Your stock Tundra headlights leave a dark gap right in front of the bumper, and the beam falls apart the moment you turn onto an unlit back road. That is the problem we set out to solve with this tundra headlight upgrade. We installed and tested the Morimoto XB LED Gen 2 headlights on a 2014-2021 Toyota Tundra to see whether the second generation really earns its spot over the first gen XB and the factory LED option. From the outside they look identical to the originals. Inside, the optics are new, and the difference shows up on the road.
Mistakes to Avoid Before Your Tundra Headlight Upgrade
The 14-21 Tundra is one of the most popular trucks among our customers, and the first gen XB headlights were a big hit on it. Even so, plenty of owners looked at the factory LED headlights from Toyota and wondered whether the XB was worth it. We get that question constantly. Before you decide, here are the mistakes we see most often.
Mistake 1: Putting LED bulbs in the stock housings
This is the big one. Dropping LED replacement bulbs into factory housings will not give you anything close to the result of a purpose-built projector assembly. The XB Gen 2 uses triple projector optics that meet and exceed SAE, DOT and FMVSS 108 regulations when aimed properly. A bulb swap simply cannot reproduce that controlled beam.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the adapter harness on OEM LED trucks
If your Tundra came from the factory with LED headlights, pay attention. Earlier versions had some compatibility bugs on those trucks. That has been ironed out with an updated optional adapter harness, which means OEM LED owners should plan for it rather than discover the issue in the driveway.
Mistake 3: Assuming the factory aim works on a lifted truck
The out of the box aim is preset to OEM specs, which is great for a stock height truck. But if your Tundra is jacked up, the beam will sit differently relative to the road. Check the aim after install instead of trusting the preset.
Mistake 4: Choosing a DRL color without thinking about the whole truck
White and amber look very different. We cover how to choose below, but think about your auxiliary lighting and overall style before you commit.
Step-by-Step Install: How We Put the Gen 2 XBs on the Tundra
Wiring is easy on these. The headlights are designed to work on your Toyota Tundra without any modifications at all. They plug and play with the factory connectors for the stock headlights. Here is the order we followed.
Step 1: Confirm which factory headlights your truck has
Start by identifying whether your Tundra has the factory halogen or factory LED headlights. Halogen trucks plug right in. OEM LED trucks should use the updated optional adapter harness so the earlier compatibility bugs do not come back to bite you.
Step 2: Connect the included connectors, seals and pigtails
Each assembly includes all the necessary connectors, seals and pigtails for a plug and play installation. We laid everything out on the bench first so nothing got mixed up between sides. The seals matter, so seat them fully before you button anything up.
Step 3: Power up and verify every function
Once connected, we checked low beam, high beam, the daytime running light, the startup sequence and the turn signal. No error codes. No flickering. No hyper flashing. That is exactly how a plug and play headlight should behave.
Step 4: Check and fine-tune the aim
Finally, we checked the aim. The integrated vertical and lateral adjusters make this simple, and on a stock height truck the preset OEM aim should already be good to go.
One more thing owners ask about: these lights can easily be removed and will not void the factory warranty on your truck.
Real-World Testing Notes
Light output matters most to Tundra owners, so that is where we started. The original Tundra XB used two projectors for low beam and one dedicated high beam. The Gen 2 uses all three projectors for low beam with a dual Bi-LED setup.
The result is 33% more light output in low beam mode and 100% more output in high beam mode.
Raw numbers are only half the story, though. In practice, what we noticed first was the distribution. There is much more foreground light on the ground directly in front of the truck, and that translates into better visibility while cornering, because the area your eyes sweep into during a turn is no longer a dim patch beyond the edge of the beam. Compared to the OEM halogen and OEM LED headlights from Toyota, these are easily a top performer.
The startup sequence
As if the optical upgrades were not enough, the Gen 2 adds a startup sequence. When the daytime running light kicks on, the projectors illuminate in a two-stage sequence before turning back off. It is one of those details that is hard to describe in words, so watch the video above to see it in action. We fired it up more times than we would like to admit.
Turn signal behavior
The turn signal gets its own dedicated optic, separate from the DRL. You can run it in full on/off mode or in the sequential setup that everybody loves. We tried both. Sequential gets the attention, but the full on/off mode looks clean if you prefer a more factory feel.
