The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·12V341000·Announced 2012-07-16

Forest River Recalls 2005-2011 Motorhomes Due to Electrical Fire Risk

Forest River is recalling 1,069 Berkshire and Charleston motorhomes because a transfer switch may fail under heat, increasing the risk of fire and electrical damage.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that continued use increases the risk of fire, personal injury, and property damage, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or structural/electrical defects posing severe risks.

Plain-English summary

Forest River, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Berkshire and Charleston motorhomes equipped with an IOTA ITS-50R transfer switch. The affected vehicles include specific Charleston and Berkshire models such as the 360QS, 400QS, 360TS, 400TS, 410FS, 390TS, 410QS, 410FK, 390BH, 390QS, 360FWS, 390FL, 390RB, 410FWS, 410DST, 405QS, 430RB, 430QS, 430BH, 410QS, and 410LR.

The recall addresses a defect where the transfer switches may experience heat-related failures when exposed to elevated electrical loads associated with RV use in higher ambient temperatures. This failure may lead to an increased risk of electrical damage to other appliances. Continued use of the vehicle without replacing the transfer switch increases the risk of fire, personal injury, and property damage.

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Iota ITS-50R transfer switch free of charge. The recall began on July 11, 2012. Owners may contact Forest River at 1-574-295-8749 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
CHARLESTON, BERKSHIRE 400TS, 400QS, 360TS, 360QS
Brand
CHARLESTON
Manufacturer
FOREST RIVER, INC.
Category
Vehicle — Motorhome
Hazard
Affected units
1,069

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (20)

  • 400TS
  • 400QS
  • 360TS
  • 360QS
  • 405QS
  • 410DST
  • 410FK
  • 430RB
  • 410QS
  • 390TS
  • 410LR
  • 390RB
  • 390QS
  • 360FWS
  • 390BH
  • 390FL
  • 430QS
  • 430BH
  • 410FWS
  • 410FS

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same manufacturer · FOREST RIVER, INC.

See all →

Same hazard · fire

See all →

Similar recalls