2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
9
Owner Complaints
11
Recalls
4
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM
The 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM has received a total of 9 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 15 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER. 4 technical service bulletins have been issued by Forest River, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Tires (2 complaints), Wheels (2 complaints), and Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM
NHTSA has recorded 15 recalls for the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM, potentially affecting up to 38,612 vehicles.
Recall 25V682000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
| 20,305 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Forest River Aurora, Coachmen Catalina, 2026 Coachmen Viking, Coachmen Clipper, 2016-2026 Wildwood, and Salem recreational trailers. The distribution panel wire may be connected to the battery without over current protection.
Consequence: Unprotected wiring can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will relocate the distribution panel wire to the correct side of the breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2025. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River's number for this recall...
View full details →Recall 21V621000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 336 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem, Wildwood and 2020-2021 Stealth EVO travel trailers. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
Consequence: A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1400.
View full details →Recall 21V621000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 336 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem, Wildwood and 2020-2021 Stealth EVO travel trailers. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
Consequence: A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1400.
View full details →Recall 21V621000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 336 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem, Wildwood and 2020-2021 Stealth EVO travel trailers. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
Consequence: A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1400.
View full details →Recall 21V621000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 336 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem, Wildwood and 2020-2021 Stealth EVO travel trailers. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
Consequence: A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1400.
View full details →Recall 20V563000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
| 4,397 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Wildwood, Salem, and 2020 Sonoma travel trailers. The break-away safety switch may not be wired to constant power, which can cause the trailer brakes to not activate in the event of a trailer separation from the tow vehicle.
Consequence: If the brakes of the trailer do not engage, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will rewire the breakaway switch, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2020. Owners may contact Forest customer service at 1-909-873-3777. Forest River's number for this recall is 67A-1230.
View full details →Recall 20V563000 — TRAILER HITCHES
| 4,397 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Wildwood, Salem, and 2020 Sonoma travel trailers. The break-away safety switch may not be wired to constant power, which can cause the trailer brakes to not activate in the event of a trailer separation from the tow vehicle.
Consequence: If the brakes of the trailer do not engage, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will rewire the breakaway switch, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2020. Owners may contact Forest customer service at 1-909-873-3777. Forest River's number for this recall is 67A-1230.
View full details →Recall 20V482000 — EQUIPMENT
| 643 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem and Wildwood motorhomes. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
Consequence: A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. This recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1219.
View full details →Recall 18V933000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
| 151 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. The power cord hatch is located above the water heater exhaust, possibly resulting in the cord or the hatch melting.
Consequence: A melted cord may result in bare wiring, increasing the risk of fire.
Remedy: Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will secure the power cord away from the water heater exhaust, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 574-534-6127. Forest River's number for...
View full details →Recall 18V856000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 5 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Forest River Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. The clearance lights on these vehicles may not work due to being incorrectly wired. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Inoperative clearance lights can reduce the trailers visibility to others, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will correct the clearance light wiring, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-6127. Forest River's number for this recall is 63-0921.
View full details →Recall 18V624000 — SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
| 935 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Coachmen Catalina and Apex travel trailers and Forest River Shasta, Wildwood, Salem, Vibe, Sierra, Sandpiper, XLR and Prime Time travel trailers. The axles may be missing inner bearing races on the hubs, which can cause the bearing to burnout or cause the hub to overheat.
Consequence: The missing bearing race may cause premature hub bearing failure, possibly resulting in a separation of the hub from the axle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective hubs with new hubs or replace the axles, free of charge. The recall began October 9, 2018. For customer service, Catalina owners may contact Coachmen at 1-574-825-8657, Apex owners...
View full details →Recall 18V550000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
| 5,847 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Forest River Salem, Wildcat Maxx, Wildwood, Vibe, and Rainier recreational trailers. The break-away safety switch may not have been wired to a constant power source, and, as a result, the switch may be inadvertently disconnected from the trailer house battery causing the brakes to not engage if the trailer detaches from...
Consequence: If the trailer brakes cannot engage if the trailer detaches from tow vehicle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new wiring harness to reroute the wiring, free of charge. The recall began September 25, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this...
View full details →Recall 18V428000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
| 110 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Forest River Wildwood and Salem recreational trailers. The break-away safety switch may have been improperly wired such that it is not connected to a constant power source, thereby possibly preventing the trailer brakes from automatically applying if the trailer were to separate from the tow vehicle.
