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The Curt Spectrum hides the main unit behind your dash so there’s no bulky box in the way. All you see is a small knob that sits nearly flush against your dash or console. It extends just 1-1/2" and measures 1-3/4" across, so it looks clean and factory-installed. You can mount it with a single screw or use the adhesive pad for a no-drill setup. The 4' cable gives you flexibility to place the knob where it’s easy to reach while keeping the module tucked out of sight.
Every stop feels steady thanks to proportional control that matches your trailer brakes to how you brake. Inside, a 3-axis accelerometer senses your motion and applies just the right amount of power so your trailer slows at the same rate as your tow vehicle. It works with trailers up to 4 axles (8 brake assemblies) and supports electric trailer brakes. The result is smooth braking on any grade without that jerky push-pull feeling.
You control everything from one dial. Turn it to adjust braking output or press it to change sensitivity for different load weights and conditions. A push of the center button activates manual override whenever you need to steady a trailer or stop sway. The colored LED ring around the knob makes it easy to see what’s happening at a glance—green for light braking, red for heavy power, and distinct blue flashes if no trailer is connected.
Setup only takes a few steps. Stick the knob on your dash, plug the main unit into your harness, and mount it anywhere behind trim with just enough space for its 3" x 3-1/2" x 7/8" housing. If your vehicle has a factory tow package, simply use the matching Curt adapter harness for a direct connection—no cutting or splicing required. The Spectrum senses orientation automatically, so once it’s plugged in, you’re ready to go.
After towing, you don’t have to worry about power drain. The controller draws only a trace amount of current and goes into sleep mode after about 10–20 minutes of inactivity. It can sit unused for months before affecting battery charge, so everyday drivers never have an issue starting up again.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
94% were satisfied with this product
6% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
Installed on 2011 Toyota Sequoia - Wanted a controller solution that was not bulky or required drilling into the dash panel. This foot the bill. See photos - I was able to install without a single hole drilled into the dash panels. Mounted knob on left 4-switch panel which is easily accessible by driver and hidden away from passengers (so they are not bothered by the glow). VERY CLEAN LOOK.
Nice little unit. Really like the fact you only have the control knob showing. Was hoping it was small enough to fit in extra spot on Tundra next to the traction control button. Was a little large but found a great out of the way really factory looking spot for it. Have not had a chance to hook up trailer yet but as far as install goes it was super easy using the pigtail plug. True plug and play. Instructions were very easy to read and understand.
Works well, Only annoying thing is that without a trailer connected 2 led come on every time you hit the brake. Looks great on dash, kinda looks like OEM if you take the time to do a nice installation. Like the fact that the main module is hidden.
Was an easy install for my 2018 Grand Cherokee with the addition of the specific cable adapter.
I was able to secure the main unit under the dash on-top of the diagnostic port bracket and then run the wire for the dial up the drivers side of the dash so that it is concealed once the door is closed. The dial now sits on-top of the left side of the dash by the windshield pillar. I wanted to make this a temporary install incase I traded the truck in the near future.
I have not hooked up a trailer yet so can not give a review on how well it works.
Decided I wanted a high quality brake controller without the clunky box on the dash and this seemed like the best out there. Super easy install. I bought the extra cable for my Silverado and it all plugged in perfectly. I saw somebody complain about tiny connectors. Don't listen to them. This thing is excellent and the quality is clearly top tier. The set up was a breeze and on our first trip out I got it dialed in with no problems. Works better than my previous controller by far.
Purchased this controller for use on my 2017 Toyota Tundra. It looks great after the install. I took a couple of hours to get it in from box opening to completion (with frequent distractions from children) but the manual was great and installation went smoothly. To clarify the issue with the blue lights I’ve seen as a complaint. When you start the car, it goes through it’s calibration procedure. If no trailer is attached, it blinks the two blue LEDs for a bit saying no trailer is detected. If you touch the brake pedals those blinking lights turn off. While you’re driving no lights are on. Then, every time you push the brakes the two blue LEDs turn on while the brake pedal is depressed to say you’re braking and it doesn’t detect a trailer. Honestly, I’m glad for those lights because if my trailer was connected and I saw those lights while braking I’d know there was something wrong with the connection. I put my unit directly to the left of the steering wheel so I’ll only see the lights when I lean over and look yet it’s easily accessible while in the drivers seat. Everyone was telling me to grab a P2 or P3, I’m glad I didn’t listen. This is nicely out of the way, easily accessible, clean and simple, and very capable unit with all the necessary capabilities one needs in a brake controller.
I installed this unit on my 2015 Chevy Colorado yesterday and all went pretty well thanks to a online install video. I have not hooked it up to a trailer yet so I can not give a review on how well it works. I would have given this five stars except I was forced to use the two sided tape mounting system after drilling an additional hole in my dash for the bolt on install. I discovered that there is not enough room for the wires behind the knob to snap into the bolt on mounting ring. Great service and fast delivery from etrailer; five stars for them all the way.
Etrailer.com - Awesome! Excellent customer service. Have dealt with them many times, Knowledgeable, Friendly and Helpful, great products at competitive prices. Highly Recommend.
Curt Spectrum - Neat and clean, straight forward installation. Just make sure the wires to the plug connector are fully seated to the plug connector. Custom wire adapter makes installation plug and play. Picture is 2017 Silverado 1500.
The installation went very quickly and the end result was very satisfying. The location of the switch on the dashboard makes it hard to spot as an aftermarket add on. The whole installation took 1 hour start to finish. I can't wait to tow a trailer so that I can get the Cuurt Spectrum Brake Controller calibrated and dialed in. Thanks etrailer! Thank Curt!
Wife needed a trailer brake controller for her 2019 Suburban and chose this one over a similar Australian one as this looked more sturdy. Controls are simple and easy for the wife to use. Took more time to get the dash apart than it did to install. I also used Curt's vehicle specific pigtail to super-simplify the installation.
Honda Ridgeline 2019 Install
Plan to tow an RPOD 195 Travel Trailer as soon as I pick it up
Simple Installation
Didn't need to remove dash to install, as free space behind this location.
Knob on lower left of Dash.
Module Tie Wrapped to the Parking Brake Bracket under the Dash.
Used the C51392 Wiring adapter to connect the Brake Controller to the Truck.
Pictures of Dash Install only.
Haven't functionally tested yet as I am waiting on Delivery of the Trailer.
Everything installed great. The overall look of the knob if excellent. The direct plug in to the Ford OEM brake plug is excellent. Have not towed anything yet.
P.S.: The screw-in base with well nut - which is the more secure option (not the adhesive option) for the knob... the screw prevents the knob from seating perfectly square... the base bottoms out just slightly on the screw. It does click in, the screw is a very flat pan head... perhaps there is a flatter screw or the there is more space in the knob undercarriage, but another 1/16" of space probably gets it just right. If the seating gets weird (i.e in cold weather may shrink cause plastic to contract slightly and lose seating, I can always use a machine screw and nut washer to clean it up... plenty of space to access the fastener from mounting place. 2008 Ford Expedition.
Great product. Easy install in under 45 minutes to integrate into factory OEM harness. 2017 Land Ro er Discovery Sport with factory trailer tow package will be plug and play with this controller, and Curt custom wiring Adapter C51322. The factory brake controller integration harness is directly behind the OBDII connector on the driver’s side. Everything else is in place. Note: your factory OEM tow connection MUST be dealer activated in your vehicle. Without that activation, the body controller will not pass power to the brake module.
There is ample space inside the dash on the left side, behind the left knee bolster to place the control module in a securable and protected location. This requires only 3 easy to remove panels, and 2 screws to reach. If oriented properly, the DIP switches are accessible in future by removing the dash side panel (zero tools required).
There are multiple locations for the control knob. The look and style of the control knob fits perfectly with the design of the interior. Love the ability to use a drill or no-drill installation method.
We haul our Forrest River travel trailer with this vehicle and previously used a time-based controller that “fought” with the vehicle’s integrated trailer stability control and anti-sway detection. This controller has solved this issue and gives complete control while integrating seamlessly with factory stability systems.
Even with the output or sensitivity at high levels, this system still works perfectly with the vehicle trailer stability control. This was a vast improvement over our old time-based controller.
Great function and fantastic look. For a non-OEM product, this truly does have an OEM look, function and ease of installation. Curt did a great job with this.
My only nit is that both Curt and etrailer do not recognize the factory connection adapter harness as an option on the Discovery Sport. TIP: If you select the Land Rover Evoque (shares the same platform as the Discovery Sport) the options become correct for your Discovery Sport as far as factory adapter harnesses.
Super fast delivery. Would be better if drop-ship items included an actual tracking number instead of only the user login web based tracking option. The web based tracking required logging in to monitor for delivery times. Some kind of automated text or email shipping updates for drop-ship items would make a great buying experience into a fantastic one.
Worked well in my Infiniti 2017 QX60 but install was not that easy.
First unlike other etrailer products, I could not find an install video for my car. For other Infiniti owners out there, the brake controller connector is located along the wiring harness connected to the OBD connector. You cannot see it as it is lightly taped up, you just need to feel for it and pull it down. Secondly it is *capped*. The cap looks very much like the plug itself so don't be confused. Remove the cap and you can install. Make sure you get the right Curt adapter for your car.
Secondly the install requires the user to insert the crimped controller wires into a connector for control module. There are videos on how to do this however it did not go as easy as shown. Maybe I had a defective part, but there is clearly only one way to insert the wires but I had to insert with significant force to get them in all the way.
Once installed the unit worked fine with my 3,800lb RV trailer. A few nits: Occasionally the control knob will leave as one of its lights on after the car is turned off. Its happens occasionally and can be reset by pushing the brakes again but seems like a bug? Also the knob will *always* light up if you press the brakes even if you do not have a trailer attached. There is no way to turn this feature off and can be kinda annoying if you do not tow that much.
Overall, works as advertised and like how it can be tucked away, but wish the install was better explained for my vehicle and didn't bother if there was no trailer attached.
I chose this controller as the main module fits out of sight and does not have to be aligned or leveled. I attached it to the parking brake bracket on our Pilot. The LED rotary control knob fits nicely on the dash and after inserting the cable through a small hole in the dash, connecting the plug was simple with the pins that were attached to the cable. What was confusing was the instructions do not mention there are two base plates - one for adhesive mounting to the dash and the other for drill mounting (what I did). I tried to snap the rotary knob into the base plate I mounted, but it would not fit. I found out that the rotary knob actually comes with the adhesive mount already attached and you have to use a small screw driver to pry it off so you can use the other base plate. Luckily Curt has an installation video on their web site that showed removing the adhesive plate. I generally do not start taking apart precision gear without some hint of what should be done. Curt also has a custom cable that plugs into this unit and the port on my Pilot.
When I get our trailer I will be able to review the performance of this controller.
I really like the finished look of this controller after it is installed (see before and after pictures attached)! I also like being able to finely tune it to my need using the power output and sensitivity adjustments. I do have a minor issue with connecting a trailer to my 2020 Jeep Gladiator, though. If I connect the trailer while the engine is running, the electronic stability control and engine start/stop services on the truck disable themselves. Turning the ignition all the way off an on again resolves the issue, as does having the engine off when I connect the trailer. Aside from that minor inconvenience, this controller works admirably and I would buy it for other vehicles.
Installing was simple with the adapter for factory wiring. The most difficult part was identifying the location for the knob and taking the dash apart to install it properly. The finished appearance is clean and the only visible aspect of the entire system is the control knob.
With the sensitivity and power controls on mid-level, the trailer tires were skidding on quick stops. Tuning the settings to have less sensitivity and less power quickly corrected that issue. I am quite happy with this controller!
This controller is a really good concept but kind of challenging to get dialed in correctly for each load. When braking in a straight line it performs as expected but when braking while turning or on bumpy roads it often times surges the brakes making them lock up.
I have been using this product for 1 year and am now figuring out ways to work around the surges. Best way I've found is to keep the sensitivity on high and only adjust the power setting.
The 4 star rating on this product is for how small and sleek the adjustment knob is vs standard brake controllers installed In the dash it feels almost factory.
Install took about 5 -10 minutes
Overall I am happy with this purchace
it's just not quite as user friendly as I'd hoped.
I ordered the Curt Spectrum trailer brake controller after much research. I was looking for a brake controller with a clean looking install (I didn't want an underdash mount) for my 2020 Chevy Blazer. My Blazer had the tow package from the factory which made the install fairly easy. All the wiring for a brake controller is there behind the driver side kick panels. The Curt Spectrum once installed and adjusted works flawlessly. Just follow the enclosed instructions to adjust the Spectrum for the load you are hauling. I could not be any more pleased with the way this product works and highly recommend the Curt Spectrum brake for your auxiliary braking needs.
I bought this because I wanted a factory look. This was easy to install and looks great. You have to learn what the different colors and settings do but it’s not that difficult. Overall I am very happy with this brake controller.
The compact remote control knob feature is a good plus for this product. Installation was really easy with the interface harness on the second generation Tacoma. I haven't had a lot of towing time with it but can offer the following insight.
The control lights are easy to use and adjust. They appear to be dimmed with pulse width modulation so if your eyes are sensitive to it you might look at one before you buy. Hopefully they can go PWM-free at some point. The "white" color lamps appear as a mix of flashing red green and blue. Indicator lights are plenty bright in the daytime but the lowest dim setting is too bright. Perhaps this was done to minimize the PWM flashing at the dim setting. I had to locate the knob in the shadow of the steering wheel to keep the light out of my eyes at night.
I've also noticed a single artifact light on many occasions after brake release (see pictures). So far the lamp color has been red, green, and blue however I have not yet seen a "white" one. One of these lights often come up in random positions on the dial. This lamp will continue to burn after I get out of the truck, and won't go out until I press the brake pedal again or push the knob. If I push the knob the output or sensitivity adjustment mode arc comes up briefly and it goes out after a bit (as it's supposed to). OEM brake control harness and grounding were sound with typical resistances around a milliohm or less.
This controller is a considerable parasitic draw on the battery even with the lamps out and the ignition switch off. This could be an issue particularly if an artifact light is not noticed and the truck sits for more than a week(which mine sometimes does). A depleted battery made me look into this with a Fluke ammeter. You might consider pulling the fuse if the truck will sit or hook up a trickle charger.
I tried to make contact with the manufacturer to see if they had any free convection requirements for air flow around the main module (air cooling at 100% duty cycle), and to understand what is going on with the controller and if there was something that could be done to fix the lights, perhaps a firmware update or something but never got any replies. The folks at etrailer maintained good communication and were excellent to work with but I don't feel the manufacturer is willing to support their product. This could be an excellent product if they can address these issues.
2019 Honda Ridgeline RTL AWD—
The Curt Spectrum C51170 controller and harness C51392 was exactly as I had read it would be! All connections hooked up as described and all connectors fit! The knob works as described but I have yet to hook up trailer to get response from the accelerometer! I’m sure the quality shown it will work fine! Only problem I had was access under the dash. Thanks Bill and etrailer! Pictures attached!
