Recall 23V182 covers 20 2019-2023 Forest River Continental Cargo, Cargo Mate, and Cross Bow cargo trailers for unintended winch operation. Replacement remote is free.
Forest River is recalling 20 2019-2023 Continental Cargo, Cargo Mate, and Cross Bow cargo trailers equipped with certain Warn winches because water can enter the wireless handheld remote and corrode the circuit board. The winch can operate without command and increase the risk of injury; the Forest River dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Warn winch on affected 2019-2023 Forest River Continental Cargo, Cargo Mate, and Cross Bow cargo trailers is an electric pulling device controlled by a wireless handheld remote. The winch moves only when the operator commands it, and the remote sends that command through a small circuit board inside the handheld unit.
The problem is inside the remote, not the trailer frame. The wireless remote is not waterproof, so water that gets into the case can corrode the circuit board. Corrosion can create an electrical path that tells the winch to run even when no one pressed the control.
The warning sign is the winch motor running when the driver or winch operator did not intend it to run. If you hear the winch start on its own, treat that as the sign that the remote has begun to fail.
Who's affected?
Includes the Continental Cargo, Cargo Mate, and Cross Bow trailer lines across 2019-2023, with coverage tied to the winch and electrical system.
| 2023 Forest River Continental Cargo | Winch |
|---|---|
| 2023 Forest River Continental Cargo | electrical system |
| 2020 Forest River Continental Cargo | Winch |
| 2020 Forest River Continental Cargo | electrical system |
| 2021 Forest River Continental Cargo | Winch |
| 2021 Forest River Continental Cargo | electrical system |
| 2022 Forest River Continental Cargo | Winch |
| 2022 Forest River Continental Cargo | electrical system |
| 2019 Forest River Continental Cargo | Winch |
| 2019 Forest River Continental Cargo | electrical system |
| 2020 Forest River Cargo Mate | Winch |
| 2020 Forest River Cargo Mate | electrical system |
| 2022 Forest River Cargo Mate | Winch |
| 2022 Forest River Cargo Mate | electrical system |
| 2021 Forest River Cargo Mate | Winch |
| 2021 Forest River Cargo Mate | electrical system |
| 2019 Forest River Cargo Mate | Winch |
| 2019 Forest River Cargo Mate | electrical system |
| 2020 Forest River Cross Bow | Winch |
| 2020 Forest River Cross Bow | electrical system |
| Units affected | 20 |
| 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?
An unintended winch operation raises the risk of injury around the trailer. Keep people clear of the winch area, and treat the winch motor running without a command as a reason to stop winch use and arrange service. Repair will be free at any franchised Forest River dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2023 Forest River Continental Cargo, Cargo Mate, or Cross Bow trailer is included in this recall.
- Follow Forest River's instructions to inspect the winch remote for corrosion and remove the battery pack to disable the wireless function.
- Stop using the remote if corrosion or water intrusion is found, and contact WARN for the free replacement remote that addresses unintended winch operation.
- Call Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600 with questions and reference recall number 23V182 when you call.
- Keep people clear of the winch until the remote inspection is complete and the wireless function is disabled or the remote is replaced.
What happens at the repair
For this recall, Forest River and WARN provide instructions for inspecting the winch remote for corrosion and disabling the wireless function by removing the battery pack. If corrosion or water intrusion is found, stop using the remote and contact WARN customer service for a replacement remote, free of charge. Once new parts are available, WARN will provide a water resistant replacement remote at no cost. The known repair path is through the remote inspection and replacement process, not a scheduled dealer part replacement right now.
Timeline
| March 20, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 20, 2023 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| April 6, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| April 29, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| April 29, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 29, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V182?
Recall 23V182 covers 20 2019-2023 Forest River Continental Cargo, Cargo Mate, and Cross Bow cargo trailers equipped with certain Warn winches and wireless handheld remotes. Water intrusion can corrode the remote circuit board and allow the winch to operate unintentionally, increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2019-2023 Forest River Continental Cargo, Cargo Mate, or Cross Bow is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 23V182. If it is, follow Forest River and WARN inspection instructions for the wireless remote, remove the battery pack to disable wireless operation, and contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8600 for recall support.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. Forest River and WARN will provide the inspection guidance and replacement remote free of charge when corrosion or water intrusion is found, and a replacement water resistant remote is free once parts are available.
What is the safety risk from this Forest River winch recall?
The risk is an unintentional winch operation. Water inside the wireless handheld remote can corrode the circuit board, which can activate the winch without the operator intending it. That movement increases the risk of injury, so disable the wireless function by removing the remote battery pack.
What if I bought the Forest River trailer used?
The recall still applies to the trailer, not the first owner. Owner letters were mailed April 6, 2023, but a used trailer owner was not guaranteed to receive one. Check your VIN, then reference recall 23V182 and Forest River recall number 51-1608 when you contact Forest River or a dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V182000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-574-825-8600 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V182 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V182000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →