68-1119 – Hitch Bolts Insufficiently Tightened – 2020 Forest River Georgetown & FR3 Motorhomes

December 13, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V891000

Hitch Bolts Insufficiently Tightened

If the motorhome is towing a trailer or vehicle, the hitch detaching from the motorhome can the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V891

Manufacturer Forest River, Inc.

Components TRAILER HITCHES

Potential Number of Units Affected 194

 

Summary

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2020 Georgetown and FR3 motorhomes. The trailer hitch bolts may not have been properly tightened, which can allow cause the hitch to detach from the chassis.

 

Remedy

Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will properly torque the bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-296-7600. Forest River’s number for this recall is 68-1119.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

FOLLOW-UP NOTICE OF SAFETY DEFECT

 

Our records indicate your vehicle has not been remedied; for your Safety and the Safety of others, please have your vehicles’ recall remedied as soon as possible.

NHTSA RECALL: 19V891
CANADA RECALL: 2019-635
FR ID: 68-1119

<<VIN>>
<<OWNER NAME/DEALERNAME>>
<<ADDRESS>>
<<CITY>>, <<ST>> <<ZIP-XXX>>

6/22/2020

 

This Notice applies to your vehicle VIN listed above.

 

Dear Forest River Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. This notice is also sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Forest River – Office of Corporate Compliance (“OCC”) has decided that a defect, which relates to the motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2020 Forest River Georgetown and FR3 motorhome recreational vehicles. This is to inform you that your vehicle may contain a defect that could affect the safety of a person.

 

WHAT IS THE DEFECT/NONCOMPLIANCE?

Per the notice received from MORryde: “The hitch is attached to the chassis using 6 bolts that are recommended to be torqued to 80 ft/lb.  Some of the bolts are not torqued to the recommended ft/lb.”

 

EVALUATION OF THE RISK TO THE VEHICLE AND OPERATOR(S) RELATED TO THE RECALL.

Loose hitch bolts could cause the hitch to come unfastened from the chassis if the RV owner is using the hitch to tow a vehicle or trailer. Which can increase the risk of a crash

 

WHAT IS FOREST RIVER AND OUR DEALERSHIPS GOING TO DO?

Forest River is notifying dealerships of the recall. You may have the recall corrected at any Forest River dealership. However, it is preferable if you have your selling dealership perform the remedy. Forest River completely covers your cost for the remedy; you will not receive any bill of sale for anything covered under the above recall number.

 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Please contact your dealer without delay and request a service appointment to schedule the free remedy which will include checking the torque on the hitch bolts and torqueing to the required 80 ft/lb if needed. The vehicle Owner is responsible for making arraignments to have the work completed.  Please state you have been notified by Forest River of having a recall in process for your vehicle and provide the recall number for the dealership.  It is also helpful to the dealership to have a copy of this letter when you take your vehicle in for the recall remedy.

You may also visit www.forestriverinc.com for dealer locations.

 

HOW LONG WILL THE REMEDY PROCESS TAKE?

The estimated time of repair is .25 hours.  However, the dealership may need to keep your vehicle or schedule an appointment with you for a later date to fit into their regular service schedule.

 

WHAT IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR REPAIRS TO YOUR VEHICLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONDITION?

If you have already paid for a repair that is within the scope of this defect under recall, you still need to have this recall inspected and/or performed to ensure the correct parts and procedures were utilized.

Additionally, you may be eligible for a refund of previously paid repairs. Refunds will only be provided for within the scope of this defect under recall.

Please send the service invoice to the following address:

Georgetown/FR3
Forest River, Inc.
Attn: WARRANTY MANAGER
55135 CR 1
Elkhart, IN 46514

 

What if you no longer own this vehicle?

If you no longer own this vehicle and have the address for the current owner, please forward this letter to the new owner within 10 working days after the day in which the notice is received. You have received this letter because government regulations require that a notification is sent to the last known owner of record. Our records indicate that you are the current owner.

 

PLEASE NOTE: FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THAT ANY VEHICLE LESSOR RECEIVING THIS RECALL NOTICE MUST FORWARD A COPY OF THIS NOTICE TO THE LESSEE WITHIN TEN DAYS.

 

WHAT IF I HAVE ALEADY HAD THIS RECALL PERFORMED?

Please provide a copy of the work order, or invoice showing the recall was performed. Please ensure the VIN is visible on the paperwork and send it to:

Email: [email protected]
Mail: Forest River Office of Corporate Compliance
423 N Main St Middlebury, IN 46540

 

MAY FOREST RIVER ASSIST YOU FURTHER?

If you have difficulties getting your vehicle repaired, please contact your Forest River Representative listed below:

CONTACT	PHONE
CUSTOMER SERVICE	(574) 206-7600

 

If you are still having difficulty getting your vehicle/towable repaired in a reasonable amount of time or without change, you may write to the following address:

For US Owners Please Contact:	For Canadian Owners Please Contact:
Administrator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590Or you may call the toll free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or (TTY: 1-800-424-9153).  Or visit www.safercar.gov and search; Recall ID: 19V891	Head of Recalls Motor Vehicle Safety Investigations Laboratory Transport Canada 80 Noël street, Gatineau, Quebec, J8Z 0A1Telephone (800) 333-0510 Facsimile (819) 420-4292  Recall ID: 2019-635

 

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2 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
FOREST RIVER	FR3	2020
FOREST RIVER	GEORGETOWN	2020

 

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7 Associated Documents

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-1

RCLQRT-19V891-1566.PDF 211.131KB

 

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ISSUED Renotification Notice

RCRN-19V891-3856.pdf 213.217KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-2

RCLQRT-19V891-9862.PDF 211.229KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V891-8681.pdf 244.767KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V891-2490.PDF 213.768KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V891-2643.PDF 213.768KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2020-3

RCLQRT-19V891-3543.PDF 211.317KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V891&docType=RCL

 

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