Forest River Lead in Recalls

[sherman12]

Based on an article in the RV Daily Report, Forest River was the king of the recalls in 2016. I am surprised by how many recalls for FR vs. Thor which I thought was the worst manufacturer in the industry. I stand corrected. Go to the RV Daily Report for the full article and breakdown of Forest Rivers quality or lack of control.

Biggest culprits
I opened each of the stories we published in 2016 and started looking at which manufacturers issued the most recalls. Here are the Top 10:

• Forest River — 40 recalls (27.03 percent of the total)
• Newmar — 18 recalls (12.16 percent)
• Jayco — 16 recalls (10.81 percent)
• Winnebago — 14 recalls (9.46 percent)
• Thor Motor Coach — 9 recalls (6.08 percent)
• Keystone — 7 recalls (4.73 percent)
• Starcraft — 7 recalls (4.73 percent)
• Tiffin — 5 recalls (3.38 percent)
• Heartland – 4 recalls (2.70 percent)

There was a four-way tie for 10th place with Entegra, Highland Ridge, Open Range and Triple E each having three recalls accounting for 2.03 percent of the pie.
Others who issued recalls this year included Cruiser, Grand Design and Motorcoach Industries with two each or 1.35 percent

[Mr Havercamp]

Jayco, Heartland, and Keystone are all Thor, although Jayco only recently acquired.

So thats Thors 36 to Forest Rivers 40.

IMO unacceptable numbers for both.

[wmtire]

I went and read that article. I am still scratching my head on this excerpt from the article in citing reasons for recalls.....

....Spare tire couldn’t be attached to rim because lug layout was different


I do believe something is amiss there. Maybe he meant hub (or axle), instead of rim.

[lbrjet]

Lump Jayco into Thor for next year, not this year.

This is not surprising to me considering the vast number of posts the past couple of years about problems with new FR units.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[wahoonc]

Interesting, but you have to wonder about how many "recalls" weren't listed. Some companies will do a recall out of an abundance of caution, others won't do a recall until forced by a government entity to do so.

I have a buddy that transports RV's part of the year. Back in 2014 he refused to pull any Dutchman product because of the pieces that kept falling off while going down the road. He told me about a Voltage toy hauler that he picked up, at the holding lot, all the left side wheels broke off when he made the turn to leave the lot. He has lots of other horror stories.

IMHO there is lots of room for improvement in the ENTIRE RV industry. How they improve and what they improve is their call. I do my due diligence prior to purchasing and won't buy a unit if I observe major issues with the fit, finish or workings. I have ticked off my fair share of salespersons over the years by walking away from "deals" because a unit was not up to snuff.

Unfortunately too many people purchase an RV with little to no research, they shop on emotions, not facts and expect the RV industry to be like the automotive industry. The RV industry (like most) is driven by the balance sheet, profits margins are what they pay the most attention to. There are exceptions and they are obvious. Look at every 30' Class C on the market and you will see prices ranging from the mid $70k range, up to $250k. There are price differences for a reason. Not all of it is quality of materials.

Aaron

[boondocking]

I am not surprised seeing as FR manufactures more RV's than any other company.

[Rvdixie]

Excellent point. I was thinking the same thing. Not that I'm defending anyone of them but shouldn't these stats be based as a percentage of how many units were sold by each manufacturer. It stands to reason that the manufacturer with the most sales will have the most recalls.

[weatherl]

I new there was a reason I got sold my FR and bough a Hartland

[KellyT330]

Forest River has the following RVs
Coachman
Dynamax
Forest River
Palamino
Prime Time
Shasta

No wonder it has more than others

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp

Jayco, Heartland, and Keystone are all Thor, although Jayco only recently acquired.

So thats Thors 36 to Forest Rivers 40.

IMO unacceptable numbers for both.

Got to also add Open range to the mix of thor products. Later RJD

[boondocking]

Originally Posted by weatherl

I new there was a reason I got sold my FR and bough a Hartland

Traitor !

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by Rvdixie

Excellent point. I was thinking the same thing. Not that I'm defending anyone of them but shouldn't these stats be based as a percentage of how many units were sold by each manufacturer. It stands to reason that the manufacturer with the most sales will have the most recalls.

and why does no one believe that when it comes to tires??

[BGinVA]

I would also argue that manufacturers with higher percentages are showing a little integrity and honesty. Defects don't always get acknowledged, in fact most would try to hide the stories. That they are getting visibility and a recall is issued means the word is getting out to dealers and owners. That's really what we want. Until quality improves PDI's by both dealers accepting units on their lots to sell and buyers looking for something new need to be diligent and not accept units requiring refit and refinish. Eventually it will impact the bottom line.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by weatherl

I new there was a reason I got sold my FR and bough a Hartland

Me too... Actually had few problems with it but had zero with the Heartland. When time to upgrade again I looked at Rockwood. Then a Keystone arrived at the dealer and we were inside within minutes after it was delivered. Clean ~~ no dust, no construction trash, no sawdust. In over a year the only sawdust found was in the heat ducts. Only 2 minor problems with the Keystone: 1 Atwood sent a mobile tech for the furnace and 2 a piece of exterior trim. That is it for the 1st 11months and 170 +/- nights. It's luck of the draw with every unit produced by every manufacturer. I usually trade every 2 - 3 years but am thinking of holding onto this one longer because of the possible problems.

[Jim in Halifax]

Originally Posted by Rvdixie

Excellent point. I was thinking the same thing. Not that I'm defending anyone of them but shouldn't these stats be based as a percentage of how many units were sold by each manufacturer. It stands to reason that the manufacturer with the most sales will have the most recalls.

X2

Where does CC come into the picture??

[Scotty]

Originally Posted by weatherl

I new there was a reason I got sold my FR and bough a Hartland

Just a note of caution. I own a Heartland Big Horn and a FR Hemisphere. The Heartland is a lemon, hence it's in a seasonal site, don't want to tow anymore, frame issues. No never overloaded. Two years now the Hemisphere, currently full timing in hasn't had a single issue. May die tomorrow, but is good today. Just saying.

[spock123]

I think most people have missed the point, these are recalls. RV manufacturers buy a lot of the same parts, all Forest River does is assemble the campers, the parts are mostly owned by another company. All RV manufacturers could do a better job when putting together campers but all Forest River doing is buying the parts and depending on someone else to make sure the parts work right.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[Photo Lab]

Originally Posted by boondocking

I am not surprised seeing as FR manufactures more RV's than any other company.

Good point!

To be relevant, the percentages should factor in the total production for the time period being studied. Using only the metrics presented here, Mercedes Benz has worse products than say, GM.

In yet another light, a manufacturer who issues recalls for problems they discovered, will have a higher quantity of recalls than one who pretends "It didn't happen" 'till forced to.

[Denny B]

Could be more recalls because they try to correct mistakes. However, were that actually the case they would improve quality control, which appears to be sorely lacking.

[Brewhedd]

The problem with a lack of quality control is, as someone else noted, the product becomes a "luck of the draw" situation. We bought a Rockwood and all problems have been very minor. Someone else could buy the same one and have nothing but problems. You shouldn't have to roll the dice when spending tens of thousands of dollars.