Recall 24V531 covers 17 2024-2025 Forest River travel trailers, including Puma, Cherokee, Wildwood, and Salem, for overloaded hitch couplers. Dealer repair is free.
Forest River is recalling 17 2024-2025 Puma, Cherokee, Wildwood, and Salem travel trailers equipped with certain Pacific Rim couplers because the couplers carry an incorrect 14,000-pound load rating and can be overloaded. Hitch failure increases the risk of a crash or injury, and Forest River dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The Pacific Rim coupler on these 2024-2025 Forest River Puma, Cherokee, Wildwood, and Salem travel trailers is the metal socket at the front of the trailer tongue. It fits over the tow vehicle's 2 5/16 inch ball hitch and keeps the trailer locked to the tow vehicle during towing. The load rating tells the owner and dealer how much force that coupler is built to carry.
On the recalled trailers, the coupler was marked with an incorrect 14,000 pound load rating. Forest River reported that the part did not properly pass SAE J684 testing, the standard test for trailer couplers. If the trailer loads the coupler beyond what it can safely hold, the hitch connection can fail and the trailer can separate from the tow vehicle.
The warning sign is a coupler that feels excessively loose on the ball hitch. If the coupler does not clamp tightly or moves more than expected, treat that as a repair issue before towing.
Who's affected?
Spans the Puma, Cherokee, Wildwood, and Salem trailer lines across the 2024 and 2025 model years, all using the same Pacific Rim 14000# coupler.
| 2024 Forest River Puma | Trailer hitches |
|---|---|
| 2025 Forest River Cherokee | Trailer hitches |
| 2024 Forest River Wildwood | Trailer hitches |
| 2024 Forest River Salem | Trailer hitches |
| Units affected | 17 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2024 or 2025 Forest River trailer in these model lines is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
A loose hitch coupler can allow hitch failure, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. If the coupler feels excessively loose on the ball hitch, stop using the trailer and call a Forest River dealer before towing again. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2024-2025 Forest River Puma, Cherokee, Wildwood, or Salem travel trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River dealer to schedule the free hitch-coupler date-code inspection and replacement if needed, which fixes the overload-rated coupler before it fails.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 24V531 when you call.
- Avoid towing the trailer until the dealer confirms the coupler is correctly rated or replaces it.
- Call Forest River customer service at (574) 534-3167 with questions about scheduling or model routing.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician inspects the date code on the hitch coupler and replaces the coupler when the inspection shows replacement is needed. Parts and labor are covered by the recall. If you've already paid out of pocket for a related coupler repair before the recall notice, Forest River's general reimbursement plan covers documented expenses that qualify. Keep repair invoices and payment records for the service desk.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 12, 2024 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 2, 2024 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 21, 2024 | Dealer notification began |
| August 21, 2024 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 21, 2024 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 24V531?
Recall 24V531 covers 17 Forest River travel trailers from the 2024-2025 model years with certain Pacific Rim hitch couplers. The couplers show an incorrect 14,000-pound load rating and can be overloaded, causing hitch failure and increasing crash or injury risk.
What should I do if my 2024-2025 Forest River Puma, Cherokee, Wildwood, or Salem is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 24V531. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River dealer for a hitch coupler date-code inspection. The dealer will replace the coupler if needed, free of charge.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost. Forest River dealers will inspect the hitch coupler date code and replace the coupler if necessary, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is hitch failure. If the Pacific Rim coupler is overloaded because of the incorrect load rating, the hitch can fail while the trailer is being used, increasing the risk of a crash or injury under NHTSA campaign 24V531.
When were owners notified about this Forest River recall?
Forest River mailed owner notification letters on August 2, 2024. If you bought the trailer used or never received a letter, check your VIN and reference Forest River recall number 51-1803 when you call the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/24V531000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | (574) 534-3167 |
| NHTSA recall # | 24V531 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 24V531000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (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 →