RoadVitals

2016 Forest River Sunseeker

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest May 25, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jul 3, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2016 Forest River Sunseeker, most frequently naming the exterior lighting category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Exterior lighting1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

Jul 3, 2018
53 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2016 Forest River Forester, 2014-2016 Forest River Sunseeker and Coachmen Leprechaun, 2014 Coachmen Concord, and 2014-2017 Coachmen Freelander vehicles, built on Chevrolet chassis and equipped with power windows. Liquid may leak into the driver's power window switch and cause corrosion, resulting in high electrical resistance.
The risk: High electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Forest River has notified owners, and Chevrolet dealers will replace the driver side window switch, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Forest River Forester and Sunseeker at 1-574-206-7600, Coachmen Concord, Freelander, and Leprechaun customer service at 1-574-825-8602. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-0781.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-0781View on NHTSA.gov

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

Jun 27, 2016
1,999 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Forester motorhomes manufactured June 10, 2014, to May 25, 2016, Sunseeker motorhomes manufactured April 4, 2014, to May 25, 2016, 2015-2016 Solera motorhomes manufactured February 28, 2014, to September 17, 2015, and 2016 Isata motorhomes manufactured October 30, 2015, to May 26, 2016. Water may leak into the electrical module that controls the vehicle taillights, brake lights, turn signal lights, clearance lights and marker lights, making the lights inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: If the rear brake lights fail to illuminate, following motorists may not realize that the vehicle in front of them is stopping. Inoperative taillights, clearance lights and marker lights will make the vehicle less visible to others. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on August 16, 2016. The recall began on December 8, 2016. Forester, Solera, and Sunseeker owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Isata customers should call 1-574-262-3474. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-06012016-0206.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 51-06012016-0206View on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

May 23, 2016
13 units potentially affected
The defect: Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Forester and Sunseeker recreational vehicles manufactured from February 29, 2016, through April 20, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with a shower door that may not meet the flammability standards. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 302, "Flammability of Interior Materials."
The risk: Failure to meet the flammability standard of FMVSS 302 could enhance the spread of a flame in the event of a fire, increasing the risk serious injury.
The remedy: Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shower doors, free of charge. The recall began on July 11, 2016. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-206-7600. Forest River's number for this recall is 34-05052016-0184.
Forest River, Inc.Manufacturer number 34-05052016-0184View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Exterior lighting
Filed May 25, 2016

CURT CONTROLLER IS FAILING IN WET CONDITIONS. CURT CONTROLLER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, REVERSE LIGHTS, BASICALLY ANY EXTERNAL SAFETY LIGHTING ON THE RV THAT INDICATES YOU'RE STOPPING OR TURNING. FOREST RIVER PLACED THE CURT CONTROLLER ON THE REAR BUMPER, DIRECTLY BEHIND THE WHEELS WHERE ROAD SPRAY WILL GET DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRICAL. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CURT CONTROLLER SPECIFICALLY STATES ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT IT SHOULD BE PLACED IN A DRY INTERNAL AREA OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS ALL THE LIGHTS JUST COME ON AT ONCE AND DON'T TURN OFF UNLESS YOU PULL OUT THE FUSE. THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CURT CONTROLLER TO DRY OUT BEFORE IT WORKS NORMALLY AGAIN. WE'VE ASKED FOREST RIVER TO FIX THE DESIGN AND TO DATE THEY HAVE DECLINED.

NHTSA ID
10870733
Incident
Mar 24, 2016
Mileage
1,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

511312

WHEELS

As per Mercedes Interim Recall Notice 21V042, one or more of the rear-wheel speed sensors may experience an electrical failure, which potentially could lead to a disablement of the Electronic Stability Control control unit functions. If ESP control unit functions are disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

511293

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

In our continuing efforts to assure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, MB USA is extending the warranty on the wheel speed sensors ("WSS") for the affected vehicles to a total of 10 years/ no mileage limitations from the vehicle's original New Vehicle Limited Warranty start date. This addendum to the WSS coverage applies to the vehicle regardless of ownership.

511268

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the warranty of the exhaust gas recirculation (“EGR”) valve for the affected vehicles to a total of 11 years / 120,000 miles from the vehicle’s original New Vehicle Limited Warranty start date. This addendum to the EGR valve coverage applies to the vehicle regardless of ownership.

510660

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:DASHBOARD

According to the attached letter from Daimler AG/Mercedes-Benz; ?Daimler AG (DAG), the manufacturer of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles, has determined that the glass cover of the exhaust gas temperature sensor (upstream of turbocharger B16/11) on certain Model Year 2011 ? 2015 Sprinter vans could break when exposed to extreme high or low temperatures. This could result in incorrect temperature sensor readings. If this occurs the ?Check Engine? light will be illuminated and the vehicle will experience a loss of power and enter into a limp home mode.?

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Forest River Sunseeker by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010
2025020
2024120
2023250
2022130
2021440
2020140
2019310
2018311
2017420
2016Viewing130
2015020
2014240
2013140
2012010
2011210
2010020
2006210
2005110
2004220
2003320
2002310
2001010
2000310
1999010
1998010
1997010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.