2007 Keystone Cougar problems

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KEYSTONE COUGAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HE DROVE OVER A BUMPY ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE TRAILER HAD BEEN AFFECT. HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAD EXTREME CORROSION AND BEGAN TO BREAK AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE USED AND WAS SHIPPED BACK TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,500.

NHTSA complaint #10533226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

EXPERIENCED RAPID LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE ON A BF GOODRICH COMMERCIAL T/A LT225/75R16 ALL SEASON LRE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY. TIRE WAS ONE OF A SET OF 4 INSTALLED ON A 5TH WHEEL. BOTH MYSELF, AS WELL AS THE ROAD SERVICE THAT CAME TO MY AID, THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY APPARENT TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD AROUND 16000 MILES ON IT. I RETURNED THE FAULTY TIRE TO MICHELIN FOR INSPECTION. THEIR REPORT CONCLUDED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE EXACT CAUSE OF FAILURE. SPECIFICALLY, THEIR REPORT STATED "WHILE WE DID NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS IN DESIGN, MANUFACTURE OR MATERIALS IN THE TIRE WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED IT TO BECOME UNSERVICEABLE, NEITHER COULD WE FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF MISAPPLICATION OR MISUSE". IN THE INTEREST OF CUSTOMER GOODWILL, MICHELIN AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR REPAIR COSTS TO MY 5TH WHEEL, PAY A 75% PRORATED REPLACEMENT COST ON A NEW TIRE AND COVER THE DEFECTIVE TIRE SHIPMENT COST. WHILE I'M GRATEFUL FOR MICHELIN'S ACTIONS ON MY BEHALF, I AM WONDERING IF THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED IS PART OF A LARGER PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY, IS IT SOMEHOW RELATED TO YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 12T019000 RECALL? THAT RECALL IS FOR THE SAME TIRE, BUT SPECIFIES DIFFERENT SIZES. I AM METICULOUS ABOUT WEIGHING MY 5TH WHEEL TO STAY SAFE, ALWAYS MAKE SURE I MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIR PRESSURE IN MY TIRES AND USE A TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE, PRIOR TO THE INCIDENCE.

NHTSA complaint #10468014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

VERY VIOLENT TIRE BLOWOUT ON TRAILER----THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE BLOWOUT UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES IN LESS THEN 3 MONTHS. BOTH TIMES WE WERE NOT OVERLOADED AND TIRE PRESSURES WERE 73 TO 75 LBS ON THE FIRST ONE AND 80LBS ON THE SECOND BLOWOUT. ( I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WANT THEM).

NHTSA complaint #10365245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

WHILE PULLING MY 5THWHEEL TRAILER EXPERIENCED A VERY RAPID BLOW-OUT OF R/H REAR TIRE. AND EXTREME DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER, THE TIRES WERE POWERKING TOWMAX ST225/75R15 TIRES THE MANUFACTURE IS GPX INTERNATIONAL TIRE CORP, TWO INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERS CONFIRMED IT WAS A DEFECT, AND NOT CAUSED BY LOW TIRE PRESSURE CONDITION AND THERE WAS A QUARTER SIZE HOLE IN THE UPPER TREAD AREA.WITH NO SIGN OF SIDE WALL FAILURE. I'M ALSO A AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND KNOW IT WAS NOT A LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON MY PART,I CAN ACTUALLY BE ACCUSED OF OVER MAINTENANCE OF MY VEHICLES, ALSO I'M POSITIVE NOTHING WAS HIT ON THE FREEWAY HAVE BEEN PULLING TRAILERS FOR 20 + YRS AND FIRST BLOW OUT LIKE THIS. ALSO HAD THE L/H REAR TIRE GO FLAT 20 MILES LATER WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER BUT ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE STRESS FROM R/H TIRE RAPID BLOW-OUT, AGAIN IT WAS NOT CAUSED BY TO HIGH OF A SPEED,I'M AWARE OF THE 65MPH MAX SPEED RATING OF THESE ST TIRES, I'M PULLING AT 55-60 MPH MAX. ALSO TO KEEP TIRE TEMPS DOWN,, TIRE PRESSURES ARE ALWAYS MAINTAINED BEFORE EVERY TRIP,ALSO THERE WAS PLENTY OF TREAD DEPTH LEFT AT LEAST 6/32S THE SAFETY MARKER IS AT 2/32S THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 9,000 MILES ON THEM. THE TIRE DEALER REPLACED THEM ALL FOR NOTHING BECAUSE THERE WAS PLENTY OF TREAD THERE. IT WAS VERY UNNERVING WHEN THE SECOND TIRE FAILED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLACE TO GET COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD. MY HOPE IS THAT SOMEONE ELSE DOESN'T HAVE A MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THANKS FOR CHECKING TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. ALSO, THE TIRES WERE MADE IN CANADA WITH A 2007 DATE WAS ON THE DOT CODE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10287458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

DOMETIC RECALL ON RV REFRIGERATORS.

NHTSA complaint #10251966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

DOMETIC RECALL ON RV REFRIGERATORS.

NHTSA complaint #10251966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

WE BOUGHT A 07 COUGAR KEYSTONE TRAVEL TRAILER. THIS PURCHASE TOOK PLACE AT THE END OF FEB. ON MARCH 5 WE TOOK OUR NEW TRAILER OUT ON OUR FIRST TRIP TO LAS VEGAS NEVADA FOR A 3 DAY NASCAR WEEKEND. WE ARRIVED AT OUR CAMPSITE AND WENT TO SET UP. WE DISCOVERED THAT WE HAD A BALD TIRE ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE, 3 OTHER TIRES WERE WORN, THE BACK AXLE WAS BENT. WE IMMEDIATELY CALL FOLLEY'S WHERE WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEN WENT TO FIND A PLACE TO GET IT FIXED. WE SPENT MANY HOURS AND DAYS ON THE PHONE WITH KEYSTONE RV COMPANY AND TRAVELING FROM ONE REPAIR SHOP TO ANOTHER. WE WERE TOLD BY KEYSTONE AT ONE POINT TO TAKE IT BACK HOME TO WASHINGTON TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM. MY HUSBAND AND I DID NOT FEEL THIS WAS SAFE. SO WE COMPLAINED ON THE SAFETY ISSUE AND IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT OR KILLED IT WOULD BE ON THEM. THEY DECIDED TO ALLOW IT TO BE STORED THERE AND HAVE DOUBLE EAGLE RV REPAIR FACILITY FIX IT. AFTER IT WAS FINALLY REPAIRED KEYSTONE WANTED US TO GO BACK DOWN AND GET IT. SO WE TOLD THEM THEY NEEDED TO TOW HERE. THEY RETURNED IT TO FOLLEY RV CENTER. WE WENT DOWN TO PICK IT UP AND DISCOVERED THAT TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED AND WE STILL HAD THE BALD TIRE. WE RECEIVED IT THE 3RD OR 4TH OF APRIL. BY THE END OF APRIL OR BEGINNING OF MAY WE FINALLY GET THE TIRE SITUATION HANDLED. WE WENT ON A 200 MILE TRIP MAY 12TH. THEN WE WENT TO OCEAN SHORES ON JUNE 22-23. ON OUR WAY HOME MY HUSBAND FEELS THE TRAILER NOT PULLING RIGHT AGAIN. WE ARRIVE HOME. THE REAR AXLE IS BENT. SO WE TOOK THE TRAILER DOWN TO BE WEIGHED AND FOUND IT WAS NOT OVER WEIGHT. WE HAVE ONLY OWNED IT 5 1/2 MONTHS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IT OUT THREE TIMES. THE FIRST AND THIRD TIME I HAVE ENDED UP WITH THE REAR AXEL BENT. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE THAT KEYSTONE SEEMS TO NOT CARE ABOUT. ALL THEY SEEM TO WANT TO DO IS PASS THE BUCK OR IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND PLACE A BLAME GAME ON THE USER! SAFETY ISSUE FOR US THE OWNERS AND THE OTHER PEOPLE OUT ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10199731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

