We are contacting you regarding an electrical fire which occurred on 10/17/2026 in our 2021 Forest River Salem Villa Classic. While closing our seasonal trailer, a fire started in the overhead ceiling area near a light fixture just hours after we awoke (right above bed). The ceiling light was turned off, although electrical power was still connected to the trailer. Upon examining the area, we discovered what appeared to be original factory wiring pinched between two wooden structural pieces. Approximately six inches of the wire insulation appeared burned, and the fire damaged the surrounding ceiling material. The wiring had never been modified since the trailer was manufactured. Fortunately, we discovered and extinguished the fire before it spread further. We are extremely concerned that this may involve a manufacturing or installation defect that created a serious fire hazard. No warnings at all before fire started, just smelled and saw smoke once above compartment was opened. We just sent email to Salem Forest River today 11/3/2026. We have been waiting for the fire inspector from the town to come out but they never got back to us after repeated contact and several messages left. We neglected to take pictures since we were very upset at the time and didn't think about it. The Campground is 2 1/2 hours from our home. We can go back when needed. [XXX] and [XXX] Trailer VIN #[XXX] ([XXX]) [XXX] ([XXX]) [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2021 Forest River Salem problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Body1
- Electrical1
- Lights1
- Suspension1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Body1
- Electrical1
- Lights1
- Suspension1
Recalls 10
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Forest River Aurora, Coachmen Catalina, 2026 Coachmen Viking, Coachmen Clipper, 2016-2026 Wildwood, and Salem recreational trailers. The distribution panel wire may be connected to the battery without over current protection.
- Risk
- Unprotected wiring can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will relocate the distribution panel wire to the correct side of the breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2025. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1‑574‑825‑4995. Forest River's number for this recall is 205-1987.
Recall number 25V682000 · Recall details
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer: plumbing: potable water: storage tank
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem, Wildwood, and Ozark travel trailers. The fresh water tank may dislodge from the vehicle and fall to the ground when full or overfilled.
- Risk
- A tank falling to the ground while in transit can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the fresh water tank for straps. and install straps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2022. Owners may contact at Forest River Customer Service at 1‑574‑534‑3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 72-1559.
Recall number 22V729000 · Recall details
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem and Wildwood fifth wheel travel trailers. The awning rail may not be attached to a backer in the sidewall, which can allow the awning to detach while the vehicle is in motion.
- Risk
- An awning that detaches increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect for backers and reattach the awning if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1‑574‑534‑3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-1538.
Recall number 22V562000 · Recall details
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer: lpg systems: lines and fittings
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Coachmen Adrenaline, Apex, Catalina, Freedom Express, Spirit, East to West Alta, Della Terra, Silver Lake, Forest River Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Columbus, Flagstaff, Impression, Ozark, Rockwood, Sabre, Salem, Sandstorm, Shockwave, Stealth, Stealth Evo, Vengeance, Vibe, Wildwood, XLR Toyhauler, Palomino Puma, Prime Time Avenger, Crusader, Lacrosse, Sanibel, Shasta Oasis, 2022 Coachmen Cross Trail, Prism, Forest River Aurora, Rainier, Wildcat, Work and Play, Prime Time Tracer, 2021-2023 Coachmen Leprechaun, and 2022-2023 Coachmen Freelander fifth wheel and travel trailer recreational vehicles. The quick disconnect fittings in the LP gas system may be cracked, causing a gas leak.
- Risk
- A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the quick disconnect and perform a LP system check, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2022. Owners may contact the applicable customer service number for their vehicle model. Please see the recall report for the list of phone numbers.
Recall number 22V243000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Salem and Wildwood fifth wheel trailers. The Federal Placard lists a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) that exceeds the load carrying capacity of the pin box, which could result in an overloaded pin box.
- Risk
- An overloaded pin box can fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Forest River will mail owners a new Federal Placard, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1‑574‑534‑3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 69-1423.
Recall number 21V745000 · Recall details
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem, Wildwood and 2020-2021 Stealth EVO travel trailers. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
- Risk
- A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1‑503‑831‑5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1400.