Consequence: If the trailer does not brake when it becomes detached from the tow vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new wiring harness, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-4058. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-0764.
View full details →Recall 18V436000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 326 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forest River Wildwood, and 2016-2019 Forest River Salem recreational trailers. The outside auxiliary shower faucet cover may cover the water heater exhaust panel when opened.
Consequence: The covered water heater exhaust panel could increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will install a replacement outside shower, free of charge. The recall began on July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 44-0762.
View full details →Recall 18V386000 — SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
| 152 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Forest River Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. These vehicles are equipped with an axle equalizer that can allow the axle to contact the chassis.
Consequence: If the axle contacts the chassis, it could result in axle failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will replace the axle equalizer kit with a taller equalizer kit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-4058. Forest River's number...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM
9 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirestemporaryemergency Spare Tire | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirestreadbelt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
St205/75r15 Tread separating on the spare tire. Out of 5, this is second tire to fail. Ist incident, Oct 15, 2022. Tread separated from rear passenger trailer tire. Put spare tire on and after 50 miles, tread is raised on 1/2 of the circumference of the tire on inside half
St205/75r15 Tread separating on the spare tire. Out of 5, this is second tire to fail. Ist incident, Oct 15, 2022. Tread separated from rear passenger trailer tire. Put spare tire on and after 50 miles, tread is raised on 1/2 of the circumference of the tire on inside half
1. Furnace 2. Fire hazard 3. No 4. No 4. No warnings Our RV furnace was putting out a burnt wood smell every time it kicked on. After inspecting it multiple times it wasn’t until taking off the vent duct to get a look inside, we saw the bottom was open and completely exposed to the plywood that the furnace sits on and not covered by metal. This caused the furnace to burn the plywood every time the heat kicked on. There were 2 pieces of plywood under the furnace and then the main floor covered in linoleum. The first board was completely charred from the out put of the heat. The second under the charred board was slightly burned and the main floor with the linoleum was burned. This was a fire hazard that could have potentially started the entire RV on fire because it was burning the plywood every time the furnace kicked on.
I PURCHASED A 2019 FORREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE FROM CAMPER WORLD THAT CAME WITH CASTLE ROCK ST 205 75R14 TIRES ON IT. I HAVE HAD ALL (4) TIRES EXPLODE GOING 60 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES. THESE TIRE ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I ALWAYS CARRY A SPARE NOW I CARRY TWO. CAMPER HAS VERY LOW MILES ON IT. IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE DONE TO GET THESE TIME BOMB TIRES OFF THE ROAD?
I PURCHASED A 2019 FORREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE FROM CAMPER WORLD THAT CAME WITH CASTLE ROCK ST 205 75R14 TIRES ON IT. I HAVE HAD ALL (4) TIRES EXPLODE GOING 60 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES. THESE TIRE ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I ALWAYS CARRY A SPARE NOW I CARRY TWO. CAMPER HAS VERY LOW MILES ON IT. IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE DONE TO GET THESE TIME BOMB TIRES OFF THE ROAD?
Safety Rating for the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM
Forest River, Inc. has issued 4 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
511299 — EQUIPMENT
Adding Trim to Cover Screw Holes.
511081 — STRUCTURE
A limited number of units with Alpha Roofing Membrane installed on slide-outs have displayed an adverse reaction in extreme heat conditions where the wiper seal comes into contact with the membrane on the slide when fully extended.
511081 — EQUIPMENT
A limited number of units with Alpha Roofing Membrane installed on slide-outs have displayed an adverse reaction in extreme heat conditions where the wiper seal comes into contact with the membrane on the slide when fully extended.
220850 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:WATER HEATER
The axle may rub a hole in the bottom of the fresh water tank during use of the vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FOREST RIVER SALEM
- 2014 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 1 complaint
- 2015 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 14 complaints
- 2016 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 15 complaints
- 2017 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 6 complaints
- 2018 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 7 complaints
- 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM (current)
- 2020 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 14 complaints
- 2021 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 4 complaints
- 2022 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 19 complaints
- 2023 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 3 complaints
- 2024 FOREST RIVER SALEM — 6 complaints
Other FOREST RIVER Models
- FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE — 191 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER GEORGETOWN — 183 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER ROCKWOOD — 158 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER WILDWOOD — 139 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF — 100 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER SHASTA — 88 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER CARDINAL — 81 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 72 total complaints