Recall 17V218 affects 6 2017 Forest River Wildwood and Salem RVs with incorrect GAWR placards. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 6 2017 Wildwood and Salem recreational vehicles because the federal placard lists a 5,080-pound GAWR even though the axles are rated for 4,400 pounds. That wrong rating can lead to overloading, loss of control, and a higher crash risk; Forest River dealers will correct the placard free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The federal placard on a 2017 Forest River Wildwood or Salem recreational vehicle is the weight label mounted on the vehicle. It tells an owner, dealer, or inspector the certified weight ratings for each axle and the vehicle's total rated weight.
On affected Wildwood and Salem vehicles, the placard lists the gross axle weight rating as 5,080 lbs even though the installed axles are rated for 4,400 lbs. That mismatch came from a data entry error when the placards were printed. The label overstates the axle capacity, so an owner who follows the printed rating can load the recreational vehicle beyond the axle rating.
There is no warning sign before failure. The visible clue is the placard itself: the incorrect label shows the higher axle rating, and the recall remedy replaces it with a placard that shows the correct GAWR and GVWR.
Who's affected?
Includes Wildwood and Salem trailers with the same vehicle label issue.
| 2017 Forest River Wildwood | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| 2017 Forest River Salem | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| Units affected | 6 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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 incorrect GAWR label can lead an owner to overload the vehicle. Overloading can affect handling, cause loss of control, and increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign from the placard error, so confirm the corrected label and stay within the listed weight rating. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017 Forest River Wildwood or Salem is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free Federal Placard replacement that corrects the GAWR label.
- Bring the owner notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V218 when you call.
- Avoid loading the trailer above the correct 4,400-lb axle rating until the placard is replaced.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician provides a new Federal Placard with the correct gross axle weight rating. The updated placard and installation are free under the recall. If you already paid for a related placard correction, Forest River's general reimbursement plan covers eligible documented expenses. Bring the invoice or other repair paperwork to the service desk, or contact Forest River customer service for the claim process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 31, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 18, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 29, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| May 29, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 29, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V218?
Recall 17V218 covers 6 2017 Forest River Wildwood and Salem recreational vehicles with Federal Placards that list a 5,080-lb GAWR even though the axles are rated for 4,400 lbs. The wrong label can lead to overloading, loss of control, and crash risk. Forest River dealers provide the corrected placard for free.
What should I do if my 2017 Forest River Wildwood or Salem is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific recreational vehicle is included in recall 17V218. If it is, contact a Forest River dealer and ask for the corrected Federal Placard with the 4,400-lb GAWR. Reference recall number 17V218000 or Forest River recall 27-03292017-0362 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to correct safety defects and noncompliance recalls at no cost to owners. Forest River dealers will provide the corrected Federal Placard free of charge, and Forest River customer service can be reached at 1-574-534-4058.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is overloading from an incorrect axle weight label. If the recreational vehicle is loaded using the wrong 5,080-lb GAWR instead of the actual 4,400-lb axle rating, the vehicle can become overloaded, cause loss of control, and increase crash risk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V218000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-574-534-4058 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V218 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V218000 |
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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →