2005 Keystone COUGAR: complaints, problems and recalls

2005 KEYSTONE COUGAR 281 EFS 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. I HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I DO NOT KNOW IF I HIT SOMETHING OR THE TIRE JUST FAILED. I DID FIND OUT SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION FROM THE TIRE SHOP. THE GVW OF THE TRAILER IS 10,300 LBS. THE ST225/75R15 TIRES ARE RATED @ 2,540 LBS EACH. THE TOTAL IS 10,160 LBS. MAX WEIGHT FOR 4 TIRES. THIS IS 140 LBS. LESS THAN THE GVW. THIS SOUNDS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE TRAILER WAS NOT LOADED TO THE MAX GVW, HOWEVER, THE TIRES SHOULD AT LEAST EQUAL OR EXCEED THE GVW OF THE TRAILER. *NM…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165494 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED TWO PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT. THE TIRES SEPARATED AND SHREDDED. THE TIRES WERE MISSION TIRES. MANUFACTURED BY TIRECO. SIZE: 225/75/R-15. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10168345 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KEYSTONE COUGAR. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR THERMO KING TIRE BLEW OUT AND DAMAGED THE PASSENGER SIDE QUARTER PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING 500 MILES, THE SPARE BLEW OUT AS WELL. THE ORIGINAL AND THE SPARE TIRE WERE THE SAME BRAND, MODEL, AND SIZE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10196209 at NHTSA ↗

ON NOVEMBER 25, 2007 I WAS CLOSING UP MY KEYSTONE COURGAR TRAVEL TRAILER AFTER HAVING USED IT FOR 4 DAYS. AFTER I SLID IN THE TWO SIDEOUTS ON THE TRAILER I BEGAN TO SMELL RUBBER BURNING AND I BEGAN SEARCHING TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I FOUND FLAMES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE TRAILER AT THE AFT END OF WHERE THE LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM SIDEOUT MATED TO THE TRAILER. I REOPENED THE TRAILER, GRABBED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, SLIDE THE SIDEOUTS OUT AWAY TO GET TO THE FLAMES AND EXTINGUISH THEM. IF I HAD NOT NOTICED IT AS SOON AS I DID I COULD HAVE BEEN DRI…

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210049 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KEYSTONE COUGAR. THE VEHICLE HAS TIRECO MISSION, SIZE ST22575R15 TIRES. THE CONTACT NOTICED BULGES IN THE CENTER TIRE. THE TIRE EVENTUALLY BLEW OUT AND CAUSED MINIMAL DAMAGE. ANOTHER BLOWOUT OCCURRED LATER, WHICH CAUSED MORE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE TIRE AND WENT TO SILVER MOON AUTO REPAIR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OTHER THREE TIRES WOULD ALSO EXPERIENCE A BLOWOUT AND CALLED THEM "CHEAP". HE THEN PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE REMAINING TIRES. TIRECO STATED THAT THEY WANTED TO INSPECT THE TIRE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10218080 at NHTSA ↗

WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE REFRIGERATOR IN OUR KEYSTONE COUGAR TRAVEL TRAILER. THE RECALL ONLY BANDAIDS THE PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT IS RIDICULOUS. I BOUGHT MY CAMPER BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS. NOW I HAD TO PAY $400.00 IN LABOR BECAUSE MY COOLANT LEAKED BECAUSE THE FAULTY TUBE WAS CRACKED. THEY WILL NOT PAY THE LABOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10246237 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KEYSTONE COUGAR TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR AXLE SHACKLES REAR CENTER HAD FRACTURED. THE SPRINGS HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. HE HAD A CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290107 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-09-23 (September 23, 2005)

ON CERTAIN TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FIFTH WHEEL RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TREDIT 16" CHROME WHEELS, THE RIMS MAY HAVE POOR WELD QUALITY AND INSUFFICIENT PRESS FIT BETWEEN THE WHEEL RIM AND DISC.

Consequence: THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE RIM. THE WHEEL MAY WOBBLE AND CAUSE A VIBRATION OR THE MOUNTED TIRE COULD LOSE AIR CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: KEYSTONE IS WORKING WITH TREDIT TIRE TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND HAVE THE WHEELS REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KEYSTONE AT 866-425-4369.

Reported: 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)

KEYSTONE IS RECALLING 161,250 MY 2004-2007 FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: KEYSTONE IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR KEYSTONE AT 1-866-425-4369.

Reported: 2017-11-22 (November 22, 2017)

Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling various 2003-2018 Crossroads, Dutchmen, and Keystone recreational trailers equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V755-5127.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Keystone will notify owners and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2018. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-574-535-2100, or Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Keystone's number for this recall is 17-307.