Recall 16V059 affects 52 2016 Forest River Wildcat recreational trailers with an incorrect axle-weight placard. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 52 2016 Wildcat recreational trailers because the Federal placard lists the wrong Gross Axle Weight Rating: 3,500 pounds instead of 5,200 pounds. NHTSA says the incorrect axle rating can reduce handling and lead to loss of control or a crash; Forest River dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The Federal placard on a 2016 Forest River Wildcat is the certification label that tells an owner and service technician the trailer's key weight ratings. One of those ratings is the Gross Axle Weight Rating, or GAWR, which is the maximum weight the axle is rated to carry. That number guides loading, tire checks, and service decisions.
On affected Wildcat trailers, the placard was printed with the wrong GAWR. The label shows 3500lbs, but the correct rating is 5200lbs. Forest River traced the error to an incorrect option code selected during manufacturing, which lowered the rating printed on the label. The repair is a corrected Federal placard that shows the proper tire and axle rating.
There is no warning sign before failure. The trailer does not announce a bad label with a light, sound, or handling change, so the issue is found by checking the Federal placard and replacing it with the corrected one.
Who's affected?
| 2016 Forest River Wildcat | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 52 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2016 Forest River Wildcat trailer is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
Incorrect Federal placard information, including the Gross Axle Weight Rating, can leave an owner relying on the wrong loading limit for the 2016 Wildcat. That error can reduce handling and raise the risk of loss of control or a crash. There is no warning sign before the handling problem appears, so schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016 Forest River Wildcat is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free corrected Federal placard that fixes the incorrect GAWR label.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V059 and Forest River recall 23-01262016-0131 when you call.
- Avoid loading the trailer until the corrected Federal placard is installed and the dealer confirms the proper GAWR information.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician replaces the incorrect Federal placard with a corrected placard that lists the proper Gross Axle Weight Rating for the trailer. The recall repair is available now, and the corrected label is provided free of charge. Ask the service desk to confirm the placard has been installed before you leave, since the label is the official capacity information for loading and service.
Timeline
| February 3, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 19, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 28, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| March 28, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 28, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V059?
Recall 16V059 covers 52 2016 Forest River Wildcat recreational trailers with an incorrect Federal placard. The placard lists a Gross Axle Weight Rating of 3500 lbs, but the correct rating is 5200 lbs. Forest River dealers provide a corrected placard for free.
What should I do if my 2016 Forest River Wildcat is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 16V059. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer and ask for the corrected Federal placard. Reference Forest River recall number 23-01262016-0131 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Forest River dealers provide the corrected Federal placard free of charge under recall 16V059. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct the defect at no cost, and this repair is a dealer label correction, not a paid maintenance item.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced handling from incorrect weight-rating information. If the trailer is loaded or operated using the wrong Gross Axle Weight Rating, the driver can lose control of the vehicle and crash. The dealer fix is a corrected Federal placard.
What if I bought this Forest River Wildcat used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recalls follow the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your trailer is included, then call a franchised Forest River dealer or Forest River customer service at 1-574-862-2071.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V059000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-574-862-2071 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V059 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V059000 |
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 →