Recall 20V563 covers 4,397 2018-2021 Forest River Wildwood, Salem, and Sonoma trailers for miswired breakaway switches. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 4,397 2018-2021 Wildwood, Salem, and Sonoma travel trailers because the break-away safety switch was not wired to constant power. If a trailer separates from the tow vehicle, the trailer brakes can fail to activate, the driver can lose control, and crash risk increases; Forest River dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The break-away safety switch on these Forest River Wildwood, Salem, and Sonoma travel trailers is part of the emergency braking system between the trailer and the tow vehicle. If the trailer separates from the hitch, the switch is supposed to pull a pin and send battery power to the trailer brakes. That power lets the trailer slow itself instead of rolling free.
On affected 2018-2021 trailers, the switch was wired on the wrong side of the battery disconnect. When the battery disconnect is off, the switch is not connected to constant battery power. In a trailer separation, that wiring error can leave the break-away switch unable to activate the trailer brakes.
There is no warning sign before failure. The trailer can tow normally, and the problem shows up only when the break-away switch needs battery power during a separation.
Who's affected?
Covers Wildwood and Salem across the 2018-2021 model years, with Sonoma included for 2020; the same recall includes electrical system and trailer hitch components.
| 2020 Forest River Wildwood | electrical system |
|---|---|
| 2020 Forest River Wildwood | Trailer hitches |
| 2020 Forest River Salem | electrical system |
| 2020 Forest River Salem | Trailer hitches |
| 2021 Forest River Wildwood | electrical system |
| 2021 Forest River Wildwood | Trailer hitches |
| 2020 Forest River Sonoma | electrical system |
| 2020 Forest River Sonoma | Trailer hitches |
| 2018 Forest River Wildwood | electrical system |
| 2018 Forest River Wildwood | Trailer hitches |
| 2019 Forest River Wildwood | electrical system |
| 2019 Forest River Wildwood | Trailer hitches |
| 2018 Forest River Salem | electrical system |
| 2018 Forest River Salem | Trailer hitches |
| 2019 Forest River Salem | electrical system |
| 2019 Forest River Salem | Trailer hitches |
| 2021 Forest River Salem | electrical system |
| 2021 Forest River Salem | Trailer hitches |
| Units affected | 4,397 |
| 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?
Failure of the trailer breakaway switch wiring can keep the trailer brakes from engaging. That loss of trailer braking can lead to loss of vehicle control and a crash. There is no warning sign before failure, so schedule the rewiring promptly if your VIN is included. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2021 Forest River Wildwood, Salem, or Sonoma travel trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free breakaway-switch rewiring that restores constant power to the trailer brake safety switch.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V563 when you call.
- Use extra caution if the trailer has to be towed before repair; the breakaway brakes are the affected system.
- Call Forest River customer service at 1-909-873-3777 with questions about the repair or dealer scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician rewires the breakaway switch so it has constant power and can activate the trailer brakes if the trailer separates from the tow vehicle. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for this repair. Bring repair invoices and payment records to the service desk, or contact Forest River customer service for the claim process tied to this campaign.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| September 18, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 13, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V563?
Recall 20V563 covers 4,397 Forest River travel trailers with a breakaway safety switch that is not wired to constant power. Affected models include 2018-2021 Wildwood and Salem trailers and 2020 Sonoma trailers. Forest River dealers will rewire the switch for free.
What should I do if my 2018-2021 Forest River Wildwood, Salem, or Sonoma is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 20V563. If it is, contact a Forest River dealer to schedule rewiring of the breakaway safety switch. Reference Forest River recall number 67A-1230 or campaign 20V563 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's remedy says dealers will rewire the breakaway safety switch free of charge. Parts and labor are covered through the recall repair.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is loss of vehicle control if the trailer separates from the tow vehicle and the trailer brakes do not engage. The breakaway switch is supposed to activate the trailer brakes during separation. Forest River's free repair rewires the switch to constant power.
What if I bought my Forest River trailer used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Wildwood, Salem, or Sonoma trailer is included, then call a Forest River dealer with recall number 67A-1230 or campaign 20V563.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V563000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-909-873-3777 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V563 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V563000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (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 →