Recall 20V431 affects 23 2018-2020 Great Dane Truck Body vehicles for a rearward-aimed license plate light. Repair is free at any franchised Great Dane dealer.
Great Dane is recalling 23 2018-2020 Truck Body vehicles equipped with Maxon GPTLR and GPTWR lift gates because the license plate light can aim rearward instead of at the plate. Light aimed toward other drivers increases crash risk, and Great Dane dealers will complete the free repair.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The tag lamp kit on the 2018-2020 Great Dane Truck Body is the license plate light mounted with the Maxon GPTLR or GPTWR lift gate. Its normal job is simple: shine onto the license plate so the plate is visible from behind the truck body. That lighting setup is part of the exterior lighting equipment required under the federal lamp standard.
On affected truck bodies, the license plate bracket light number 908120-01 can be installed so the beam points rearward instead of toward the license plate. When the light is aimed the wrong way, the lamp is present but it does not illuminate the plate as intended. Great Dane traced the issue to Maxon lift gates shipped for installation by Great Dane, but the filing does not identify a deeper mechanical cause.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners should expect the issue to be found by inspecting the lamp direction at the license plate bracket, not by a change in how the truck body drives or operates.
Who's affected?
Covers Truck Body units from 2018, 2019, and 2020, all tied to the same tag lamp kit for Maxon GPTLR and GPTWR liftgates.
| 2019 Great Dane Truck Body | Exterior lighting |
|---|---|
| 2020 Great Dane Truck Body | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Great Dane Truck Body | Exterior lighting |
| Units affected | 23 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
A license plate light aimed toward other drivers creates glare or distraction for traffic behind the truck body. That raises crash risk for nearby drivers. Use extra care around traffic until the corrective kit is installed. Repair is free at any franchised Great Dane dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2020 Great Dane Truck Body is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Great Dane dealer to schedule the free license-plate-light kit repair that redirects the lift-gate license plate light toward the plate.
- Bring the recall notice if Great Dane sent one. If not, reference recall number 20V431 when you call.
- Use extra caution around other traffic until the light is corrected, especially if the truck body is operated after dark.
- Call Great Dane customer service at 1-877-369-3493 with questions about the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Great Dane technician checks the lift gate license plate bracket light and provides the corrective License Plate Kit with Light when the kit is needed. The repair is free under the recall, including covered parts and labor. Great Dane has a general reimbursement plan on file. If you already paid for related license plate light work before the recall notice, ask Great Dane customer service or the dealer how to submit documentation under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 24, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 11, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| January 11, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 11, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 11, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V431?
Recall 20V431 covers 23 2018-2020 Great Dane Truck Body units equipped with Maxon GPTLR and GPTWR lift gates with License Plate Bracket Light number 908120-01. The light can aim rearward instead of toward the license plate, creating crash risk for other drivers. Great Dane dealers provide the corrective license plate kit with light for free.
What should I do if my 2018-2020 Great Dane Truck Body is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Truck Body is included in recall 20V431. If it is, contact a franchised Great Dane dealer to arrange the corrective license plate kit with light. Reference recall number 20V431 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and Great Dane dealers provide the corrective license plate kit with light free of charge. Great Dane customer service is also listed at 1-877-369-3493 for recall questions.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is glare or misdirected light toward other drivers. The recalled license plate light can aim rearward instead of illuminating the license plate, increasing crash risk. The fix is the free corrective license plate kit with light from a Great Dane dealer.
What warning signs should I watch for?
Watch for the license plate bracket light pointing rearward instead of toward the license plate. This recall involves exterior lighting on certain Truck Body units with the listed Maxon lift gates. If your VIN is included, have the dealer install the free corrective kit.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V431000 |
|---|---|
| Great Dane customer service | 1-877-369-3493 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V431 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V431000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall 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 →