Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 2019 Forest River R-Pod with NHTSA between 2020 and 2026.
The largest single group is the body & structure.
Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 54
Against the median year of the Forest River R-Pod. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 40
7.7% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 2019 compares with every other Forest River R-Pod
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2019 Forest River R-Pod
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Body & Structure
646.2%
Median failure at 23,750 miles
Tires
430.8%
Electrical System
215.4%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 1,000 mi
Other & Unspecified
17.7%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
133.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
133.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
133.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 2020peak 3Apr 2026
Recalls on the 2019 Forest River R-Pod
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2020606361 units in Canada
Structure
Issue: On certain travel trailers, the sewer termination pipe bracket could fail. If this happens, the plumbing could fall and drag on the ground or detach from the trailer while driving. Safety Risk: Plumbing that falls from the trailer could create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Forest River will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your trailer to a dealer to secure to the sewer termination pipe.
Recall 2020052743 units in Canada
Accessories
Issue: On certain travel trailers, the U-bolts used to hold the spare tire carrier to the travel trailer may break. This could cause the tire and carrier to separate from the trailer. Safety Risk: A spare tire carrier that falls from the trailer could become a hazard for other road users and bystanders. This could create a risk of injury and/or a crash. Corrective Actions: Forest River will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your travel trailer to a dealer to replace the defective U-bolts. Forest River advises that you should remove the spare tire until the recall repairs have been completed.
Recall 2019238146 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: Some travel trailers were built with refrigerator wiring that does not have proper circuit protection. This could cause a wire to overheat and melt instead of tripping a circuit breaker. Safety Risk: Wiring that melts or overheats could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their trailer to an authorized dealer to re-wire the refrigerator spark igniter circuit.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 1,000 milesSouthwest Ranches, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAMPER WAS NOT IN USE SITTING STORED WITH AC RUNNING BRAND NEW. CAUGHT FIRE. HAS NOT BEEN USED AS IT WAS PURCHASED RIGHT BEFORE COVID 19. AC WAS ON TO KEEP OUT MOLD. NOTHING ELSE WAS ON OR BEING USED UNIT WAS PLUGGED IN FOR 7 DAYS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLUGGED INTO THE HOUSE ELECTRIC USING THE FACTORY CABLE THAT CAME WITH IT. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE AS LOOKING THROUGH PUBLIC GROUPS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2019 R-POD 190. UNIT WAS BRAND NEW WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT WE WERE NOT USING THE CAMPER I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANYONE GET HURT WE DID RECEIVE A POLICE REPORT
NHTSA complaint #11352206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 35,000 milesMooresville, NC
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2019 Forest River R-Pod Towable. The contact stated that while the trailer was being inspected, the contact was informed that there were fractures in the frame of the underbody of the trailer. The fractures were primarily towards the rear end of the trailer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
NHTSA complaint #11731301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prospect, PA
TIRES
The contact owns a 2019 Forrest River R-Pod equipped with Castle Rock tires, Tire Line: Radial ST226, Tire Size: ST225/75/R15, DOT Number: JULT1MT. The contact stated that after replacing the driver’s side tire with the spare tire and driving less than 100 miles on the spare tire, the spare tire was placed back on the trailer hitch. The contact then became aware that the spare tire had experienced a blowout. The contact had not taken the spare tire to a tire shop. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage for the trailer was unknown. The failure mileage on the spare tire was approximately 60.
NHTSA complaint #11617814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,500 milesPortage, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY
The contact owns a 2019 Forest River R-Pod Towable. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the driver's side mirror and the fender was slightly tilted upward on the outer edge due to the wheel touching the fender. The contact pulled into the nearest parking lot and became aware that the side marker light self-tapping screws had been shredding the tires. The contact raised the fender and reattached it to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on the passenger’s side and temporarily repaired the RV. The contact researched and became aware that the floor was wider than the frame by approximately 6 to 7 inches, causing the wall to place the weight on the fender, causing damage to the tire. The RV had not been taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,500.
NHTSA complaint #11604639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Altamont, NY
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
r-pod travel trailer tire, ST225/75R15, blew out. Fortunately, we were not on the road. Returned home to see the tire had exploded during our absence. Only read on an online forum about the problems others have had with this brand of tire installed by the manufacturer. The load rating of this tire "D" is not sufficient for this travel trailer even at the maximum pressure of 65 psi. Last used 6 weeks ago and there were no visible tire distortions indicating a rubber/belt defect or separation. This tire has always been maintained at 65 psi.
