NHTSA Complaint #10200186 — 2004 KEYSTONE COUGAR

I PURCHASED A 2004 COUGAR 5TH WHEEL MADE BY KEYSTONE RV IN APRIL OF 2005 FROM A LOCAL DEALER. SINCE THEN WE HAVE TAKEN TWO LONG TRIPS (OVER 500 MILES) AND EACH TIME HAVE HAD MULTIPLE BLOW-OUTS (2 ON THE FIRST TRIP AND 3 THIS LAST TRIP). THUS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FIVE TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE UNIT WITH BRAND-NEW TIRES. ALL OF THE BLOW-OUTS HAVE OCCURRED ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS DOING 60MPH AND THERE WAS NO WARNING NOR COULD I FEEL THAT A TIRE HAD GONE. FORTUNATELY EITHER I NOTICED SMOKE IN MY SIDE MIRRORS OR A PASSERBY HAS ALERTED ME TO THE FAILED TIRE. I ALWAYS ENSURE PROPER TIRE INFLATION BEFORE TOWING AND CARRY AN AIR COMPRESSOR WITH ME. THUS, I DON'T SEE THAT I COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT TO PREVENT THESE TIRE FAILURES. THIS IS THE THIRD TRAILER THAT I'VE OWNED AND THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THESE TIRE FAILURES AND BEEN UNSAFE TO TOW. IN FACT, THE LAST BLOW-OUT DID SOME UNDERCARRIAGE AND WIRING HARNESS DAMAGE AS THE TREAD WRAPPED AROUND THE AXEL. *TR