Forest River Wildcat Complaints

56 consumer complaints on file.

#11678412August 5, 2025
SUSPENSION
Axel failure. Took my trailer into the shop because the wheels were leaning inward and eating tires unevenly. The trailer mechanic said I had to replace both axels!! They were undersized from the manufacture. Extremely unsafe and very likely could have caused an accident while towing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657138April 28, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE
Out frame is bent on both sides above the shackles towards the driver side about 5”. Insurance said it wear and tear. We do traveling healthcare and are stuck outside of an area we can work as it’s where we stay when on contract. We can’t find anywhere to work on it either.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11567820January 25, 2024
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:REFRIGERATOR
The contact owed a 2003 Forest River Wildcat equipped with a Dometic refrigerator model 2652/2682 gas absorption,. The contact stated that while the RV was parked under a barn, the vehicle spontaneously caught fire. The RV burned to the frame. The barn structure, an unknown Chevrolet truck, a tractor, equipment, and other structures were also destroyed during the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire within a week. There was no police report. The female occupant in the RV detected smoke from the refrigerator but was not injured. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. A third-party investigator company reported that the fire was due to the refrigerator. The mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11548205October 4, 2023
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ST235/80R16 Tire Load rang E Before going on a trip, I noticed the tire had lost about 10 lbs of pressure compared to the other tires. I found no leak or hazard in the tire, like a screw or nail, so I raised the tire to pressure. (80 psi) While travelling at 60 mph I noticed the tire's temperature was about 8 - 10 degrees hotter than the other tires, but still within acceptable range. After arriving at my destination 80 minutes later I inspected the tire again and noticed the center of the tread was bulging out all around the tire. I removed the wheel and tire, took it to a tire dealer, and had it replaced with a Goodyear Endurance. The dealer said it was a cord separation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11467666June 5, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
Frame cracked and bent near the fifth wheel pin box housing while driving down a bumpy interstate 10 in El Paso Texas.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11464824May 16, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In the late part of 2020 the door frame to the room in the rear fell from the ceiling onto the ground, that was determined by the company(MagicTouch) I bought it from that the manufacturer(Forest River)had not properly secured the frame to the ceiling, the screws missed the truss rafters and were only screwed in the ceiling material which is only about 1/4" thick, Forest River did pay to have it repaired. Again something very similar occurred to one of the bunkbeds in that same room, I entered my trailer to prep it for our 2022 Easter vacation and noticed that one of the bunkbeds had collapsed from the wall and fall on top of the sofa bed that is located directly below it, if this would of happened when someone was sleeping on the bed it would of fell on top of the person and most likely would of had a head injury. This bed can be put in a up postion when not in use and down when in use, a hinge makes this possible, since we don't use this for sleeping, we use 3 small plastic containers to store our clothe, these containers can't weigh no more than 10 pounds each. After examining why this occured I found that the part of the bed that screws into the wall was not screwed into any studs, I found this out by getting a skewer and putting one of the screws that were used and marked the length of the threads, then I stuck the skewer straight into the screw holes on the wall, I knew if there screws had been screwed into a stud the skewer would stop where I put the mark at, the results were that the skewer went past the mark and hit the wall on the other side, I tried to attach a video showing me doing this but it wouldn't allow me to, but I have attached many photos, you will see that the hinge from the bed 5 of 7 screws missed the wood completely. After I saw how negligent they were while building is it showed they just don't care and if they built my trailer like this I'm sure there are others and what is going result of this is someone getting seriously injured.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11442125November 30, 2021
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN
