Some 13,000 2012 to 2014 Nissan Frontiers are being recalled due to a circuit that was installed backwards, resulting in an overheat and potentially causing a fire.

You'd think one of the few benefits of never changing a model would be really nailing that assembly process, but apparently that isn't the case with the Frontier.

Nissan and the NHTSA have reported that these circuits were installed with "incorrect orientation" at Nissan's Canton, Mississippi manufacturing facility between November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. A wire was left exposed that can accidentally connect to a metal bolt on the truck's A-pillar. It was determined that the bolt could wear through the wire harness's cover causing a short-circuit and subsequent overheat.

The problem first appeared on December 9th of last year, when a Frontier driver in Mexico reported smoke coming from the cabin and a Nissan tech confirmed the above-described issue had arisen. Ten days later Nissan put their Frontier production on ice at the plant where the offending truck had been assembled, and spent the past two months investigating what exactly went wrong.

On the February 4, 2014 Nissan started telling owners to bring in their 2012 to 2014 Frontiers to dealerships who would inspect the system in question, put it in the right way, replace the harness if broken repair the wire cover "using vinyl tape." Yep, tape is the from Nissan Corporate.

Here's brief straight from the :

SUMMARY:

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circuit breaker to face outward, potentially contacting a metal bolt located on the A-pillar.

CONSEQUENCE:

The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.

REMEDY:

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early March 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

NOTES:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to .

Image: Flickr/, NetCarShow