Forest River-Cherokee RV Exposed: Water Leaks, Slide Failures, Axle/Tire Wear & Warranty Delays

(Serious Concern)

Multiple owners report discovering leaks, wiring faults, slide misalignment, and axle/tire issues only after taking delivery—problems that often trigger months-long warranty battles while camping plans are canceled. Your best leverage is before you sign. Hire an independent inspector to run a deep-dive Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI), including moisture readings, roof/caulk analysis, slide calibration checks, weight verification, and full operational tests. Use a local search such as RV Inspectors near me to locate qualified professionals. If you defer inspection until after possession, dealers may de-prioritize your unit once they’re paid, leaving you at the back of a long service queue.

(Serious Concern)

One of the most commonly reported and most expensive problem categories is water ingress: roof membrane punctures, compromised lap sealant at front/rear caps, poorly sealed windows, and slide topper and corner seam leaks. Multiple owners describe soft floors near the bathroom or slide, delamination on sidewalls, and swelling cabinetry months into ownership. These failures can occur after minor travel or even sitting in storage, and they’re frequently documented with photos in owner forums and 1-star Google reviews. See corroborating search results: Forest River Cherokee Water Damage, YouTube: Cherokee Water Leaks, and BBB complaint trends: BBB: Forest River Cherokee.

(Serious Concern)

Slide-out water intrusion often ties back to misaligned slide boxes, inadequate wiper seals, and poorly crowned roofs. Owners report soaked carpets, mold smells, and damaged subfloors. Some describe new units with visible daylight at slide corners. Search community threads for firsthand cases: Good Sam: Cherokee Slide Problems and Reddit discussions: r/RVLiving: Cherokee Slide Problems.

(Serious Concern)

Reported electrical faults range from shorted 12V circuits, melted connectors, improperly terminated grounds, and erratic converter/charger behavior to substandard routing that chafes on metal edges. These can cause intermittent power loss, appliances cutting out, or in severe scenarios, smoke or burning odors. Some owners highlight loose wire-nuts behind breaker panels and sloppy staple work punching through harnesses. For examples, see: YouTube: Cherokee Electrical Problems, Google: Cherokee Electrical Issues, and owner ratings at RVInsider: Cherokee Problems.

(Moderate Concern)

Appliance failures (12V fridges not cooling, ACs tripping breakers, furnaces short cycling, water heaters not igniting) also appear frequently. While these are often vendor-component issues, owners note inconsistent dealer support and parts delays. Check troubleshooting threads: Reddit r/rvs: Appliance Problems and general complaint aggregators like PissedConsumer (search for “Forest River Cherokee” once on PissedConsumer).

(Serious Concern)

Owners report abnormal tire wear in a few thousand miles, bent axles, hubs running hot, and braking concerns. Some trailers allegedly arrive from the factory out of alignment, leading to rapid tire shoulder wear and blowouts. When combined with aggressive “half-ton towable” marketing and low cargo capacities, the risk escalates. See recall records and defect investigations via NHTSA: Forest River Cherokee and owner proof-of-wear threads: Google: Cherokee Axle Problems, YouTube: Cherokee Tire Wear.

(Serious Concern)

A recurring safety topic is mismatched expectations about real-world towing weights. Owners frequently discover tongue weights and fully loaded GVWRs exceed what many “half-ton” configurations can safely handle. Combined with marginal braking performance and factory tire quality, this can become a serious stability risk. Explore discussions where owners break down payload math: r/GoRVing: Cherokee Towing Problems and Good Sam: Cherokee Weight Issues.

(Serious Concern)

Cherokee owners report out-of-square slide boxes, synchronization failures (especially on in-wall systems), sheared bolts, and binding that requires repeated cycling to seat. Recurrent slide alignment problems can lead to chewed seals and additional water intrusion. Dealer attempts to re-time slides sometimes provide only temporary relief. Investigate threads and tutorials: YouTube: Cherokee Slide-Out Problems and forum coverage at RVUSA Forum (search for “Forest River Cherokee slide problems”).

(Moderate Concern)

Reports include loose P-traps under sinks, kinked PEX, leaking fittings at the water pump, and shower pans with inadequate support. Owners also cite gray/black tank sensors that read full when empty, jammed or leaking dump valves, and fresh tank overflows during filling. While often fixable, these issues can water-damage cabinetry and subfloors and strand families at campgrounds. Review common cases: Google: Cherokee Plumbing Problems and firsthand videos: YouTube: Cherokee Tank Sensor Issues.

