NHTSA Complaint #10203378 — 2003 KEYSTONE COUGAR

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 COUGAR 5TH WHEEL MANUFACTURED BY KEYSTONE. TWO MONTHS PAST THE 1-YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY, WE EXPERIENCED TWO TIRE BLOWOUTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ON THE TIRES, WE REPLACED THEM ALL WITH NEW 10-PLY TIRES. AFTER LESS THAN 1,000 MILES, WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BLOWOUT ON THE SAME SIDE RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER SIDING. IN AUGUST 2007 BEFORE TAKING A TRIP, I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE NEW 10-PLY TIRES HAD A BUBBLE IN THE SIDE WALL. I REPLACED THE TIRE. ON THE WAY HOME, AFTER TRAVELING LESS THAN 500 MILES, WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BLOWOUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING MORE DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR. IN RESEARCHING THE WEB, WE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER, KEYSTONE AND ALKO REGARDING AXLE PROBLEMS. ALL THREE HAVE DECLINED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. WE ARE RELUCTANT TO USE OUR 5TH WHEEL BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR