Recall 15V480 affects 207 2014-2016 Forest River Sandpiper and Sierra RVs with inaccurate GVWR labels. Corrected labels are free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 207 2014-2016 Sandpiper and Sierra recreational vehicles because the certification label lists an inaccurate gross vehicle weight rating. Wrong weight information can lead an owner to overload the vehicle and increase crash risk, and Forest River dealers will correct the label free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The certification label on a 2014-2016 Forest River Sandpiper or Sierra fifth wheel is the weight label that tells an owner and service shop the trailer's gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR. That rating is the maximum loaded weight the trailer is certified to carry. It guides cargo loading, hitch setup, and whether the trailer stays within its certified limits.
On affected trailers, the federal certification label was printed with the wrong GVWR. Forest River traced the problem to a clerical error when the rating was recorded in its master database. The trailer itself is not described as having a different part, but the incorrect label gives owners the wrong certified weight information.
There is no reliable warning sign before the label problem matters. The only visible clue Forest River described is distortion at the hitch head after an overload, and the filing says that indication is very unlikely.
Who's affected?
Covers Sandpiper and Sierra trailers across the 2014, 2015, and 2016 model years, all tied to the same vehicle label issue.
| 2015 Forest River Sandpiper | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| 2016 Forest River Sierra | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2015 Forest River Sierra | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2014 Forest River Sierra | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2014 Forest River Sandpiper | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2016 Forest River Sandpiper | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| Units affected | 207 |
| 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?
Inaccurate weight labels can make the trailer's carrying capacity look higher than it is, and that overload increases crash risk. Hitch-head distortion is not a reliable warning sign, so use the corrected label before loading or towing. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2016 Forest River Sandpiper or Sierra is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free corrected certification-label installation, which fixes the inaccurate GVWR label.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V480 when you call.
- Avoid loading the RV near the listed weight limit until the corrected label is installed.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician installs a new set of corrected certification labels for the Sandpiper or Sierra. The labels replace the inaccurate GVWR information covered by recall 15V480. Parts and labor are covered by the recall, so the label correction is free. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related label correction. Bring documentation for that prior repair to the service desk or contact Forest River customer service to ask how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 30, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 25, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
| September 25, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
| September 25, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 25, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V480?
Recall 15V480 covers 207 2014-2016 Forest River Sandpiper and Sierra recreational vehicles with certification labels that list an inaccurate gross vehicle weight rating. The wrong weight rating can mislead owners about carrying capacity. Forest River dealers will install corrected certification labels for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2016 Forest River Sandpiper or Sierra is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific recreational vehicle is included in recall 15V480. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer and ask for the corrected certification labels. Reference recall number 15V480 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and Forest River's remedy says dealers will install a new set of corrected certification labels free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is overloading because the certification label lists inaccurate weight information. If the listed gross vehicle weight rating is wrong, an owner can load the vehicle beyond its true carrying capacity, increasing crash risk. The corrected label gives the weight rating owners need to load the vehicle safely.
What if I bought my Forest River Sandpiper or Sierra used?
The free repair still applies. Recall repairs follow the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Sandpiper or Sierra is included, then call a franchised Forest River dealer and reference recall number 15V480.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V480000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-574-534-8386 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V480 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V480000 |
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 May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →