Recall 15V860 affects 14 2016 Forest River Cardinal fifth-wheel trailers with incorrect axle-weight placards. Forest River provides the corrected Federal placard free.
Forest River is recalling 14 2016 Cardinal fifth wheel travel trailers because the Federal Certification Placard lists the wrong gross axle weight for the axle actually installed. That label can lead to improper loading and a higher crash risk, and Forest River dealers will install corrected placards free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The Federal Certification Placard on a 2016 Forest River Cardinal is the weight and tire label fixed to the trailer. It tells an owner or service shop the trailer's certified gross axle weight rating, along with related axle and tire information. That label is supposed to match the physical axles and tires installed on the trailer.
On Cardinal trailers in this recall, the placard lists the wrong gross axle weight for the equipment actually installed. The trailer itself is not described as having a broken axle or tire; the defect is incorrect certification information. Forest River traced the problem to a communication error between the manufacturing plant and engineering, which left the wrong data on the placard.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner would notice this only by comparing the placard to the installed axle and tire information or by having a Forest River dealer install the corrected placard.
Who's affected?
| 2016 Forest River Cardinal | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 14 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific RV.
What's the safety risk?
An incorrect placard can lead an owner to load the trailer improperly. Improper trailer loading increases the risk of a crash because the trailer is not carrying weight as labeled. There is no warning sign from the placard itself, so use the corrected label once it is installed. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016 Forest River Cardinal is included in this recall.
- Contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600 to request the free corrected Federal placard label that fixes the incorrect gross axle weight listing.
- Reference recall number 15V860 and Forest River recall 15-12112015-0122 when you call.
- Avoid loading or towing the trailer based on the incorrect placard; confirm the axle rating before travel until the corrected label is installed.
What happens at the repair
This recall is handled as a label correction, not a mechanical repair. Forest River mails affected owners a corrected Federal placard label at no charge. The corrected label replaces the placard that listed the wrong gross axle weight for the installed axle. If you need help placing the label, ask a Forest River dealer or Forest River customer service before making changes yourself. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related placard correction. Keep any repair order, invoice, or proof of payment and contact Forest River customer service to ask how to submit documentation under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 22, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 13, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| February 16, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| February 16, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 16, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V860?
Recall 15V860 covers 14 2016 Forest River Cardinal fifth wheel travel trailers with Federal Certification Placards that list the wrong gross axle weight for the axle actually installed. Incorrect loading information can lead to improper trailer loading, increasing crash risk.
What should I do if my 2016 Forest River Cardinal is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 15V860. If it is, contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600 and reference recall number 15-12112015-0122. Forest River will mail the corrected Federal placard label free of charge.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Forest River will provide the corrected Federal placard label free of charge. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the recall defect at no cost, and this campaign is handled by mailing the corrected label to the owner.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is improper trailer loading. The incorrect Federal Certification Placard lists a gross axle weight that does not match the axle installed on the trailer. Using the wrong loading information increases crash risk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V860000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-574-206-7600 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V860 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V860000 |
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 →