Recall 16V693 covers 45 2014-2016 Forest River Rockport vehicles with lift gate roller chains that can fail. Repair is free through Thieman distributors.
Forest River is recalling 45 2014-2016 Rockport delivery vehicles because Thieman Tailgates TVL 12/16 series lift gate roller chains can fail. If a chain fails, the lift gate can fall unexpectedly and injure someone nearby; the Forest River dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The lift gate on the 2014-2016 Forest River Rockport is the powered platform at the back of the delivery vehicle. It raises and lowers cargo between the ground and the cargo floor. The Thieman Tailgates TVL 12/16 series gate uses roller chains to support and move that platform while it is carrying weight.
On affected Rockport vehicles, those roller chains were built with defective supplier material. A chain that does not meet the needed material strength can break under normal lift-gate loads. If that happens, the lift gate is no longer supported the way it was designed to be supported, which creates a safety risk around the rear cargo area.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or driver should not count on noise, rough movement, or a visible change in the gate to appear before the chain fails.
Who's affected?
The listed model years share the same body structure and liftgate component.
| 2015 Forest River Rockport | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2016 Forest River Rockport | body structure |
| 2014 Forest River Rockport | body structure |
| Units affected | 45 |
| 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 your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A failed roller chain lets the lift gate fall unexpectedly, which increases the risk of injury. There is no warning sign before failure, so keep people clear of the lift gate area and ask the dealer how to handle the gate until the repair opens. Repair will be free at any franchised Forest River dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2016 Forest River Rockport is included in this recall.
- Contact Forest River customer service at 1-888-711-1600 for repair instructions before using the lift gate.
- Ask about the free Thieman lift-gate repair that addresses the roller-chain failure.
- Reference recall number 16V693 and Forest River recall 29-09202016-0250 when you call.
- Avoid standing under or loading weight onto the lift gate until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
The filing identifies Thieman Lift Gate distributors as the repair path for the TVL 12/16 series lift gate. Once the repair is open, the distributor repairs the lift gate at no charge, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Forest River lists its general reimbursement plan for owners who already paid for a related lift gate repair before the recall repair. Keep repair invoices and payment records, then contact Forest River customer service to ask how to submit the documented expense under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| September 26, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 11, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 21, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| November 21, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 21, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V693?
Recall 16V693 covers 45 2014-2016 Forest River Rockport delivery vehicles with Thieman Tailgates TVL 12/16 series lift gates. The roller chains supporting the lift gate can fail, allowing the lift gate to fall unexpectedly and increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2014-2016 Forest River Rockport is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V693. If it is, contact Forest River customer service at 1-888-711-1600 or a Thieman Lift Gate distributor to arrange the free lift gate repair. Reference recall 16V693 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Forest River says Thieman Lift Gate distributors will repair the lift gate free of charge. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the recall remedy at no cost for included vehicles.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is an unexpected lift gate drop. If the roller chain fails, the lift gate can fall without warning and injure someone working near or under the gate. Keep people clear of the lift gate until the repair is complete.
What if I bought my Forest River Rockport used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Rockport is included, then give recall 16V693 to Forest River customer service or the Thieman Lift Gate distributor handling the repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V693000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-888-711-1600 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V693 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V693000 |
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 →