FaultScore

Forest River Cardinal problems

Owners have filed 81 complaints about the Forest River Cardinal with NHTSA across model years 1998 to 2023. More of them are about the tires than anything else.

Every Forest River Cardinal year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2023 3 0 0 Body & Structure
2021 2 0 0 Body & Structure
2020 1 0 0 Body & Structure
2019 2 0 0 Body & Structure
2017 11 0 0 3,900 Tires
2016 4 0 0 Electrical System
2015 17 0 0 6,750 Wheels
2014 1 0 0 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2013 2 0 0 Electrical System
2012 1 0 0 Wheels
2010 3 0 0 Tires
2009 5 1 0 Tires
2008 2 0 0 Electrical System
2006 7 0 0 7,000 Tires
2005 6 0 1 Body & Structure
2004 3 0 0 Equipment & Accessories
2003 1 0 0 Equipment & Accessories
2002 1 0 0 Equipment & Accessories
2001 2 0 2 Equipment & Accessories
2000 2 0 0 Equipment & Accessories
1999 3 0 1 Equipment & Accessories
1998 2 0 0 Electrical System

What breaks on a Forest River Cardinal

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Tires 19 23.5%

Worst in 2006

Body & Structure 15 18.5%

Worst in 2005

Equipment & Accessories 13 16.0%

Worst in 1999

Wheels 10 12.3%

Worst in 2015

Other & Unspecified 9 11.1%

Worst in 2015

Suspension 7 8.6%

Worst in 2015

Electrical System 4 4.9%

Worst in 1998

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 2.5%

Worst in 2015

Lights 1 1.2%

Worst in 2006

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 1.2%

Worst in 2023

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Forest River Cardinal, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Nov 2003 peak 6 Aug 2025

Compare the Forest River Cardinal

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.