2019 COACHMEN CATALINA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

Purchased travel trailer new 8-31-19. The tires Goodride radial ST 100 225/75/R15 have less than 5,000 miles of highway use. Had a vibration in the tow vehicle for about 600 miles (we only travel about 200 miles per day)when the drivers side front tire on the travel trailer blew. We immediately pulled off to the side of the highway. Upon inspection of the tire it appears that the cause was the belt separated. After inspecting the remaining tires on the trailer it looks like the tires on the rear axle are larger than the ones on the front axle. Could not find a dealer for that brand of tire. Contacted Forest River Coachmen inquiring where we might find a dealer, we were told the vendor for that tire was Hispec wheel and tire in Mishawaka Indiana, that brand of tire was not listed on their web site so we have bought 4 new tires to ensure our safety since we are about 1,500 miles from home. The pictures show that the tread separated from the belt and the inside of the tires that were replaced had bubbles on the inside of the tire. We are now out $500.00 for tires that were 3 years old with less than 5,000 miles on them.

TRAILER WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT 65 MPH ON NJ ROUTE 78 EASTBOUND WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE TIRE TREAD BLEW APART FROM THE CARCASS. TRAILER HAD A FUNCTIONING TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE BEFORE BLOWOUT THE PRESSURES WERE BETWEEN 85-86 PSI AND THE WHEEL TEMPS WERE BELOW 100 DEGREES. THE TRAILER WAS SCALED AT 8800 POUNDS, TRAILER AXLE AT 7860 POUNDS. THESE ARE WELL BELOW THE MANUFACTURERS MAX RATINGS ON THE TRAILER'S PLACARD. THE TPMS ALERTED TO A RAPID AIR LOSS. THE GOODRIDE TRAILER TIRE WAS SHREDDED AND CAUSED $3100. IN DAMAGE TO THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO 3 SEPARATE REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN REGARDS TO THEIR FAILED PRODUCT. THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT ALL 4 TIRES WERE VISUALLY INSPECTED BY ME AND THERE WERE NO ABNORMALITIES NOTED IN THE TREAD OR SIDEWALL AREAS. AFTER GETTING THE TIRES REPLACED AT A LOCAL SHOP, I ASKED THEM TO INSPECT THE 3 REMAINING GOODRIDE TIRES. THE SHOP STATED THEY SAW NOTHING WRONG WITH THE 3 REMAINING ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. I REPLACED THEM AS WELL SINCE NO ONE COULD CITE WHY IT SELF DESTRUCTED. I SAVED THE BLOWN OUT TIRE. THE OTHER 3 I HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND SINCE I WAS TRAVELING 1000 MILES FROM HOME AND HAD NO ROOM TO STORE THEM. IT IS EASY TO BLAME THE CONSUMER WHEN A TIRE FAILS. I WAS NOT EXCEEDING THE TIRES SPEED RATING OR LOAD RATING. I RAN NOTHING OVER, WHICH WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED A SLOW LEAK LEADING TO THE BLOWOUT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS LIKE THIS ON THE OWNERS FORUMS. 99% OF THEM ARE TIRE MADE IN CHINA. I REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR ENDURANCE TRAILER TIRES SINCE I COULD NOT FIND A SINGLE REPORT OF AN INCIDENT LIKE MINE ONLINE. THESE GOODRIDES ARE A TICKING TIME BOMB AND NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED ALONG WITH THE CORPORATE LACK OF RESPONSE.