Recall 17V623 covers 276 2014-2017 Forest River Berkshire buses for headlights that shut off during beam changes. Free repair at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 276 2014-2017 Berkshire buses because the headlights can shut off while switching from low beams to high beams. If the lights go out while driving, the driver can lose visibility and crash risk rises; Forest River dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The headlights on 2014-2017 Forest River Berkshire buses are supposed to keep the road visible as the driver changes between low-beam and high-beam settings. The dimmer switch sends that command through the lighting wiring and headlight controls, so the beam changes without leaving the driver or nearby traffic in the dark.
On these Berkshire buses, the headlight system can shut off during that beam change. Reports described a single lamp-out event when the driver moved from low beam to high beam, with the outage lasting from one to six seconds. Forest River and the chassis manufacturer traced the concern to the headlamp module shutting down, but the exact underlying cause was not identified in the filing. The recall repair installs a new wire harness at a Forest River dealership.
There is no warning sign before failure. The owner would notice the problem only when the headlights go out during the low-beam to high-beam switch.
Who's affected?
Includes the 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 Berkshire model years, with listed components covering the headlights and the high/low beam dimmer switch.
| 2017 Forest River Berkshire | High/low beam dimmer switch |
|---|---|
| 2017 Forest River Berkshire | Headlights |
| 2015 Forest River Berkshire | High/low beam dimmer switch |
| 2015 Forest River Berkshire | Headlights |
| 2016 Forest River Berkshire | High/low beam dimmer switch |
| 2016 Forest River Berkshire | Headlights |
| 2014 Forest River Berkshire | High/low beam dimmer switch |
| 2014 Forest River Berkshire | Headlights |
| Units affected | 276 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 5 field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the list, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the headlights shut off while driving, visibility drops or disappears, increasing crash risk. There is no warning sign before failure, so schedule the repair soon and use extra caution after any unexpected headlight problem. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2017 Forest River Berkshire is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free supplemental wiring harness repair that keeps the headlights from shutting off when switching beams.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V623 when you call.
- Avoid night driving until the repair is complete, and use extra caution when switching between low and high beams.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician installs a supplemental wiring harness so the headlights stay on when the driver switches between low beam and high beam. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered. For prior out-of-pocket repairs tied to this headlight wiring issue, Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file for documented expenses. Ask Forest River customer service how to submit the repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 6, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 31, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| December 6, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| December 6, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 6, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V623?
Recall 17V623 covers 276 2014-2017 Forest River Berkshire buses with headlights that can shut off while switching from low beam to high beam. That loss of visibility increases crash risk. Forest River dealers install a supplemental wiring harness for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2017 Forest River Berkshire is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Berkshire is included in recall 17V623. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the supplemental wiring harness installation. Reference recall 17V623 and Forest River recall number 40-0241 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Forest River dealers install the supplemental wiring harness free of charge, and the repair is meant to stop the headlights from shutting off unexpectedly.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced or lost visibility while driving. If the headlights shut off during a low-beam to high-beam switch, the driver and other vehicles have less light to react, which increases crash risk. The free harness repair addresses that failure.
When did Forest River start this recall repair?
Forest River began the recall repair on October 31, 2017. Since that date is in the past, owners should use a VIN check first, then contact a franchised Forest River dealer if the vehicle is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V623000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-574-295-2117 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V623 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V623000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →