Recall 23V226 affects 70 2023 Forest River Cherokee travel trailers with an incorrect GVWR placard. Repair is free at franchised Forest River dealers.
Forest River is recalling 70 2023 Cherokee travel trailers because the safety chains are not rated for the GVWR listed on the federal placard. If the chains fail, the trailer can detach from the tow vehicle and increase the risk of a crash; Forest River dealers will replace the chains free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The federal placard on a 2023 Forest River Cherokee travel trailer is the weight label mounted to the trailer. It lists the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, or GVWR, which is the maximum loaded weight the trailer is certified to carry. Dealers and owners use that label to match the trailer to the tow vehicle and its safety equipment.
On affected Cherokee trailers, the placard listed a GVWR that did not match the rating of the installed safety chains. The chains are the backup connection between the trailer and tow vehicle if the hitch connection comes loose. If the chains are rated below the loaded trailer weight shown on the placard, they are not the right backup for that certified weight, and the trailer can detach.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is a label and rating mismatch, so an owner would not hear, feel, or see a symptom during normal towing.
Who's affected?
| 2023 Forest River Cherokee | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 70 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2023 Forest River Cherokee trailer is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the trailer separates from the tow vehicle, the driver loses control of the trailer and the crash risk increases. There is no warning sign before detachment, so confirm the VIN before towing a 2023 Cherokee. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2023 Forest River Cherokee is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free Federal Placard replacement that corrects the GVWR label tied to the trailer's safety-chain rating.
- Reference recall number 23V226 and Forest River recall 89-1618 when you call.
- Do not wait for an owner letter; Forest River says affected trailers were still in dealer inventory.
- Avoid towing the trailer until the new placard is installed and the dealer confirms the safety-chain rating.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician installs a new Federal Placard so the trailer's labeling matches the covered recall repair. The placard installation is free under the recall. Forest River says the affected trailers are still in dealer inventory, so owner letters are not being sent. If you already paid for a repair within the scope of this defect, Forest River directs owners to submit the service invoice to Cherokee Forest River, Inc., Attn: Warranty Manager, in LaGrange, Indiana, for refund review.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 31, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 10, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| May 10, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 10, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V226?
Recall 23V226 covers 70 2023 Forest River Cherokee travel trailers with a federal placard issue tied to the trailer's safety chains and listed GVWR. A trailer that detaches from the tow vehicle increases crash risk. Forest River dealers will install a new Federal Placard for free.
What should I do if my 2023 Forest River Cherokee is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 23V226. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer and reference recall number 23V226 or Forest River recall 89-1618. The dealer will install the new Federal Placard for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to complete the recall repair at no cost. For recall 23V226, Forest River dealers will install the new Federal Placard free of charge.
Will Forest River send owner letters for recall 23V226?
No. Forest River reported that all affected trailers were still in dealer inventory, so owner notification letters will not be sent. Check your VIN before purchase or service to confirm whether a specific 2023 Forest River Cherokee is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V226000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-800-348-7440 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V226 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V226000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (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 →