Recall 15V273 covers 689 2013-2015 Forest River trailers with quad entry steps that fail. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 689 2013-2015 Cedar Creek, Dynamax, Sierra, Cardinal, and Sandpiper recreational vehicles because a rivet in the quad entry steps can shear and let the step give way. A failed step can cause a fall and personal injury, and Forest River dealers will repair the step free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The quad entry step on the affected 2013-2015 Forest River Cedar Creek, Dynamax, Sierra, Cardinal, and Sandpiper trailers is the folding step assembly used to enter and exit the RV. Its rivets hold the hinged step sections together, so each tread stays locked in position while a person puts weight on it.
On these trailers, rivets marked #96 or #55 at the hinge between the second and third step can shear or pull out under load. Once that rivet connection fails, the step assembly loses support and the step can give way while someone is using it. The repair replaces the suspect rivets with bolts, washers, and Stover nuts specified for this recall.
There is no warning sign before failure. Forest River's filing says there is no visual or audible warning before the step rivet fails, so do not rely on looseness, noise, or visible damage to decide whether the step is safe.
Who's affected?
Covers five Forest River model lines across the 2013-2015 model years, all listed under the recreational vehicle/trailer equipment component.
| 2015 Forest River Cedar Creek | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
|---|---|
| 2015 Forest River Dynamax | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2013 Forest River Dynamax | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2014 Forest River Dynamax | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2015 Forest River Sierra | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2014 Forest River Cardinal | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2015 Forest River Sandpiper | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| Units affected | 689 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
If a rivet shears, the quad step can fail while someone is using it, causing a fall and increasing the risk of personal injury. There is no visual or audible warning before the step fails, so avoid using a loose or suspect step until it is repaired. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013-2015 Forest River Cedar Creek, Dynamax, Sierra, Cardinal, or Sandpiper trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free quad-entry-step repair that replaces rivets with bolts so the step sections stay secured.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V273 when you call.
- Avoid using the quad entry steps until the repair is complete; the rivet failure can make the steps give under a person.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician removes the rivets from the quad entry step sections and bolts the step sections together so the step assembly is secured without the shearing rivet. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related step repair before the recall notice. Keep repair invoices and payment records, then contact Forest River customer service or ask the dealer service desk how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 11, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 29, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
| June 5, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 11, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
| June 12, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V273?
Recall 15V273 covers 689 2013-2015 Forest River Cedar Creek, Dynamax, Sierra, Cardinal, and Sandpiper trailers with quad entry steps that can fail if a rivet shears. Forest River dealers remove the rivets and bolt the step sections together for free.
What should I do if my 2013-2015 Forest River Cedar Creek, Dynamax, Sierra, Cardinal, or Sandpiper is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 15V273. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the quad entry step repair. Reference recall number 15V273 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Forest River's remedy says dealers will remove the rivets and bolt the step sections together free of charge.
What is the safety risk from this Forest River step recall?
The safety risk is a fall from the quad entry step. If the rivet shears, the step can give way while someone is using it, increasing the risk of personal injury. Until the repair is complete, avoid using any step that feels loose or unstable.
When did Forest River begin this recall?
Forest River began the recall on June 11, 2015. If you own one of these trailers and never received a notice, check your VIN and contact a franchised Forest River dealer with recall number 15V273.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V273000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-574-389-4600 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V273 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V273000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →