Forest River is recalling 364 2020 Leprechaun, Sunseeker, and Freelander vehicles for delayed seatbelt warning lights. Repair is free at franchised Forest River dealers.
Forest River is recalling 364 2020 Leprechaun, Sunseeker, and Freelander vehicles because the seatbelt-unfastened warning light does not illuminate for about 5 seconds after the ignition is turned on or started. Without that reminder, a driver can forget the seatbelt, raising injury risk in a crash, and Forest River dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The instrument panel cluster calibration software in the 2020 Forest River Leprechaun, Sunseeker, and Freelander controls what the dashboard cluster shows at startup, including the seatbelt warning light. That light is supposed to tell the driver when the front seat belt is not buckled after the ignition is turned to the on or start position.
On affected motorhomes, a GM software change contains an error in the instrument panel cluster. The error keeps the seatbelt-unfastened light from turning on for approximately five seconds after startup. During that delay, the warning light does not give the driver the required reminder that the belt is unfastened.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is the delayed seatbelt warning light itself, so an owner sees the problem only when the ignition is turned on or the vehicle is started with the belt unfastened.
Who's affected?
Covers the Leprechaun, Sunseeker, and Freelander motorhome lines with the same instrument panel cluster software.
| 2020 Forest River Leprechaun | instrument panel |
|---|---|
| 2020 Forest River Leprechaun | seat belt |
| 2020 Forest River Sunseeker | instrument panel |
| 2020 Forest River Sunseeker | seat belt |
| 2020 Forest River Freelander | instrument panel |
| 2020 Forest River Freelander | seat belt |
| Units affected | 364 |
The model name narrows the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the seatbelt warning reminder does not work, the driver can miss the reminder to buckle up. That raises the risk of injury in a crash if the belt is not fastened. Buckle before every trip and schedule the reprogramming. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020 Forest River Leprechaun, Sunseeker, or Freelander is included in this recall.
- Contact Forest River or a GM dealer to schedule the free instrument-panel reprogramming that restores the seatbelt warning light after startup.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V736 when you call.
- Fasten the seatbelt before every trip and do not rely on the warning light until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River technician reprograms the instrument panel cluster so the seatbelt warning light works as required when the ignition is turned on or started. The software update is free under recall 19V736, and parts and labor are covered. If you already paid for this instrument panel cluster repair before the recall notice, GM's standard reimbursement plan covers documented expenses for eligible repairs. Bring your repair order, proof of payment, and related paperwork to the service desk, or contact the customer service number listed in the recall notice.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 16, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 29, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 25, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| November 25, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 25, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V736?
Recall 19V736 covers 364 2020 Forest River Leprechaun, Sunseeker, and Freelander motorhomes with a seatbelt warning light that fails to illuminate for about 5 seconds after the ignition is turned on or started. GM dealers will reprogram the instrument panel for free.
What should I do if my 2020 Forest River Leprechaun, Sunseeker, or Freelander is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorhome is included in recall 19V736. If it is, contact a GM dealer to schedule the instrument panel reprogramming. Reference recall number 19V736 and Forest River recall number 51-1084 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Forest River's remedy says GM dealers will reprogram the instrument panel free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for this recall repair.
What is the safety risk in recall 19V736?
The safety risk is that the seatbelt-unfastened warning reminder fails to appear right after startup. Without that reminder, the driver can forget to fasten the seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The dealer repair restores the warning-light function.
What if I bought this Forest River motorhome used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Leprechaun, Sunseeker, or Freelander is included, then contact a GM dealer for the free instrument panel reprogramming.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V736000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River customer service | 1-800-462-8782 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V736 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V736000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →