KEYSTONE Complaints

DECEMBER 26, 2013, MY WIFE AND I STOPPED AT A REST STOP IN VAN HORN, TEXAS FOR A FEW HOURS REST. OUR RV WAS NOT MANUFACTURED WITH A FURNACE AIR RETURN DUCT. WE HAD JUST BOUGHT A NEW DODGE 3500 WITH A CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE HAVING ALL THE BELLS & WHISTLES (FIRST FOR US). WAKING UP I DECIDE TO SHOW OFF THE (NEW TO US) ENGINE REMOTE START FEATURE. BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTED I WAS PUTTING ON MY SHOES TO WALK OUR PET. WHILE WAITING ON OUR DOG TO RELIEVE HERSELF I HEARD MY WIFE YELLING OUT, EXHAUST IS COMING INSIDE. I DIDN'T HAVE A TRUCK KEY WITH ME SO I RAN TO THE RV TO SHUT OFF THE PROPANE FUEL FURNACE. THE FURNACE TAKING TIME TO SHUT OFF I STUPIDLY TURNED ON THE LIVING ROOM POWER VENT IN THE CEILING. THIS VERY POWERFUL VENT FAN MADE THIS SITUATION MORE DANGEROUS. UNDER PRESSURE HEARING MY WIFE YELLING I DIDN'T REACT PROPERLY AND BEGAN PRESSING FURNACE BUTTONS WHILE STANDING ON THE STEPS TO BED & BATHROOM ABOVE THE TWO FURNACE AIR RETURN GRILLS I BREATHED A LOT OF THE DIESELS EXHAUST. I CALLED POISON CONTROL FOR MY LUGS WERE BURNING SOMETHING TERRIBLY. KEYSTONE RV MANUFACTURED OUR 5TH WHEEL WITHOUT A FURNACE AIR RETURN DUCT. OPERATING A VENT FAN DRAWS OUTSIDE AIR IN REVERSE DIRECTION THROUGH THE FURNACE TWO WOODEN VENTS LOCATED IN THE STEPS I WAS STANDING ON. WE HAVE NO WAY TO PREVENT OUTSIDE AIR (CONTAINING EXHAUST FUMES OR ANY OTHER HARMFUL PRODUCT PRESENT IN THE AIR) FROM FREE FLOWING INTO RV LIVING QUARTERS WITH FURNACE FAN ON OR OFF. KEYSTONE AND SELLING DEALER REFUSES TO REMEDY THIS LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. KEYSTONE CONTINUES TO STATE THEY BUILT OUR RV TO CODE AND RECENTLY KEYSTONE TECHNICAL MANAGER STATED TO ME AS OTHER TIMES, A FURNACE AIR DUCT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE INSTALLED IN THE FURNACE SYSTEM. ATWOOD THE FURNACE MANUFACTURER RECENTLY EMAILED ME "DID YOU CONTACT KEYSTONE? THEY INSTALLED THE FURNACE WRONG." KEYSTONE REFUSES TO INSTALL A DUCT. *TR

THE EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW AT THE REAR OF THE RV IS BLOCKED BY THE LADDER. THE WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN ENOUGH TO PERMIT EXIT AND UNDER AN EMERGENCY (FIRE) CONDITION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY NEW 2014 KEYSTONE, CARBON 5TH WHEEL ON THE FREEWAY, THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE OUT DOOR COMPARTMENT FOR THE FUEL TANK HOSE FELL OUT AND THE DOOR WAS HANGING ON BY ONLY SEVERAL SCREWS. IF THE DOOR HAD FALLEN OFF OR COME OPEN AND THE FUEL NOZZLE FELL OUT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. THE RV DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE SCREWS THAT FELL OUT THAT HOLD THE WHEEL COVER AREA ON THE SLIDER FROM FLAPPING IN THE WIND. IN ADDITION THE BRACKET WAS ALSO CRACKED IN HALF. MAJOR POOR DESIGN. *JS

2010 KEYSTONE FUZION II 5TH WHEEL UNIT. HAD TRANSFER SWITCH REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. HAD SEVERAL ITEMS REPAIRED, I.E. LIGHT FIXTURES, REAR RAMP WIRING, HOLDING TANK VALVE REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS, TIRE FAILURES. ISSUE NOW IS A WARNING LIGHT IN THE MAIN FUSE PANEL INDICATING A BLOWN FUSE. UPON CONTACTING MANUFACTURER, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP INDICATES THAT THERE IS NO TYPE OF STANDARD WIRING, PIPING OR OTHER DIAGRAMS TO TROUBLESHOOT ANY OF THESE SYSTEMS, ALTHOUGH A WARNING LIGHT WOULD MEAN A SHORT IN A WIRING SYSTEM. THE COST OF TAKING UNIT TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS IS BORN BY THE OWNER. DEALERS, ALL OF THEM, HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF "IF YOU DIDN'T BUY IT HERE, I DON'T WANT YOUR PROBLEMS." THEY COME UP WITH ANY EXCUSE TO NOT SERVICE THE UNIT PROPERLY, UNLESS OF COURSE YOU ARE PAYING THEIR REGULAR SHOP RATE, IF THEY WANT TO GET YOU IN. EXTENDED WARRANTIES ARE HONORED BY SOME AND NOT OTHERS, ALTHOUGH SOLD BY ALL DEALERS. *TR

WE OWN A 2013 KEYSTONE COUGAR 5TH WHEEL MODEL 331MKS. ON 4/4/14 WE WERE AT A CAMPGROUND AND STARTED TO SET UP. THE RIG WAS ONLY ON 12V BATTERY POWER. I HAD NOT YET CONNECTED TO SHORE POWER. WHEN I PUSHED THE BUTTON TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR, NOTHING HAPPENED. I TRIED THE REMOTE CONTROL, AND NOTHING HAPPENED AGAIN. I WENT TO GET THE POWER CORD INTENDING TO PLUG IT IN. THE CORD WAS IN THE STORAGE AREA IN THE FRONT, UNDER THE HITCH, WHERE THE BATTERY IS. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, IMMEDIATELY SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT. THEN I SAW THE FLAME. IT WAS COMING FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD ABOVE THE BATTERY.I IMMEDIATELY GOT THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AFTER USING IT SEVERAL TIMES, THE FLAME KEPT COMING BACK. I CALLED 911 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE PROPANE TANKS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE AREA BURNING. I IMMEDIATELY REMOVED BOTH OF THEM. ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLOSION. THE DISPATCHER ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE NEARBY THAT COULD BURN. I SAID "YES, IT IS CONNECTED TO MY TRUCK WHICH IS FULL OF DIESEL." I COULD IMAGINE EVERYTHING GOING UP IN SMOKE. I TURNED OFF THE BATTERY, TURNED OFF ALL THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS, BUT THE FLAME KEPT COMING BACK AFTER I KEPT USING THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.MY WIFE WENT FOR THE CAMPGROUND RANGER. I FINALLY EMPTIED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND THE FLAME CAME BACK. I HAD NOTHING ELSE TO TRY, SO I REACHED IN AND PULLED THE WIRES OUT WHICH WERE ALL MELTED AT AND AROUND THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE CAMP RANGER TOLD US THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE SINCE IT WAS NOT PLUGGED INTO 110. I DROVE THE RIG TO THE DEALER. AT THE DEALERSHIP, 3 MEN CAME OUT TO LOOK. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAW AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. THEY TOOK PICTURES. OUR 5TH WHEEL IS NOW AT THE DEALER. THEY SAID THEY WILL BE TALKING TO KEYSTONE ON MONDAY TO SEE WHAT NEXT STEPS THERE ARE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KEYSTONE CAMBRIDGE RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BECAME FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEELS WERE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V201000 (WHEELS) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

I AM A RETIRED AIRFORCE AIRCRAFT TECHNICAN.I HAVE A CDL. THEREFORE,I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. THERE HAS ONLY BEEN 2 TRIPS(PGH.PA. & DALLAS,TEX.)ON THIS RV SINCE PURCHASED.ON THE DAY IN QUESTION,I CHECKED AIR PRESSURE OF ALL TIRES(TOW VEHICLE & RV).I WAS ON I-20 EASTBOUND ABOUT 65 MI. FROM DALLAS,TEXAS WHEN,I HEARD A LOUD BANG.THE RVPASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT.IN ADDITION TO THE BLOWN TIRE,DAMAGE WAS DONE TO SLIDE OUT.I HAD NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE 5TH WHEEL I WAS TOWING.I HAD NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRE.I DID NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM SPEED OF 65MPH RECOMMENDED BY TIRE MANUFACTURER(POWER KING TOWMAX STR 235/80R16E).I HAVE BEEN TOWING RV'S FOR OVER 7 YRS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A TIRE ISSUE UNTIL NOW. I ACQUIRED THE KEYSTONE ALPINE 3600RS ON 4/28/2013 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT FROM DAY ONE. I HAVE LEARNED TOO LATE AND TO MY DISMAY ABOUT ALL THE BLOW-OUT PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER KING TOWMAX TIRES VIA THE INTERNET.I FEEL THAT MY LIFE WILL BE IN JEOPARDY IF I CONTINUE TOWING WITH THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES. NOT TO MENTION,WORRYING ABOUT ANOTHER POSSIBLE BLOW-OUT.THESE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED.I FEEL THESE TIRES ARE NOT THE PROPER SIZE TIRES TO BE INSTALLED ON MY CURRENT RV.MY PREVIOUS 5TH WHEEL HAD A GVWR OF 16,000 LBS AND TIRE SIZE OF LT235/85R16 LOAD RANGE G (110 PSI).HOWEVER,THE GVWR OF THE KEYSTONE ALPINE I NOW HAVE IS 15,500 LBS WITH TIRE SIZE OF ST 235/80R16 LOAD RANGE E. I FEEL THESE TIRES ARE NOT CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE WEIGHT OF MY KEYSTONE ALPINE 5TH WHEEL.I FEEL KEYSTONE RV CORPORATION SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DAMAGES TO MY RV AND REPLACE ALL TIRES AND ASSOCIATED HARDWARE (I.E. PROPER RIMS TO HANDLE LOAD RANGE G TIRES AND BRAKE DRUMS WITH PROPER SIZE LUG NUT STUDS FOR UPGRADED RIMS). WHEN WILL ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT THESE TIRES? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET INJURED OR DIE FIRST!!!!!! *TR

WE BOUGHT A KEYSTONE ALPINE NOV 2012 AND MADE 5000 MILES ON THE 5TH WHEEL TIRES. TRAVELING FROM MPLS TO MADISON WI HAD A BLOW OUT CAUSING SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE 5TH WHEEL PLUS THE WRECKER SERVICE FEES. THIS WAS ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND PARTS OF THE TIRE WENT ALL OVER INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE CAUSING GREAT DANGER THE TIRE WAS A TOWNMASTER ST235/80R16. WE ENDED UP HAVING TO BUY 4 NEW FIRESTONE TIRES TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY. *TR

I PURCHASED ONE OF THE POST-KATRINA FEMA TRAILERS IN JUN 2010 AT AUCTION. IT IS A 26 FOOT, RV CONFIGURED UNIT. ON MY LAST TRIP, SEP '13, TWO ADJACENT WHEEL STUDS SHEARED OFF ONE WHEEL SOMEWHERE ON THE ROAD. THE STUDS ARE SEVERELY RUSTED, ODD DISCOLORATION, YET THE NUTS HAVE NO RUST. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE WHEEL, DRUM AND STUD PIECE W/NUT, IF DESIRED FOR INFORMATION. A THIRD SHEARED OFF WHEN REMOVING THE WHEEL. I CONTACTED THE TRAILER MANUFACTURER TO ASK IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE TRAILER WHEELS OR ANY ALERTS/RECALLS. THEY HAVE NO REPORTED PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND DIRECTED ME TO THE AXLE MANUFACTURER. THE DUAL AXLES ARE MANUFACTURED BY DEXTER. I HAVE AN EMAIL IN TO THEM NOW. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ACCIDENT I AVOIDED WHILE PULLING THE TRAILER AT 60-65 MPH WHERE THAT WHEEL COULD HAVE COME OFF. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE TWO REMAINING STUDS ON THAT WHEEL AND ALL STUDS ON THE OTHER THREE WHEELS. *TR

TIRE PRESSURE ON 2012 KEYSTONE RAPTOR 300MP TOY HAULER, MFG. IN 4/2012, WAS CHECKED AND ADJUSTED AND LUG NUTS TORQUED BEFORE TRIP. TIRES HAD 7,296 MILES ON THEM. ROUGH ROAD ENCOUNTERED ON I-84 NORTH SOUTH OF HARTFORD CONN. RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING $3832 IN DAMAGE TO THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER AND TRAILER BRAKE LIGHTS PLUS $215 FOR NEW TIRE. TIRE MFG. DATE WAS (4911). 714 MILES LATER FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLOWS OUT AFTER ENCOUNTERING ROUGH ROAD ON I-90 WEST, EAST OF AUBURN MA. NO NEW DAMAGE TO TRAILER. NEW TIRE COST $205. TIRE MFG. DATE WAS (0112) OLD TIRES WERE SHIPPED TO THE MANUFACTURER, DYNAMIC TIRE, MFG. OF POWER KING TOW MAX TIRES. THEY STATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE TIRES WERE IMPROPERLY MOUNTED ON THE WHEELS. PARTS REPLACED WERE STEPS, FENDER ,WHEELS, AXLE, MOLDINGS MARKER LIGHT AND MISC. PARTS. *TR