2012 Forest River Georgetown Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Forest River Georgetown, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Other / unspecified222.2%
- Brakes222.2%
- Body & structure111.1%
- Fuel system111.1%
- Suspension111.1%
- Engine111.1%
- Electrical111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEP OUT OF DOOR ONTO LIPPERT ELECTRIC STEPS AND ELECTRIC STEPS COLLAPSED UNDER ME. MAIN GEAR ASSSEMBLY BOLT BROKEN IN HALF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FOREST RIVER GEORGETOWN RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SLIDE-OUT OPENED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE HIGH DRAWING WAS LEAKING OIL. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE HIGH DRAWING LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 08/29/12*LJ UPDATED 11/14/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THEIR BEDROOM SLIDEOUT EXTENDED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65MPH. THE CUSTOMER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS OR ILLUMINATED LIGHTS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE EXTENDED HOSE WAS REMOVED FROM THE PUMP THEN RECONNECTED AFTER REALIZING THE WRONG HOSE WAS REPLACED. THIS INTRODUCED AIR INTO THE SYSTEM WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE ROOM EXTENDING DURING TEST. UPDATED 11/15/2012 *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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 WILL HAVE THE PART SAVED AFTER THEY REPLACE IT FOR DOCUMENTATION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .