NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Forest River Sunseeker Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Forest River Sunseeker has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Forest River dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Forest River Sunseeker. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Forest River Sunseeker owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Forest River Sunseeker, describing incidents dated June 13, 2004 to October 7, 2016.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10914915 · Filed October 8, 2016
WHILE FUELING, GASOLINE STARTED TO LEAK FROM THE AREA ABOVE THE SEWER TANK. THE GASOLINE RAN OVER THE TANK AND ONTO THE FUELING DOCK. FUELING WAS STOPPED WITH THE TANK ABOUT 1/2 FULL. THE LEAK STOPPED SHORTLY AFTER FUELING STOPPED. NO LEAK WAS DETECTED FROM THE AREA AROUND THE FUEL TANK. THIS…
ODI #10606319 · Filed June 26, 2014
WE HAVE OWNED THIS MOTORHOME SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, OVER THE YEARS RANDOMLY THE THE ENGINE WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. WE COULD BE GOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON WITH A RED BATTERY LIGHT AND ENGINE SHUTS OF. WE COULD BE GOING 35 AND IT HAPPENS. WE CAN DRIVE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED…
ODI #10463500 · Filed June 28, 2012
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FILL RV WITH UNLEADED GASOLINE, THE GAS LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND AND CAUSED A SPILL OF APPROXIMATELY 2 GALLONS OF GAS. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE TOOK THE MOTORHOME TO A MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FILTER HOSE LEAKED GAS FROM HOLES IN IT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT…

Read all 3 complaints

REFRIGERATOR/DOMETIC

NHTSA #08V346000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported July 7, 2008 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 107,417 vehicles

Owners notified November 7, 2008 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

FOREST RIVER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2003-2006 MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL 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.

Safety consequence

IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER 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 FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

REFRIGERATOR/DOMETIC

NHTSA #07V085000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported March 5, 2007 · FOREST RIVER, INC.

Potentially affected: 128,000 vehicles

Owners notified November 13, 2007

Defect description

CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, 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.

Safety consequence

RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

FOREST RIVER WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). 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 YOU 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 FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600,

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Forest River Sunseeker. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Forest River Sunseeker.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10914915

Incident: October 7, 2016 · Filed: October 8, 2016

WHILE FUELING, GASOLINE STARTED TO LEAK FROM THE AREA ABOVE THE SEWER TANK. THE GASOLINE RAN OVER THE TANK AND ONTO THE FUELING DOCK. FUELING WAS STOPPED WITH THE TANK ABOUT 1/2 FULL. THE LEAK STOPPED SHORTLY AFTER FUELING STOPPED. NO LEAK WAS DETECTED FROM THE AREA AROUND THE FUEL TANK. THIS PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER 926943, SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 10463500 REPORTED JUN 28, 2012.

Electrical System; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Engine

ODI #10606319

Incident: June 13, 2004 · Filed: June 26, 2014

WE HAVE OWNED THIS MOTORHOME SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, OVER THE YEARS RANDOMLY THE THE ENGINE WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. WE COULD BE GOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON WITH A RED BATTERY LIGHT AND ENGINE SHUTS OF. WE COULD BE GOING 35 AND IT HAPPENS. WE CAN DRIVE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AND NOTHING HAPPENS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WE HAVE HAD BATTERY CHECK AND EVEN REPLACED, WE HAVE HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHECK AND EVEN WIRES AND CABLES. RECENTLY IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH AND THEN AGAIN ON A BACK ROAD WHILE CAMPING. VERY DANGEROUS, IF WE ARE PULLING A CAR OR OUR BOAT THE DANGER IS GREATER. NO ONE SEAMS TO HAVE A ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THINKING THIS IS PART OF THE GCM IGNITION PROBLEM. OUR MOTOR HOME IS A CLASS "C" WITH THE GMC TRUCK FRONT. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10463500

Incident: June 28, 2012 · Filed: June 28, 2012

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FILL RV WITH UNLEADED GASOLINE, THE GAS LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND AND CAUSED A SPILL OF APPROXIMATELY 2 GALLONS OF GAS. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE TOOK THE MOTORHOME TO A MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FILTER HOSE LEAKED GAS FROM HOLES IN IT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. HE HAS NEVER SEEN A LEAK LIKE THIS ONE, EVEN ON 40-50 YEAR OLD VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR, BECAUSE A HOLDING TANK MUST BE REMOVED TO ACCESS THE HOSE AND THE REPAIR WAS TOO EXTENSIVE FOR MY FAMILY WHILE TRAVELING. THE MECHANIC DROVE THE RV TO A GAS STATION AND FILLED IT WITH GAS, SO WE COULD TRAVEL HOME, APPROXIMATELY 140 MILES. THE MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, BECAUSE THE EXHAUST WAS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE GAS WOULD NOT LEAK AFTER IT REACHED THE FUEL TANK. I WILL FIND A LOCAL MECHANIC OR RV REPAIR SHOP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE. THE MECHANIC ESTIMATED THAT THE NEW HOSE WOULD COST ABOUT $30.00, BUT REMOVING THE HOLDING TANK TO ACCESS THE HOSE WOULD REQUIRE EXTENSIVE MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC CHARGED $108.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IF THE MANUFACTURER HADN'T ROUTED THE HOSE BEHIND THE TANK, THE MECHANIC WOULD HAVE REPAIRED IT IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES. *TR

Other Forest River Sunseeker model years

Check your 2003 Forest River Sunseeker VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Forest River Sunseeker at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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