How to Choose Your DRL Color
This is the game changer. The Gen 2 XB headlights are available with your choice of a white daytime running light or an all amber version, and both are powered by Osram LEDs. Both are insanely bright and easily visible during the day.
The amber version is our personal favorite. It looks right at home on a Tundra that already runs amber off-road lighting, and it gives the front end a rugged, purposeful look. The white version looks crisp and modern, and it suits a cleaner street build or a truck where you want the lighting to read as factory plus.
Think about the rest of the truck while you decide. If you plan to match the rear, I would pair the headlights with the matching XB LED tail lights so the lighting reads as one consistent design front to back. For the lower bumper, we like adding the XB LED fog lights for the Tundra to round out the front end.
Bottom line: there is no wrong choice here. Pick the color that fits how you use the truck.
Fitment and Compatibility
These headlights are built for the 2014-2021 Toyota Tundra. They plug into the factory headlight connectors with no modifications, and each assembly ships with the connectors, seals and pigtails needed for the install.
- Factory halogen trucks: plug and play with the stock connectors.
- Factory LED trucks: use the updated optional adapter harness, which resolves the compatibility bugs seen on earlier versions.
- Stock height trucks: the preset OEM aim should be good out of the box.
- Lifted trucks: plan to adjust the aim with the integrated vertical and lateral adjusters.
- Warranty: the lights can be removed and will not void your factory warranty.
If you want to handle the whole truck at once, it is worth looking at the headlight and tail light bundle. And if you are going all in, I would point you toward the full 14-21 Tundra upgrade kit, which brings every exterior light up to the same standard in one go.
Comparison: Gen 2 XB vs the OEM LED Headlights
The factory LED headlights are the most common alternative we hear about. They cost less, and for some owners that was enough to skip the first gen XB. The Gen 2 changes that math.
Here is how it stacks up in practice. The Gen 2 XB uses all three projectors for low beam with a dual Bi-LED setup, delivering 33% more low beam output and 100% more high beam output than the first gen XB, with more foreground light for cornering. Add the startup sequence, white or all amber Osram-powered DRLs, and a dedicated turn signal optic with full on/off or sequential modes, and the gap between this and a factory LED headlight gets wide.
There is also the look to consider. Some owners prefer to keep their factory housings and simply clean up the chrome. If that is your direction, our Tundra headlight chrome delete guide walks through it. But a chrome delete changes appearance only. It does not change the beam, and it will not add the output, distribution or features covered here.
Versus the first gen XB? Nothing was wrong with the original. Even so, the Gen 2 brings more DRL options, more sequential effects, the startup sequence and more light output. That is what it is all about.
Are they worth it? Absolutely. If you are ready for a tundra headlight upgrade that fixes the dark foreground and the weak high beam at the same time, you can find the Gen 2 XB headlights at theretrofitsource.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is new on the Morimoto XB LED Gen 2 headlights for the Tundra?
The Gen 2 lights look the same from the outside but change the optics inside. All three projectors now serve the low beam, with a dual Bi-LED setup, for 33% more low beam output and 100% more high beam output than the first gen XB. They also add more DRL options, more sequential effects and a startup sequence.
Which Tundra years do these headlights fit?
They are built for the 2014 to 2021 Toyota Tundra and are designed to work with the factory connectors and no modifications.
Are they plug and play?
Yes. Each assembly includes the necessary connectors, seals and pigtails and plugs into the stock headlight connectors. There should be no error codes, flickering or hyper flashing.
What DRL colors can I choose?
You can choose a white daytime running light or an all amber version. Both are powered by Osram LEDs and are easy to see during the day.
Are the Gen 2 headlights DOT compliant and easy to aim?
The triple projector optics meet and exceed SAE, DOT and FMVSS 108 regulations when aimed properly. Integrated vertical and lateral adjusters make aiming easy, and the out of the box aim is preset to OEM specs, which should be fine unless your truck is lifted.
Meet the Experts Behind The Retrofit Source
Tyler Jordan – Technical Writer
Tyler works directly with the TRS product R&D team, bringing over a decade of automotive aftermarket lighting experience to every article. An avid enthusiast with hundreds of personal installations under his belt, his content is built on hands-on knowledge from the workbench, not spec sheets.
Caleb Morgan – Marketing Manager
Caleb brings over a decade of automotive lighting industry experience and works with TRS customers daily on the front lines. With hundreds of personal lighting installations and a direct feedback loop from real buyers, his content addresses the questions and problems that actually matter.
