Recall 19V844 affects 328 2018-2020 Forest River Cascade and Cherokee travel trailers for an undersized hitch coupler. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 328 2018-2020 Cascade and Cherokee travel trailers because the trailer's weight rating exceeds the hitch coupler's rating. If the coupler fails, the trailer can detach from the tow vehicle and increase the risk of a crash; the Forest River dealer repair will be free once the remedy is available.
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What's wrong?
The hitch coupler is the front connection point on the 2018-2020 Forest River Cascade and Cherokee travel trailers. It locks onto the tow vehicle's hitch ball and carries the pulling force between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Its weight rating has to match the trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, which is the maximum loaded weight the trailer is built and labeled to carry.
On affected trailers, that rating does not line up. When Cascade and Cherokee models moved from Indiana production to Oregon production, the GVWR derating was not communicated through the production and engineering process. That left trailers with a coupler rated below the trailer's stated maximum loaded weight. Under towing load, the coupler can fail and the trailer can detach.
There is no warning sign before failure. Do not rely on a noise, vibration, loose feel, or visible bend to tell you the coupler is about to give way.
Who's affected?
Covers both Cascade and Cherokee across the 2018, 2019, and 2020 model years, with trailer hitches listed for each model year.
| 2019 Forest River Cascade | Trailer hitches |
|---|---|
| 2020 Forest River Cherokee | Trailer hitches |
| 2018 Forest River Cherokee | Trailer hitches |
| 2020 Forest River Cascade | Trailer hitches |
| 2018 Forest River Cascade | Trailer hitches |
| 2019 Forest River Cherokee | Trailer hitches |
| Units affected | 328 |
| 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 trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
A trailer that separates from the tow vehicle can increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before separation, so confirm whether your VIN is included before towing again. If it is included, schedule the repair before using the trailer for a trip. Repair will be free at any franchised Forest River dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2020 Forest River Cascade or Cherokee travel trailer is included in this recall.
- Use Forest River's owner notice to confirm the repair instructions before scheduling service.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer and ask about the free trailer-hitch-coupler repair that addresses the GVWR mismatch and trailer detachment risk.
- Reference recall number 19V844 and Forest River recall 64-1114 when you call.
- Avoid towing the trailer until Forest River or the dealer confirms the coupler repair or GVWR correction is complete.
What happens at the repair
Forest River has identified the dealer fix as a coupler replacement. Because the remedy is not listed as available in the provided status, confirm the repair opening before planning service. Once Forest River opens the final dealer repair, a Forest River technician will replace the trailer hitch coupler, and parts and labor will be covered by the recall. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file. If you already paid for a coupler repair tied to this recall, ask Forest River customer service or the dealer how to submit documentation under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 25, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 11, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| January 11, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 11, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| January 11, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 17, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V844?
Recall 19V844 covers 328 2018-2020 Forest River Cascade and Cherokee travel trailers with a trailer-hitch coupler rated below the trailer's gross vehicle weight rating. The coupler can fail and let the trailer detach from the tow vehicle. Forest River dealers replace the coupler for free.
What should I do if my 2018-2020 Forest River Cascade or Cherokee is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 19V844. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the coupler replacement. Reference recall number 19V844 or Forest River recall number 64-1114 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Forest River's remedy says dealers replace the coupler free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Forest River dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is trailer separation while towing. The trailer's gross vehicle weight rating exceeds the coupler rating, so the coupler can fail and let the trailer detach from the tow vehicle, increasing crash risk.
When did Forest River notify owners about recall 19V844?
Forest River began the recall on February 17, 2020. If you own a used Cascade or Cherokee trailer and never received a letter, the VIN decides whether the free coupler replacement applies to your specific trailer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V844000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-260-499-2100 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V844 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V844000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →