2021 Forest River Salem problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Forest River Salem, most often about body & structure. There are 10 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 4
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Median mileage
- 1,000 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Body & Structure is the most-reported problem area, named in 1 of 4 complaints (25%).
- Suspension (1) and other areas follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 1,000 mi.
- Owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries.
- The 2021 Forest River Salem has 10 recalls on file.
- It ranks 4th of 10 Forest River Salem model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
- That is 67% fewer complaints than the 2020 model year (12).
2021 Forest River Salem problems by category
- Other / Unknown2 complaints
- Body & Structure1 complaints
- Suspension1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Equipment | 1 |
| Structure:body | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Unknown or other | 1 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2021 Forest River Salem recalls (10)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
Risk: 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 is 205-1987.
- EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:PLUMBING:POTABLE WATER:STORAGE TANK
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem, Wildwood, and Ozark travel trailers. The fresh water tank may dislodge from the vehicle and fall to the ground when full or overfilled.
Risk: A tank falling to the ground while in transit can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fresh water tank for straps. and install straps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2022. Owners may contact at Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 72-1559.
- EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER · STRUCTURE:BODY
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem and Wildwood fifth wheel travel trailers. The awning rail may not be attached to a backer in the sidewall, which can allow the awning to detach while the vehicle is in motion.
Risk: An awning that detaches increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for backers and reattach the awning if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-1538.
- EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:LINES AND FITTINGS
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Coachmen Adrenaline, Apex, Catalina, Freedom Express, Spirit, East to West Alta, Della Terra, Silver Lake, Forest River Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Columbus, Flagstaff, Impression, Ozark, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, Stealth Evo, Vengeance, Vibe, Wildwood, XLR Toyhauler, Palomino Puma, Prime Time Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Sanibel, Shasta Oasis, 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail, Prism, Forest River Aurora, Rainier, Wildcat, Work and Play, Prime Time Tracer, 2021-2023 Coachmen Leprechaun, and 2022-2023 Coachmen Freelander fifth wheel and travel trailer recreational vehicles. The quick disconnect fittings in the LP gas system may be cracked, causing a gas leak.
Risk: A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the quick disconnect and perform a LP system check, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2022. Owners may contact the applicable customer service number for their vehicle model. Please see the recall report for the list of phone numbers.
- EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem and Wildwood fifth wheel trailers. The Federal Placard lists a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) that exceeds the load carrying capacity of the pin box, which could result in an overloaded pin box.
Risk: An overloaded pin box can fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Forest River will mail owners a new Federal Placard, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-1423.
- EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
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.
Risk: 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.
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Salem Fifth Wheel, Salem Travel Trailer, Wildwood Fifth Wheel, and Wildwood Travel Trailer vehicles. The red and amber clearance lamps do not reflect enough light. As such these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Risk: Less reflective clearance lamps can affect how other drivers judge the length of the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will add reflex stickers to both the amber and red clearance lamps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1359.
- EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:OVEN/STOVE/COOKTOP · EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:FURNACE
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. The flame on the cooktop may become inverted, due to the cooktop not being isolated from the furnace return air.
Risk: An inverted flame can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will add sealant to the gaps in the paneling that are allowing the return air from the furnace to cause the inverted flame, free of charge. The recall began October 15, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 72-1232.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL · TRAILER HITCHES
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.
Risk: 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.
- EQUIPMENT
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.
Risk: 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.
Recent 2021 Forest River Salem complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Nov 21, 2024NYFireSuspension
* On the way back home from the dealer in PA for a water-tank recall service, the right leaf spring on the trailer broke on the highway and caused the trailer on fire. The less than 3-years old trailer was totaled. Police and I took photos of the damaged trailer and spring. I also kept the broken spring for inspection. * It could be a FATAL incident. We were luckily stopped for gas otherwise the fire could be breaking out when we were driving on highway! * The spring was…
NHTSA complaint #11626647 · source - Filed Aug 11, 2021IDOther / Unknown
The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Salem. The contact stated that the strap hooks in the trailer were screwed to the floor but not the frame; therefore, no items of substantial weight were able be strapped in the trailer which would be used for hauling large items. The contact also stated that the hooks were advertised to hold up to 2300 pounds which he deemed impossible, since the hooks were not strapped to the trailer's frame. The contact had called the manufacturer on…
NHTSA complaint #11428729 · source - Filed Aug 6, 2021PAOther / Unknown
While driving this 2021 Travel Trailer down the road the underbelly blew out of the bottom of the trailer. This is causing air now to push up underneath the travel trailer possibly causing further damage to the walls and flooring of the trailer.
NHTSA complaint #11428076 · source - Filed Jun 1, 20211,000 miGABody & Structure
The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Salem. The contact stated while stationary, the bolts attaching the front live-in slide to the body fractured, resulting in the slide detaching from the body. The trailer was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000. The consumer provided photos of the trailer.
NHTSA complaint #11419245 · source
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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology