72-1559 – Fresh Water Tank May Dislodge – 2021-2022 Forest River Salem, Wildwood, & Ozark Travel Trailers

September 30, 2022 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 22V729000

Fresh Water Tank May Dislodge

A tank falling to the ground while in transit can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V729

Manufacturer Forest River, Inc.

Components EQUIPMENT

Potential Number of Units Affected 5,168

 

Summary

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.

 

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.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

 

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This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements Motor Vehicle Safety Act. This notice is also sent in accordance with the requirements of the United States’ National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Forest River has decided that a defect, which relates to the motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2021-2022 Salem, Wildwood and Ozark Travel Trailer recreational vehicles. This is to inform you that your vehicle may contain a defect that could affect the safety of a person.

 

WHAT IS THE DEFECT/NONCOMPLIANCE?

The fresh water tank may dislodge from the vehicle and fall to the ground when full or overfilled.

 

EVALUATION OF THE RISK TO THE VEHICLE AND OPERATOR(S) RELATED TO THE RECALL.

A tank dislodged while under towing conditions may increase the risk of a crash.

 

WHAT IS FOREST RIVER AND OUR DEALERSHIPS GOING TO DO?

Forest River is notifying dealerships of the recall. You may have the recall corrected at any Forest River Dealership or Service Center. Two straps will be installed around the chassis cross-members and the holding tank to keep the tank retained inside the chassis. It is preferable if you have your selling dealership perform the remedy. Forest River completely covers your cost for the remedy; you will not receive any bill of sale for anything covered under the above recall number.

 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Please contact your dealer immediately and request a service appointment to schedule the free remedy. The vehicle Owner is responsible for arranging to have the work completed. Please state you have been notified by Forest River of having a recall in process for your vehicle and provide the recall number for the dealership. It is also helpful to the dealership to have a copy of this letter when you take your vehicle in for the recall remedy.

You may also visit www.forestriverinc.com for dealer locations.

 

HOW LONG WILL THE REMEDY PROCESS TAKE?

The estimated time of repair is 2.0 hours. However, the dealership may need to keep your vehicle or schedule an appointment with you for a later date to fit into their regular service schedule.

 

WHAT IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR REPAIRS TO YOUR VEHICLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONDITION?

If you have already paid for a repair that is within the scope of this defect under recall, you still need to have this recall inspected and/or performed to ensure the correct parts and procedures were utilized.

Additionally, you may be eligible for a refund of previously paid repairs. Refunds will only be provided for within the scope of this defect under recall.

Please send the service invoice to the following address:

Salem/Wildwood
Forest River, Inc.
Attn: WARRANTY MANAGER
1803 Century Drive
Goshen, IN 46528

 

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RECALL 22V729 / 2022-556 REMEDY INSTRUCTIONS

Make(s): SALEM, WILDWOOD & OZARK Model(s): MANY, SEE BELOW Model Year(s): MANY, SEE BELOW	Repair Code: RC-672-03-00-004252 Allotted Time: 2.00 HRS. Inspection Code: RC-672-05-00-004251 Allotted Time: .25 HRS
Concern: A secondary means of strapping to the fresh water tank to the chassis may not have been installed.	Photo(s) Required: YES Prior Authorization Required: YES Part(s) Kit Number: F100362078 Part(s) Return: N/A

 

Disconnect the vehicles’ battery Positive and Negative, disconnect any House battery(s) Positive and Negative, if equipped with a generator ensure it is off and lastly, ensure the vehicle is disconnected from shore power.  Block any tires/wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling. Failure to do so may result in electrocution, fire or other personal injury, property damage and/or death.