Two component issues on 2010 Forest River 31THSB 1 - Lippert axle hub brake drum failure. Multiple failures of these axles and Lippert have not issued a recall. My trailer lost the wheel from the axle, with the brake drum still attached to the wheel. Fortunately, we were not traveling at highway speed. Tire rolled underneath the trail causing damage to the side and underside of trailer. Lippert are aware of these constant axle failures and their solution is to sell you two axles for the price of one. 3-to-4-week delivery! Does not include the property damage, or take in account we where 3000 miles from home. 2 – Lippert frame and wing supports, where pin box is mounted to the frame of trailer, failed. Front and back welds on wings to main frame broke. Huge safety issue. Repairs to the failed frame and wing supports were completed at an RV dealership. The dealership and welder commented that the manufacture welds were poorly done. Lippert rep has heard of this happening to other Forest River RVs but very few, but does happen! Fortunately no one was injured. Just what you want to be doing while on vacation.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11276903October 29, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MOVED UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CROSSMEMBER WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230372July 9, 2019
WHEELS
TIRE EXPLODED ON FREEWAY ON 6/30/2019 AND A SECOND TIRE WOULD NOT HOLD AIR AND WENT FLAT ON 7/8/2019. CASTLE ROCK TIRES. DOT JULT IMT 5116 1ST TIRE EXPLODED WHILE IN MOTION ON A FREEWAY 2ND TIRE DEFLATED WHILE PARKED AT RV PARK DAMAGED WHEEL WELL FROM RUBBER SEPARATION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222743June 26, 2019
WHEELS
WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 75 BELOW LEXINGTON KY, I EXPERIENCED TWO BLOWOUTS ON EACH SIDE OF MY CAMPER 3 MONTHS APART. I HAVE HAD THE CAMPER FOR THREE YEARS AND THE TIRES ARE ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH GOOD TREAD ON THEM. I CONTACTED THE COMPANY AND RECEIVED NO RESULTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111142July 13, 2018
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT MAXX. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL STUDS AND TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STUDS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11093088May 11, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2015 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT 5TH WHEEL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MICROWAVE MALFUNCTION WHICH CAUSED A FIRE INSIDE VEHICLE. *LD *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11084747April 12, 2018
EQUIPMENT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V756000 (EQUIPMENT); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN RECREATIONAL VEHICLE DEALER IN SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE KIDDE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 1-855-262-3540. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN FOR THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE AND THE MODEL NUMBER FOR THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11066865February 4, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BOUGHT THE TRAILER 4-1-2017. DURING MY SHORT SECOND CAMPING TRIP, THE TRAILER DROPPED DOWN ON MY TRUCK BED RAILS. THE TRAILER FRAME AROUND THE PIN BOX HAD RIPPED AND AND BROKE IN MULTIPLE AREAS. ALMOST LOST MY TRAILER ON THE INTERSTATE. THE FRAME IS MADE WITH VERY THIN METAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11015118August 14, 2017
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RE: 2017 WILDCAT MAXX MODEL T32BHXS PURCHASE DATE: MAY 22, 2017 DEAR MR. MAGNACCA: I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU MY RECENT PURCHASE OF THE ABOVE CITED TRAVEL TRAILER WHICH HAS SERIOUS MANUFACTURE DEFECTS AND POSES A RISK OF HEALTH AND SAFETY TO ME AND MY FAMILY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. PART OF THE DEFECTS FIRST PRESENTED ON OUR FIRST CAMPING TRIP IN LATE MAY WHEN THE SLIDERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. WE RETURNED THE COACH TO SPRAD'S RV AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AN 'ELECTRICAL' ISSUE AND WAS REPAIRED. ON JULY 30, 2017, WE FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AS WE PREPARED TO LEAVE FOR A LONG PLANNED CAMPING TRIP. AFTER USING THE MANUAL CRANK TO HOOK UP THE TRAILER TO TOW, WE PROCEEDED ON OUR TRIP UNDER THE MISTAKEN BELIEF THAT THE BATTERY WOULD RECHARGE ONCE WE WERE HOOKED UP TO SHORE POWER. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND THE COACH REACHED AN INSIDE TEMPERATURE OF 109 DEGREES. FROM THAT POINT FORWARD BEGAN A NIGHTMARE WEEK FOR ME AND MY GUESTS. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH POOR SERVICE WITH ANY BUSINESS IN MY LIFE. DURING THE ENTIRE EPISODE THAT I WILL DETAIL BELOW, NEVER ONCE DID ANYONE INFORM ME THAT THERE WAS A 1-800 NUMBER TO CALL FOR ROADSIDE SERVICE. DEFECTS KNOWN AT THIS TIME: 'FAULTY WIRING 'CONVERTER (INSTALLED IMPROPERLY) '2 BATTERIES (WILL NOT TAKE A CHARGE) 'INCONSISTENT POWER TO ALL PLUGS IN THE COACH 'MISALIGNED CRANK HOLE FOR BACK SLIDER 'NO ACCESS OR HOLE FOR LIVING ROOM SLIDER 'GFCI MALFUNCTION 'NO MANUAL ABILITY TO RETRACT AWNING (WITHOUT A PROFESSIONAL) 'TRIM PULLING AWAY FROM COACH 'CABLE AND TV NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY 'HANDLE ON BLACK WATER TANK IS MISSING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11014876August 13, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 50 MILES PER HOUR THE FRESH WATER TANK WHICH WAS HALF FULL IN MY 5 TH WHEELER, THE CROSSMEMBER THAT HOLDS TANK SHEARED THE 2 6MM SELF DRILLING SCREWS THAT HOLDES THE CROSSMEMBER TO CHASSIS THE CROSSMEMBER HAD PROVISION FOR 4 SELF DRILLING SCREWS BUT ONLY 2 HAD BEEN INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY RESULT WAS HALF FULL WATER TANK SKIDDING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CROSSMEMBER LUCK NO CARS OR MOTORCYCLE WERE CLOSE OR IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A ACCIDENT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10916382October 17, 2016
WHEELS
EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT OF CASTLE ROCK ST225/75R15 LOAD RANGE D 113L WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-5 IN CALIFORNIA ON A SUNNY DAY AND 80 DEG F. TRAILER IS FOREST RIVER WILDCAT MAXX 23DKS. SPEED WAS 63 MPH. TIRE IS RATED 75 MPH AND SPEED HAS NEVER EXCEEDED 70 MPH. LIFE TIME MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE SHOWN BY THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR WAS 119 DEG F WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH THE MOJAVE DESERT WITH A 108 DEG F AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR DID NOT SHOW LOSS OF PRESSURE UNTIL THE BLOWOUT. BUILD DATE IS 2915. DOT NUMBER IS JULT 1MT 2915. TRAILER WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE 2016. TIRE HAD ABOUT 1750 MILES ON IT. TIRE WAS CARRYING 1260 POUNDS ACCORDING TO CAT SCALE AND TIRE IS RATED 2540 POUNDS. PERFORMED A SPIN TEST OF THREE REMAINING TIRES AND FOUND BULGES IN TREAD ON 2 OF 3 TIRES. INSPECTION OF TIRES PRIOR TO START OF TRIP DID NOT SHOW ANY BULGES. WE REPLACED ALL FOUR OF THE CASTLE ROCK TIRES MOUNTED TO THE AXLES. MINOR DAMAGE TO BOTTOM OF TRAILER SLIDE OUT ($200). COST OF NEW TIRES WAS $600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10887414July 21, 2016
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT MAXX EQUIPPED WITH GRAND RIDE POWER TOURING TIRES, SIZE: ST/235/80/R16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ONE OF THE TIRES DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN, DOT NUMBER, AND TIRE LOCATION WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839154March 1, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
FOREST RIVER WILDCAT MAXX YEAR 2015 ; BRAKE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOCKED UP GOING 30-35 MPH ENTERING XPRESS WAY OUTSIDER SACRAMENTO CALIF. AND STARTED SMOKING RESPONDING TO FIRE EXTINGUISHER. ON ROAD WORKER FIXED BY DISCONNECTING BRAKE. STARTED AGAIN AND 3 REMAINING BRAKES LOCKED. HE AGAIN DISCONNECTED THEM AND WE TRAVELED 700 PLUS MILES TO MESA ARIZONA. WHEN ARRIVED IN TRAILER PARK, NOTED IN PARKING 5THWHEEL THAT FRONT DRIVER WHEEL HUB WAS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY TORN OUT. VEHICLE PARKED AND REPAIRED FOR OVER $2300.00. I BELIEVE FROM WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON SAFERCAR.GOV THAT THE AXEL MAY NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND BECAME BENT RESULTING IN TEARING OUT THE WHEEL HUB AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. LUCKILY WE STOPPED DRIVING IT FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS. WE NEED A NEW AXLE THAT CAN HANDLE THE WEIGHT OF THE WILDCAT MAXX AS A RECALL BY FOREST RIVER. CAN HELP US? [XXX]. [XXX]. THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839149March 1, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE STARTED SMOKING. THE DRIVER EXTINGUISHED THE TIRE. AN AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC CAME OUT AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE NEEDED TO BE DISCONNECTED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE BRAKE WAS DISCONNECTED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE STARTED SMOKING. THE AUTOMOTIVE MECHIANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKES HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE REAR AND FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDES. THE BRAKES WERE DISCONNECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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