Recall 17V237 affects 579 2007-2011 Forest River Cherokee recreational trailers with incorrect weight placards. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 579 2007-2011 Cherokee recreational trailers because the federal placards list the wrong axle and vehicle weight ratings. The incorrect ratings can lead an owner to overload the trailer, increasing crash risk, and Forest River dealers will provide the free recall repair.
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What's wrong?
The federal placard on a 2007-2011 Forest River Cherokee is the certification label that tells an owner the trailer's weight limits. It lists the gross axle weight rating, or GAWR, which is the maximum weight the axle is rated to carry. It also lists the gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR, which is the maximum loaded weight for the trailer.
On affected Cherokee trailers, a data entry error put the wrong axle information on that placard. The label states a GAWR of 3,970 lbs., but the actual axle capacity is 3,500 lbs. That gives the owner the wrong loading limit and can lead the trailer to be loaded above the axle rating.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is the printed label, so an owner will not hear, smell, or feel anything that shows the placard is wrong.
Who's affected?
Spans five model years, all involving the same vehicle label information.
| 2010 Forest River Cherokee | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| 2009 Forest River Cherokee | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2008 Forest River Cherokee | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2011 Forest River Cherokee | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2007 Forest River Cherokee | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| Units affected | 579 |
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?
Incorrect weight information on the Federal Placard can lead an owner to load the trailer beyond its intended limit, increasing crash risk. There is no warning sign from the placard itself; confirm the corrected label before loading near capacity. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2011 Forest River Cherokee is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free corrected Federal Placard repair, which replaces the label with the trailer's correct axle and vehicle weight ratings.
- Bring the owner notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V237 when you call.
- Avoid loading the trailer based on the old placard until the corrected label is installed.
- Call Forest River customer service at 1-260-593-4001 with questions about scheduling or dealer instructions.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician removes the incorrect federal placard and installs a corrected placard for the Cherokee trailer. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related placard correction before the recall work. Keep any repair paperwork and ask Forest River how to submit documented expenses under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 7, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 31, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| June 5, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| June 5, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 5, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V237?
Recall 17V237 covers 579 2007-2011 Forest River Cherokee recreational trailers with incorrect Federal Placards. The placards list a Gross Axle Weight Rating of 3,970 lbs., but the actual capacity is 3,500 lbs. Forest River dealers replace the placard for free.
What should I do if my 2007-2011 Forest River Cherokee is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 17V237. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer and ask for the corrected Federal Placard. Reference recall number 17V237 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the Forest River Cherokee recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 17V237, Forest River dealers replace the incorrect Federal Placard with a corrected one free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 17V237?
The incorrect placard can lead an owner to overload the trailer above its actual axle or vehicle weight rating. Overloading increases crash risk. If your VIN is included, use the corrected label from a Forest River dealer before relying on the printed weight ratings.
What if I bought my Forest River Cherokee used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the trailer, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2007-2011 Forest River Cherokee is included, then call a franchised Forest River dealer and reference recall 17V237.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V237000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-260-593-4001 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V237 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V237000 |
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 →