2020–2021 Coachmen, Dynamax and Forest River: seats recall
If the wiring harness is damaged, the side air bag within the seat may deploy inadvertently or not deploy as designed in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
What was reported
Source: manufacturer filing, 49 CFR Part 573Reported to NHTSA Aug 14, 2020 by Forest River, Inc, owners notified Sep 21, 2020.
Which vehicles are covered
Source: NHTSA campaign 20V477000| Model year | On WhichTrim |
|---|---|
| 2020 Coachmen Galleria | — |
| 2021 Coachmen Galleria | — |
| 2020 Coachmen Prism | — |
| 2021 Coachmen Prism | — |
| 2020 Dynamax Isata | — |
| 2021 Dynamax Isata | — |
| 2020 Forest River Forester | — |
| 2021 Forest River Forester | — |
| 2020 Forest River Sunseeker | — |
| 2021 Forest River Sunseeker | — |
None of the vehicles this campaign names has a page on WhichTrim: the catalogue covers the cars, trucks and SUVs the EPA certifies from 2016 on, and these vehicles fall outside it — older model years, or motorhomes, trailers, buses, motorcycles and chassis cabs the EPA does not rate. The campaign record above is complete as filed, and whether one specific vehicle is included is settled by its VIN. Other campaigns on vehicles without a page here →
The federal paperwork
Source: nhtsa.govFiled documents
- Owner letter PDF — The letter mailed to registered owners, in full.
Check one specific vehicle
A recall applies to a build range, so year, make and model cannot settle it. NHTSA checks a VIN against the manufacturer's own list and tells you whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.
NHTSA VIN recall lookup →Campaign 20V477000 · the manufacturer calls it 51-1206
Own one, or run a fleet? Recall Watch checks each VIN against every new NHTSA campaign and emails you when one lands, this one's expansions included. Or take a free one-line alert by model year.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573Is 51-1206 the same recall as 20V477000?
Yes. 51-1206 is the number Forest River, Inc uses for this campaign in its own paperwork and in the letter it sends owners. 20V477000 is the number NHTSA files it under. One recall, two references — dealers and service departments generally quote the manufacturer's.
Does this recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to remedy a safety defect or a compliance failure at no charge, for vehicles up to 15 years old measured from the date of first sale. A dealer that asks you to pay for a recall repair is in the wrong.
How do I know whether my vehicle is included?
By VIN, not by model year. The manufacturer files a build range with NHTSA and only vehicles inside it are covered, so two identical-looking cars from the same year can differ. NHTSA's own lookup checks a VIN against the manufacturer's list.
What if the repair is not available yet?
It happens, and often. Manufacturers must notify owners when a defect is found even if the parts or the software are not ready, then notify them a second time once the remedy exists. The remedy filed for this campaign is described above.
What did the manufacturer say was wrong?
The problem, risk and fix quoted on this page are the manufacturer's own words as filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR Part 573. WhichTrim does not paraphrase them.
Who started this recall?
NHTSA's record credits the manufacturer. A recall can begin with the manufacturer's own testing, with a defect investigation, or with a compliance test against a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.