Changed my vehicles serpentine belts with a Gates brand. Belts lasted less than 20k miles.

Great waste of money

 

Welcome from Florida. Make sure your pulleys are in alignment. From the picture it looks like the belt might have been damaged when it was installed. I have used Gates belts many times without any problems.

 

Welcome to the forum. I agree. Perhaps someone used a screwdriver or something to get the belt over the pulleys instead of releasing the idler pressure and that could have damaged the edge cords.

 

Something can kick up from the road and get caught in it and damage it also.
In 50 yrs of driving I never had this happen but last summer I had a rock get caught between the rear rotor and the dust shield in my Traverse.

 

Return if still under warranty. What year is yours, and what engine? I know my 1994 and 2005 did not use Stretch-Fit belts, and I use Gates.

I typically use Gates belts on all my vehicles and have been satisfied.