Recall number 21V621000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Salem Fifth Wheel, Salem Travel Trailer, Wildwood Fifth Wheel, and Wildwood Travel Trailer vehicles. The red and amber clearance lamps do not reflect enough light. As such these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
- Risk
- Less reflective clearance lamps can affect how other drivers judge the length of the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will add reflex stickers to both the amber and red clearance lamps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1‑574‑534‑3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1359.
Recall number 21V443000 · Recall details
Equipment: appliance: oven/stove/cooktop
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Salem and Wildwood recreational trailers. The flame on the cooktop may become inverted, due to the cooktop not being isolated from the furnace return air.
- Risk
- An inverted flame can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will add sealant to the gaps in the paneling that are allowing the return air from the furnace to cause the inverted flame, free of charge. The recall began October 15, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1‑574‑534‑3167. Forest River's number for this recall is 72-1232.
Recall number 20V589000 · Recall details
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Wildwood, Salem, and 2020 Sonoma travel trailers. The break-away safety switch may not be wired to constant power, which can cause the trailer brakes to not activate in the event of a trailer separation from the tow vehicle.
- Risk
- If the brakes of the trailer do not engage, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will rewire the breakaway switch, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2020. Owners may contact Forest customer service at 1‑909‑873‑3777. Forest River's number for this recall is 67A-1230.
Recall number 20V563000 · Recall details
Equipment
- What is wrong
- Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Salem and Wildwood motorhomes. The fresh water tank may not be properly secured to the vehicle's frame.
- Risk
- A fresh water tank that detaches from the frame could increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will properly secure the holding tank, free of charge. This recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1‑503‑831‑5410. Forest River's number for this recall is 22-1219.
Recall number 20V482000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Forest River Salem 7
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Reference document in the event a dealer needs to inspect an "in wall slide mechanism".
- Generic instructions for Xantrex
- As per Lippert Components Technical Service Bulletin 11-004-21. The slide room actuator was assembled...
- How to change a LCI Schwinteck Slide Mechanism.
- It was discovered that the manufacturing plant did not cut a stress relief line in the upper deck Driver...
- Rear wall backer locations for installation of rear ladders at dealerships.
- The thermostat is wired incorrectly at the air conditioning control box located at the ceiling assembly
What 2021 Forest River Salem owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
* On the way back home from the dealer in PA for a water-tank recall service, the right leaf spring on the trailer broke on the highway and caused the trailer on fire. The less than 3-years old trailer was totaled. Police and I took photos of the damaged trailer and spring. I also kept the broken spring for inspection. * It could be a FATAL incident. We were luckily stopped for gas otherwise the fire could be breaking out when we were driving on highway! * The spring was permanently broken and was confirmed by the police and towing/service center. * The trailer was inspected by police/fire department and Rossnagle's Service Center (police called). * There were NOT any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. We didn't feel any abnormal behavior of the trailer until we stopped for gas when we saw the smoke start to come out. I don't know how long the trailer body had been sit in the moving tire before the fire started.
The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Salem. The contact stated that the strap hooks in the trailer were screwed to the floor but not the frame; therefore, no items of substantial weight were able be strapped in the trailer which would be used for hauling large items. The contact also stated that the hooks were advertised to hold up to 2300 pounds which he deemed impossible, since the hooks were not strapped to the trailer's frame. The contact had called the manufacturer on numerous occasions and sent several emails; however, the contact had yet to receive a response. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure.
While driving this 2021 Travel Trailer down the road the underbelly blew out of the bottom of the trailer. This is causing air now to push up underneath the travel trailer possibly causing further damage to the walls and flooring of the trailer.
The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Salem. The contact stated while stationary, the bolts attaching the front live-in slide to the body fractured, resulting in the slide detaching from the body. The trailer was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000. The consumer provided photos of the trailer.
Compare the 2021 Forest River Salem
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Questions about the 2021 Forest River Salem
Is the 2021 Forest River Salem reliable?
Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2021 Forest River Salem, 1.7 times a typical Salem model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Forest River Salem?
Body and structure, with 1 complaint. Next is electrical (1).
How many recalls does the 2021 Forest River Salem have?
10 recalls, covering electrical system, equipment and exterior lighting.
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