KEYSTONE IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2011 ALPINE, AVALANCHE, FUZION

Sep 16, 2010 — Recall Campaign #10V413000

KEYSTONE IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2011 ALPINE, AVALANCHE, FUZION, LAREDO, MONTANA, AND MOUNTAINEER FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 19, 2010 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER AXLES. ON SOME AXLES, CRACKS COULD APPEAR IN THE SPINDLE WELD.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 322 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

10V413000

Manufacturer:	Keystone RV Company
Recall date:	September 16, 2010
NHTSA Campaign #:	10V413000
Units affected:	322

Description:: KEYSTONE IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2011 ALPINE, AVALANCHE, FUZION, LAREDO, MONTANA, AND MOUNTAINEER FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 19, 2010 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER AXLES. ON SOME AXLES, CRACKS COULD APPEAR IN THE SPINDLE WELD.
Consequeces:: THESE CRACKS CAN PROPAGATE AND CAUSE THE SPINDLE TO DETACH FROM THE AXLE TUBE, RESULTING IN THE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL END FROM THE VEHICLE, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD THAT INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH TO OTHER VEHICLES, AND COMPROMISES THE DRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Corrective action:: KEYSTONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AXLE SERIAL NUMBER AND REPLACE IT IF IT FALLS WITHIN THE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE. REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KEYSTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-425-4369.
Notes:: KEYSTONE'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 10-147.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Affects the following:

2011 KEYSTONE ALPINE Complaints
THE TIRES THAT THE KEYSTONE RV COMPANY PUTS ON THEIR FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS ARE UNSAFE, AT APPROX. 2500 MILES AND 4 YEARS OLD I HAD A BLOW OUT ON I-35 . IT TORE UP MY TRAILER AND I FEEL THEY THEY ARE UNSAFE AND VERY DANGEROUS. *TR;
2011 KEYSTONE FUZION Complaints
THE FRESH WATER TANK SUPPORT BRACKETS AND SECURING 3/8 SELF-DRILLING ? TO 1? TAP SCREWS FAILED. ALL (5) BRACKETS FAILED. ONLY (2) TAP SCREWS ON ONE END OF THE (2) OUTBOARD BRACKETS REMAINED INSTALLED. THOSE SCREWS WERE BACKED OFF A TIGHTENED POSITION BY APPROXIMATELY 1/8? TO 1/4? POSITION. THREE (3) SUPPORT CHANNEL BRACKETS ARE BENT IN THE MIDDLE TO A PERMANENT POSITION BY A 2 1/2" TO 3? DROP IN THE CENTER. THE (2) SUPPORT BRACKETS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE TANK SUPPORT SYSTEM DIPPED MARGINALLY.THE BOTTOM OF THE FRESH WATER TANK IS PERMANENTLY DISTORTED ON THE BOTTOM BY APPROXIMATELY A 3? DIP. THE BRACKETS ARE MADE OF 1/16 THICK STEEL CHANNEL SPANNING A DISTANCE OF 60 5/8.? THE BRACKETS & MOUNTING SCREWS ARE NOT SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A LOAD MAX OF 830 LBS. OR LESS IN EITHER A STATIONARY OR ON THE ROAD CONDITION AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE FAILURE. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS IN THE KEYSTONE OWNER?S MANUAL THAT ADVISE THE OWNER THAT THE RV SHOULD NOT BE PLACED IN MOTION WITH A PARTIALLY FULL OR FULL TANK OF FRESH WATER. ON OCCASION, WHEN TRAVELING, THE FRESH WATER TANK HAS BEEN PARTIALLY FILLED TO BETWEEN THE 1/3 AND 2/3 WATER LEVEL AS NOTED ON THE WATER TANK MONITOR PANEL. HOWEVER, THE MOST CONCERNING SITUATION WOULD BE A CATASTROPHIC FRESH WATER TANK SUPPORT SYSTEM FAILURE WITH THE RV IN MOTION, A TANK OF WATER BREACHING THE UNDERCARRIAGE COVER, (SEE OTHER COMPLAINT FILED 7/29/13), THAT COULD RESULT IN COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PERSON. KEYSTONE CLAIMS THAT THE SUPPORT SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO OVER FILLING THE WATER TANK. IF KEYSTONE BELIEVES IT IS POSSIBLE TO OVER FILL THE FRESH WATER TANK, KEYSTONE SHOULD HAVE DESIGNED A TANK THAT WOULD PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF OVER FILLING THE FRESH WATER TANK, I.E. PRESSURE RELIEF PLUG ON THE TANK OR AN OVERFLOW DRAIN LINE, ETC. I AM THE FIRST AND CURRENT OWNER/OPERATOR OF THIS RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV). PICTURES AVAILABLE. *TR;
2011 KEYSTONE LAREDO Complaints
The driver side main support beam that runs the entire length of the trailer from front to back cracked. Also, many of the support beams that run the width of the trailer were twisted and nearly falling off. We had to replace the entire main support beam on the driver side as well as smaller supports that ran the width of the trailer. The first repair was in June 2022 for the smaller support beams. The second repair was in April 2023 for the long, driver side support beam.;
2011 KEYSTONE MONTANA Complaints
WE WERE 4 HOURS INTO OUR VACATION WHEN THE GOODYEAR MARATHON 235/80/16 ON OUR 2011 MONTANA 5TH WHEEL BLEW. THE DAMAGE WAS CLOSE TO $2000, MESSED UP THE TIRE WELL, RIPPED THE BELLYPAN AND MESSED UP THE SLIDE OUT. GOODYEAR WILL PAY OUR DEDUCTIBLE, BUT WON'T HELP WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE REST OF THE CHINA BOMBS UNDER OUR CAMPER. VERY UNHAPPY WITH GOODYEAR AND MONTANA. *TR;