2012 FOREST RIVER GEORGETOWN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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.

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 GEORGETOWN 378XL RV, THE ISSUES ARE WITH THE FORD CHASSIS.

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 FROM THE OUTSIDE IN IS NOT NORMAL WEAR, IT IS CLEAR THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SAVED THE FAULTY BRAKE LINES FROM BOTH INSTANCES FOR EVIDENCE.

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

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.