2017–2020 Coachmen and Forest River: exterior lighting recall
Non-functioning exterior marker lights can increase the risk of a crash.
What was reported
Source: manufacturer filing, 49 CFR Part 573Reported to NHTSA Aug 18, 2020 by Forest River, Inc, owners notified Jan 18, 2021.
Which vehicles are covered
Source: NHTSA campaign 20V488000| Model year | On WhichTrim |
|---|---|
| 2017 Coachmen Cross Country | — |
| 2017 Coachmen Sportscoach | — |
| 2018 Coachmen Sportscoach | — |
| 2019 Coachmen Sportscoach | — |
| 2020 Coachmen Sportscoach | — |
| 2017 Forest River Berkshire | — |
| 2018 Forest River Berkshire | — |
| 2019 Forest River Berkshire | — |
| 2020 Forest River Berkshire | — |
| 2017 Forest River Charleston | — |
| 2018 Forest River Charleston | — |
| 2017 Forest River Legacy | — |
| 2018 Forest River Legacy | — |
| 2019 Forest River Legacy | — |
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 20V488000 · the manufacturer calls it 51-1203
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 51-1203 the same recall as 20V488000?
Yes. 51-1203 is the number Forest River, Inc uses for this campaign in its own paperwork and in the letter it sends owners. 20V488000 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.