RoadVitals

2011 Keystone Cougar

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 23, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
7
Latest Nov 22, 2017
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Keystone Cougar, most frequently naming the body & structure, tires & wheels and other / unspecified categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure333.3%
  • Tires & wheels333.3%
  • Other / unspecified222.2%
  • Electrical111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

7 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT

Nov 22, 2017
1,205,997 units potentially affected
The defect: Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling various 2003-2018 Crossroads, Dutchmen, and Keystone recreational trailers equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V755-5127.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
The risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: Keystone will notify owners and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2018. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-574-535-2100, or Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Keystone's number for this recall is 17-307.
Keystone RV CompanyManufacturer number 17-307View on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS; TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

Jul 26, 2012
1,012 units potentially affected
The defect: Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Cougar 26SAB and 29RES recreational vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2009, through October 24, 2011. The rear bumper, which holds the spare tire assembly, may experience metal fatigue causing the spare tire to separate from the vehicle.
The risk: Over time, the bumper may fail and/or separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of personal injury and property damage.
The remedy: Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will install a reinforcement kit free of charge. The safety recall began on September 28, 2012. Owners may contact Keystone at 1-866-425-4369.
KEYSTONE RV COMPANYManufacturer number 12-178View on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

Feb 10, 2011
469 units potentially affected
The defect: KEYSTONE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 COUGAR AND LAREDO TRAVEL TRAILERS. THE AXLES ARE INSTALLED BACKWARDS CAUSING A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN BRAKING TORQUE AND SHORTENED BRAKE LINING SERVICE LIFE.
The risk: OVER TIME DIMINISHED BRAKING CAPACITY COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AXLES TO VERIFY THE BRAKE WIRES ARE ON THE OFF-DOOR SIDE. IF THEY ARE NOT, THE AXLES WILL BE REMOVED AND REVERSED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KEYSTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-425-4369.
KEYSTONE RV COMPANYManufacturer number 11-162View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 23, 2017

THE SPARE TIRE HAS A COVER AND THE TRAILER HAS ALWAYS BEEN STORED IN A TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED GARAGE. THE TIRE WAS INSTALLED ON THE TRAILER (IN THE RIGHT REAR POSITION) FOR THE FIRST TIME, PRESSURE CHECKED (65 PSI), AND DRIVEN 25-30 MILES ON I-25 AT 60-62 MPH BEFORE SUFFERING A CATASTROPHIC BLOW-OUT (ACCOMPANIED BY A VERY LARGE "BANG"). THE ENTIRE TREAD AREA PEELED OFF THE TIRE AND A LARGE HOLE REMAINED IN THE TREAD AREA OF THE CARCASS WITH JAGGED STEEL BELT CORDS PROTRUDING. WHILE GETTING THE TRAILER STOPPED, THE FLAILING TIRE (VISIBLE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR) REPEATEDLY STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER. THE WHEEL MOLDING ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER ABOVE THE WHEELS WAS TORN OFF AND DISINTEGRATED. THE ALUMINUM PANEL ABOVE THE WHEELS WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND COMPACTED INTO THE AREA BEHIND THE WHEEL AND IN FRONT OF THE ACCESS STEPS. THE STEPS AND MAIN ACCESS DOOR WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE UNDERBODY AREA WAS DAMAGED IN THAT THE BELLY COVERING AND INSULATION WERE SHREDDED. THIS TIRE WAS A POWER KING TOWMAX STR SIZE ST225/75R15 IDENTIFIED BY DOT 83B4GPB1010.

NHTSA ID
10979976
Incident
Apr 6, 2017
Mileage
25 mi
Filed Mar 26, 2016

I OWN A 2011 KEYSTONE COUGAR 5TH WHEEL THAT INCORPORATES A SLIDE-OUT BUMPER / BIKE RACK THAT THE SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED ON. THE SAME PRODUCT WAS USED IN SIMILAR 2011 KEYSTONE 5TH WHEELS THAT WERE THE SUBJECT OF A KEYSTONE RECALL #12-178 INVOLVING THE NHTSA. OUR BUMPER HAS FAILED IN THE SAME MANOR DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION THAT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THROUGH SALT LAKE CITY ON 6 LANES OF TRAFFIC TRAVELING 80 MPH. THE BUMPER HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE & OUR 2 BIKES ON THE RACK WERE HANGING JUST ABOVE THE PAVEMENT. FORTUNATELY, SEVERAL DRIVERS ALERTED ME TO THIS & I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHILE DEALING WITH THIS, I WAS NEARLY KILLED BY SEVERAL LARGE TRUCKS THAT NARROWLY MISSED ME. AFTER TAKING THE SPARE TIRE & THE BIKES OFF, I SECURED THE BUMPER WITH STRAPS AS BEST I COULD & CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION OF LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE DAMAGE & POSSIBLE DEATH THAT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF THE ASSEMBLY HAD FALLEN OFF. KEYSTONE MANAGEMENT MADE A DECISION TO DECLINE TO DO ANYTHING & SAID I NEEDED TO DEAL WITH LIPPERT COMPONENTS, THE SUPPLIERS OF THE ASSEMBLY. THEY ALSO DECLINED TO DO ANYTHING. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY NHTSA DID NOT REQUIRE A RECALL ON ALL 2011 KEYSTONE COUGAR PRODUCTS THAT INCORPORATED THAT EXACT SAME ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID
10851808
Incident
Nov 11, 2015
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 19, 2015

THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (TIRES) FROM A KEYSTONE COUGAR TRAILER. IN A TWO WEEK TIME FRAME (AUGUST 2-14, 2015) WHILE ON VACATION, 4 TOWMAX TIRES ST22575R15D BLEW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE TIRES WERE APPROX. 4.5 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN A TOTAL OF 6,000 MILES.THE SPARE THAT BLEW HAD LESS THAN 1,000 MILES. WHEN PARKED, THE TIRES WERE COVERED AND NOT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. I FEEL THESE TIRES WERE/ARE DEFECTIVE AND A EXAMINATION SHOULD BE DONE TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL OF A MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAPPENING.

NHTSA ID
10749934
Incident
Aug 14, 2015
Mileage
6,000 mi
Body & structureTires & wheels
Filed Oct 15, 2013

TIRES ARE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS OF AGE BASED ON "0111" DOT CODE AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES OF USE (NO SIGNS OF DRY ROT OR OTHER FAILURE PRIOR TO TREAD SEPARATION 1ST INCIDENT MAY 24TH 2013 WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A FARM TO MARKET ROAD I HAD A POWERKING TOWMAX ST235/80R16 TIRES BLOWOUT AND TREAD SEPARATION. REPLACED TIRE AND RETURNED HOME (~150 MILES) CONTACTED DYNAMIC TIRE CORPORATION AND AFTER SHIPPING THEM THE TIRE THEY FOUND NO APPARENT DEFECT TO THE TIRE AND PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE AND THE REPAIRS TO MY TRAILER. (~$2000 IN DAMAGES) HOWEVER DID NOT PAY TO REPLACE THE OTHER 3 REMAINING TIRES. 2ND INCIDENT AUGUST 14TH 2013 UPON PICKING UP THE UNIT AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE, I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 9 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD A SECOND BLOWOUT ON THE POWERKING TOWMAX TIRES AGAIN APPROX SPEED 60 MPH... THIS TIRE HAD THE SAME DOT CODE OF 0111 RESULTING IN ANOTHER $2000 IN DAMAGE. SHIPPED THE FAILED TIRE PLUS THE OTHER 2 UN-FAILED TIRES TO DYNAMIC TIRE IN BRAMPTON ON, CANADA ... THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME THIS IS CAUSED BY POSSIBLE UNDER INFLATION, SO ONE TIRE OF THE 4 HAS NO SIGNS OF WHY IT SHOULD FAIL. ... YET ~159 MILES LATER THE OTHER FAILED TIRE PLUS THE REMAINING 2 UN-FAILED TIRES "EXHIBIT SIGNS OF UNEVEN TREAD WEAR AND OVER DEFLECTION" TIRES WERE CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINED AT 80PSI SO UNDER-INFLATION WAS NOT THE CASE. AND THESE ARE THE OE TIRES FROM KEYSTONE ... SO THEY SHOULD BE RATED FOR THAT TRAILERS WEIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547975
Incident
May 24, 2013
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 16, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KEYSTONE COUGAR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FURNACE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 01/02/2013*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LINE WAS RAN OVER THE FRAME, UNDER FLOOR, AND WITH BODY SHIFTING THE COPPER 3/8S LINE WAS CRUSHED AND CRACKED. THIS ALLOWED 17 GALS OF FUEL VAPORS TO LEAK INTO THE CAMPER LIVING AREA, UNDER BELLY, AND THE STORAGE AREA. CAMPING WORLD TOOK PICTURES OF THE PROBLEM FOR KEYSTONE TO PAY THE BILL. KEYSTONE ONLY PAID HALF AND REFUSED TO LOOK INTO A RECALL. CAMPING WORLD WOULD NOT GIVE THE CONSUMER ANY PICTURES NOR THE COPPER TUBING. CAMPING WORLD CLAIMED THEY NEED TO SEND IT TO KEYSTONE BUT WOULD KEEP THE PICTURES ON FILE..UPDATED 1/7/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID
10484902
Incident
Nov 14, 2012
Mileage
4,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 22, 2012

2011 COUGAR 26 SAB. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR BUMPER FAILURE AND RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED. RECALL # 12V355000. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A PASSERBY INFORMED HIM, THAT HIS REAR BUMPER WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE METAL WAS EXTREMELY THIN, AND HE WANTED THE BUMPER REPLACED WITH A HEAVY DUTY BUMPER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE BUMPER WOULD HAVE TOE BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME BUMPER AS BEFORE. THE CONSUMER THEN WENT TO A WELDING SHOP AND HAD SOME BRACES PUT ON. THE WELDING SHOP, INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT MAY BREAK AGAIN, DUE TO THE THIN METAL.

NHTSA ID
10481801
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Body & structure
Filed Feb 8, 2012

THE 2011 KEYSTONE COUGAR XLITE 26SAB BUMPER IS SEPARATING FROM THE RV FRAME ALONG THE WELD JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RV CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR THE BUMPER, SPARE TIRE CARRIER, AND SPARE TIRE TO SEPARATE ENTIRELY THE FRAME. THE BUMPER IS USED ONLY FOR THE SPARE TIRE AND IT'S MOUNTING BRACKET. UPDATED 06/27/12 *BF RECEIVED PHOTOS. UPDATED 06/27/12 UPDATED 07/26/12*LJ UPDATED 07/30/12

NHTSA ID
10447628
Incident
Feb 3, 2012
Mileage
11,250 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 14, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KEYSTONE COUGAR EQUIPPED WITH POWER KING TOW MAX TIRES. THE TIRE SIZE WAS 235/80/R16 AND THE DOT NUMBER WAS 83B5GPB1210. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WHEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 02/07/12 *BF WHEN THE TIRE EXPLODED, IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER.

NHTSA ID
10430200
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Mileage
2,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Keystone Cougar by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025010
2024010
2023110
2022360
2021470
2020380
2019980
2018440
2017370
2016520
2015530
2014440
2013620
2012520
2011Viewing970
20101040
2009430
2008930
2007960
2006641
2005731
20042630
2003620
2002610
2001310
2000120
1999010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.