2008 Forest River Charleston Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Charleston years
- Not enough data 1st of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Forest River Charleston. That is the most of any Charleston model year in the database (16 years). The most reported problem area is structure (2 complaints, 100%), typically at around 11,961 miles. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Forest River Charleston problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 2 | 100% | 11,961 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Forest River Charleston recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment
Problem: 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 Shasta Oasis and Revere recreational trailers, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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 at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0544.
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Problem: Forest river is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2009 charleston motor homes manufactured between august 16, 2007 and september 23, 2008, equipped with kongsberg automotive adjustable brake pedals. The adjustable brake pedal arm may loosen allowing the arm to rotate around its shaft and swing in front of the accelerator pedal, reducing braking function.
Risk: A loose brake pedal increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Forest river is working with freightliner to notify owners. Repairs will be conducted by freightliner free of charge. The safety recall began on january 10, 2010. Owners may contact daimler trucks warranty campaigns department at 1-800-647-0712.
Suspension
Problem: Forest river is recalling 57 my 2007-2008 motor homes built on freightliner xc chassis and equipped with saf-holland rear suspensions. In some instances the transverse beam was not properly welded which could result in a failure of the weld.
Risk: If the weld fails, vehicle stability while cornering could be affected resulting in loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a crash. In addition, the transverse beam could drop to the ground causing sparks that could cause a fire hazard.
Fix: Forest river is working with daimler trucks and saf-holland to have a visual inspection of the adl transverse beam performed. If a weld defect is identified, saf-holland will provide a service replacement kit that contains a new transverse beam, all necessary installation hardware, beam replacement, and instructions free of charge (please see 08e031 and 08v269). Owners may contact saf-holland at 1-231-773-3271, daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712, or forest river at 1-574-389-4600.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: Forest river is recalling 93 my 2007-2008 charleston and berkshire motor homes built on freightliner chassis. The fasteners that attach the steering arm or tie rod arms to the spindle may be over or under-tightened.
Risk: Incorrectly tightened steering arm fasteners may fatigue and fracture which could cause a crash without warning.
Fix: Forest river is working with freightliner to repair these vehicles free of charge (please see 07v306). Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712 or forest river at 1-574-389-4600.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Front side walls (structure) separating from frame support, side walls separating moving independently from flooring. Screws attaching side wall of motor home shearing causing wall separation. Front of motor home drop at least one inch. Air entering into passenger area through gap created from wall…
Rv standing still at the time. Piece of trim fell off. 1.5" x 1.5" x 13.5', square 1/8" thick aluminum tubing. Approx. 20 lbs. You can imagine what kind of problems this could have caused if i was doing 60 mph on the freeway!!! Found that it was secured by 4, self tapping screws, that had sheared…
Other Forest River Charleston years
← 2007 Charleston · 2009 Charleston →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Charleston | 0 | 5 |
| 2017 Charleston | 0 | 5 |
| 2016 Charleston | 1 | 5 |
| 2015 Charleston | 0 | 5 |
| 2014 Charleston | 0 | 5 |
| 2013 Charleston | 0 | 3 |
| 2012 Charleston | 0 | 4 |
| 2011 Charleston | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 Charleston | 0 | 2 |
| 2009 Charleston | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 | 4 |
| 2007 Charleston | 0 | 5 |
| 2006 Charleston | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 Charleston | 0 | 2 |
| 2004 Charleston | 0 | 2 |
| 2003 Charleston | 0 | 1 |
See all Forest River Charleston problems by year, every Forest River model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Forest River models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Forest River Charleston?
Owners most often report structure problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Forest River Charleston?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 Forest River Charleston a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Charleston model years, the 2008 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.