Recall 21V859 affects 20 2019-2020 Supreme Dry Freight Body vehicles for a rearward-facing license plate light. Repair is free at any franchised Supreme dealer.
Supreme is recalling 20 2019-2020 Dry Freight Body vehicles equipped with certain Maxon GPTLR and GPTWR liftgates because the license plate light can aim rearward instead of at the plate. A rear-facing plate light can shine toward other drivers and increase crash risk, and Supreme dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The liftgate on 2019-2020 Supreme Dry Freight Body vehicles includes a license plate light kit. That light is supposed to shine down toward the rear license plate so the plate is illuminated when the vehicle's exterior lights are on. On the affected Maxon GPTLR and GPTWR liftgates, the light is part of the liftgate installation, not a separate body panel.
According to the recall filing, the license plate light kit was designed and supplied with the light aimed rearward, parallel to the roadway, instead of downward at the plate. That means the light is present, but it is pointed in the wrong direction. The issue is a lighting compliance problem tied to certain Maxon liftgates installed on Supreme Dry Freight Body vehicles.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or service technician can inspect the rear license plate area and see whether the light shines toward the plate or straight back from the liftgate.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2019 and 2020 Dry Freight Body with two affected areas tied to the same Maxon GPTLR-SOR-8 liftgate: body structure and exterior lighting.
| 2019 Supreme Dry Freight Body | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2019 Supreme Dry Freight Body | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Supreme Dry Freight Body | body structure |
| 2020 Supreme Dry Freight Body | Exterior lighting |
| Units affected | 20 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 20 field incidents to date. |
Not every 2019-2020 Supreme Dry Freight Body is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A license plate light aimed toward other drivers increases crash risk. Until the replacement kit is installed, schedule the recall service promptly and avoid delaying the repair. Repair is free at any franchised Supreme dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Supreme Dry Freight Body is included in this recall.
- Contact Supreme customer service at 1-844-352-4921 to arrange the free replacement license plate kit.
- Ask Supreme where the Maxon license plate kit replacement will be performed and what paperwork to bring.
- Reference recall number 21V859 when you call, and bring the owner notice if Supreme mailed one.
- Avoid night driving until the rearward-aimed license plate light is replaced so it lights the plate instead of other drivers.
What happens at the repair
Supreme provides the replacement license plate kit through Maxon, free of charge. At service, a Supreme technician installs the new kit so the license plate light points toward the plate instead of rearward. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Supreme has a general reimbursement plan on file for eligible owners who already paid for a related repair before the recall notice. Contact Supreme customer service at 1-844-352-4921 with your repair paperwork and ask how to submit documentation under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 4, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 1, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| December 20, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 31, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 19, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 31, 2022 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V859?
Recall 21V859 covers 20 2019-2020 Supreme Dry Freight Body vehicles equipped with certain Maxon GPTLR and GPTWR liftgates. The license plate light was installed facing rearward instead of toward the license plate, which violates federal lighting rules and creates a crash-risk concern.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Supreme Dry Freight Body is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V859. If it is, contact Supreme customer service at 1-844-352-4921 and ask about the free replacement license plate kit. Reference recall number 21V859 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and Supreme will work with Maxon to provide the replacement license plate kit free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a license plate light aimed toward other drivers instead of the license plate. That rearward-facing light creates a crash-risk concern listed in the recall filing. The fix is the free replacement license plate kit from Supreme and Maxon.
When were owner letters mailed?
Supreme mailed owner notification letters on January 19, 2022. If you did not receive a letter, check your VIN and contact Supreme customer service at 1-844-352-4921 with recall number 21V859.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V859000 |
|---|---|
| Supreme customer service | 1-844-352-4921 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V859 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V859000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →