Recall 18V185 affects 80 2018 Forest River Surveyor trailers for a missing refrigerator cooling fan. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 80 2018 Surveyor recreational trailers because the slideroom refrigerator was installed without an air cycling fan to cool key refrigerator parts. An overheated refrigerator can make the cooling tubes fail and increase fire risk, and Forest River dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The refrigerator in the slideroom of the 2018 Forest River Surveyor is supposed to have airflow across its working parts. A small air cycling fan moves air around the refrigerator components so heat does not build up around the cooling tubes.
On the affected trailers, an incorrectly specified refrigerator was installed without that fan. Without forced airflow, heat can collect around the refrigerator parts, stressing the cooling tubes until they fail. The difference after repair is straightforward: the trailer receives a refrigerator fan assembly that provides the missing cooling airflow.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner should not rely on a sound, smell, or visible refrigerator change to identify this defect before the refrigerator cooling tubes fail.
Who's affected?
| 2018 Forest River Surveyor | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 80 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2018 Forest River Surveyor trailer is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
An overheated refrigerator can cause the cooling tubes to fail and increase the risk of a fire. There is no warning sign before failure, so schedule the recall repair soon and avoid using the refrigerator if it overheats. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Forest River Surveyor is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free fan assembly installation that cools the refrigerator parts tied to cooling-tube failure.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V185 when you call.
- Avoid using the trailer refrigerator until the fan assembly is installed.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician installs a fan assembly for the refrigerator in the slideroom. That fan moves air across the refrigerator parts so the cooling tubes do not overheat and fail. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. If you already paid for a related refrigerator cooling repair before the recall work, Forest River's general reimbursement plan covers documented eligible expenses. Bring prior repair paperwork to the service desk and ask how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 21, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 9, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 17, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| May 17, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 17, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V185?
Recall 18V185 covers 80 2018 Forest River Surveyor recreational trailers with a refrigerator slideroom installation issue. The refrigerator was built without an air cycling fan needed to cool refrigerator parts, which can let the cooling tubes fail and increase fire risk. Forest River dealers install the fan assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2018 Forest River Surveyor is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 18V185. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the fan assembly installation. Reference recall 18V185 and Forest River recall number 3747-0667 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Forest River's remedy says dealers will install the fan assembly free of charge. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost at a franchised dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire if the refrigerator overheats. Without the air cycling fan, refrigerator parts lack the intended cooling, and the cooling tubes can fail. Confirm your VIN, then schedule the free fan assembly installation if your trailer is included.
What if I bought my Forest River Surveyor used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the trailer, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2018 Forest River Surveyor is included, then call a Forest River dealer with recall 18V185 and Forest River number 3747-0667.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V185000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-573-642-3119 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V185 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V185000 |
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 →