Recall 16V330 affects 147 2014-2016 Forest River Charleston motorhomes for a towed-device brake signal defect. Repair is free at a franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 147 2014-2016 Charleston Class A motorhomes because the brake activation signal sent to certain towed devices can stay on after the motorhome brakes are released. That can leave the towed device's brakes engaged, causing brake drag, overheating, fire risk, and confusion for following drivers; Forest River dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The brake activation circuit on the 2014-2016 Forest River Charleston tells attached equipment when the motorhome's service brakes are being applied. On these Class A motorhomes, that signal is used by certain towed devices, so the equipment behind the coach knows when the coach is braking.
On affected Charleston motorhomes, some chassis were built with a heavier, adjustable foot pedal. After the driver releases the service brakes, the brake activation signal to the towed device can stay active instead of switching off. That means the towed equipment receives a braking command after the motorhome itself is no longer braking. Daimler did not provide a root cause for why the pedal setup leaves the signal active.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner has no reliable dashboard message or pedal feel change from this recall that confirms the signal has failed to deactivate.
Who's affected?
Covers one Charleston motorhome model across the 2014, 2015, and 2016 model years, with the same brake system component listed for each year.
| 2015 Forest River Charleston | brake system |
|---|---|
| 2016 Forest River Charleston | brake system |
| 2014 Forest River Charleston | brake system |
| Units affected | 147 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific motorhome.
What's the safety risk?
A stuck brake activation signal can keep the towed device brakes engaged after the motorhome chassis service brakes release. Dragging brakes can overheat and start a fire. Brake signals or unexpected braking behavior can also confuse following drivers and increase crash risk. Schedule the recall repair soon, especially before towing another vehicle or device. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2016 Forest River Charleston is included in this recall.
- Contact Forest River or a DTNA dealer to schedule the free brake-assembly modification that stops the towed-device brake signal from staying active after the motorhome brakes are released.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. Reference recall number 16V330 and Forest River recall 40-05132016-0196 when you call.
- Avoid towing another vehicle behind the motorhome until the repair is complete, because the towed-device brakes can stay engaged and overheat.
- Call DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions about the free repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, the affected brake assemblies are modified so the brake activation signal to a towed device shuts off when the motorhome service brakes are released. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related repair before the recall work was available. Keep any repair invoice and payment record, and ask Forest River or the dealer how to submit documented expenses under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 20, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 23, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 11, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| July 11, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 11, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V330?
Recall 16V330 covers 147 2014-2016 Forest River Charleston Class A motorhomes built on certain DTNA chassis. The brake activation signal for a towed device can stay active after the motorhome service brakes are released. DTNA dealers will modify the affected brake assemblies for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2016 Forest River Charleston is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorhome is included in recall 16V330. If it is, contact Forest River or DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 to arrange the free brake assembly repair with a DTNA dealer. Reference Forest River recall number 40-05132016-0196 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Forest River says DTNA dealers will modify the affected brake assemblies free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for vehicles included in recall 16V330.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that a towed device's brakes can stay engaged after the motorhome brakes are released. That can make the towed brakes drag and overheat, causing a fire risk. It also can confuse drivers behind the motorhome and increase crash risk.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair began on June 23, 2016. Because the remedy is available, owners with an included 2014-2016 Forest River Charleston can contact Forest River or DTNA customer service and arrange the free brake assembly modification through a DTNA dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V330000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V330 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V330000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall 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 →