Recall 18V550 covers 5,847 2014-2019 Forest River recreational trailers for break-away switch wiring. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 5,847 2014-2019 Salem, Wildcat, Wildwood, Vibe, and Rainier recreational trailers because the break-away safety switch can lose its constant power connection. If the trailer separates from the tow vehicle, the brakes can fail to engage, which increases crash risk; Forest River dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The break-away safety switch on 2014-2019 Forest River Vibe, Rainier, Salem, Wildcat, and Wildwood recreational trailers is part of the emergency braking system. If the trailer separates from the tow vehicle, the switch is supposed to receive constant battery power and activate the trailer brakes. That keeps the safety system ready even when other trailer battery controls are off.
In campaign 18V550, the switch wiring was not consistently routed to constant power during production. On affected trailers, turning the trailer house battery disconnect switch to off also disconnects power to the break-away switch. If the trailer detaches while the switch has no power, the trailer brakes do not engage through that emergency circuit.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is in how the switch is wired, so normal towing or normal battery-switch operation does not confirm that the emergency brake circuit still has constant power.
Who's affected?
Covers the Vibe, Rainier, Salem, Wildcat, and Wildwood trailer lines from 2014-2019, all tied to the battery system.
| 2016 Forest River Vibe | battery |
|---|---|
| 2014 Forest River Rainier | battery |
| 2018 Forest River Rainier | battery |
| 2016 Forest River Rainier | battery |
| 2019 Forest River Salem | battery |
| 2018 Forest River Salem | battery |
| 2017 Forest River Salem | battery |
| 2016 Forest River Salem | battery |
| 2015 Forest River Salem | battery |
| 2017 Forest River Wildcat | battery |
| 2016 Forest River Wildcat | battery |
| 2015 Forest River Wildcat | battery |
| 2019 Forest River Wildwood | battery |
| 2018 Forest River Wildwood | battery |
| 2017 Forest River Wildwood | battery |
| 2016 Forest River Wildwood | battery |
| 2015 Forest River Wildwood | battery |
| 2015 Forest River Vibe | battery |
| 2014 Forest River Vibe | battery |
| 2019 Forest River Wildcat | battery |
| 2018 Forest River Wildcat | battery |
| 2014 Forest River Wildcat | battery |
| 2014 Forest River Wildwood | battery |
| 2015 Forest River Rainier | battery |
| 2017 Forest River Rainier | battery |
| 2019 Forest River Rainier | battery |
| 2014 Forest River Salem | battery |
| 2019 Forest River Vibe | battery |
| 2018 Forest River Vibe | battery |
| 2017 Forest River Vibe | battery |
| Units affected | 5,847 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year, model, and trailer line narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the trailer separates from the tow vehicle, the trailer brakes will not engage as intended. That raises the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before failure, so confirm whether your VIN is included before towing and schedule the harness repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2019 Forest River Vibe, Rainier, Salem, Wildcat, or Wildwood trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free wiring-harness reroute that keeps the break-away safety switch connected to constant battery power.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V550 when you call.
- Avoid towing with a disconnected break-away safety switch; the trailer brakes need that constant power source if the trailer detaches.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician installs a new wiring harness and reroutes the break-away safety switch wiring so the switch stays connected to constant battery power. The work is meant to keep the trailer brakes available if the trailer separates from the tow vehicle. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. Ask the service desk to confirm that campaign 18V550 is open for your VIN before the trailer is serviced.
Timeline
| August 21, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 21, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| August 21, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 25, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| September 30, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V550?
Recall 18V550 covers 5,847 2014-2019 Forest River Vibe, Rainier, Salem, Wildcat, and Wildwood recreational trailers with a break-away safety switch wiring issue. If the trailer detaches from the tow vehicle, the trailer brakes can fail to engage, increasing crash risk. Forest River dealers install a new wiring harness for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2019 Forest River Vibe, Rainier, Salem, Wildcat, or Wildwood is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 18V550. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the wiring harness repair. Reference recall 18V550 or Forest River recall 22/30-0824 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Forest River dealers will install the new wiring harness free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for trailers included in recall 18V550.
What is the safety risk in recall 18V550?
The safety risk is that the trailer brakes can fail to engage after a trailer separates from the tow vehicle. The break-away safety switch needs constant power to apply the brakes in that situation. Without it, the trailer has an increased crash risk.
What if I bought my Forest River trailer used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the trailer, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Forest River trailer is included, then call a franchised Forest River dealer with recall 18V550 or Forest River recall 22/30-0824.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V550000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-503-831-5410 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V550 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V550000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (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 →