2018 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 2018 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
- Body & structure233.3%
- Brakes116.7%
- Electrical116.7%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
- Suspension116.7%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Keystone Cougar. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and towing a fifth wheel trailer, the trailer was rocking up and down on the king pin of the trailer. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. When the contact stopped and entered the trailer, he noticed that the interior walls had buckled. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer who diagnosed that the floor had buckled. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had the vehicle taken to the manufacturer who diagnosed that the walls needed to be straightened. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received a recall notice from the manufacturer that braces needed to be welded on the outriggers to keep the frame from bending. The contact related the recall to the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Keystone Cougar Trailer. The contact stated that the spring hangers fractured without warning. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V380000 (Suspension, Structure) however, the part to do the recall was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who stated that parts were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact to take the vehicle to a Keystone dealer however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
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
WE HAVE TWO ISSUES WITH THE FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER IN QUESTION. WE ONLY FELT IT NECCESARY TO CONTACT THE NHTSA BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM WHEN WE WERE AT AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER AND ASKED THEM TO IN THE INTEREST OF OUR SAFETY AND THAT OF OTHER MOTORISTS. THE FIFTH WHEEL CAME WITH THE WRONG SIZE WHEEL AND TIRE WITH THREE BEING LARGER TIRES ON 16' RIMS AND ONE BEING A SMALLER TIRE ON A 15' RIM. IT CAUSED THE UNIT WHICH IS A 40' LONG FIFTH WHEEL. A NEW UNIT FROM THE DEALER. WHEN WE REALIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON WE STOPPED AT THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. KEYSTONE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE AT THE TIME LEAVING US IN ANOTHER STATE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. OUR DEALER TOLD US THIS IS COMMON.
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
MY 2018 KEYSTONE COUGAR HAS HAD A ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE BEDROOM SLIDE. WHAT HAS BEEN OF REAL CONCERN IS THAT THE WIRES GOING THROUGH THE TRAILER INTO THE SLIDE WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THE PLASTIC PROTECTIVE GROMMET BETWEEN THE WIRES GOING FROM THE TRAILER TO THE SLIDE WAS LEFT UNSECURED AND ALLOWED THE WIRES TO RUB INTO (AGAINST THE TRAILER FRAME)...UNTIL A SHORT OCCURRED. THE REALLY BAD THING WAS THAT THE FUSE IN THE PANEL DID NOT BLOW DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE SLIDE GOING IN AND OUT. IT ALLOWED THE SPRING (HOLDING THE WIRES) UNDERNEATH THE BEDROOM SLIDE TO OVERHEAT TO THE POINT ONE COULDN'T TOUCH IT, AND YET DIDN'T BLOW THE FUSE SOMETIMES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD IN MY OPINION. IT WAS FIXED, BUT I HAVE CONCERN THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL ON THE TRAILER SHOULD BE CHECKED, BUT HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM KEYSTONE ABOUT THAT REQUEST. TRAILER WAS PARKED IN A RV PARK.
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
WE HAVE TWO ISSUES WITH THE FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER IN QUESTION. WE ONLY FELT IT NECCESARY TO CONTACT THE NHTSA BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM WHEN WE WERE AT AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER AND ASKED THEM TO IN THE INTEREST OF OUR SAFETY AND THAT OF OTHER MOTORISTS. THE FIFTH WHEEL CAME WITH THE WRONG SIZE WHEEL AND TIRE WITH THREE BEING LARGER TIRES ON 16' RIMS AND ONE BEING A SMALLER TIRE ON A 15' RIM. IT CAUSED THE UNIT WHICH IS A 40' LONG FIFTH WHEEL. A NEW UNIT FROM THE DEALER. WHEN WE REALIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON WE STOPPED AT THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. KEYSTONE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE AT THE TIME LEAVING US IN ANOTHER STATE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. OUR DEALER TOLD US THIS IS COMMON.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Keystone Cougar Trailer. The contact stated that the spring hangers fractured without warning. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V380000 (Suspension, Structure) however, the part to do the recall was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who stated that parts were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact to take the vehicle to a Keystone dealer however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
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 .