THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RV. NO PUBLIC NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE TIRE DEALER THAT INSPECTED THE TIRES AFTER THE FAILURES STATED THESE WERE TREAD SEPARATIONS CAUSED BY BELT FAILURES. THE "TYRE GUARD" WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OF THE RV HAS STATED THEY DON'T COVER MANUFACTURERS DEFECTS AND HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM. THE TOTAL DAMAGE EXCEEDS $ 4000.00 TO THE RV AND ALL THE TIRES (FAILED AND 3 REMAINING) WERE REPLACED WITH NEW 235-85-R16 GOODYEAR WRANGLER HTS LOAD RATED E TIRES AT A COST OF 4 @ 145.00 EACH AND ONE @ $247.00 (FIRST FAILURE) ALL THE OLD TIRES (5) ARE AVAILABLE AND IN MY POSSESSION. *TR

2005 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL TRAVEL TRAILER. DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER STATES THAT DOMETIC WILL NOT REPAIR THEIR PRODUCT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS REFRIGERATOR LEAKED AMMONIA AND STOPPED WORKING. DOMETIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SINCE THE UNIT WAS INOPERATIVE AND MORE THAN 3 YEARS OLD THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. *JB