Recall 20V553 affects 273 2014-2016 Forest River Vengeance trailers with incorrect 100-gallon water placards. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 273 2014-2016 Vengeance trailers under recall 20V553 because the federal placard can list the wrong water amount for units with the 100-gallon option. The error can let the trailer be overloaded, which increases crash risk; the Forest River dealer repair is free.
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What's wrong?
The federal placard on a 2014-2016 Forest River Vengeance trailer is the weight and certification label. It tells the owner how the trailer is equipped and helps set the safe loading limit before a trip. For trailers built with the 100-gallon water tank option, that label needs to account for the added water capacity.
On affected trailers, Forest River's operating system did not let optional equipment data flow onto the placard. The label showed standard equipment only, so the 100-gallon water option was left out. That gives the owner an incorrect loading picture and lets the trailer be loaded beyond its proper limit. An overloaded trailer is harder to control and, as described in NHTSA campaign 20V553, increases the risk of a crash, property damage, or injury.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is the information on the placard, so an owner can overload the trailer without seeing a mechanical symptom first.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Vengeance trailers, all tied to the same vehicle label issue.
| 2016 Forest River Vengeance | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| 2014 Forest River Vengeance | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2015 Forest River Vengeance | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| Units affected | 273 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
An overloaded trailer is harder to control and has an increased risk of a crash. There is no warning sign listed for this recall, so check the loading placard and avoid towing beyond the corrected capacity until the dealer installs the updated placard. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2016 Forest River Vengeance is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free placard installation that corrects the 100-gallon water-tank information.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River sent one, and reference recall number 20V553 when you call.
- Avoid towing at or near the trailer's weight limit until the placard is replaced.
- Call Forest River customer service at 1-260-499-2100 with questions about the free repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician installs a new federal placard that lists the correct 100-gallon water tank capacity for the trailer. This corrects the label so the trailer's loading information matches the water tank option. The placard replacement and labor are free under the recall. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who paid before the recall notice. Keep repair paperwork and ask Forest River customer service or the dealer how to submit documented expenses.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| September 11, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 13, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 21, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| October 21, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 21, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V553?
Recall 20V553 covers 273 2014-2016 Forest River Vengeance trailers with a federal placard that lists the wrong water amount for trailers with the 100-gallon option. The wrong label can allow overloading, increasing crash risk. Forest River dealers will install a corrected placard for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2016 Forest River Vengeance is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 20V553. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the corrected placard installation. Reference recall number 20V553 or Forest River recall 17-1193 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects and compliance defects at no cost. Forest River's remedy says dealers will install a new placard that reflects the 100-gallon tank free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is overloading. If the federal placard shows the wrong water amount for the 100-gallon option, the trailer can be loaded beyond its intended capacity. An overloaded trailer has an increased risk of a crash.
What if I bought my Forest River Vengeance used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the trailer, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Vengeance is included, then call a franchised Forest River dealer and reference recall 20V553.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V553000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-260-499-2100 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V553 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V553000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (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 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →