Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Berkshire Hathaway faulty wiring class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Jay Nelson filed a class action lawsuit against Forest River Inc.
- Why: Nelson claims Forest River manufactured RVs with unsafely designed and installed wiring systems, increasing a risk of fire.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Montana federal court.
Berkshire Hathaway company Forest River sold recreational vehicles with unsafely designed and installed wiring systems, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Jay Nelson claims Forest River manufactures model year 2002-2022 Palomino Puma Fifth Wheel RVs without the proper overcurrent protection needed to protect from an electrical short.
Nelson says he noticed smoke coming out of his 2019 Forest River Puma RV in May 2020 during a family camping trip, ultimately discovering a wire charging the RV’s 12-volt batteries had shorted.
The short occurred because the company had not properly insulated the wire or protected its conductors, Nelson argues.
“Forest River knows that all conductors must be provided with overcurrent protection and that without proper circuit breaker protection, the wire can overheat, increasing the risk of fire,” the Berkshire Hathaway class action states.
Forest River allegedly committed safety violations with repair
Nelson claims he took his RV to a Forest River dealership to be fixed; however, he argues the company violated National Fire Protection Association code when repairing the RV.
“Plaintiff did not understand that the repair continued to include a wire not protected by a breaker and not properly insulated and protected in several areas,” the class action states. Dealership employees “confirmed they had seen similar fires in other subject RVs.”
Nelson claims the company is guilty of unjust enrichment and fraudulent concealment, among other things, and in violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Nelson wants to represent a nationwide class and Montana subclass of consumers who have purchased a Forest River Fifth Wheel containing an unsafe wiring system.
Plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory relief along with compensatory, statutory and exemplary damages for himself and all class members.
A consumer filed a separate class action lawsuit against Grand Design last year over claims the company attempts to escape liability on a known RV defect by providing repairs that don’t work long-term and bleed out a customer’s warranty period.
Have you purchased a Forest River RV? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by C. Tab Turner of Turner & Associates PA; Dennis P. Conner and Gregory G. Pinski of Conner, Marr & Pinski PLLP; and Daniel B. Bidegaray of Bidegaray Law Firm LLC.
The Berkshire Hathaway Faulty Wiring Class Action Lawsuit is Nelson v. Forest River Inc., et al., Case No. 4:22-cv-00049, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
- CheapOair.com, OneTravel.com Owner To Pay $2.6M Following AG Investigation
- Air Bag Class Action Alleges Automakers, Parts Manufacturer Knowingly Sell Defective Air Bag Inflators
- Fiat Chrysler Class Action Alleges Automaker Charges ‘Phantom Freight’ Delivery Charges
- Mazda Class Action Alleges Automaker Knowingly Sold Vehicles With Faulty Fuel Pumps
24 thoughts onBerkshire Hathaway class action claims faulty wiring in Forest River RVs causes fires
Our “NEW” 2022 Forest River Micro Boost XLRE was purchased from Camper’s Inn RV (Jacksonville, FL-West) it was sold w/ major prior damage(s) – claimed & paid out by the original warranty (prior to purchase), safety recalls, missing/repaired parts, premium parts swapped out and replaced with used substandard equipment, major issues camouflaged with cosmetic repair. Charged for protective coating-not received. Unit is uninhabitable: propane leaks- alarms, safety cut offs, smell. Faulty wiring throughout- major electrical fire 1st week requiring FD- unable to use appliances or stove. Roof is falling in due to sub-standard repairs/raining inside. Slide out- unstable. Awning- snapped off. Toilet- leaking methane gas. H/AC- inoperative. Axles, battery brackets, rear drop door, stabilizer jacks, toe lip-rusting through. Underbelly buckling/ falling out. Fire detection equipment- faulty. Dealer acknowledged prior damage and claims- causing rejection of current repairs. Manufacturer confirmed dates and claims to warranty and stated that all damage is the responsibility of the dealership. Dealership refuses to take responsibility and they have told us to go F ourselves. Management said they were not obligated to tell us about damages or claims against warranty! Term/condition of sale was replacement of tow lip and stabilizing jacks (completely rusted through). Unit was delivered with damaged parts spray painted vs replaced. Consistency in mold , rust and water damage = hurricane damage! Dealership made slanderous claims against us in their response to the BBB and have refused to respond to any other agency. Unit is recorded and listed with NHTSA. We are paying monthly financing payments and insurance on a unit that has been found as a total loss by a certified inspector.
I was going down the hwy last Aug and the back outer shell flipped over In the rd! I am lucky nobody was killed. It had not been properly sealed on top. 2014 palomini!
I have a 2021 Forest River Salem Hemisphere. We have had problems since the day we bought it. But yesterday we were smelling something it was a electrical fire at the plug of the hot water heater .
We purchased a new Forest River Georgtown, Class A, RV in January of 2021. The vehicle has less than 5,000 miles on it. The RV has had several minor issues that no one has been able to repair; however, most recently the acelarater pedal stopped working while we were on the highway. The wrench and check engine lighs came on. After stopping on the side of I-4, we called the dealer and warranty numbers and were told we should drive or take it to the closest FORD dealer that services RVs. We were closer to our destination than the FORD dealer so we decided to continue to our vacation destination and drive or tow it to Gator Ford the next morning. At our camp site, none of the electrical worked. The coach lights worked on battery but the AC, TV, slideouts did not function. We tried the generator and it did not work either.
We were able to drive the RV to the Ford dealer on Friday, March 10th, 2023 – it has been there since. We are told it needs a harness which is VIN specific and the part is not available. It was on back order for a few months but now it is removed from back order and we are told they have no idea when it will be available.
Our plan was to sell our condo and move into the RV when we retired (4-2024). Now we can’t even plan to move into the RV, we can’t sell the RV we are stuck. The RV has been at the FORD dealer for over 5 months. In the mean time, we are making our payments, and paying for hotels for the three camping vacations we had to cancel. What can we do, the RV is worthless at this point. When we retire, we cannot afford to pay for the RV and condo fees.
We were told the power reel in our 2019 Riverstone was the cause of our 5th wheel catching fire. Not getting anywhere with the company or have we heard back from them.
I have purchased a Forest River Sandpiper luxury model. From the day we moved in the living room and kitchen floor have no bracing under the plywood. We’ve attempted several times to have them repair the issue. We had them come out twice and we dropped it off for over a week and nothing was done . They tell us we have to drive to Indiana to have it repaired. We live in Florida and the local Camping World said it’s too big of a problem to repair. Is there any help??
Yesterday my forest river caught fire because of what looks like a screw that was screwed into the main power cable coming into the trailer. I was in the shower and I believe that water got onto the screw and started the fire.
We bought a used 2015 Forest River Vengeance 320 A on February 28, 2023. our rv had an electrical fire due improper wiring and no insulation and needing a breaker. How can we be part of this class action lawsuit?
We bought a used 2015 Forest river Vengeance 320 A a little over 2 months ago. 2 weeks ago our rv had an electrical fire due improper wiring and no insulation and needing a breaker. How can we be part of this class action lawsuit?
I have a Forest River Heritage Glenn and had the water tank frame repaired due to it was sagging well I just uncovered it and I have the same problem a 2nd time. Had a friend that had the same problem
I own a 2019 Puma 5th wheel. Sounds like i may need to be added to this suit.
I have purchased a Forest River Sandpiper luxury model. From the day we moved in the living room and kitchen floor have no bracing under the plywood. We’ve attempted several times to have them repair the issue. We had them come out twice and we dropped it off for over a week and nothing was done . They tell us we have to drive to Indiana to have it repaired. We live in Florida and the local Camping World said it’s too big of a problem to repair. Is there any help??
My 2022 Forest River Salem 27RE burst into flames in my driveway. The fire marshal said it was an electrical issue in the main wall where the heater and fuse panel are. Please add me.