2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
3
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ
The 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ has received a total of 3 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER. The most commonly reported problems involve the Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer (1 complaint), Structure (1 complaint), and Tires (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ, potentially affecting up to 6,720 vehicles.
Recall 08V483000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
| 4,535 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Recall 08V382000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 2,185 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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 PROBLEMS IN THIS AREA. HIS RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT IT BE RETURNED TO THE FACTORY TO FACILITATE THE RE-ENGINEERING. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE PROTRACTED LEGAL BATTLE AND COULD FIND NO ENGINEER WHO WOULD TESTIFY IN COURT ON MY BEHALF. MY DECISION WAS TO LET THE BANK FORECLOSED AND TAKE POSSESSION OF THE UNIT.IT IS NOW AT AN AUCTION FACILITY IN MINNESOTA WHERE THE AUCTION WILL FINALIZED ON JANUARY 6, 2011. THE URGENCY IS THAT IF IT IS NOT REPAIRED THE FRONT 10 FEET OF THE TRAILER MAY SEPARATE FROM THE UNIT AND POSSIBLY CAUSE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE VIN NO:[XXX]. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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 TO SAVE A LIFE OF A PERSON OR HORSE??????? *TR
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
Safety Rating for the 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ
- 2000 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — 4 complaints
- 2001 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — 1 complaint
- 2002 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — 2 complaints
- 2003 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — 0 complaints
- 2004 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — 2 complaints
- 2005 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ (current)
- 2006 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — 2 complaints
- 2007 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — 0 complaints
- 2008 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ — 1 complaint
Other SUNDOWNER Models
- SUNDOWNER VALUE LITE — 4 total complaints
- SUNDOWNER VALUELITE — 4 total complaints
- SUNDOWNER VALUESPORT — 4 total complaints
- SUNDOWNER STOCK — 3 total complaints
- SUNDOWNER 710 — 2 total complaints
- SUNDOWNER CARGO — 2 total complaints
- SUNDOWNER 720 — 1 total complaint
- SUNDOWNER CHARTER — 1 total complaint