(Moderate Concern)

Undersized AC units for bunkhouse floorplans, crushed or poorly sealed ducting, and thermostat/control board anomalies are frequently cited. In hotter states, some families report interior temps staying above 80°F despite continuous operation. Furnace issues include poor duct distribution and igniter failures. See owner tips and fixes: r/RVLiving: Cherokee AC Problems and repair walkthroughs on YouTube: Cherokee Furnace Problems.

(Moderate Concern)

Owners commonly report trim detaching during first trips, staples popping through vinyl, drawers misaligned, table latches failing, and upholstery delaminating prematurely. Cabinet screws backing out and mis-cut panels around plumbing and electrical chases are also routine complaints. While many are “minor,” they cumulatively erode owner trust in the build. Scan photo-heavy threads: Google: Cherokee Quality Issues and general sentiment on RVInsider.

(Serious Concern)

One of the most damaging patterns is slow after-sale support. Many owners describe months-long waits for warranty authorization or parts, during which prime camping seasons slip by. Some dealerships reportedly refuse to service units they didn’t sell. Others keep units for weeks awaiting Forest River response. These service gaps are central to consumer dissatisfaction and can turn fixable issues into trip-canceling ordeals. See BBB complaints for timelines and responses: BBB: Forest River Cherokee, and read cross-brand industry context from consumer advocates like Liz Amazing’s channel—search her videos for “warranty” and “dealer delays.”

(Moderate Concern)

Some shoppers report being charged “dealer prep” and “PDI” fees yet still receiving units with basic faults: loose fittings, non-functioning outlets, missing hardware, or wet bays that weren’t pressure tested. It’s crucial to insist on a full, witnessed PDI with water on, slides run, and a ladder inspection of roof sealant before any final payment. See buying experience threads: r/rvs: Cherokee Dealer Problems and Google: Cherokee Complaints.

(Serious Concern)

Forest River products—including the Cherokee family—have had various recalls over the years tied to axles, labels, propane systems, and safety devices. Owners occasionally report not receiving timely recall notices or discovering open recalls during inspections. Always run your VIN at NHTSA Recalls and ask your dealer to print recall status at sale. Search for “Forest River Cherokee recall” on YouTube and forums for context: YouTube: Cherokee Recall.

(Serious Concern)

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: This federal law governs consumer product warranties. If you experience repeated failures and unsuccessful repairs under the written warranty, you may have federal warranty rights. Keep meticulous records: dates, photos, repair orders, and communications. If a dealer refuses warranty service because you purchased elsewhere, document it—manufacturers generally must honor warranties regardless of where you bought.

(Moderate Concern)

State Lemon Laws and UCC: Some states cover RV trailers under lemon laws; others cover only motorized RVs. Where lemon laws don’t apply, the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and state warranty statutes can still protect against products that fail their essential purpose. Consult a consumer protection attorney if your unit has repeated, substantial defects that remain uncorrected after reasonable attempts.

(Moderate Concern)

NHTSA and Safety Defect Reporting: Safety-related defects (brakes, axles, tires, propane, electrical fires) can be reported to NHTSA. If patterns emerge, NHTSA can open investigations and require recalls. Check existing Cherokee recall actions under NHTSA’s recall tool.

(Moderate Concern)

FTC and Advertising Claims: If “half-ton towable” claims are materially misleading given real-world cargo and tongue weights, there could be grounds for scrutiny of marketing practices. Buyers should verify weights on scales and compare to their truck’s payload and tow ratings.

(Serious Concern)

Safety: The combination of water intrusion (mold risk, structural weakening), axle/tire misalignment (blowout and loss-of-control potential), and electrical faults (overheating, fire hazard) creates non-trivial safety risks. When these intersect with towing capacity misunderstandings—especially for families in longer bunkhouse floorplans—the hazard profile increases. Always weigh your unit loaded for travel and check tongue weight; address any abnormal tire wear immediately; and consider installing a TPMS and a high-quality weight distribution hitch with built-in sway control.

(Serious Concern)

Financial: Water damage and structural repairs can be devastating out-of-warranty. Extended downtime is another hidden cost: owners frequently report weeks to months in dealer queues, lost campsite deposits, and travel disruptions. If a new Cherokee has repeated defects, insist on written commitments and hard timelines for parts and repairs. Consider alternative service centers authorized by Forest River if your selling dealer is backlogged.