VehicleVerdict

2019 Forest River Salem problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 9 complaints on file for the 2019 Forest River Salem — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 11 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

9

NHTSA complaints

11

Recalls

0

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2019 compare to other Salem years?

See all Salem years to avoid →

What are the most common 2019 Forest River Salem problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Tires & Wheels667%
Other222%
Suspension111%

Does the 2019 Forest River Salem have recalls?

11 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

25V682000Electrical SystemOctober 10, 2025 · 20,305 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

21V621000OtherAugust 9, 2021 · 336 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

20V563000Electrical SystemSeptember 18, 2020 · 4,397 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

20V482000OtherAugust 14, 2020 · 643 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

18V933000Electrical SystemDecember 27, 2018 · 151 units

Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. The power cord hatch is located above the water heater exhaust, possibly resulting in the cord or the hatch melting.

Consequence

A melted cord may result in bare wiring, increasing the risk of fire.

Remedy

Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will secure the power cord away from the water heater exhaust, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 574-534-6127. Forest River's number for this recall is 44-0929.

18V856000LightingDecember 3, 2018 · 5 units

Defect

Forest River, Inc (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Forest River Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. The clearance lights on these vehicles may not work due to being incorrectly wired. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

Inoperative clearance lights can reduce the trailers visibility to others, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will correct the clearance light wiring, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-6127. Forest River's number for this recall is 63-0921.

18V624000SuspensionSeptember 13, 2018 · 935 units

Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Coachmen Catalina and Apex travel trailers and Forest River Shasta, Wildwood, Salem, Vibe, Sierra, Sandpiper, XLR and Prime Time travel trailers. The axles may be missing inner bearing races on the hubs, which can cause the bearing to burnout or cause the hub to overheat.

Consequence

The missing bearing race may cause premature hub bearing failure, possibly resulting in a separation of the hub from the axle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective hubs with new hubs or replace the axles, free of charge. The recall began October 9, 2018. For customer service, Catalina owners may contact Coachmen at 1-574-825-8657, Apex owners should call 1-574-358-0401, Shasta owners: 1-574-825-8717, Wildwood and Salem owners: 1-574-534-3167, Vibe owners: 1-574-296-2084, Sierra and Sandpiper owners: 1-574-534-4574, XLR owners: 1-574-642-0432, Prime Time owners: 1-574-862-1025. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0851.

18V550000Electrical SystemAugust 21, 2018 · 5,847 units

Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Forest River Salem, Wildcat Maxx, Wildwood, Vibe, and Rainier recreational trailers. The break-away safety switch may not have been wired to a constant power source, and, as a result, the switch may be inadvertently disconnected from the trailer house battery causing the brakes to not engage if the trailer detaches from the tow vehicle.

Consequence

If the trailer brakes cannot engage if the trailer detaches from tow vehicle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new wiring harness to reroute the wiring, free of charge. The recall began September 25, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-503-831-5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22/30-0824.

18V436000OtherJune 27, 2018 · 326 units

Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forest River Wildwood, and 2016-2019 Forest River Salem recreational trailers. The outside auxiliary shower faucet cover may cover the water heater exhaust panel when opened.

Consequence

The covered water heater exhaust panel could increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will install a replacement outside shower, free of charge. The recall began on July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 44-0762.

18V428000Electrical SystemJune 25, 2018 · 110 units

Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Forest River Wildwood and Salem recreational trailers. The break-away safety switch may have been improperly wired such that it is not connected to a constant power source, thereby possibly preventing the trailer brakes from automatically applying if the trailer were to separate from the tow vehicle.

Consequence

If the trailer does not brake when it becomes detached from the tow vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install a new wiring harness, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-4058. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-0764.

18V386000SuspensionJune 8, 2018 · 152 units

Defect

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019 Forest River Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. These vehicles are equipped with an axle equalizer that can allow the axle to contact the chassis.

Consequence

If the axle contacts the chassis, it could result in axle failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will replace the axle equalizer kit with a taller equalizer kit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2018. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-4058. Forest River's number for this recall is 72-0753.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

I PURCHASED A 2019 FORREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE FROM CAMPER WORLD THAT CAME WITH CASTLE ROCK ST 205 75R14 TIRES ON IT. I HAVE HAD ALL (4) TIRES EXPLODE GOING 60 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES. THESE TIRE ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I ALWAYS CARRY A SPARE NOW I CARRY TWO. CAMPER HAS VERY LOW MILES…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · December 6, 2020

I PURCHASED A 2019 FORREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE FROM CAMPER WORLD THAT CAME WITH CASTLE ROCK ST 205 75R14 TIRES ON IT. I HAVE HAD ALL (4) TIRES EXPLODE GOING 60 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES. THESE TIRE ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I ALWAYS CARRY A SPARE NOW I CARRY TWO. CAMPER HAS VERY LOW MILES…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · December 6, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FOREST RIVER SALEM TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RV WAS TILTED AND THAT ONE SIDE WAS LOWER THAN THE OTHER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY NOTICED THE LEAK SPRINGS HAD FAILED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE TIRE TO HIT THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · July 18, 2020

2019 Forest River Salem — common questions

Is the 2019 Forest River Salem reliable?

The record is thin — 9 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 11 recalls should be verified as completed.

Does the 2019 Forest River Salem have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns affecting the 2019 Forest River Salem. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.