40-1225 – Inverter Allows Too Much Current To 10 Gauge Wire – 2021 Forest River Berkshire Motorhomes

September 4, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V540000

Inverter Allows Too Much Current To 10 Gauge Wire

Overloaded wires may increase the risk of a fire.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V540

Manufacturer Forest River, Inc.

Components EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Potential Number of Units Affected 22

 

Summary

Forest River, Inc. (Forest) is recalling certain 2021 Berkshire BEA40C-380, BEA40E-380, BEA45A-450, and BEA45CA-450 motorhomes equipped with 3000W inverters. These inverters supply too much current to the 10 gauge Romex wire.

 

Remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the 3000W inverter with a 2800W inverter, free of charge. The recall began September 24, 2020. Owners may contact Forest customer service at 1-754-533-5934. Forest’s number for this recall is 40-1225.

 

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.safercar.gov.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

NHTSA RECALL: 20V540
FR ID: 40-1225

<<DEALERNAME>>
<<ADDRESS>>
<<CITY>>, <<ST>> <<ZIP-XXX>>

 

09/21/2020

 

This Notice applies to your vehicle VIN listed above.

 

Dear Forest River Customer:

 

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. This notice is also sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Forest River – Office of Corporate Compliance (“OCC”) has decided that a defect, which relates to the motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2021 Berkshire models BEA40C-380, BEA40E-380, BEA45A-450 and BEA45CA-450. 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? 

During installation of the new 3000W inverter, production used the incorrect wiring size. The 3000W inverter allows too much current to be applied to the 10-gauge Romex wire.

 

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

The overload of current to the 10-gauge Romex wire may cause a fire, leading to personal injury and property damage.

 

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. However, 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 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:

Berkshire
Forest River, Inc.
Attn: Warranty Manager
1800 West Hively
Elkhart, IN 46517

 

What if you no longer own this vehicle?

If you no longer own this vehicle and have the address for the current owner, please forward this letter to the new owner within 10 working days after the day in which the notice is received. You have received this letter because government regulations require that a notification is sent to the last known owner of record. Our records indicate that you are the current owner.

 

PLEASE NOTE: FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THAT ANY VEHICLE LESSOR RECEIVING THIS RECALL NOTICE MUST FORWARD A COPY OF THIS NOTICE TO THE LESSEE WITHIN TEN DAYS.

 

MAY FOREST RIVER ASSIST YOU FURTHER?

If you have difficulties getting your vehicle repaired, please contact your Forest River Representative listed below:

CONTACT	PHONE
CUSTOMER SERVICE	(574) 522-1368

 

If you are still having difficulty getting your vehicle/towable repaired in a reasonable amount of time or without change, you may write to the following address:

For US Owners Please Contact:

Administrator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590

Or you may call the toll free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or (TTY: 1-800-424-9153).

Or visit www.safercar.gov and search; Recall ID: 20V540

 

Sincerely,

Forest River, Inc.
Office Manager
Office of Corporate Compliance

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

NHTSA RECALL: 20V540
FR ID: 40-1225
<<DEALERNAME>>
<<ADDRESS>>
<<CITY>>, <<ST>> <<ZIP-XXX>>

09/21/2020

 

Pursuant to USC49CFR §577.13 – Notification to Dealerships and Distributors – Paragraph B

“It is a violation of Federal Law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) covered by the notification under a sale or lease until the defect or noncompliance is remedied. Substantial civil penalties apply to violations of this law.”

–Forest River motorized products are contained in this section-

 

Forest River – Office of Corporate Compliance (“OCC”) has decided that a safety defect exists in certain 2021 Berkshire models BEA40C-380, BEA40E-380, BEA45A-450 and BEA45CA-450 motorhomes. Forest River is recalling the defect model(s) to ensure the safety of our future retail consumers and your dealership. Forest River apologizes for any inconvenience this action may cause your dealership; however, safety continued satisfaction and our commitment to building great products are of the utmost importance to Forest River.

 

The identified VIN referenced in the attached document(s).

The designated Date range of production is July 13, 2020 through August 21, 2020.

 

DEFECT/NONCOMPLIANCE:

During installation of the new 3000W inverter, production used the incorrect wiring size. The 3000W inverter allows too much current to be applied to the 10-gauge Romex wire.

 

EVALUATION OF RISK:

The overload of current to the 10-gauge Romex wire may cause a fire, leading to personal injury and property damage.

 

SERVICE PROCEDURE:

Dealership Service Department Service procedures for addressing replacing the 3000W inverter can be found on Dealer Connect.

 

WHAT IS THE PART NUMBER OF THE REMEDY KIT?

F100219101

 

PARTS AND RETURN:

Part return and pictures are required for the remedy after installation.  Part return and pictures of the remedy are a condition of payment and must be provided with a claim against the repair code.

 

UNITED STATES	CANADA	REPAIR CODE	DESCRIPTION	ALLOWABLE HOUR(S)
20V540	N/A	RC-097-01-00-003693	PERFORM REMEDY AS PER INSTRUCTIONS	2.0 hrs.

 

DEALER REPAIR CODES: Dealer Connect

CONTACT	PHONE
CUSTOMER SERVICE	(574) 522-1368

 

HELPFUL CONTACT INFORMATION:

The Recall shall be considered the utmost priority to remedy the Berkshire models BEA40C-380, BEA40E-380, BEA45A450 and BEA45CA-450 in question. The retail consumer shall not be charged any amount of monies for remedy to their Berkshire models BEA40C-380, BEA40E-380, BEA45A-450 and BEA45CA-450 listed under this Recall.

 

If your dealership has already performed the remedy to Berkshire models BEA40C-380, BEA40E-380, BEA45A-450 and BEA45CA-450, your dealership is entitled to the reimbursement as stated above by filing a claim using the indicated repair code(s).  If the remedy needs to be performed on an out of warranty Berkshire models BEA40C-380, BEA40E-380, BEA45A-450 and BEA45CA-450 in which the VIN falls under as stated in the identified VIN listing, your dealership is entitled to the reimbursement as stated above by filing a claim using the indicated repair code(s).

 

Notice:

In no manner shall a Forest River Product Owner or Coachmen Product Owner be charged any fee(s) for scheduling, conduction or completion of the recall.  Additionally, all dealership(s) that are Forest River and/or Coachmen dealership(s) are Federally Mandated to perform the recall once presented with this recall whether by the Owner or Dealership receipt of this letter, without denial of service to the Owner.  Lastly, denial of a remedy for this recall is a Federal Violation punishable by law resulting substantial fines and/or civil penalties.

 

Federal Regulation requires that any lessor receiving this Recall must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.  If your dealership no longer owns this vehicle, please inform the Warranty Manager of the product listed above of the change of ownership.

 

Sincerely,

Forest River, Inc.
Office Manager
Office of Corporate Compliance

 

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1 Affected Product

Vehicle

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
FOREST RIVER	BERKSHIRE	2021

 

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9 Associated Documents

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-3

RCLQRT-20V540-6169.pdf 210.848KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2021-2

RCLQRT-20V540-9759.PDF 211.434KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20V540-3022.pdf 244.565KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-20V540-5729.pdf 195.022KB

 

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Defect Notice Recall 573 Report

RCLRPT-20V540-2935.PDF 213.807KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-4

RCLQRT-20V540-2219.PDF 211.241KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2021-1

RCLQRT-20V540-6496.PDF 211.328KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20V540-9071.pdf 207.953KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #5, 2021-3

RCLQRT-20V540-2781.PDF 211.537KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20V540&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2025-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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