George
5/27/2020
I really haven’t used it much after install except to test with empty car trailer. It worked well. Three or four people I have showed it to have been impressed! Thanks
I knew I wanted to have something like this due to the look, function and size. The package was small. Installed pretty easily with minimal headaches. I just watched the videos online to see how others did it and how to steer away from making damaging mistakes. The booklet was also very helpful to make everything fit as it should while putting the steps in order.
As I pull a trailer 90% of the time, I wanted something to have the easy manipulation for the brakes yet have an aesthetically pleasing look. This does just that. Brakes on one setting. Adjustable on two other settings. Very quick.
Although I did have to play with the settings to make sure it wasn’t jerking me in my seat every time I pushed the brake pedal, after a day, smooth sailing.
I do recommend you seriously think about this brake controller. Ease of install and the application is perfect.
Evan
11/10/2020
Wonderful! It has been a great tool!
This is my 2nd purchase of Curt spectrum brake control. When installing the first device, I accidentally broke one of the 6 wires (wiring the plug connector to the led display knob). I tried to fix it but it didn't work for long. That's why I had to order a 2nd device. For the installation of the 2nd, I was very meticulous because the 6 wires are very fragile. I succeeded by taking my time and everything works very well. The Curt company would do well to manufacture this device more robustly. For looks, it's ok in my 2019 Honda Passport.
Ceci est mon 2e achat de Curt spectrum brake control. Lors de l'installation du premier appareil, j'ai par accident brisé un des 6 fils (wiring the plug connector to the led display knob). J'ai tenté de le réparer mais il n'a pas fonctionné longtemps. C'est pourquoi j'ai dû commander un 2e appareil. Pour la pose du 2e, j'ai été très minutieux car les 6 fils sont très fragiles. J'ai réussi en prenant mon temps et le tout fonctionne très bien. La compagnie Curt aurait intérêt à fabriquer cet appareil de façon plus robuste. Pour l'apparence ,c'est ok dans mon Honda Passport 2019.
Henri G.
10/16/2023
Après un an dusage, je trouve ce produit difficile à ajuster selon le poids chargé dans la remorque. Le processus est compliqué et je dois me référer au livre dinstruction. Pas pratique.
Mike L.
11/8/2023
Helpful Links
After knocking my knee into my brake control for the last 20 years with the new GMC Savana I wanted something a little different. Technology has moved trailer brakes forward quite a bit and Etrailer has an immense amount of information!
I original looked at the Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Trailer Brake Controller but it would take up a valuable power outlet with the control unit but it's kind of trailer specific as the control mounts to the trailer you never know when you might have to tow another trailer and was leery of the control wandering around the console, Next up was the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Trailer Brake Controller but did not like the control mounting options. Then ran across the Tuson DirecLink Lite Trailer Brake Controller crazy amounts of technology in this unit but again concerns over the remote so after lots of head scratching the Curt Spectrum seemed like the best choice. Easy install very small control box mounted easily with the included double stick tape under the dash. I moved my traction control button to the left where a blank filler was you have to cut a little piece of it off to get it into the hole as the are "keyed" to specific locations I guess but worked perfectly! I left enough slack in the connection so I can simply disconnect the harness if I am not towing for awhile as the blue indicator lights come on every time you hit the brake if its disconnected. Just installed it so I will send an update after our first trip with the new rig but I'm thinking it will work as described. Thanks again etrailer fast shipping great information!!!!
Bob F.
1/13/2020
It has worked out great, I have over 4,000 miles of towing with it highly recommend it!!
Fast shipping,excellent price. Videos for everything they sell,how to install, reviews, how to use. Everything I have bought from e trailer has exceeded my expectations.
Richard. L.
3/8/2026
Everything seems to be working perfectly. Easy installation. Would definitely buy from e trailer again
Jerred H.
3/8/2026
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Doug
4/26/2021
I have thousands of miles on the trailer now. The brake controller has worked flawlessly. I have towed cars, ATVs and loads of lumber just set the controller for the load and it does the rest. Excellent product.