2016 Forest River Charleston Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Mar 20, 2018 · 1 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Charleston years
Not enough data 2nd of 16 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2016 Forest River Charleston. That ranks 2nd out of 16 Charleston model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 4,200 miles. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

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Most common 2016 Forest River Charleston problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Steering1 · ~4,200 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Steering1100%4,200——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

2016 Forest River Charleston recalls (5)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connectionsMar 19, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V179000 · 416 vehicles

Problem: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Forest River Berkshire, 2012-2017 Forest River Charleston, 2013-2015 Coachmen Cross Country and Pathfinder, and 2014-2015 Glaval Synergy motorhomes built on Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) chassis. The power steering hose on the affected vehicles may be routed incorrectly, and, as a result, the hose may rub against the power stud on the starter motor, possibly causing electrical arcing and a power steering fluid leak.

Risk: Electrical arcing in the presence of leaking power steering fluid can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will reroute the power steering hose to provide proper clearance, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, Forest River customer service at 1-574-295-2117, Coachmen customer service at 1-574-825-8212, or Glaval customer service at 1-574-343-5167. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0665.

EquipmentNov 22, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V756000 · 365,885 vehicles

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.

Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedalJun 28, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V472000 · 138 vehicles

Problem: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Charleston vehicles manufactured September 16, 2013, to December 10, 2015 and assembled on a Freightliner chassis built by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). The throttle pedal position sensor on the affected vehicles may not return to zero, causing the engine brake to suddenly not activate as expected, reducing the vehicle's deceleration ability.

Risk: A sudden loss of an engine brake without warning on a motorhome may lead to a reduced brake capacity, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and Daimler Trucks North America dealers will replace the pedal, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2016. Owners may contact Daimler Trucks Customer Service Department at 1-800-547-0712 or by E-mail at [email protected]. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-06202016-0214.

Service brakes, electricMay 20, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V330000 · 147 vehicles

Problem: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Charleston Class A motorhomes manufactured from September 16, 2013, through September 25, 2016, and built on certain Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) chassis. On certain motorhome chassis built with a heavier, adjustable foot pedal, the brake activation signal to certain towed devices may not deactivate when the motorhome service brakes are released.

Risk: If the brake activation signal to a towed device remains active when the motorhome chassis service brakes are released, the brakes on a towed device may remain engaged. As a result, the brakes could drag and overheat potentially resulting in a fire. Additionally, following drivers may be confused by the motorhome's actions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Forest River will notify owners, and DTNA dealers will modify the affected brake assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. Forest River's number for this recall is 40-05132016-0196.

Equipment:recreational vehicle/trailer:lpg systems:water heaterNov 19, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V771000 · 489 vehicles

Problem: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Berkshire, Charleston, Legacy, Dynamax, XLR, Continental Cargo, Work & Play, Shockwave, and Coachmen Brookstone recreational vehicles and toy haulers, equipped with Atwood on demand water heaters, models OD45, OD50, and OD50CW, manufactured January 2, 2012, to August 13, 2015. The affected water heaters have a water and gas valve that may cause the water heater to overheat the water in the hot water supply tap.

Risk: The overheating of the water may result in the release of steam, possibly causing the operator is to scald themselves and increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Forest River will notify owners of a field remedy as provided by Atwood to the Dealerships and O.E.M. A. Inspection and installation instructions for the remedy, to be used and applied only by qualified service center personnel. B. Installation of a water flow adjustment STOP KEY that prevents the adjustment of the water flow down below .5gal/min. C. The addition of a star or lock washer to secure the adjustment screw that prevents unintended adjustment or and adjustment drift from vibration as you travel down the road. D. Securement of the remedy with the application of a warning and tamper proof label applied over the stop key and adjustment screw. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440, or Atwood customer service at 1-574-264-2131. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11092015-0107.

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.

This motorhome was purchased at the end of may 2015. After taking delivery, i noticed the steering wheel was off to the right while driving. After some time it was apparent that the condition was getting worse. I scheduled the motorhome for a front end alignment. The vehicle was brought in this…

Steering · received Aug 7, 2015 · NHTSA complaint 10747016

Other Forest River Charleston years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Forest River Charleston?

Owners most often report steering problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 2016 Forest River Charleston?

Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2016 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 2016 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.