2005 Sundowner Sunlite Recall: ON CERTAIN HORSE/STOCK TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER PREDATOR…
NHTSA campaign 05V301000 · Service Brakes, Electric · filed Jun 27, 2005 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The defect
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.
The risk
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.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
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.
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.
Affected vehicles
Related recalls
Other campaigns involving Sundowner vehicles
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 05V301000. Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.