Recall 19V454 affects 2 2017-2018 Forest River Berkshire motorhomes for a corroded block heater cable. Repair is free at a franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 2 of its 2017-2018 Berkshire Coach Ultra UL1912 and UL1913 motorhomes under recall 19V454 because water and contaminants can get into the block heater cable's splice connector and cause corrosion. Prolonged corrosion can lead to a resistive short and overheated or melted wiring, raising the risk of a fire, and a Forest River dealer will repair the cable for free.
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 block heater on these 2017-2018 Forest River Berkshire UL1912 and UL1913 motorhomes is an electric warmer that plugs into a standard wall outlet to keep the engine block warm in cold weather. Power runs from the wall plug through a cable into an inline splice connector, then on to the heater element in the engine. The splice connector has three metal terminals inside a molded housing that carry current to the heater.
During an earlier service procedure, the two halves of that splice connector had to be separated for inspection. Twisting or flexing the connector during separation can fracture one or more of those three terminals, and the break is not always visible. If water or road debris then gets into the connector, the damaged terminal can short out and overheat.
Owners should watch for a block heater that stops working, a household breaker or outlet GFCI that trips when the cable is plugged in, and any buzzing or sizzling noise, smoke, or sparks at the wall outlet. Those are the warning signs of a failing connector.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2017 and 2018 Berkshire across two separate component issues: an engine concern and an electrical concern.
| 2017 Forest River Berkshire | Engine |
|---|---|
| 2018 Forest River Berkshire | Engine |
| 2018 Forest River Berkshire | Electrical |
| 2017 Forest River Berkshire | Electrical |
| Units affected | 2 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
Corrosion at the block heater plug can create a resistive short, leading to overheated or melted wiring and raising the risk of a fire while the heater is plugged in. Watch for a tripped breaker or outlet GFCI, buzzing or sizzling at the plug, or smoke or sparks when you connect the cable. Stop using the heater cable and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2018 Berkshire motorhome is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free service that disables the engine block heater cable and removes the corrosion-and-fire risk.
- Reference recall number 19V454 (Forest River recall 78-1032) when you call the dealer so they pull the right work order.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions about scheduling or the repair itself.
- Do not plug in the engine block heater until the dealer completes the service, since the fire risk only appears when the heater is energized.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician disables the engine block heater cable so water and contaminants can no longer reach the splice connector. Parts and labor are free under the recall. If you previously paid out of pocket for a related block heater repair before notification of this recall, Ford's reimbursement plan covers documented expenses through April 30, 2019. Bring your receipts and any prior repair paperwork to the service desk so the advisor can review eligibility under the standard reimbursement plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 17, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 27, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 24, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| July 24, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 24, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V454?
Recall 19V454 covers 2 2017-2018 Forest River Berkshire Coach Ultra UL1912 and UL1913 motorhomes. Water and contaminants can enter the engine block heater cable's splice connector and cause corrosion. When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion can lead to overheated or melted wiring and increase the risk of fire.
What should I do if my 2017-2018 Forest River Berkshire is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorhome is included in recall 19V454. If it is, contact a Ford dealer to disable the engine block heater cable at no charge. Reference Forest River recall number 78-1032 when you call, or reach Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair the defect at no cost. Ford dealers will disable the engine block heater cable free of charge regardless of where the motorhome was originally purchased. Forest River is coordinating notifications, and Ford handles the dealer service.
What if I bought my Forest River Berkshire motorhome used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. If Forest River never mailed you a notice, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included, and reference recall 19V454 or Forest River number 78-1032 when you contact a Ford dealer.
Is it safe to drive my Berkshire motorhome?
The fire risk in recall 19V454 is tied to using the engine block heater, which is plugged in when the motorhome is parked. Driving is not restricted under this recall. As a practical step, avoid plugging in the block heater until a Ford dealer disables the cable under recall 19V454.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V454000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V454 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V454000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (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 →