2005 Sundowner SUNLITE LQ: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
10,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 1; Structure: 1; Tires: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10250243 · 2008-12-01 (December 1, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ. TRAIL AMERICA TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THREE TIRES FAILED ON THE TRAILER WITHIN THREE MONTHS (AUGUST-OCTOBER). THE BLOWOUTS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. CHUNKS OF THE TIRES AND TREAD BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE OR ANY OTHER ROAD HAZARD. THE FENDER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HORSE TRAILER WAS DAMAGED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 1/6/09 *CN UPDATED 01/14/09.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10273619 · 2009-06-12 (June 12, 2009)
THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON DOMETIC FULL SIZE FRIDGES; LOCATED IN TRAILERS, BUT WHEN I HAVE CALLED ALL THE DEALERS IN OUR AREA I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME RESPONSE THAT THE DOMETIC COMPANY IS NOT PAYING THEM FOR THEIR SERVICING THE RECALLS SO THEY HAVE ALL STOPPED WITH THE REPAIRS. SO IN THE MEAN TIME I AM HAULING A HORSE TRAILER WITH LIVING QUARTERS WITH AN EXPLOSIVE FRIDGE IN IT; ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO GET THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM CORRECTED WITHOUT ME HAVING TO SPEND ALL THIS TIME FINDING SOMEONE OF DRIVING HOURS OUT OF MY ALREADY BUSY LIFE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10273619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10374016 · 2011-01-03 (January 3, 2011)
AFTER PULLING THE 53 FOOT SUNDOWNER HORSE TRAILER FOR APPROXIMATELY 12,00 MILES I NOTED BROKEN WELDS AND BROKEN AND MISSING RIVETS IN THE AREA ADJACENT TO THE HITCH. THE UNIT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND LEFT FOR 6 1/2 MONTHS FOR FACTORY REPAIR. I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL STATING THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PAY FOR NO MORE REPAIR AND WAS ENCOURAGED TO REMOVE THE TRAILER FROM THE DEALER'S PREMISES. IN APRIL 2010 I RETAINED A METALLURGICAL ENGINEER TO COMPLETE A STRESS ANALYSIS. IT WAS HIS OPINION THAT THE UNIT, UPON REPAIR WOULD DEVELOP CONTINUED PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374016 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V382000 · Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
Reported: 2008-08-05 (August 5, 2008)
SUNDOWNER IS RECALLING 2,185 MY 2003-2006 SUNLITE LQ HORSE TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
Consequence: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: SUNDOWNER IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR SUNDOWNER AT 1-580-937-4256.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V483000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2008-09-22 (September 22, 2008)
SUNDOWNER IS RECALLING 4,535 SUNLITE LIVING QUARTER TRAILERS (MODELS 575 GN, 700 GN, 705 GN, 720 GN, 725 GN, 727 GN, 737, 740, 760, 777 GN, CARGO GN, STOCK GN, PROSTOCK GN, AND STAMPEDESL GN). THESE TRAILERS MAY NOT BE EQUIPPED WITH A FUSE IN LINE WITH THE WIRE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE TOW VEHICLE.
Consequence: IF AN IMPROPERLY WIRED TOW VEHICLE IS CONNECTED TO THE TRAILER WIRING HARNESS, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE RESULTING IN PROPER DAMAGE, INJURY TO A CONSUMER AND/OR LIVESTOCK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE TRAILERS AND IF IT IS ONE OF THE SUSPECTED TRAILERS, THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN IN LINE FUSE IN THE WIRE HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUNDOWNER AT 1-800-654-3879.
NHTSA campaign record ↗