Forest River NHTSA investigation

[Francesca_Knowl]

Just a heads up to owners of Forest River products that the company is the subject of what looks like a pretty major investigation begun just this week. Looks like all models built since 2009 are affected.

Here quoting

NHTSA wrote:

Date Investigation Opened: SEP 30, 2014
Date Investigation Closed: Open
NHTSA Action Number: AQ14002
Component(s): UNKNOWN OR OTHER

A review of NHTSA's early warning reports (EWR) database shows that Forest River has not provided NHTSA with any information regarding claims related to deaths and injuries involving the company's vehicles or any information regarding property damage claims, warranty claims, consumer complaints and field reports as required by regulation. It also appears from a search of NHTSA's databases that Forest River may have failed to submit to NHTSA quarterly reports on the company's progress completing safety recalls. Forest River may have also failed to comply with other recall-related requirements, including by failing to include required language in its recall notices to dealers and by failing to submit other recall-related communications to NHTSA. NHTSA is also investigating other potential violations of the Safety Act.

Source/list of models/more info at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/RecentInvestigations

[CavemanCharlie]

Blah , blah , blah, I really don't care.

That's like those GM ignition switches that would go bad if you hung too many keys from the switch. Everybody has known that since the 70's for heavens sake. If you own a GM car you can't have heavy keys hanging from the switch. Was everybody born yesterday? As for people getting killed because the engine quit running. What's up with that? Were all these people that have never have been to MN? In the winter when it's 20 below zero Fahrenheit your car is going to die out now and then . When it does you bump it into neutral and restart it. I do it so automatically that I don't even realize I've done it unless someone riding with me notices it. I will admit the newer cars don't do that very often anymore but, it still sometimes still happens. By the way, you can still steer when the engine is off, it just takes more effort. To get a drivers license you should be required to pass the driving test in a car without power steering. The breaks will still work too. You will have power breaks good enough for one stop and after that you just have to push on the pedal harder. I really don't see what the problem is with any of this stuff.

[JIMNLIN]

Oh lord......... here we go with the FR bashers.

Just plugged in the popcorn popper and taking orders on bilge flavor to spray on the corn.

[Dandy_Dan]

tatest wrote:
Looking at the list, it is everything they produced during the period during which NHTSA suspects them to have not complied with reporting requirements. Not just RVs, all vehicles.

The issue is that F-R forwarded no complaints, filed no reports, made no recalls? I expect this will be leading to a records seizure, which for us as customers might mean not being able to get service from the company, depending on how much is seized, since customer service is where you would look for records of complaints.

Kinds of makes you think that Forest River doesn't care if it plays by the rules. About the way they treat some of their customers.

[tatest]

Looking at the list, it is everything they produced during the period during which NHTSA suspects them to have not complied with reporting requirements. Not just RVs, all vehicles.

The issue is that F-R forwarded no complaints, filed no reports, made no recalls? I expect this will be leading to a records seizure, which for us as customers might mean not being able to get service from the company, depending on how much is seized, since customer service is where you would look for records of complaints.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Ron3rd wrote:
Does this apply to Motorhomes, Trailers, or what? FR puts out a lot of different products.

It's at the link- but here ya go!
ON EDIT:
YIKES!

Tried to paste it in, but it's WAY too long and won't format here. Looks like just about everything they make. Go to the NHTSA link and click on "models affected" and you can see for yourself.

[Ron3rd]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
I didn't see any information as to what the problem was/is.

It's in the quoted paragraph: NHTSA hasn't received any of the required reporting on the named models, evidently since 2009.

Of course, that may just mean that over that five years not a single Forest River product had any defect whatever. 😉

I get that, but what was the safety problem? Does this apply to Motorhomes, Trailers, or what? FR puts out a lot of different products.

[PAThwacker]

In the pharma industry, if no recalls are done over a period of time; mock recalls are required.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Ron3rd wrote:
I didn't see any information as to what the problem was/is.

It's in the quoted paragraph: NHTSA hasn't received any of the required reporting on the named models, evidently since 2009.

Of course, that may just mean that over that five years not a single Forest River product had any defect whatever. 😉

[beemerphile1]

Ron3rd wrote:
I didn't see any information as to what the problem was/is.

Sounds like a paper work/communication issue. Not necessarily a safety issue or recall.

[Ron3rd]

I didn't see any information as to what the problem was/is.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Thanks for the heads up- fixed the O.P.

TWICE! :B

[Francesca_Knowl]

beemerphile1 wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
...Source/list of models/more info at this NHTSA link

Link didn't work for me, here it is;
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/RecentInvestigations

Thanks for the heads up- fixed the O.P.

[beemerphile1]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
...Source/list of models/more info at this NHTSA link

Link didn't work for me, here it is;
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/RecentInvestigations

[mleekamp]

Nice...our first Forest River too....

But, I take it w/ a grain of salt. Worst thing on our TT was the tires...and I replaced them with "good" tires.