Forest River-LaCrosse RV Exposed: Water Intrusion, Slide-Out Failures & Warranty Delays

Forest River LaCrosse: What Buyers Need to Know Before Signing Anything

AI-powered research tools have systematically collected and analyzed public information to produce this report. Forest River’s LaCrosse is a line of midrange to upper-midrange travel trailers sold under Prime Time Manufacturing (a Forest River division). Marketed for “residential comfort,” spacious floorplans, and attractive decor, the LaCrosse has built a reputation for good layouts at a competitive price. Yet, across owner forums, BBB complaints, Google reviews, YouTube testimonials, and recall databases, a consistent pattern emerges: appealing features often mask uneven build quality, water intrusion risk, slide-out and component failures, and prolonged warranty delays that derail camping plans.

Below is a consumer-focused investigative overview of the most frequently reported problems, how they affect safety and finances, and the steps you should take to protect yourself if you’re considering or already own a Forest River LaCrosse. If you’ve owned one, would you add your firsthand experience?

Where to Research Unfiltered Owner Feedback

To verify anything you read here and to gather current, first-hand stories, consult multiple sources. Use the exact searches below to surface model-specific discussions and complaints:

• YouTube: Forest River LaCrosse Problems (walkthroughs, owner diaries, failure timelines)
• Google: Forest River LaCrosse Problems (reviews, consumer posts, dealer responses)
• BBB: Forest River LaCrosse (complaints, patterns, resolutions)
• Reddit r/rvs: Forest River LaCrosse Problems
• Reddit r/RVLiving: LaCrosse Problems
• Reddit r/GoRVing: LaCrosse Issues
• RVInsider: Forest River LaCrosse Problems (owner reviews trended over time)
• Good Sam Community: LaCrosse Problems
• NHTSA Recall Lookup: Forest River LaCrosse (enter your VIN for precision)
• Facebook owner groups can be extremely candid; join several to compare experiences. Use this search: Forest River LaCrosse Facebook Groups and request to join.
• Independent forums worth searching onsite: RVForums.com, RVForum.net, and RVUSA Forum.

Independent creators are exposing recurring problems across the RV industry. See investigative repair breakdowns and consumer advocacy on the Liz Amazing channel: Liz Amazing’s RV quality investigations. Search her channel for “LaCrosse” or related issues you care about.

Before You Buy: Hire a Third-Party RV Inspector

Pre-delivery inspection is your leverage. Do not rely on dealer “PDI” alone—hire an independent inspector who works for you, not the seller. If you discover defects after signing, you’ll have little leverage and may wait months for parts and warranty approval while your RV sits idle at the dealership.

• Schedule a qualified inspector: Search RV Inspectors near me
• Make the sale contingent on written repair completion and re-inspection before final payment.
• Use a moisture meter reading and thermal imaging in the inspection to catch hidden water intrusion and electrical issues.
• Insist on a road test and slide-out cycle test with the unit fully connected to shore power and water.

If you’ve experienced unresolved defects or long service delays, would you tell other shoppers what happened?

Patterns of Consumer Complaints and Failures

Water Intrusion, Roof, and Wall Integrity

Slide-Out Mechanisms (Schwintek and Rack-and-Pinion)

Axles, Alignment, Tires, and Frame-Related Concerns

Electrical Systems, Breakers, and LP/Propane Safety

HVAC, Ducting, and Thermal Performance

Plumbing: Leaks, Fittings, and Tank Sensors

Fit, Finish, and Materials

Weight Labels, Cargo Capacity, and Towing Stability

Appliance Reliability (Refrigerator, Oven, Water Heater)

Warranty Handling and Service Delays

Recalls and Official Notices

Forest River and its divisions issue recalls throughout the year affecting different models and build ranges. Because VIN coverage changes by campaign, you must run your exact VIN to confirm applicability.

• Enter VIN here: NHTSA Recall Search for Forest River LaCrosse
• Also search for specific problems (e.g., regulator, axle, awning):
  • Google: LaCrosse Recall
  • YouTube: LaCrosse Recall

Owners have reported receiving recall notices for LP regulator issues and labeling errors on various Forest River products in the last few years; however, applicability to LaCrosse varies by year. Always verify the campaign number and remedy timeline. Delayed recall parts can pose safety risks if the affected component remains in service.

For ongoing industry-wide quality coverage, consider watching Liz Amazing’s investigations into RV recalls and systemic defects and search her channel for “Forest River” and “Prime Time.”

Product and Safety Impact Analysis

Owners report thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs when water damage is deemed “maintenance-related.” Thoroughly document seals, maintenance logs, and independent inspection reports to preserve claims. If you’ve faced such costs, would you describe the outcome so others can learn?

Legal and Regulatory Warnings

Persistent defects and warranty denials may implicate multiple consumer laws:

• Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act: Prohibits deceptive warranty practices and requires manufacturers to honor written warranties. If repairs are not completed within a reasonable number of attempts or time, consumers may have remedies including attorney fees.
• State Lemon Laws / RV-Specific Statutes: Some states include towables in lemon-law coverage; others do not. Even where excluded, state consumer-protection and breach-of-warranty laws still apply. Keep a complete paper trail of repair orders and days out of service.
• FTC Section 5 (Unfair/Deceptive Acts or Practices): Advertising features that do not match real-world performance (e.g., “all-season” claims contradicted by poor insulation/ducting) can be scrutinized.
• NHTSA Safety Defect Reporting: Safety-related defects (fire, crash, handling, structural integrity, or fuel system hazards) should be reported to NHTSA to trigger investigations and recalls.

