2004 Sundowner Sunlite LQ

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › frame and members. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Frame and Members2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Wiring08V483000
Filed Sep 22, 20084,535 vehiclesSundowner Trailers, Inc.

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.

Risk. 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.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer08V382000
Filed Aug 5, 20082,185 vehiclesSundowner Trailers, Inc.

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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jun 15, 2011FL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F350 SD HITCHED TO A 2004 SUNDOWNER SUNLITE LQ 4 STAR HORSE TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRAME WAS FABRICATED STEEL AND CAUSED DETERIORATION AS A RESULT OF RUST CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Mar 27, 2009MA

SUNDOWNER 727 HORSE TRAILER. THERE HAS BEEN RUST AND CORROSION OF THE FRAME REQUIRING SCRAPING AND UNDERCOATING. ONE YEAR LATER THIS HAS NOT SLOWED THE CORROSION. HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY DEALER THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE UNDERCOATING AND POSSIBLY THE FRAME ITSELF. POTENTIAL HAZARD AS FRAME MAY NOT REMAIN SAFE. *TR

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20081100Routine
20070200Routine
20061200Routine
20053200Routine
2004 — this page2200Routine
20030300Routine
20021200Routine
20011200Routine
20004100Routine
19990100Routine
19980100Routine
19970100Routine

Compare every Sunlite LQ year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 22, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.