2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
14
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT
The 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT has received a total of 14 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER. The most commonly reported problems involve the Suspension (3 complaints), Tires (3 complaints), and Structure (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT, potentially affecting up to 473,302 vehicles.
Recall 17V756000 — EQUIPMENT
| 365,885 vehicles affected
Defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2003-2018 Forest River Berkshire, Charleston, Rockport, Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Riverstone, Salem, Sandpiper, Sierra, Vengeance, Wildcat, Wildwood, XLR Boost, Cargo Mate, Continental Cargo, motorhomes, recreational trailers, toyhaulers, cargo trailers and restroom trailers and 2009-2018 Coachmen Mirada, Pursuit, Concord, Leprechaun, Freelander, Orion and Prism motorhomes, 2009-2017 Coachmen Apex and Catalina recreational trailers, and 2013-2017...
Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on December 27, 2017. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Kidde customer service toll free...
View full details →Recall 08V346000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 107,417 vehicles affected
Defect: FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2003-2006 MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
Consequence: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT
14 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentotherlabels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainaxle Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structureframe And Members | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
THIS 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT 26FBS TRAVEL TRAILER SUFFERED FROM A FAILURE OF THE TRAILER FRAME, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HANGER BRACKETS THAT SERVE AS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR TORSION AXLES TO THE TRAILER ITSELF. THE DAMAGE INITIALLY WENT UNNOTICED, BUT UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME I NOTICED THAT THE REAR-MOST TIRES OF THE TRAILER WERE NOT MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND ON AN INCLINE.CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE TRAILER REVEALED THAT THE REAR MOST HANGER BRACKETS HAD BROKEN ON THE TRAILER (NOT THE AXLES THEMSELVES) AND THE AXLE HAD SPUN INTO A LOCKED POSITION, STILL ATTACHED BY THE FRONT TWO RETAINING BOLTS. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF FOUR ATTACHMENT BOLTS PER AXLE, THE RESULT WAS THAT THE AXLE ONLY REMAINED ATTACHED BY TWO BOLTS AND HANGERS. INSPECTION AND REPAIR BY A CERTIFIED WELDER INDICATED THAT THE HANGER BRACKETS SUFFERED FROM WEAK WELDS AND THIS RESULTED IN THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE WELDER REPAIRED ONE OF THE TWO REMAINING FUNCTIONING ATTACHED HANGER BRACKETS NOTING ITS WEAKNESS. *JS
THIS 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT 26FBS TRAVEL TRAILER SUFFERED FROM A FAILURE OF THE TRAILER FRAME, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HANGER BRACKETS THAT SERVE AS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR TORSION AXLES TO THE TRAILER ITSELF. THE DAMAGE INITIALLY WENT UNNOTICED, BUT UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME I NOTICED THAT THE REAR-MOST TIRES OF THE TRAILER WERE NOT MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND ON AN INCLINE.CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE TRAILER REVEALED THAT THE REAR MOST HANGER BRACKETS HAD BROKEN ON THE TRAILER (NOT THE AXLES THEMSELVES) AND THE AXLE HAD SPUN INTO A LOCKED POSITION, STILL ATTACHED BY THE FRONT TWO RETAINING BOLTS. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF FOUR ATTACHMENT BOLTS PER AXLE, THE RESULT WAS THAT THE AXLE ONLY REMAINED ATTACHED BY TWO BOLTS AND HANGERS. INSPECTION AND REPAIR BY A CERTIFIED WELDER INDICATED THAT THE HANGER BRACKETS SUFFERED FROM WEAK WELDS AND THIS RESULTED IN THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE WELDER REPAIRED ONE OF THE TWO REMAINING FUNCTIONING ATTACHED HANGER BRACKETS NOTING ITS WEAKNESS. *JS
THIS 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT 26FBS TRAVEL TRAILER SUFFERED FROM A FAILURE OF THE TRAILER FRAME, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HANGER BRACKETS THAT SERVE AS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR TORSION AXLES TO THE TRAILER ITSELF. THE DAMAGE INITIALLY WENT UNNOTICED, BUT UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME I NOTICED THAT THE REAR-MOST TIRES OF THE TRAILER WERE NOT MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND ON AN INCLINE.CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE TRAILER REVEALED THAT THE REAR MOST HANGER BRACKETS HAD BROKEN ON THE TRAILER (NOT THE AXLES THEMSELVES) AND THE AXLE HAD SPUN INTO A LOCKED POSITION, STILL ATTACHED BY THE FRONT TWO RETAINING BOLTS. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF FOUR ATTACHMENT BOLTS PER AXLE, THE RESULT WAS THAT THE AXLE ONLY REMAINED ATTACHED BY TWO BOLTS AND HANGERS. INSPECTION AND REPAIR BY A CERTIFIED WELDER INDICATED THAT THE HANGER BRACKETS SUFFERED FROM WEAK WELDS AND THIS RESULTED IN THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE WELDER REPAIRED ONE OF THE TWO REMAINING FUNCTIONING ATTACHED HANGER BRACKETS NOTING ITS WEAKNESS. *JS
I PURCHASED FOUR NEW GOODYEAR MARATHON TRAILER TIRES (225/75/15 LOAD RANGE D) FOR MY FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER JUNE 2012. TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES BLEW APART IN THE FIRST 1500 MILES. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. THEY SHOULD NOT BE BLOWING APART WITH ALMOST NO USE AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT DAMAGE FROM ROAD HAZARDS. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THESE SAME TIRES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SOON. THESE TIRE FAILURES HAVE DAMAGED MY CAMPER BUT, I'M JUST GLAD IT DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH, INJURY, OR DEATH. *TR
I OWN A 2004 FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. I HAVE NOTICED THE WEB OF THE FRAME CRACKING OVER THE SHACKLE MOUNTS FOR SOME TIME AND HAVE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON IT. I HAVE JUST NOTICED NOW THAT THE FRAME IS BROKEN UP NEAR THE HITCH AND CAN NO LONGER BE TOWED WITH OUT REPAIR. I HAVE NOT, IN MY OPINION, ABUSED THIS TRAILER OR USED IT OUTSIDE IT'S INTENDED USE. I AND OTHERS, ARE FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE BROKEN FRAME BEFORE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Safety Rating for the 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FOREST RIVER WILDCAT
- 1999 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 0 complaints
- 2000 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 0 complaints
- 2001 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 0 complaints
- 2002 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 5 complaints
- 2003 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 1 complaint
- 2004 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT (current)
- 2005 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 4 complaints
- 2006 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 5 complaints
- 2007 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 10 complaints
- 2008 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 3 complaints
- 2009 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT — 0 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 SALEM — 136 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF — 100 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER SHASTA — 88 total complaints
- FOREST RIVER CARDINAL — 81 total complaints