Recall 15V589 affects 5,374 2009-2016 Forest River Vengeance trailers for an undersized ground wire. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 5,374 2009-2016 Vengeance recreational trailers because the wiring harness has an insufficient ground wire. The harness can overheat and raise fire risk, and ground failure can knock out exterior lights and electric brakes, increasing crash risk; Forest River dealers will repair the wiring free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The wiring harness on the 2009-2016 Forest River Vengeance recreational trailer connects the 7-Way power plug to the trailer systems it feeds. That harness supports the exterior lights, electric brakes, battery charging, and many interior 12V fixtures. The ground wire gives electrical current a return path to the trailer chassis, which helps the circuits carry the load safely.
On affected Vengeance trailers, that ground wire is too small for the job. Forest River found a 16AWG ground wire where the circuit needed a 10AWG wire for 30AMP capacity. When the smaller wire carries more current than it is built to handle, heat builds at the junction box. That heat can damage insulation, create a short circuit, and start a fire.
Owners can notice a burning or smoldering plastic smell near the junction box. Smoke can also be visible, but the junction box is mounted behind the front cross member, so the warning sign is easy to miss. The recall repair replaces the undersized ground wire with the correct 10AWG wire.
Who's affected?
Spans eight Vengeance model years (2009-2016), all tied to the wiring component.
| 2010 Forest River Vengeance | wiring |
|---|---|
| 2009 Forest River Vengeance | wiring |
| 2016 Forest River Vengeance | wiring |
| 2013 Forest River Vengeance | wiring |
| 2015 Forest River Vengeance | wiring |
| 2011 Forest River Vengeance | wiring |
| 2012 Forest River Vengeance | wiring |
| 2014 Forest River Vengeance | wiring |
| Units affected | 5,374 |
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?
An insufficient ground wire can overheat the wiring harness and increase fire risk. If the ground wire fails, the trailer can lose external lights and electric brakes, which increases crash risk. Watch for burning or smoldering plastic smells or smoke near the junction box, but the location can hide warning signs. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2016 Forest River Vengeance trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free wiring-harness inspection and ground-wire upgrade that addresses overheating, trailer light loss, and electric brake loss.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V589 when you call.
- Use extra caution before the repair. The defect involves trailer lights, electric brakes, and wiring that can overheat.
- Call Forest River customer service at 1-260-593-4005 with questions about scheduling or recall number 17B-0918-2015-0090.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician inspects the trailer wiring harnesses for the lights, electric brakes, battery charging system, and interior 12V fixtures. The technician upgrades the ground wires if needed. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file, so documented out-of-pocket repairs tied to this wiring ground issue are handled through that plan. Bring prior repair paperwork to the service desk or contact Forest River customer service for claim instructions.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| September 23, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 20, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 18, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
| November 18, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 18, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V589?
Recall 15V589 covers 5,374 2009-2016 Forest River Vengeance recreational trailers with an insufficient wiring-harness ground wire. The defect can overheat the harness, raise fire risk, and cause loss of exterior lights and electric brakes. Forest River dealers inspect the harness and upgrade ground wires for free.
What should I do if my 2009-2016 Forest River Vengeance is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 15V589. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the wiring-harness inspection and ground-wire upgrade. Reference recall 15V589 or Forest River recall number 17B-0918-2015-0090 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Forest River dealers will inspect the trailer wiring harness and upgrade the ground wires, as needed, free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 15V589?
The risk is fire or loss of trailer control functions. In recall 15V589, an insufficient ground wire can overheat the wiring harness. If the ground wire fails, the trailer can lose exterior lights and electric brakes, which raises crash risk while towing.
What if I bought my Forest River Vengeance used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the trailer, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Vengeance is included, then contact a franchised Forest River dealer or Forest River customer service at 1-260-593-4005 for scheduling.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V589000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-260-593-4005 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V589 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V589000 |
Source documents
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 →