NHTSA Complaint #10272338 — 2007 KEYSTONE LAREDO

FAMILY WAS TRAVELING ON GOOD HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON KEYSTONE RV FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER BLEW OUT AND SEVERED THE PROPANE COPPER TUBING THAT SUPPLIES FUEL TO THE COOK STOVE. FORTUNATELY I SAW THE TIRE BLOW AND STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. THE VENTING FUEL FROM THE PROPANE TANKS WAS SPRAYING IN THE WHEEL AREA WHICH COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE AND BURNT UP THE CAMPER AND TOW VEHICLE/OCCUPANTS. UPON INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO WHEEL WELL OVER THE TIRES AND THE PROPANE AND WATER LINES WERE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE WHEELS ONLY PROTECTED BY A THIN LAYER OF RIP STOP TARP AND FIBERGLASS INSULATION. ABOVE THAT IS ONLY WOOD WHICH AFTER THE TARP GETS DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS DAMAGES THE TARP WILL CAUSE THE WOOD TO ROT AND DAMAGE THE CAMPER. I CONTACTED KEYSTONE AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND OR TIRE MANUFACTURE ISSUE. IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE, IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND GRAVE SAFETY ISSUE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN REPAIRS. IF I HAD NOT NOTICED THE TIRE BLOW OUT THE REMAINING BEAD CONSTRUCTION WOULD HAVE LEFT THE RIM AND THE RIM WOULD HAVE BEEN RUNNING ON THE ROAD AND CAUSED SPARKS WHICH NO DOUBT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR MY FAMILY. *TR