2005 Sundowner Sunlite Lq Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Sundowner Sunlite Lq, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure133.3%
- Other / unspecified133.3%
- Tires & wheels133.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .