CSR

Forest River · NHTSA safety record

2012 Forest River Georgetown

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

9

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Forest River Georgetown have filed 9 safety complaints with NHTSA between August 2012 and August 2021. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 2 of them (22%). The typical failure was reported at 16,000 miles, the median across the 8 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

24V913000 · December 6, 2024

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2009-2017 Georgetown Class A motorhomes. The amber turn signal lens has an undersized reflective surface. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
Inadequately reflective turn signals can make it difficult for other drivers to see when the vehicle intends to turn, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the turn signal, and bulb, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 11, 2025. Owners may call Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 68-1875.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 6,963 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

15V798000 · November 25, 2015

The defect
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2014 FR3, 2009 Forest River Encore, Sportscoach Elite, and Aurora, 2008-2009 Cruise Master, 2012-2015 Aviator, 2007-2014 Georgetown, 2007-2009 Legend, 2008-2012 Ridgeview, 2008-2014 Cross Country, 2010-2014 Coachmen Encounter, 2009-2014 Pathfinder, Solera, Mirada, Prism, and Pursuit motorhomes. The affected vehicles are equipped with certain Lippert-brand Coachstep Double and Triple Electric Steps. These steps use a bolt to attach the fan gear assembly to the steps. This bolt may fracture allowing the fan gear to disengage from the steps. As a result, the steps may not remain in the expected position and may be unstable.
The risk
Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
Forest River will notify owners and dealers will install a retainer bracket to reinforce the operating mechanism, free of charge. Forest River issued an interim notification to owners on January 7, 2016. The recall began on March 3, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service number at 1-574-389-4600. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-11102015-0109. Or owners can contact Lippert Components at 1-574-537-8900.

Forest River, Inc. · up to 9,687 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

12V200000 · May 8, 2012

The defect
FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 GEORGETOWN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES BUILT ON A FORD STRIPPED CHASSIS, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 15, 2010, THROUGH NOVEMBER 29, 2011. THE GEAR SHIFTER’S CABLE MAY BREAK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR ARM ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. IF THE CABLE BREAKS, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR IN THE GEAR DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL REMAIN IN THE FIRST GEAR POSITION REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR SELECTED.
The risk
AN INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INCREASES THE RISK THAT A VEHICLE IS LEFT IN GEAR, SUCH THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL LEADING TO A CRASH OR INJURY TO A BYSTANDER.
The remedy
FOREST RIVER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR ARM ASSEMBLY AND THE CABLE ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. FOREST RIVER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-295-8749.

FOREST RIVER, INC. · up to 1,468 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 9.

SERVICE BRAKES 2 22%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 11%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 11%
EQUIPMENT 1 11%
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY 1 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 11%
STRUCTURE 1 11%
SUSPENSION 1 11%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 2.

2012 2015 2021
2012 to 2021

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

3 injured · 3,000 miles

2012 GEORGETOWN 378 F MOTORHOME MANUFACTURED BY FORREST RIVER. RV GENERATOR EXHAUST LEAKING INTO CABIN OF RV AND MAKING OCCUPANTS SICK. CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS RINGING WHENEVER GENERATOR WAS TURNED ON. SLIDEOUTS ON RV DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND ARE ALLOWING VEHICLE EXHAUST INTO THE CABIN OF THE RV MAKING OCCUPANTS SICK. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10548324. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 12,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FOREST RIVER GEORGETOWN WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE RV. THE SMOKE DISSIPATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED TRANSFER SWITCH FAILED, HINGES FRT DOOR, CABINETS, SLIDE OUT SOFA CHAIR FAILED, LOST SOUND ON TV, AC NEVER GETS COLD, AND LARGE (SLIDE OUT) SHAKES AND TREMBLES. UPDATED 7/12/18*JB *TR

NHTSA complaint 10929428. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
The sidewall on the passenger side broke free from the frame. Inadequate screws were used to fasten the sidewall to the frame and they were sheared off. This resulted in a gap between the floor and sidewall, with the pavement evident below, while travelling at 60 mph down the highway. The floor appears to be dropping. I believe this to be an engineering design flaw. Of note, this happened suddenly with no warning while travelling down the highway. I am reporting this as a Canadian resident because this RV was manufactured in the USA. Your contact page does not allow for addresses outside the US, so I chose Alaska as the state.

NHTSA complaint 11430601. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

44,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING MY RV I COMPLETELY LOST ALL BRAKING POWER, WHEN I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. THANKFULLY I WAS ON A FLAT ROAD AND KNEW HOW TO DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL I COULD STOP AT A SAFE PLACE. WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID THE CONTAINER WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY, AND I NEVER RECEIVED A LOW BRAKE FLUID INDICATOR LIGHT. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME A BRAKE LINE HAS CORRODED FROM THE OUTSIDE IN - THE OTHER LINE FAILED IN DECEMBER 2015. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED LATE SEPTEMBER 2018. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND HASN'T BEEN RECALLED/ADDRESSED. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ON A HIGHWAY OR GOING DOWN A HILL A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR. CORROSION

NHTSA complaint 11156363, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

45,000 miles

WE NOTICED A FUEL ODOR AFTER DRIVING THE RV. UPON INSPECTION, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, WE FOUND A FUEL LEAK (DRIP) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE UNIT IS IN FOR REPAIRS NOW AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL RETURN LINE IS CORRODED FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. ONCE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETE I WILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART FOR EVIDENCE. THIS RV HAS ALSO HAD TWO BRAKE LINE FAILURES, ONE IN 2015 AND ONE IN 2018, ALL DUE TO THE LINES CORRODING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. THE UNIT IS NOT DRIVEN DURING THE WINTER, AND WE FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THESE ARE NOT DEFECTIVE PARTS INSTALLED BY FORD SINCE THE UNIT IS RELATIVELY NEW AND THE FIRST ISSUE OCCURRED WHEN THE UNIT WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. NOTE ALTHOUGH THIS IS A

NHTSA complaint 11156367, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

34,000 miles

BODY TO SIDEWALL SCREWS SHEARING OFF FROM FRAME. BODY WILL DROP 1IN. TO 2IN. FROM FRAME. CAN ALSO SEE THE GROUND BY YOUR LEFT FOOT FROM DRIVER SIDE OR FROM RIGHT FOOT IF ON PASSENGER SIDE. GAP CAN BE A MUST AS 1IN. FROM INSIDE WALL TO FLOORBOARD. SCREWS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH LARGER BOLTS AND NUTS.

NHTSA complaint 10894395. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

20,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING MY BRAKES FIRST APPEARED SOFT, THEN I RECEIVED A LOW BRAKE FLUID WARNING. AFTER ADDING BRAKE FLUID, THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN ABOUT 20 MILES. TOOK THE UNIT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND THERE WAS A SMALL HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE DUE TO CORROSION (FROM THE OUTSIDE - IN) RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED IN MULTIPLE PLACES, IT WAS A MIRACLE A DISASTER DID NOT HAPPEN WITH THIS UNIT! I DO NOT DRIVE THE UNIT ON SALT COVERED ROADS, IT IS WINTERIZED AND PARKED ALL WINTER. I ALSO DO NOT LIVE IN AN AREA WITH SALT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURRED ON A STATE HIGHWAY IN SC WHILE HEADED HOME FROM A DOG SHOW IN FL TO MY HOME IN CT. I

NHTSA complaint 10810441, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Forest River Georgetown

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2020 10 6

Other 2012 Forest River models

Every Forest River on this site — 30 vehicles, 428 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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