Parts Needed to Install an Electric Trailer Brake Controller on a 2012 Nissan Frontier

Question:

it is supposed to attach to a matching plug under the dash but nothing there has red,white, blue, and black wiring. Im hoping the dealer attaching the hitch tomorrow can find the correct wires.

asked by: Cindy S

Expert Reply:

The Curt brake controller # C84VV by itself does not plug directly into the factory location on the 2012 Nissan Frontier. You require another harness, # C51382. Once end plugs into the brake controller the other to the factory harness on the vehicle. The factory harness will be located underneath and left of the steering column, taped to another harness near the emergency brake pedal.

If your 2012 Nissan Frontier did not come with a factory installed 7-Way trailer connector you will need to add a few additional parts. First you would need to install a 4-Way using # C56225. Then you would need to install the 4 and 7-Way installation kit # ETBC7.

Once the 4-Way is installed it will plug into the ETBC7 and the remaining wires will get hardwired in. White grounds to the vehicle frame, black and blue (power and trailer brake output respectively) will go to the front of the vehicle, and purple is for reverse lights. If the trailer does not need the reverse light function the purple wire can be taped up and stowed out of the way.

I have included some links that cover the ETBC7 installation for you. If you do need to go with the hardwire installation using ETBC7 then instead of brake controller wiring harness C51382 you will use # C51515.