WE BOUGHT A 07 COUGAR KEYSTONE TRAVEL TRAILER. THIS PURCHASE TOOK PLACE AT THE END OF FEB. ON MARCH 5 WE TOOK OUR NEW TRAILER OUT ON OUR FIRST TRIP TO LAS VEGAS NEVADA FOR A 3 DAY NASCAR WEEKEND. WE ARRIVED AT OUR CAMPSITE AND WENT TO SET UP. WE DISCOVERED THAT WE HAD A BALD TIRE ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE, 3 OTHER TIRES WERE WORN, THE BACK AXLE WAS BENT. WE IMMEDIATELY CALL FOLLEY'S WHERE WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEN WENT TO FIND A PLACE TO GET IT FIXED. WE SPENT MANY HOURS AND DAYS ON THE PHONE WITH KEYSTONE RV COMPANY AND TRAVELING FROM ONE REPAIR SHOP TO ANOTHER. WE WERE TOLD BY KEYSTONE AT ONE POINT TO TAKE IT BACK HOME TO WASHINGTON TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM. MY HUSBAND AND I DID NOT FEEL THIS WAS SAFE. SO WE COMPLAINED ON THE SAFETY ISSUE AND IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT OR KILLED IT WOULD BE ON THEM. THEY DECIDED TO ALLOW IT TO BE STORED THERE AND HAVE DOUBLE EAGLE RV REPAIR FACILITY FIX IT. AFTER IT WAS FINALLY REPAIRED KEYSTONE WANTED US TO GO BACK DOWN AND GET IT. SO WE TOLD THEM THEY NEEDED TO TOW HERE. THEY RETURNED IT TO FOLLEY RV CENTER. WE WENT DOWN TO PICK IT UP AND DISCOVERED THAT TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED AND WE STILL HAD THE BALD TIRE. WE RECEIVED IT THE 3RD OR 4TH OF APRIL. BY THE END OF APRIL OR BEGINNING OF MAY WE FINALLY GET THE TIRE SITUATION HANDLED. WE WENT ON A 200 MILE TRIP MAY 12TH. THEN WE WENT TO OCEAN SHORES ON JUNE 22-23. ON OUR WAY HOME MY HUSBAND FEELS THE TRAILER NOT PULLING RIGHT AGAIN. WE ARRIVE HOME. THE REAR AXLE IS BENT. SO WE TOOK THE TRAILER DOWN TO BE WEIGHED AND FOUND IT WAS NOT OVER WEIGHT. WE HAVE ONLY OWNED IT 5 1/2 MONTHS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IT OUT THREE TIMES. THE FIRST AND THIRD TIME I HAVE ENDED UP WITH THE REAR AXEL BENT. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE THAT KEYSTONE SEEMS TO NOT CARE ABOUT. ALL THEY SEEM TO WANT TO DO IS PASS THE BUCK OR IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND PLACE A BLAME GAME ON THE USER! SAFETY ISSUE FOR US THE OWNERS AND THE OTHER PEOPLE OUT ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10199731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KEYSTONE COUGAR TRAILER WITH MILESTAR ST 225/75D-15 TIRES. HE NOTICED GOLF-BALL SIZED BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS TIRES WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRES HAD VERY WEAK SIDEWALLS.

NHTSA complaint #10198777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KEYSTONE COUGAR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HORRIBLE SMELL SIMILAR TO GASOLINE FUMES IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH BURNED HER EYES AND NOSE. THE SMELL WORSENED IN HOT WEATHER. HER DAUGHTER HAD TO RUN OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HER EYES WERE BURNING. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED KEYSTONE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR A NEW CAMPER. THIS IS NOT HER FIRST NEW CAMPER AND SHE STATED THAT SHE HAS NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED THESE FUMES. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TIRES WERE CRACKING WITHIN THE SIDEWALL. UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10197316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

5TH WHEEL TRAILER IS APPROX. 350 LBS OVERWEIGHT (UVW). THE UVW OF THE TRAILER ACCORDING TO THE STICKER POSTED IN THE TRAILER SHOULD BE 6,050. WHEN BROUGHT TO 2 PUBLIC SCALES, THE WEIGHT WAS 6,600 LBS AND 6,460 LBS WHICH IF LOADED TO THE CCC, WOULD OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE CAUSING INSTABILITY. HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KEYSTONE RV. BUT THEY HAVE STOPPED RESPONDING. THANKS, MARK .

NHTSA complaint #10170301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.