Recall 18V034 affects 223 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee travel trailers for miswired air-conditioning neutral wires. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 223 2017-2018 Cherokee travel trailers because two neutral wires for the 110V air conditioning circuit were placed under the same lug in the 120V panel neutral bus bar. The smaller wire can overheat and fail under higher load, which increases the risk of an electrical fire, and Forest River dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The neutral bus bar in the 120V electrical panel is the return path for current after a circuit has powered equipment in the trailer. On 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee travel trailers with the optional Electronic Management System, the 110V air-conditioning neutral wiring was supposed to be secured so each wire had the right clamping connection in that panel.
On these trailers, the installation process was not followed consistently. A 14 gauge neutral wire and a 12 gauge neutral wire were connected under the same lug on the neutral bus bar. Because those wires are different sizes, the lug does not secure each wire the way a correct connection does. The repair is to inspect the panel and move the 14 gauge wire to the proper neutral-bus connection if it was installed incorrectly.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner should not expect a light, sound, smell, or air-conditioning symptom to appear before the wiring problem is found during inspection.
Who's affected?
Both model years list the same wiring component. The VIN decides which Cherokee trailers are included.
| 2018 Forest River Cherokee | wiring |
|---|---|
| 2017 Forest River Cherokee | wiring |
| Units affected | 223 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 4 field incidents to date. |
Not every 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee trailer is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
When the smaller wire is connected to the same lug as the larger load, it can overheat, fail, and increase the risk of an electrical fire. There is no warning sign before failure, so owners should schedule the recall repair and avoid adding electrical load until the wiring is checked. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free inspection and neutral-wire relocation that separates the air-conditioning neutral wires in the electrical panel.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V034 when you call.
- Avoid using the trailer's air conditioning until the wiring is inspected and repaired, since an overloaded smaller neutral wire raises the risk of electrical fire.
- Call Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100 with questions and reference recall number 18V034.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician inspects the 120V panel neutral bus bar for the 110V air conditioning circuit. The technician moves the affected neutral wire to another 14 gauge terminal as needed, so the 14 gauge and 12 gauge neutral wires are no longer connected to the same lug. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered at the dealer.
Timeline
| January 11, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 14, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 9, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| March 9, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 9, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V034?
NHTSA campaign 18V034 covers 223 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee travel trailers with an air-conditioning neutral-wire issue in the 120-volt panel. A 14-gauge wire and 12-gauge wire were connected to the same lug, which can overload the smaller wire and increase fire risk. Forest River dealers relocate the wire for free.
What should I do if my 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 18V034. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer and ask for the neutral-wire relocation. Reference recall number 18V034 or Forest River recall 17A-0609 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Forest River dealers relocate the subject wire to another 14-gauge terminal free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included 2017-2018 Cherokee trailers.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is electrical fire. In NHTSA campaign 18V034, the smaller neutral wire can overheat and fail when it carries a higher load from the shared lug connection. If your VIN is included, schedule the free dealer repair before using the air-conditioning system again.
When did the Forest River Cherokee recall repair become available?
The recall began on February 14, 2018. Forest River told owners that dealers would relocate the subject wire to another 14-gauge terminal as needed, free of charge. If you never received a letter, check your VIN and contact a franchised Forest River dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V034000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-260-499-2100 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V034 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V034000 |
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 →