Menu

Forest River ForesterYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 35 owner complaints and 25 safety recalls on record for the Forest River Forester.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints35Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls251997–2027 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Forest River Forester years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forester median. Tap a year for its full report.

'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2027Too new–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2026Too new–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2025Too new–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls2024Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls2023Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls2022Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls2021Not rated–/1002 complaints · 5 recalls2020Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2019Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls2018Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2017Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls2016Not rated–/1007 complaints · 3 recalls2015Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall2014Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls2013Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls2012Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2011Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2010Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2006Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2005Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2004Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls2003Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2002Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2001Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2000Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1999Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1998Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1997Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Forest River Forester problems

All model years combined: 35 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system91
Structure70
Tires50
Equipment40
Exterior lighting30
Visibility20
Engine20
Latches/locks/linkages20
Service brakes20
8 other systems110
25 recalls

Forest River Forester recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Other: labels26V-646 · 2026–2027 · Oct 5, 2026 · 75 vehicles74%Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings25V-486 · 2025–2026 · Jul 25, 2025 · 534 vehicles75%Lpg systems: lines and fittings24V-351 · 2023–2025 · May 17, 2024 · 691 vehicles63%Parking brake: electrical23V-774 · 2022–2024 · Nov 17, 2023 · 19 vehicles6%Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings23V-286 · 2021–2023 · Apr 21, 2023 · 1,027 vehicles66%Equipment23V-262 · 2021 · Apr 13, 2023 · 2,616 vehicles56%Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer22V-556 · 2022–2023 · Jul 29, 2022 · 49,295 vehicles–Air bags: side/window20V-477 · 2020–2021 · Aug 14, 2020 · 412 vehicles–Supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings20V-363 · 2020–2021 · Jun 19, 2020 · 522 vehicles0%Other: owners/service/other manual20V-358 · 2020–2021 · Jun 16, 2020 · 392 vehicles48%Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer18V-527 · 2018–2019 · Aug 13, 2018 · 2,582 vehicles100%Visibility: power window devices and controls18V-444 · 2016 · Jul 3, 2018 · 53 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 25 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Forester

  1. Trimark 060-1650 Door Latch FailuresPE20021 · 2018 · closed Dec 13, 2024
    No recall
  2. Trailer tire may contact floorRQ14004 · 2012–2013 · closed Jul 9, 2015
    No recall