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2005 Forest River Cardinal

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Tires complaints

1 reports
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7,500 miles · Aug 29, 2008
Tires

TIRE FAILURE OF TWO KENDA KLEVER A/P TIRES ON MY 2005 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL ON JULY 11, AND 12, 2008. FIRST FAILURE (LEFT REAR) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES EAST OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AK ON I-40 WESTBOUND AT 4:30 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER. SECOND FAILURE (LEFT FRONT) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES NO…

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TIRE FAILURE OF TWO KENDA KLEVER A/P TIRES ON MY 2005 CARDINAL 5TH WHEEL ON JULY 11, AND 12, 2008. FIRST FAILURE (LEFT REAR) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES EAST OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AK ON I-40 WESTBOUND AT 4:30 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER. SECOND FAILURE (LEFT FRONT) OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES NORTH OF MARSHALL, TX SOUTHBOUND U.S. 59 AT ABOUT 1:00 PM CST. SEVERE DAMAGE TO SIDE AND UNDERSIDE WITH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO SEWAGE DISPOSAL PIPEWORK. ALL TIRE WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND DID NOT SHOW SIGNS OF FAILURE (BULGES, CRACKS OR SPLITS) TIRES WERE NOT HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN CHECKED AT REST AREAS AND FOR FUEL STOPS. THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA, AND WERE RECALLED IN 2007. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, BY EITHER KENDA (COOPER TIRE) OR FOREST RIVER THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RV. NO PUBLIC NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE TIRE DEALER THAT INSPECTED THE TIRES AFTER THE FAILURES STATED THESE WERE TREAD SEPARATIONS CAUSED BY BELT FAILURES. THE "TYRE GUARD" WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OF THE RV HAS STATED THEY DON'T COVER MANUFACTURERS DEFECTS AND HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM. THE TOTAL DAMAGE EXCEEDS $ 4000.00 TO THE RV AND ALL THE TIRES (FAILED AND 3 REMAINING) WERE REPLACED WITH NEW 235-85-R16 GOODYEAR WRANGLER HTS LOAD RATED E TIRES AT A COST OF 4 @ 145.00 EACH AND ONE @ $247.00 (FIRST FAILURE) ALL THE OLD TIRES (5) ARE AVAILABLE AND IN MY POSSESSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240166

Official recalls

2

10V454000 · Equipment

Oct 1, 2010

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIMPLEX ELECTRAFLAME, SYMPHONY, OR OPTIFLAME BRANDED ELECTRIC FIREPLACES, STOVES, AND FIREPLACE INSERTS. THE PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR THE FIREPLACE CAN OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED RECEIVER COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DIMPLEX AND DIMPLEX WILL PROVIDE OWNERS A FREE REPLACEMENT PLUG-IN REMOTE CONTROL KIT. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DIMPLEX NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-888-346-7539.

08V346000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer

Jul 7, 2008

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2003-2006 MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.