2014 Keystone Cougar Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2014 Keystone Cougar, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Exterior lighting233.3%
- Body & structure116.7%
- Brakes116.7%
- Electrical116.7%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ELECTRIC BRAKES HAVE A VERY FLIMSY CONNECTION BEHIND EACH BRAKE PLATE. A VERY SMALL WIRE IS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. IN OUR CASE, SOMETHING BROKE THE WIRE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. KEYSTONE HAD THEIR DEALER REPAIR THE WIRE TO ITS ORIGINAL FLIMSY STATE. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE TRAILER BRAKES WERE IRRATIC (UNRELIABLE). I TOOK THE TRAILER TO REPAIR FACILITY. IN SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM, THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE RUBBER GASKET ON ALL FOUR INNER GREASE SEALS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDERSIZED. IF THE GREASE ISN'T CONTAINED IN THE BEARINGS, EVENTUALLY THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED. THE HEAT IN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OF CONCERN. PICTURES OF A PARTIALLY MELTED LIGHT BULB AND LENSES ARE ATTACHED. VARIOUS ARTICLES SAY GLASS WILL MELT AT 900F ISN'T A 900F A FIRE HAZARD. I REPLACED THE BULBS WITH LED'S WHICH WAS A SIMPLE PROCESS. I WROTE TO THE PRESIDENT OF KEYSTONE. HE SAID THE DIRECTOR OF OWNER RELATIONS CALL ME; SHE THE CONDITIONS I REPORTED WERE NORMAL AND THAT KEYSTONE WOULDN'T PARTICIPATE IN FIXING THESE ISSUES NOR REIMBURSE ME FOR FIXING THESE PROBLEMS.
WE HAVE A 2014 COUGAR FIFTH WHEEL- MODEL 29RET THE HEAT IN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OF CONCERN. SO, I ORDERED LED REPLACEMENTS FOR THE 921 BULBS YOUR INSTALLED. UPON INSPECTION (SEE PICTURES) YOU'LL SEE THAT SOME OF THE ORIGINAL 921 BULBS ARE DISFIGURED BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT AND ONE OF THE LENSES HAS BEEN DEFORMED. IT HAS TO TAKE A LOT OF HEAT TO MELT A LIGHT BULB. THIS HAS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WAS DRIVING ON 10 FREEWAY IN CALIFORNIA WAS MOTIONED BY A PASSING CAR THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH SPARE TIRE ON THE BACK OF OUR RV FIFTHWHEEL. WHEN WE PULLED OVER THE SPARE TIRE WAS NEARLY ON THE GROUND. THE BUMPER WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE HAD BASICALLY RIPPED AND WAS PEELING AWAY( FROM THE WELDS )AND WAS JUST BARELY HOLDING ON. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE FIFTHWHEEL (BRAND NEW, NOT USED) WE DID NOT ADD OR CHANGE ANYTHING. WE FOUND RECALLS ON THIS EXACT THING,BUT WHEN NOTIFING KEYSTONE ALL THEY WOULD SAY WAS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND RECALL NOT GOOD ON OUR YEAR. I ASKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR SOMEONE HIGHER UP TO TALK TO BUT WAS NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION. THIS BICYCLE RACK/ BUMPER WAS INSTALLED BY FACTORY AND WAS RECALLED ON 2008,2010,2012 MODELS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON A VERY BUISY FREEWAY AND KEYSTONE IS NOT INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THIS PROBLEM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ELECTRIC BRAKES HAVE A VERY FLIMSY CONNECTION BEHIND EACH BRAKE PLATE. A VERY SMALL WIRE IS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. IN OUR CASE, SOMETHING BROKE THE WIRE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. KEYSTONE HAD THEIR DEALER REPAIR THE WIRE TO ITS ORIGINAL FLIMSY STATE. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE TRAILER BRAKES WERE IRRATIC (UNRELIABLE). I TOOK THE TRAILER TO REPAIR FACILITY. IN SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM, THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE RUBBER GASKET ON ALL FOUR INNER GREASE SEALS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDERSIZED. IF THE GREASE ISN'T CONTAINED IN THE BEARINGS, EVENTUALLY THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED. THE HEAT IN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OF CONCERN. PICTURES OF A PARTIALLY MELTED LIGHT BULB AND LENSES ARE ATTACHED. VARIOUS ARTICLES SAY GLASS WILL MELT AT 900F ISN'T A 900F A FIRE HAZARD. I REPLACED THE BULBS WITH LED'S WHICH WAS A SIMPLE PROCESS. I WROTE TO THE PRESIDENT OF KEYSTONE. HE SAID THE DIRECTOR OF OWNER RELATIONS CALL ME; SHE THE CONDITIONS I REPORTED WERE NORMAL AND THAT KEYSTONE WOULDN'T PARTICIPATE IN FIXING THESE ISSUES NOR REIMBURSE ME FOR FIXING THESE PROBLEMS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ELECTRIC BRAKES HAVE A VERY FLIMSY CONNECTION BEHIND EACH BRAKE PLATE. A VERY SMALL WIRE IS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. IN OUR CASE, SOMETHING BROKE THE WIRE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. KEYSTONE HAD THEIR DEALER REPAIR THE WIRE TO ITS ORIGINAL FLIMSY STATE. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE TRAILER BRAKES WERE IRRATIC (UNRELIABLE). I TOOK THE TRAILER TO REPAIR FACILITY. IN SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM, THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE RUBBER GASKET ON ALL FOUR INNER GREASE SEALS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDERSIZED. IF THE GREASE ISN'T CONTAINED IN THE BEARINGS, EVENTUALLY THE WHEELS WILL FALL OFF. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED. THE HEAT IN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OF CONCERN. PICTURES OF A PARTIALLY MELTED LIGHT BULB AND LENSES ARE ATTACHED. VARIOUS ARTICLES SAY GLASS WILL MELT AT 900F ISN'T A 900F A FIRE HAZARD. I REPLACED THE BULBS WITH LED'S WHICH WAS A SIMPLE PROCESS. I WROTE TO THE PRESIDENT OF KEYSTONE. HE SAID THE DIRECTOR OF OWNER RELATIONS CALL ME; SHE THE CONDITIONS I REPORTED WERE NORMAL AND THAT KEYSTONE WOULDN'T PARTICIPATE IN FIXING THESE ISSUES NOR REIMBURSE ME FOR FIXING THESE PROBLEMS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KEYSTONE COUGAR RV. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AWNING MOTOR DETACHED. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO AN RV DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER, HIS UNIT WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 08/22/16.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .