Forest River power-seat recall: check the VIN, not just the model list
Forest River campaign 26V704000 covers certain RVs with a power-seat cord fire risk. Check the VIN, campaign numbers and free dealer remedy.
By RVCamping.info Research Desk. This report was researched and edited with AI assistance; no named human review is claimed.
A new Forest River recall covers certain RVs with power seating, but the year-and-model list is only the first filter. Campaign 26V704000 applies to units fitted with a particular seating power cord whose fuse may not adequately protect the wiring. A short circuit can raise the risk of fire.[1]
Owners of a listed model should check the exact VIN and arrange the free dealer inspection. They should not assume every RV in the published year range is included, and they should not dismiss the recall because one public source shows a different population total from another.
The public counts disagree
RV News reported 6,275 potentially affected Forest River units in its November 10 recall roundup.[3] The live U.S. Department of Transportation recalls dataset retrieved November 11 lists 5,612 for the same NHTSA campaign and manufacturer campaign 51-2109.[1] That is a difference of 663 units.
The disagreement does not change the owner decision. Neither total identifies an individual RV. The useful identifiers are the 17-character VIN, NHTSA campaign 26V704000 and Forest River campaign 51-2109. Population figures can change as manufacturers and regulators refine a filing; a VIN-specific answer matters more than either headline count.
What is wrong with the cord
The component trail starts with Lippert equipment recall 26E070. Lippert's federal filing describes a 12-volt cord, part number 2021015493, used with certain powered furniture. The affected harness supplied furniture with undersized wiring from a general-purpose 15-amp DC circuit without the needed inline protection. The replacement harness adds a 7.5-amp fuse.[2]
Lippert's filing names Forest River, Alliance RV, Ember and Jayco as purchasers of the affected equipment.[2] That explains why similar power-seat language may appear in more than one RV manufacturer's recall. It does not make every Lippert seat or every RV from those companies part of this Forest River campaign.
Put these Forest River models in the check queue
The current DOT record names the following Forest River model years, provided the RV has one of the affected power seating assemblies:[1]
| Model | Model years named in campaign 26V704000 |
|---|---|
| Cedar Creek | 2022-2027 |
| FR3 | 2023-2027 |
| Palomino | 2023-2026 |
| Cardinal | 2024 |
| Wildcat | 2024 |
| Shasta Oasis | 2024 |
| Forest River Hardside | 2024-2026 |
| Palomino Real-Lite Camper | 2024-2026 |
| Puma Tracks | 2026 |
| Puma | 2026 |
A matching row means "check," not "confirmed." The campaign description repeatedly narrows the scope to certain vehicles equipped with certain power seating assemblies.[1]
A practical owner route
Start with the VIN from the RV certification label, registration or insurance record. Open the official NHTSA campaign page and Forest River's recall search, then contact an authorized Forest River dealer if the result is unclear or newly announced data has not populated yet.
Give the dealer both campaign numbers. Ask whether the VIN is included, whether parts are available and whether the visit is an inspection followed by replacement or a scheduled replacement. The current federal record says the dealer will inspect the assembly and replace its power cord when required, at no charge, with owner letters expected by December 21, 2026.[1]
Do not turn this into a fuse-shopping exercise. The official remedy replaces the cord assembly with a harness that incorporates the specified protection.[2] A larger fuse, a different inline holder or an improvised splice could defeat the protection the recall is meant to add.
The DOT record currently shows no federal "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory for campaign 26V704000.[1] That field is not a promise that an individual damaged harness is safe to keep using. Follow any instructions attached to the VIN result, owner letter or dealer inspection. If there is heat, odor, discoloration, melted insulation or other electrical damage around powered seating, stop using it and seek manufacturer or qualified service guidance rather than testing it repeatedly.
Buying or selling one of the listed RVs
A seller should provide the VIN-specific recall result and, if completed, the repair invoice or campaign-completion record. A buyer should run the VIN again close to closing because recall data can update after a listing is written. "No letter received" and "the seat still moves" do not establish that the campaign is closed.
The cleanest record has three pieces: the VIN lookup, campaign 26V704000 or 51-2109, and dealer documentation showing the inspection and any required cord replacement. That resolves the question the model-year table cannot.
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