 

CERTAIN: 2021 – OZARK – ZKT2700TH, ZKT2700THX, ZKT1660FQ, ZKT1660FQX & ZKT1900THX

CERTAIN: 2021 – 2022 OZARK – ZKT2500TH, ZKT2500THX, ZKT1680BSK, ZKT1680BSKX, ZKT1650BHK, ZKT1650BHKX, ZKT1800QSX, ZKT1800QS &ZKT1900TH

CERTAIN 2021 – 2022 SALEM – SMT178BHSK, SMT178BHSKX, SMT170SSX, SMT170SS, SMT280RT & SMT280RTX

CERTAIN 2021 – 2022 WILDWOOD – WDT178BHSK, WDT178BHSKX, WDT170SSX, WDT170SS, WDT280RT &  WDT280RTX

 

REMEDY PARTS KIT CONTAINS:

• 12 – 3/8” SELF-DRILLING SCREWS
• 3 – 3” X 48” – 14GA. FLAT STOCK

 

INSPECTION:

STEP 1: LOCATE THE FRESH WATER TANK IN THE UNDERBELLY OF THE VEHICLE;

• REMOVE UNDERBELLY PANEL AND SET ASIDE WITH FASTENERS;
• IF THE HOLDING TANK HAS STRAPS AROUND THE TANK AND CROSS-MEMBERS ( 1) TAKE PHOTOS;
• INSPECT THE FLOATING CROSS-MEMBER AND ENSURE IT HAS TWO FASTENERS ON EACH SIDE

(TOTAL OF 4) (FIG. 2);

• REASSEMBLE ANY REMOVED UNDERBELLY;
• SUBMIT PHOTOS WITH CLAIM INSPECTION CODE ONLY.

 

IF THE INSPECTION DOES NOT REVEAL ANY OF THE ABOVE, MOVE ON TO REMEDY.

 

REMEDY:

STEP 1: LOCATE THE FRESH WATER TANK IN THE UNDERBELLY OF THE VEHICLE;

• REMOVE UNDERBELLY PANEL AND SET ASIDE WITH FASTENERS;
• MEASURE AND MARK OUT THE FRESH WATER HOLDING TANK INTO THIRDS;

 

STEP 2: USE THE 3” X 48” – 14GA. FLAT STOCK FROM THE REMEDY KIT (FIG. 3);

• USE THE 3/8” SELF-TAPPING LAGS TO SECURE THE THREE – 3” X 48” – 14GA. FLAT STOCK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FULL HEIGHT CROSS-MEMBERS, ONE IS BEHIND THE FRESH WATER TANK AND ONE IS IN FRONT OF THE FRESH WATER TANK;
• DO NOT LAG INTO THE FLOATING CROSS-MEMBER AS THE FASTER WILL PENETRATE THE FRESH TANK;

 

STEP 3: INSPECT AND ENSURE THE FLOATING CROSS-MEMBER HAS A MINIMUM OF TWO (2) 3/8” SELFTAPPING FASTENERS (FIG. 2), ADD IF MISSING;

 

STEP 4: RE-ASSEMBLE THE UNDERBELLY PANEL TO THE CHASSIS BEAMS;

 

STEP 5: CLAIM REPAIR CODE.

 

PHOTOS ON NEXT PAGE;

 

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Chronology :

On August 22, 2022, Forest River’s Office of Corporate Compliance (“OCC) retrieved a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (“VOQ”) #11480615 as part of the weekly VOQ review. According to the VOQ 11480615, it was claimed that the fresh water tank detached and fell from the vehicle.

On September 6, 2022, OCC began a warranty data review.

On September 23, 2022, the warranty data review was completed. The data showed a significant trend upwards beginning in Quarter 4 of 2020, therefore Forest River decided to begin the scope date at November 23, 2020. Forest River decided to end the scope on October 31, 2021, in which OCC discovered that manufacturing began installing secondary straps to the fresh water tanks.

On September 30, 2022, Forest Rivers’ Corporate Recall Committee voted to recall.

 

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6 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
FOREST RIVER	OZARK	2021-2022
FOREST RIVER	SALEM	2021-2022
FOREST RIVER	WILDWOOD	2021-2022

 

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8 Associated Documents

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-22V729-8376.PDF 215.807KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-22V729-4611.pdf 646.285KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-22V729-8850.pdf 172.131KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-22V729-4094.pdf 203.839KB

 

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-22V729-2095.pdf 201.627KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2022-4

RCLQRT-22V729-5134.PDF 211.131KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2023-1

RCLQRT-22V729-8854.PDF 211.229KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2023-2

RCLQRT-22V729-9255.PDF 211.322KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=22V729&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2026-05-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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