Recall 410-1350 – Breakaway Switch Wired Incorrectly – 2021 Forest River Columbus Fifth Wheel Trailers

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
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6/9/2021
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 Columbus Fifth Wheel 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 breakaway switch power lead is wired to the auxiliary side of the 30-amp breaker. Without constant power to the switch, it may not engage when needed and consequently not allow the trailer brakes to activate.
EVALUATION OF THE RISK TO THE VEHICLE AND OPERATOR(S) RELATED TO THE RECALL.
This condition may lead to the failure of the brake-away switch to activate in an emergency. Which may lead to a crash resulting in property damage, injury and/or death.
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 remedy will include wiring the breakaway switch to constant power. 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 .5 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:
Columbus
Forest River, Inc.
Attn: WARRANTY MANAGER
105 14th Ave
Middlebury IN, 46540
What if you no longer own this vehicle?
DEPARTMENT OF COMPLIANCE
VEHICLE SAFETY AND RECALL MANAGEMENT
BUILDING 11
423 N MAIN ST
MIDDLEBURY, INDIANA 46540-9218
NHTSA RECALL: 21V374
CANADA RECALL: 2021-306
FR ID: 410-1350
<<VIN>>
<<OWNER NAME/DEALERNAME>>
<<ADDRESS>>
<<CITY>>, <<ST>> <<ZIP-XXX>>
O Integrity
O Safety
O Quality
O Customer Service
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
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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
EMAIL
Columbus Customer Service
(574) 821-1487 columbuscustomerservice@forestriverinc.com
If you are still having difficulty getting your vehicle repaired in a reasonable amount of time or without charge, you may write to the following address:
For Canadian Owners Please Contact:
Head of Recalls
Motor Vehicle Safety Investigations Laboratory
Transport Canada
80 Noël street, Gatineau, Quebec, J8Z 0A1
Telephone (800) 333-0510
Facsimile (819) 420-4292
Recall ID: 2021-306
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: 21V374

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
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06/09/2021
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 and towable products are contained in this section-
CANADA: Pursuant to the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act, section 5
Companies who sell new non-complying vehicles may be in violation of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Substantial penalties apply to violations of this law. This notice is being sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. This is to inform you that your vehicle may contain a defect that could affect the safety of a person.
Forest River – Office of Corporate Compliance (“OCC”) has decided that a safety defect exists in certain 2021 Columbus Fifth Wheel recreational vehicles. 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 4/14/2021 through 5/20/2021.
DEFECT/NONCOMPLIANCE:
The breakaway switch power lead is wired to the auxiliary side of the 30-amp breaker. Without constant power to the switch, it may not engage when needed and consequently not allow the trailer brakes to activate.
EVALUATION OF RISK:
This condition may lead to the failure of the brake-away switch to activate in an emergency. Which may lead to a crash resulting in property damage, injury and/or death.
SERVICE PROCEDURE:
Dealership Service Department Service procedures for addressing the incorrectly wired breakaway switch can be found on Dealer Connect. The remedy will include wiring the breakaway switch to constant power.
DEALER REPAIR CODES: Dealer Connect
UNITED
STATES
CANADA
REPAIR
CODE
DESCRIPTION
ALLOWABLE HOUR(S)
21V374
2021-306
RC-036-05-00-004062
INSPECT BREAKAWAY SWITCH
.10
21V374
2021-306
RC-036-22-00-004063
INSPECT AND REWIRE BREAKAWAY SWITCH
.50
HELPFUL CONTACT INFORMATION:
CONTACT
PHONE
EMAIL
Columbus Customer Service
(574) 821-1487 columbuscustomerservice@forestriverinc.com
DEPARTMENT OF COMPLIANCE
VEHICLE SAFETY AND RECALL MANAGEMENT
BUILDING 11
423 N MAIN ST
MIDDLEBURY, INDIANA 46540-9218
NHTSA RECALL: 21V374
CANADA RECALL: 2021-306
FR ID: 410-1350
<<DEALERNAME>>
<<ADDRESS>>
<<CITY>>, <<ST>> <<ZIP-XXX>>
O Integrity
O Safety
O Quality
O Customer Service
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
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The Recall shall be considered the utmost priority to remedy the 2021 Columbus Fifth Wheel in question. The retail consumer shall not be charged any amount of monies for remedy to their 2021 Columbus Fifth Wheel listed under this Recall.
If your dealership has already performed the remedy to 2021 Columbus Fifth Wheel, 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 2021 Columbus Fifth Wheel 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.

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