Steps to preserve your rights:

• Submit written warranty claims and maintain all correspondence and photos.
• Send a certified letter to the manufacturer outlining defects and requested remedies.
• File complaints with your state Attorney General and the BBB (BBB: LaCrosse) to document patterns.
• Consider consulting a consumer protection attorney experienced in RV warranty cases if delays become unreasonable.

Inspection and Pre-Delivery Checklist (Quick Reference)

Use an independent inspector and bring this short checklist to your walk-through:

• Water intrusion: Moisture meter at corners, under windows, around slide openings, and in front cap. Hose test all seams.
• Roof/ladder: Inspect membrane, lap sealant, and all roof penetrations; ensure ladder mounts are secure.
• Slide-outs: Extend/retract multiple times on shore power; check seals, alignment, floor scuffing, and gear noise.
• Axles/tires: Verify tire date codes, check alignment report if provided, inspect suspension bushings/equalizers.
• Electrical: Test all outlets (polarity/GFCI), inverter/charger behavior, battery condition, and 12V vs. 120V circuits.
• LP system: Perform a pressure drop test, verify detector dates and placement.
• HVAC: Run AC/heat while measuring output temps; inspect for crushed ducts.
• Plumbing: Pressurize, run all fixtures, inspect for leaks at PEX crimps and traps; test tank valves.
• Weight and hitch: Verify weight labels vs. actual CAT scale weight (if possible) and ensure WDH compatibility.

Don’t skip this step: find independent RV inspectors near you. If the dealer resists, that’s a signal to pause. It’s far cheaper to discover issues before final payment.

How Owners Describe Their Experiences

Common one-star narratives include: “Looked great on the lot; after two trips we found leaks under the sink and a soft spot near the slide,” or “Slide rack tweaked—dealer says a month to diagnose, then weeks for parts,” or “Lost two tires from inside wear; shop found the axle out of alignment from new.” To see the breadth of these stories, scan:

• YouTube: LaCrosse Problems (owner diaries)
• Google: LaCrosse Complaints
• Reddit: LaCrosse Complaints
• For additional consumer reviews, search PissedConsumer and filter by brand/model. Start here and type “Forest River LaCrosse” into the site’s search bar: PissedConsumer (manual search).

If your story aligns—or differs—your perspective can balance this picture. Will you share how your LaCrosse performed over time?

What Has Improved—and What Hasn’t

Forest River divisions periodically adjust floorplans, components, and sealants and issue recalls when defects meet federal criteria. Owners sometimes report that later model years addressed specific annoyances (e.g., better slide seal adjustments or upgraded hardware). However, the overarching themes of variable quality control at assembly, dealer service bottlenecks, and inconsistent component reliability remain prominent across recent cycles. Improvements appear uneven, and outcomes still depend heavily on dealer competence and owner diligence.

Practical Strategies to Limit Your Risk

• Demand a long, uninterrupted pre-delivery demonstration with water hooked up, AC running, and slides cycled repeatedly. Bring a written punch list.
• Make repairs a condition of sale with deadlines and re-inspection rights before final payment.
• Budget immediately for critical upgrades: high-quality WDH with built-in sway control, slide toppers, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and moisture alarms.
• Weigh the trailer loaded for camping and compare to GVWR/axle ratings; adjust load to maintain safe tongue weight and axle balance.
• If full-timing or traveling far from the selling dealer, line up a mobile RV technician for faster response than a dealership queue.
• Bookmark investigative channels like Liz Amazing’s RV consumer advocacy and search her videos for pre-delivery and warranty tips.
• Join multiple owner groups via Google: LaCrosse Facebook Groups to see fix guides, parts references, and dealer feedback.

Still deciding? A neutral inspector is your best protection: Search “RV Inspectors near me” and schedule before you leave a deposit.

If You Already Own a LaCrosse with Problems

• Document everything: date-stamped photos, videos of failures, moisture readings, and all communications with the dealer/manufacturer.
• Open a case with the manufacturer and request timelines for parts and repairs in writing.
• Escalate to the BBB using your case number: BBB LaCrosse.
• Report safety-related defects to NHTSA: Report a Safety Problem.
• If out-of-service time becomes excessive, consult a consumer attorney about Magnuson–Moss remedies.
• Ask dealer for goodwill accommodations (loaner unit, storage fee waivers) if repeated delays are on their side.

What worked—and what didn’t—when you pushed for resolution? Add your lessons for other owners.

Bottom Line for Shoppers

Forest River’s LaCrosse delivers attractive floorplans and a “residential” look, but widespread owner accounts point to material risks: water intrusion, slide-out failures, alignment/suspension issues, inconsistent electrical/LP workmanship, and long warranty waits. Some owners enjoy trouble-free units, but variability is the story—and the stakes (safety, health, and significant financial loss) are too high to rely on luck.

Our consumer recommendation: Unless a comprehensive independent inspection verifies dry, square, well-aligned construction and the dealer commits in writing to prompt warranty action, prospective buyers should consider alternative brands or models with stronger quality-control track records and faster service support.

If you’ve had a different experience—good or bad—your story helps future buyers build a complete picture. Post your ownership insights.

Comments

Owners, shoppers, and technicians: Share your firsthand experience with the Forest River LaCrosse, including model year, floorplan, and how issues were resolved. Your input helps others make informed decisions.