Recall 20V216 covers 50 2020-2021 Utilimaster Truck Body vehicles with mispositioned license plate lamps. Repair is free at any franchised Utilimaster dealer.
Utilimaster is recalling 50 2020-2021 Truck Body vehicles because the license plate lamp can sit in the wrong position and angle, leaving the plate improperly illuminated. The lighting defect can confuse other drivers and increase crash risk; Utilimaster dealers will reposition the lamp free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The license plate lamp on 2020-2021 Utilimaster Truck Body vehicles is part of the rear exterior lighting system. Its job is simple: shine light down onto the rear license plate so the plate stays visible after dark and during low-light driving. The lamp and its mounting plate have to sit at the correct angle for that light to reach the plate.
On affected vehicles, the lamp was installed in the wrong position and at the wrong angle. The non-compliant lamp faces outward instead of downward, so the license plate is not properly illuminated. Spartan tied the issue to vehicles built with a Maxxon-supplied license plate lamp and mounting plate, and the repair uses a black-cased lamp aimed downward at the correct angle.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner is unlikely to feel a driving change from this defect, because it is an exterior lighting placement problem, not a powertrain or brake problem.
Who's affected?
The exterior lighting component is common to the 2020 and 2021 Truck Body vehicles.
| 2020 Utilimaster Truck Body | Exterior lighting |
|---|---|
| 2021 Utilimaster Truck Body | Exterior lighting |
| Units affected | 50 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
An incorrectly positioned license plate lamp can confuse other drivers on the road and increase the risk of a crash. There is no associated warning, so schedule the repair and use extra care around traffic until it is complete. Repair is free at any franchised Utilimaster dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020-2021 Utilimaster Truck Body is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Utilimaster dealer to schedule the free license plate lamp replacement that restores proper rear plate illumination.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 20V216 when you call.
- Keep the rear plate clean and visible until the dealer replaces the lamp.
- Call Utilimaster customer service at 1-800-543-5008 with questions about scheduling or the free repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Utilimaster technician replaces the license plate lamp so the plate is properly illuminated. The replacement parts and labor are free under recall 20V216. Spartan has a general reimbursement plan on file for this campaign. If you already paid for a related license plate lamp repair before the recall work, ask Spartan customer service or the dealer service desk how to submit documentation for reimbursement.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 16, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 24, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| April 24, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 24, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| April 24, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 5, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V216?
Recall 20V216 covers 50 2020-2021 Utilimaster Truck Body vehicles with a license plate lamp installed in the wrong position or angle. The plate is not properly illuminated, which increases crash risk through driver confusion. Utilimaster will replace the lamp for free.
What should I do if my 2020-2021 Utilimaster Truck Body is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V216. If it is, contact a Utilimaster service provider or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008 to schedule the license plate lamp replacement. Reference recall 20V216 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Utilimaster will replace the affected license plate lamp free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for vehicles included in recall 20V216.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is confusion for other drivers from a rear license plate that is not properly illuminated. NHTSA campaign 20V216 says that confusion increases crash risk. The fix is a free license plate lamp replacement.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair began on May 5, 2020. Because that date has passed, owners of included 2020-2021 Utilimaster Truck Body vehicles can contact a Utilimaster service provider or Spartan customer service to schedule the free lamp replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V216000 |
|---|---|
| Utilimaster customer service | 1-800-543-5008 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V216 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V216000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →