NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Sundowner Sunlite Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Sundowner Sunlite has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Sundowner dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Sundowner Sunlite. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2005 Sundowner Sunlite owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2005 Sundowner Sunlite, describing incidents dated September 25, 2007.

Most-cited components

Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10204838 · Filed October 4, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUNDOWNER SIERRA (NA). THE VEHICLE HAS TRAIL AMERICA, SIZE LT235/85R16 TIRES (NA). WHILE DRIVING 62 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE TIRE…

Read the full complaint

ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM

NHTSA #05V301000 · Service Brakes, Electric · NHTSA notice

Reported June 27, 2005 · SUNDOWNER TRAILERS, INC.

Potentially affected: 7 vehicles

Owners notified July 18, 2005 · Vehicles built September 1, 2004 – April 30, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN HORSE/STOCK TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER PREDATOR ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS AND WERE NOT FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH A STORAGE BATTERY, THE BREAK-AWAY SYSTEM BATTERY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH AMP HOURS TO MAINTAIN BRAKING FOR THE REQUIRED 15 MINUTES IN CASE OF TRAILER BREAK-AWAY WHEN USING THE ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM.

Safety consequence

IF THE TRAILER WERE TO COME LOOSE FROM THE TOW VEHICLE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CURRENT BREAK-AWAY BATTERY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN BREAKING ACTION FOR THE REQUIRED 15 MINUTES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR INJURY/DAMAGE TO THE OPERATOR AND/OR THE HORSES/STOCK.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BATTERY AND BATTERY BOX AND REWIRE THE TRAILER THROUGH THE STORAGE BATTERY. THEY WILL ALSO APPLY A NOTICE LABEL ON OR BY THE BATTERY LOCATION INFORMING THEM THAT THE BREAK-AWAY SYSTEM IS TIED INTO THE STORAGE BATTERY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUNDOWNER AT 1-800-654-3879, EXTENSION 2149.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO 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 2005 Sundowner Sunlite. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Sundowner Sunlite.

Tires

ODI #10204838

Incident: September 25, 2007 · Filed: October 4, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUNDOWNER SIERRA (NA). THE VEHICLE HAS TRAIL AMERICA, SIZE LT235/85R16 TIRES (NA). WHILE DRIVING 62 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. ONE HUNDRED MILES LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE OTHER TWO TIRES HAD SILVER WIRES HANGING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE CONTACT HAS THE TIRES IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS A PULL TRAILER, THEREFORE NO ADDITIONAL VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 10/30/07 *TR

Check your 2005 Sundowner Sunlite VIN

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

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