Recall 23V015 affects 296 2016-2017 Forest River Amera-Lite trailers for drawbars that can fracture. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
Forest River is recalling 296 2016-2017 Amera-Lite cargo trailers because the welded trailer drawbars are not strong enough for the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and can fracture. A fractured drawbar can cause loss of trailer control and increase crash risk, and Forest River dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The drawbar on a 2016-2017 Forest River Amera-Lite cargo trailer is the welded tongue structure at the front of the trailer. It connects the trailer frame to the hitch area and carries towing loads within the trailer's gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum loaded weight the trailer is designed to handle.
On affected trailers, the tongue tube gauge is not strong enough for that rating. The tube material used in the welded drawbar is too light for the load it has to carry, so normal towing stress places more force on the drawbar than it was built to absorb. Over time, that stress leads to cracking and fracture of the drawbar.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner should not count on a noise, visible sag, or handling change to appear before the drawbar fractures.
Who's affected?
The same tongue tube is listed under both trailer equipment and structure for each model year.
| 2017 Forest River Amera-Lite | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
|---|---|
| 2017 Forest River Amera-Lite | body or structural component |
| 2016 Forest River Amera-Lite | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2016 Forest River Amera-Lite | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 296 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 6 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?
Fractured drawbars can cause a loss of trailer control and increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before failure, so avoid towing until the dealer replaces the drawbars. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 Forest River Amera-Lite trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free drawbar replacement that fixes the fracture risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 23V015 when you call.
- Limit towing until the repair is complete, and ask the dealer about safe transport if the trailer feels unstable.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician replaces the trailer drawbars covered by this recall. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Forest River says owners who already paid for a repair tied to this drawbar defect can request a refund. Send the service invoice to Forest River's warranty manager at the address listed in the owner notice, and still have the recall repair completed so the correct parts and procedure are used.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 20, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| March 1, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 1, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 1, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V015?
Recall 23V015 covers 296 2016-2017 Forest River Amera-Lite cargo trailers with welded drawbars that are not strong enough for the trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. A fractured drawbar can cause loss of trailer control and increase crash risk. Forest River dealers will replace the drawbars for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Forest River Amera-Lite is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 23V015. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the drawbar replacement. Reference recall number 23V015 or Forest River recall number 24-1592 when you call. The repair is free.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Forest River dealers will replace the affected drawbars free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for trailers included in recall 23V015.
What is the safety risk with this Forest River recall?
The safety risk is loss of trailer control if a welded drawbar fractures. That increases crash risk while the trailer is being towed. Contact a Forest River dealer before bringing the trailer in and ask how they want it transported for the free drawbar replacement.
What if I bought my Amera-Lite trailer used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Forest River mailed owner letters on March 1, 2023, but used-trailer owners can miss those notices, so check your VIN and call a Forest River dealer with recall number 23V015.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V015000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-574-848-1335 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V015 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V015000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (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 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →