Recall 13V005 affects 451 2010-2012 Forest River Berkshire and Charleston motorhomes for loose diode jumpers. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 451 2010-2012 Berkshire and Charleston diesel motorhomes because loose diode jumper connectors can open circuits for brake-light operation and cruise-control disengagement. If the connectors loosen, brake lights fail to show braking and cruise control stays engaged when the brake pedal is used; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The chassis on the 2010-2012 Forest River Berkshire and Charleston uses diode jumper connectors in the electrical circuits tied to the brake pedal. Those connectors help carry the brake-pedal signal to systems that need it: the cruise control and the rear brake lights. When the brake pedal is pressed, one circuit tells cruise control to disengage and the other turns on the brake lights.
On affected motorhomes, the connectors can come loose. When that happens, the circuit opens, meaning the electrical path is broken and the signal does not reach the system it controls. Cruise control can stay engaged after brake pedal use, and the brake lights can fail to illuminate when the pedal is pressed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first thing an owner notices can be cruise control that does not cancel with the brake pedal, brake lights that do not turn on, or another driver pointing out that the brake lights are not working.
Who's affected?
Covers both Charleston and Berkshire motorhome lines across the 2010, 2011, and 2012 model years, with cruise control, brake lights, and electrical system items listed for each.
| 2011 Forest River Charleston | Cruise control |
|---|---|
| 2011 Forest River Charleston | Brake lights |
| 2011 Forest River Charleston | electrical system |
| 2012 Forest River Berkshire | Cruise control |
| 2012 Forest River Berkshire | Brake lights |
| 2012 Forest River Berkshire | electrical system |
| 2012 Forest River Charleston | Cruise control |
| 2012 Forest River Charleston | Brake lights |
| 2012 Forest River Charleston | electrical system |
| 2010 Forest River Charleston | Cruise control |
| 2010 Forest River Charleston | Brake lights |
| 2010 Forest River Charleston | electrical system |
| 2011 Forest River Berkshire | Cruise control |
| 2011 Forest River Berkshire | Brake lights |
| 2011 Forest River Berkshire | electrical system |
| 2010 Forest River Berkshire | Cruise control |
| 2010 Forest River Berkshire | Brake lights |
| 2010 Forest River Berkshire | electrical system |
| Units affected | 451 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the brake input is not recognized, cruise control can stay engaged after the brakes are applied. The brake lights also fail to show following traffic that the driver is slowing, increasing crash risk. Drive cautiously and arrange the dealer inspection soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Forest River dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2012 Forest River Charleston or Berkshire is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer and ask whether recall number 13V005 is open or already completed for your VIN.
- Ask the dealer to inspect the diode jumpers that control cruise-control disengagement and brake-light operation.
- Bring the owner notice if Forest River mailed one, or give the dealer recall number 13V005 when you call.
- Drive with extra space until the inspection is complete, since the brake lights or cruise-control disengagement system can fail.
What happens at the repair
The recall notice says this campaign began in January 2013. At the dealer, a Forest River technician inspects the diode jumper connectors and verifies that each jumper is fully locked in place. If a connector is loose, the dealer corrects it so the brake light circuit and cruise control disengagement circuit work as intended. The current remedy status is not marked available here, so the dealer repair should be treated as free once available.
Timeline
| January 2, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
|---|---|
| January 7, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V005?
Recall 13V005 covers 451 2010-2012 Forest River Berkshire and Charleston diesel motorhomes with diode jumper connectors that can loosen and open brake-related circuits. The defect can keep cruise control from disengaging or keep brake lights from illuminating when the brake pedal is used.
What should I do if my 2010-2012 Forest River Charleston or Berkshire is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorhome is included in recall 13V005. If it is, contact a dealer handling the Forest River campaign to schedule inspection of the diode jumpers. Reference recall 13V005 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 13V005, dealers inspect the diode jumpers to confirm they are fully locked in place and correct the vehicle as needed.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of brake-related signals. If cruise control fails to disengage when the brakes are applied, crash risk increases. If the brake lights do not illuminate, drivers behind the motorhome do not receive the driver's braking signal, increasing crash risk.
When did the recall repair begin?
The recall began in January 2013. Forest River said Daimler Truck North America was performing the campaign on its behalf, with dealers inspecting the diode jumpers and correcting the vehicles as needed.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V005000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | (800) 547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V005 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V005000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →