2019 Keystone Cougar problems: recalls, complaints and what to check
NHTSA has 8 recalls and 9 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Keystone Cougar. Here is what they are, what a technician checks for each kind of fault, and how to look one over before you buy it.
Axles, brakes, suspension and hitch: 2 recalls, 6 complaints
Recall 18V723000 (15/10/2018): SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019 Dutchmen Aerolite and Atlas, Keystone Bullet, Laredo, Cougar, Hideout, Passport and Springdale, and Crossroads Sunset fifth wheels and travel trailers. The axles may be missing inner bearing races on the hubs, which can cause the bearing to burnout or cause the hub to overheat.
Fix: Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will inspect axles for hub clearance. If the hub clearance is not sufficient, appropriate parts will be provided to correct the defect, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 18-334.
Recall 18V843000 (28/11/2018): POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019 Keystone Cougar, Outback, Passport, Springdale, Bullet and Hideout recreational trailers and 2019 Dutchmen Aerolite and Atlas recreational trailers. The inner hub bearings of the axles may not have been sufficiently greased, which can cause the bearings to overheat and fail.
Fix: Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the hubs and bearings, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2019. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 18-340.
What a tech checks: Bearings, brake magnets, worn shackle bolts and bent axles. A trailer that wears tires on the inside edge or pulls to one side usually has an axle or suspension problem. Before you buy: Bolts tight, springs not flat, brakes apply with the breakaway pin pulled.
Chassis and towing lessons · Trailer guide
Structure, roof and leaks: 2 recalls, 4 complaints
Recall 21V380000 (24/05/2021): STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Keystone Cougar 368MBI trailers. The frame rails do not have enough cross support, which could cause them to buckle under certain side-load stress conditions.
Fix: Dealers will add cross braces between each spring hanger and an outrigger between the tires on the off-door side of the vehicle, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2021. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 21-411.
Recall 22V209000 (31/03/2022): STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Cougar 29FKD travel trailers. Improper clearance may allow the tires to contact the outrigger, causing damage to the tires.
Fix: Dealers will notch the existing outrigger and install an additional outrigger between the two tires to provide proper clearance, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 12, 2022. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 22-430.
What a tech checks: Roof sealant, seams, window and slide seals, and the frame. Water intrusion shows up as delamination, soft floors and stained ceilings months after the leak started. Before you buy: Press the sidewalls and walk the floor; look at every seam and seal.
Roof, leaks and body lessons · Seals and leaks guide
Other: 2 recalls, 2 complaints
Recall 18V383000 (07/06/2018): EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Keystone Cougar recreational trailers equipped with an outdoor propane grill. The outdoor propane grill is installed in a wooden assembly that may not have enough clearance from the heated area.
Fix: Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wooden assembly with a metal assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2018. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 18-322.
Recall 18V320000 (16/05/2018): EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019 Keystone Cougar fifth-wheel trailers, models 28SGS and 27RLS. The propane compartment may not have been sealed properly during manufacturing, which if there were a propane leak, could allow the propane gas to seep into the living quarters.
Fix: Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will seal the inside of the LP compartment along the floor line and side wall, free of charge. The recall began on June 14, 2018. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 18-321.
12 volt and 120 volt electrical: 1 recall, 1 complaint
Recall 20V398000 (07/07/2020): EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Keystone Carbon, Cougar, Fuzion, Impact and Raptor fifth-wheel trailers equipped with a Furrion over the air (OTA) wing-style television antenna. The antenna may separate from the mounting base during transit, becoming a road hazard.
Fix: Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Furrion wing-style antenna with a Winegard dome-style antenna, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2020. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 20-381.
What a tech checks: Voltage drop, grounds, the converter and the transfer switch. Melted shore-cord plugs and bad grounds cause most of the electrical complaints techs actually see. Before you buy: Battery at rest, converter output on shore power, GFCI test, every outlet.
12 V electrical lessons · 120 V and generator lessons · Wiring diagrams
LP gas and gas appliances: 1 recall
Recall 21V708000 (13/09/2021): EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Dutchmen Aspen Trail, Coleman, Keystone Cougar, Bullet, Passport, Hideout, Springdale, Sprinter, 2019 Keystone Impact, Fuzion, Residence, Retreat, Summerland, and Dutchmen Kodiak recreational vehicles, equipped with Winntec model 6020 two-stage propane regulators. The regulator may fail, causing an increase in propane pressure.
Fix: Dealers will replace the regulator and test the propane system for leaks, free of charge. Owner notification letters mailed February 25, 2021. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 21-414.
What a tech checks: Regulator, lines and fittings, then the appliances: furnace, water heater, range. A proper pressure-drop leak test is the first thing a tech does on an LP complaint. Before you buy: Smell for gas with the tank open; have a shop do the leak test.
LP and furnace lessons · Furnace guide · Furnace 3D lab · Water heater 3D lab
Motorhome chassis: 1 complaint
What a tech checks: The chassis (Ford, Freightliner, Mercedes, Ram) is serviced by the chassis maker's dealer, not the RV shop. RV techs handle the house, not the drivetrain. Before you buy: Chassis recalls are fixed free at the chassis maker's dealer.
What owners reported to NHTSA
11/29/2020, SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE,WHEELS: COMPANY DEFECT TANDEM AXLES ARE NOT PARALLEL WITH ONE ANOTHER BY 1.5" THIS MAKES A BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY AND EVERY ONE ON THE ROADS! COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE THEY SAID ITS WITHIN SPECS. THE CAMPER PULLS LEFT ALL THE TIME WHEN TOWING. THE FRONT TANDEM AXLE IS TURNING LEFT BY 1.5"
11/21/2022, POWER TRAIN: 2019 KEYSTONE COUGAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 21V-380. THE CONSUMER STATED WANTS CAMPING WORLD TO RESCIND THE SALE OF THE RV, AND SATISFY THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE DUE UNDER THE SECURITY AGREEMENT AND REIMBURSED FOR THE EXPENSES INCURRED RELATING TO THE RV.
07/30/2019, SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KEYSTONE COUGAR TRAVEL TRAILER. WHILE TRAVELING TO A CAMPGROUND, THE DEXTER AXLE FAILED AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED. THE TRAILER WAS LEFT AT THE CAMPGROUND AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *DT*TP CONSUMER STATED
07/23/2021, SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE: The contact owns a 2019 Keystone Cougar. The contact stated that upon exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the fiberglass outside of one of the rear slides was cracked. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the fiberglass needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred a year later. The contact then received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V380
07/07/2022, SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE: The contact owns a 2019 Keystone Cougar Fifth Wheel RV. The contact stated that while driving she was notified by another driver that the RV was leaning to the right and that the tires were not touching the roadway. The contact stated that she stopped to inspect and noticed that the tires on the driver’s side had no issues however, the passenger’s side tandem front and rear tires had moved closer together. The contac
06/29/2022, STRUCTURE: The contact owns a 2019 Keystone Cougar. The contact was attempting to remove debris from the roof of the RV; while climbing up the attached ladder, the roof mount screws to the ladder failed causing the left side of the ladder to detach from the roof and become unsecured. During the failure no injuries were sustained. The manufacturer and dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The failur
Looking at a 2019 Keystone Cougar?
The Buyer's Check walks you through it on your phone: what to ask, the outside walk-around, water damage, every system on every power source, with the recalls above built in. You get a report that says what's a walk-away and what to negotiate on.
Checked against NHTSA 2026-10-23. Recall repairs are free at an authorized dealer. Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA and are not verified.