NHTSA complaint #11486299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Altamont, NY
TIRES:SIDEWALL
r-pod travel trailer tire, ST225/75R15, blew out. Fortunately, we were not on the road. Returned home to see the tire had exploded during our absence. Only read on an online forum about the problems others have had with this brand of tire installed by the manufacturer. The load rating of this tire "D" is not sufficient for this travel trailer even at the maximum pressure of 65 psi. Last used 6 weeks ago and there were no visible tire distortions indicating a rubber/belt defect or separation. This tire has always been maintained at 65 psi.
NHTSA complaint #11486299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Altamont, NY
TIRES:BEAD
r-pod travel trailer tire, ST225/75R15, blew out. Fortunately, we were not on the road. Returned home to see the tire had exploded during our absence. Only read on an online forum about the problems others have had with this brand of tire installed by the manufacturer. The load rating of this tire "D" is not sufficient for this travel trailer even at the maximum pressure of 65 psi. Last used 6 weeks ago and there were no visible tire distortions indicating a rubber/belt defect or separation. This tire has always been maintained at 65 psi.
NHTSA complaint #11486299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Catawissa, PA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Serious wall sag issue under slide potentially causing fender to rub tire.
NHTSA complaint #11457929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Catawissa, PA
STRUCTURE:BODY
Serious wall sag issue under slide potentially causing fender to rub tire.
NHTSA complaint #11457929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fenton, MO
STRUCTURE:BODY
The floor of the camper trailer is cantilevered out past the frame by 7 inches on each side. The walls and camper slideout are supported by the cantilevered floor which begins to sag over time. The tire fenders are mounted to the walls which makes them lower down and begin to hit the tires. This begins to damage the tire and or rip the fendar off the trailer falling into traffic. The following years of trailers have six outright braces on each side welded and bolted to the frame to prevent this, showing that Forest River is aware of the design problem.
NHTSA complaint #11444697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yuma, AZ
STRUCTURE:BODY
While towing my RPOD down interstate 20 east board through MS/AL my Thule awning came off the mount (the attachment screws appear to not have been properly installed) my wife was driving behind me and was almost hit. Since this was in the early evening and was low light she was not sure WHAT had happened and we were not aware the awning departed the vehicle until several hours later when we stopped for the evening.
NHTSA complaint #11418996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albuquerque, NM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2019 R-POD 189. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE TRAILER. *LD THE CONSUMER FOUND MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SOLAR PANEL MATERIAL, THE RADIO WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND DID NOT WORK, SINK DRAIN WAS CROSS THREADED, A WHOLE IN THE ROOF, BEDFRAME WAS BROKEN, AN UNSTABLE FALSE WALL, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, AND WHEN IT RAINED THE ROOF WOULD LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #11354691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albuquerque, NM
STRUCTURE
2019 R-POD 189. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE TRAILER. *LD THE CONSUMER FOUND MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SOLAR PANEL MATERIAL, THE RADIO WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND DID NOT WORK, SINK DRAIN WAS CROSS THREADED, A WHOLE IN THE ROOF, BEDFRAME WAS BROKEN, AN UNSTABLE FALSE WALL, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, AND WHEN IT RAINED THE ROOF WOULD LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #11354691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 milesSouthwest Ranches, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAMPER WAS NOT IN USE SITTING STORED WITH AC RUNNING BRAND NEW. CAUGHT FIRE. HAS NOT BEEN USED AS IT WAS PURCHASED RIGHT BEFORE COVID 19. AC WAS ON TO KEEP OUT MOLD. NOTHING ELSE WAS ON OR BEING USED UNIT WAS PLUGGED IN FOR 7 DAYS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLUGGED INTO THE HOUSE ELECTRIC USING THE FACTORY CABLE THAT CAME WITH IT. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE AS LOOKING THROUGH PUBLIC GROUPS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2019 R-POD 190. UNIT WAS BRAND NEW WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT WE WERE NOT USING THE CAMPER I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANYONE GET HURT WE DID RECEIVE A POLICE REPORT
NHTSA complaint #11352206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.