40-1516 – Incorrect Circuit Breaker Installed – 2021-2022 Forest River Berkshire Motorhomes

May 27, 2022 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 22V381000

Incorrect Circuit Breaker Installed

Improper contact of the internal spring retention mechanism can cause excessive heat, increasing the risk of a fire.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V381

Manufacturer Forest River, Inc.

Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Potential Number of Units Affected 483

 

Summary

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Forest River Berkshire motorhomes. An incorrect circuit breaker was installed in the vehicle’s house distribution subpanel, which prohibits the internal spring retention mechanism from properly contacting the subpanel.

 

Remedy

Dealers will install the correct breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-522-1368. Forest River’s number for this recall is 40-1516.

 

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.

 

---

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 Forest River Berkshire Class A Motorhomes. 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?

An incorrect circuit breaker was installed in the vehicles’ house distribution subpanel, which does not allow the internal spring retention mechanism to properly contact the subpanel.

 

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

If the circuit breaker’s internal spring retention mechanism does not properly contact with the subpanel, this condition could cause excessive heat, which could increase the risk of a fire.

 

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. The Dealer/Service Center will replace the incorrect breaker. 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 .3 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

 

---

RECALL 22V381, 2022-277 REMEDY INSTRUCTIONS

Make(s): BERKSHIRE Model(s): MANY, SEE LIST Model Year(s): 2021 – 2022	Repair Code: RC-003-01-00-004192 Allotted Time: .30 HRS. Inspection Code: RC-003-05-00-004195 Allotted Time: .20 HRS
Concern: An incorrect circuit breaker may have been installed in the vehicles’ house distribution subpanel which does not allow the internal spring retention mechanism to properly contact the subpanel.	Photo(s) Required: YES, POST INSTALL Prior Authorization Required: YES Part(s) Kit Number: F100332076 Part(s) Return: NO, DESTROY

 

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.

 

MODELS:

CERTAIN 2021: BEA45B-450
CERTAIN 2021 – 2022: BEA34B-360, BEA37A-380, BEA39A-360, BEA40C-380, BEA40D-380, BEA40E-380,
BEA40F-360, BEA45A-450, BEA45CA-450 & BEA45SL-450
CERTAIN 2022: BEA45E-450

 

REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PART: Q1520NC, 15/20AMP DUAL LONG STAB BREAKER

REQUIRED TOOLS:
COLORED TAPE (ANY COLOR TAPE)
PHILIPS SCREWDRIVER
FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER

STEP 1: LOCATE THE SERVICE PANEL (FIGURE 1);

STEP 2: REMOVE THE COVER AND PULL DOWN THE LID AND REMOVE THE TWO (2) SCREWS (FIGURE 2);

STEP 3: LOCATE THE BREAKER ON THE FAR RIGHT OF THE SERVICE PANEL (FIGURE 3);

STEP 4: INSPECT THE BREAKER PER FIGURE 4, IF IT IS BROKE OR BAD, PROCEED WITH REMEDY. IF BREAK IS GOOD, CLAIM INSPECTION CODE.

STEP 5: DISCONNECT THE BLACK WIRE(S) FROM THE BREAKER:

• NOTE WHICH WIRE IS ON THE 15AMP SIDE OF THE BREAKER;
• WRAP A TWO INCH (2”) LENGTH OF TAPE AROUND THE WIRE FEEDING THE 15AMP SIDE OF THE BREAKER;
• DISCONNECT BOTH WIRES FROM THE BREAKER;
• PULL THE BREAKER OUT OF THE SUB-PANEL BOX AND DISCARD;

STEP 6: INSTALL REPLACEMENT BREAKER – Q1520NC INTO THE SUB-PANEL BOX:

• INSTALL THE WIRE WITH THE COLORED TAPE INTO THE 15AMP SIDE OF THE BREAKER LUG;
• INSTALL THE OTHER WIRE TO THE 20AMP SIDE OF THE BREAKER LUG;
• ENSURE BOTH 15AMP AND 20AMP LUGS ARE TIGHTLY SECURED AND DO NOT ALLOW WIRE MOVEMENT;
• TAKE A PHOTO OF NEWLY INSTALLED BREAKER;

STEP 7: REASSEMBLE THE ACCESS TO THE BREAKERS:

• CLOSE THE LID TO THE BREAKERS;
• REINSTALL THE COVER;

STEP 8: TEST 110V ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONALITY TO ENSURE PROPER WORKING ORDER;

STEP 9: CLAIM REPAIR CODE AND SUBMIT PHOTO.

PHOTOS FIGURES ARE ON THE NEXT/BACK PAGE.

 

---

Chronology :

On May 16, 2022 During a routine electrical engineering audit it was determined that an incorrect circuit breaker was installed in the vehicles’ house distribution subpanel which does not allow the internal spring retention mechanism to properly contact the subpanel.

On May 20, 2022, Forest Rivers Office of Corporate Compliance was made aware of the issue.

On May 23, 2022, Forest Rivers Office of Corporate Compliance started to research the issue with the manufacturing plant to determine the vehicles affected. Manufacturing records and employment records indicate that the concern started on May 1, 2020 and was found during an engineering audit the week of May 16, 2022.

On May 27, 2022, Forest Rivers Corporate Recall Committee voted to recall.

 

---

2 Affected Products

Vehicle

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
FOREST RIVER	BERKSHIRE	2021-2022

 

---

11 Associated Documents

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-22V381-8663.PDF 214.902KB

 

---

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-22V381-3074.pdf 646.107KB

 

---

Recall 573 Report – 6/6/2022

RCLRPT-22V381-3253.PDF 215.139KB

 

---

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-22V381-5267.pdf 204.209KB

 

---

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-22V381-5839.pdf 174.055KB

 

---

Recall 573 Report – 7/1/2022

RCLRPT-22V381-3626.PDF 215.398KB

 

---

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-22V381-1086.pdf 223.08KB

 

---

ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-22V381-7776.pdf 172.27KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2022-3

RCLQRT-22V381-9519.PDF 211.128KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2022-4

RCLQRT-22V381-0412.PDF 211.234KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2023-1

RCLQRT-22V381-2742.PDF 211.315KB

 

---

Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=22V381&docType=RCL

 

---

 

 

---

 

Last update on 2025-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

---

 

This product presentation was made with AAWP plugin.