NHTSA Complaint #10596747 — 2012 FOREST RIVER CEDAR CREEK

FEBRUARY 2014, WE PURCHASED A NEW 2013 FOREST RIVER (NOT LISTED IN NHTSA MFG. SELECTION): COACHMEN FREEDOM EXPRESS LIBERTY EDITION, 297RLDSLE. TRAILER CAME EQUIPPED WITH 225/75R15 D TRAIL EXPRESS - POWER TOWING TIRES. NOT LISTED IN YOUR DATA. DEALER INSTALLED A HUSKY 801-1200# LOAD BALANCING AND ANTI-SWAY BAR SYSTEM ON OUR 2008 YUKON XL 1/2 TON SUV. WE TOWED OUR RIG BACK TO FORT MYERS 100 MILES. DURING OUR TRIP HOME WE HAD TO STOP SEVERAL TIMES TO ADJUST +++ THE SWAY BAR TENSION BECAUSE THE TRAILER WAS STILL SWAYING. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH HUSKY AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY RECOMMEND A 2ND (LEFT) SWAY BAR ON ALL TRAILERS OVER 24FT. SO I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A 2ND SWAY BAR FROM CAMPING WORLD. ON 4/11/14 WE EMBARKED ON OUR 1ST CAMPING TRIP, DESTINATION CLEVELAND, OHIO. BEFORE WE LEFT FORT MYERS WE CHECKED OUT THE ENTIRE TRAILER INCLUDING TIRE PRESSURE AND SET ALL TIRES TO 65PSI COLD. DURING THE DRIVE WE WERE VERY CONCERNED AT THE VIBRATION AND SWAY OF OUR RIG SO WE STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES TO CHECK PRESSURE AND INSPECT THE TIRES. ON OUR 1ST DAY WE DROVE TO LAKE PARK, GA. THE NEXT DAY THE VIBRATION AND SWAY GREW MUCH WORSE. TO BE TRUTHFUL WE BLAMED GEORGIA ROAD QUALITY. WE WERE WRONG! WITH ONLY 653 MILES ON THE NEW RIG WE EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT TIRE FAILURE AT 63 MPH ON I-475 GOING AROUND MACON, GA. WE THEN HAD A 2ND TIRE FAIL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TRAILER SO WE REPLACED ALL 5 TIRES. THE 2ND TIRE DID NOT BLOW UP BUT WAS CONTORTED INTO AN "S" SHAPE DUE TO PLY SEPARATION. THE MACON TIRESPLUS STORE MANAGER SAID WE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERE TIRE PLY SEPARATION POSSIBLY DUE TO THE TRAILER SITTING IN ONE PLACE FOR SO LONG (14+ MONTHS) IN THE HOT FLORIDA SUN. WHEN WE RETURNED TO I-475 WE WERE AMAZED HOW SMOOTH THE ROAD REALLY WAS. I WISH I HAD KNOWN THE SYMPTOMS OF A TRAILER TIRE FAILURE PRIOR TO THIS EXPERIENCE. THE SWAY AND VIBRATION WE HAD EXPERIENCED WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILING TIRES. HOWEVER, IT COST US OVER $1200 AND DELAYS. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF ALL THE FAILED TIRES. *TR