If you own a 2014, 2015, or 2016 Toyota Tundra, upgrading the interior lights is an easy improvement. Swap those dim, yellowish incandescent bulbs for bright, modern LEDs. In this guide, we show exactly how we upgraded a 2015 Tundra using GTR Lighting bulbs. We cover the front map lights, rear dome lights, vanity mirror lights, and driver’s side courtesy light under the dash. Want more usable light when opening the doors at night? LEDs make a big difference. You can also add some wow factor when someone climbs into your truck. For a unique look, you can even change the interior lighting color. Upgrading your Toyota Tundra interior LED lights is a simple project. Anyone can tackle it with a few basic hand tools.
Why Upgrade Your Tundra Interior Lights to LED?
There are plenty of good reasons to make this switch. Factory incandescent bulbs produce a weak, warm glow. They are not very useful when you need light at night. LEDs provide a much brighter, cleaner white light. This makes it easier to see when you open your doors at night. Beyond brightness, LEDs offer an easy way to change your interior lighting color. Our 2014-2016 Tundra interior kits come in several color options. You can choose standard white, yellow, red, blue, or green. That lets you customize your cab and make your truck stand out. Best of all, it is a relatively inexpensive upgrade.
If you are ready to grab everything at once, the 2014-2016 Tundra LED interior bulb kit includes the bulbs you need for this exact project. And if you want to see what else is available, browse our full lineup of interior LED bulbs and kits to plan out the rest of your build.
What You Need Before You Start
The great news is that this project requires almost no tools. All you need is a pry tool to remove the lenses. In the video, we used the metal trim tool from Joey’s Tools. It has a broad, flat blade that works really well. The flat blade can also pry the bulbs from the fixtures. This means you do not need to remove the metal reflectors. Keep one important safety note in mind. We will cover it in detail later. When you reach the dome lights, avoid using a metal tool. A metal tool can short the pins and pop a fuse.
How to Install the Front Map Light LEDs
We started with the front map lights. On the map light cover there is a little indentation on the forward leading edge of the lens. That is where you want to pry first. Insert your trim tool, give it some pressure, and work your way around the edge until the whole thing pops out. Pay attention to how the lens sits, because the piece that came out first goes back in first when you reassemble everything.
With the plastic lens off, the easiest way to remove the original bulbs is to use that broad flat blade on your pry tool to pop the bulb straight out. That way you do not have to mess with removing the metal reflector at all. Once the original incandescent bulb is out, it is time to install the new LED.
The bulb we use here is the GTR Lighting Crystal Lens 194. It is also called the Crystal Lens T10. The terms 194 and T10 are interchangeable for this style of wedge bulb. Inside, it uses a single forward-facing high power LED. A semi-clear diffuser sits directly in front of the LED. This diffuser is where the “Crystal Lens” name comes from. Below the diffuser, you can see the aluminum body. The aluminum body acts as a heat sink. It helps dissipate the heat produced by these powerful bulbs.
The back of the bulb uses the same wedge shape as the original. It drops right into the factory socket. Pull out the incandescent bulb, install the new LED, and you are done. Once everything is reassembled, put the lens back in place. You will notice the light spreads wider than you might expect. That is thanks to the diffuser. A bare LED can create a single bright spot. This style makes the entire fixture look illuminated instead. It also keeps the bulb short enough to avoid hitting the lens. That is a common issue with some high power 194 bulbs. We tested several styles before choosing this one for our interior kit. It is a great fit for the new Tundra.
How to Install the Vanity Mirror Festoon LEDs
If your Tundra came with the vanity mirror option, meaning the drop-down visor mirrors with two lights on either side, this is a very easy install. Take your trim tool and pop the lens off. There is a recess right at the bottom to get it loose. Once the lens is off you will see the festoon bulb sitting right there. It is a good idea to close the mirror to turn the light off first, then remove the bulb with your pry tool.
The replacement is the GTR Lighting 3 LED 29mm festoon bulb. This product is specifically designed for vanity mirror lights like these, and it is almost an exact replica of the original bulb in size and shape. There is one very important difference: the original glass festoon bulb emits light all the way around, but the LED festoon bulb only emits light in one direction. That means you have to install it with the LEDs facing outward.
The bulb goes in just like the original came out. If you get it in backwards the first time, no worries. Just pop it out and flip it around. Once it is in correctly, you will see a stark difference in both the light output and the color compared to the old glass bulb. One quick note when ordering: if you have the vanity light feature and want to include it, be sure to select the vanity lights option, since it is an optional part of the interior kit. You do not have to include it if you do not have those mirrors.
How to Install the Rear Dome Light LEDs
The rear overhead lights are your dome lights. Start at the front of the fixture and carefully insert your pry tool between the trim ring and clear lens. Slide it around the edge to release the clips. The lens and reflector will come down together.
Here is the most important safety tip in the whole project. Before you remove the bulbs, go up front and turn the interior light switch to the off position, then give the bulbs a couple minutes to cool down so they do not burn your fingers. And do not use a metal tool, trim tool, pliers, or screwdriver to remove these bulbs. If the lights are on and those pins have power, touching everything together with a piece of metal is really easy to do, and it will short things out and pop a fuse. Use your fingers or a plastic tool instead. You should be able to just reach up and pull the bulbs out.
With the two original bulbs out, turn the power back on and plug in the new LEDs to make sure they work. This is where the color options really come in handy. In our truck we did blue in the back just to show how easy it is to change the color and customize the style of your cab.
If you want something more practical than blue, most people just do white. White is going to be your brightest, most functional option for actually seeing what you are doing in the dark. If the bulbs plug in but do not turn on, your wires may just need a slight adjustment so they make good contact with the socket in the dome light housing. When it is time to put the housing back together, install the reflector first, because the body of the LED bulbs is slightly larger than the original incandescent bulbs. If the reflector is not on first, you will not be able to fit it over the new bulbs. Then get the plastic cover back on. The two clamps at the back go up and over the top of the headliner to clamp everything in place, so you have to get them sitting just right. It takes a few tries to get the feel of it, and then everything pops back in just like factory.
How to Install the Driver’s Side Courtesy Light T5 LED
The last bulb to replace is the single T5 light bulb on the driver’s side under the dash, located right above the e-brake. Push the e-brake down to get some clearance, then on the back side of the dash you can twist the socket for the bulb out and pull the bulb from the bottom. Swap in the new bulb and twist the socket back into place.
This spot is picky. We tried a few different T5 style bulbs, and not just any T5 will fit here. It has to be a super small, low profile LED bulb. What we found that works is the GTR Lighting single LED T5, which is what we include in this interior kit. It has a very small plastic base with two pins and a single forward-facing LED, and it is the only bulb of this style we found that actually fits this application.
We did red down here just for fun, but of course you can do white for maximum brightness, or blue, yellow, or whatever color you like. Just like the other locations, the color choice is entirely up to you.
Final Thoughts on the Tundra Interior LED Upgrade
Going from incandescent filament bulbs to LED in your Tundra is a pretty simple job. There are a lot of little parts involved, but nothing is difficult, and anyone can do it with some basic hand tools. If you get into the project and something is not working right, reach out to us and we are happy to help troubleshoot. This kit is part of our broader lineup of lighting for these trucks, and GTR Lighting makes a lot of great products, so it is worth exploring our selection of GTR Lighting headlights, bulbs and wiring if you want to keep upgrading.
For enthusiasts who want to nerd out on the technical side of wedge bulbs, GTR also offers GTR Lighting 6-LED CANBUS T10 bulbs for other applications. And once your interior is done, take it a step further with our Tundra rear and interior LED conversion guide to complete the look front to back. As we always say, it is not just about the light, it is about the drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What years does this interior LED light upgrade fit?
This video and kit are specifically for the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Toyota Tundra.
What LED bulbs are used for the map and dome lights?
The kit uses the GTR Lighting Crystal Lens 194 LED bulb, which has a single high power LED behind a semi clear diffuser that spreads light across the fixture instead of creating a single bright dot.
What bulb is used for the vanity mirror lights?
The vanity lights use the GTR Lighting 3 LED 29mm festoon bulb, which is a direct replacement for the original glass festoon bulb, though the LED version only emits light in one direction so it must be installed with the LEDs facing out.
What tool is needed to remove the interior light lenses?
A plastic or non-metal pry tool, such as the metal trim tool shown from Joey’s Tools, is recommended to safely pop off the map light, vanity light, and dome light lenses without shorting the electrical pins.
Can I change the color of my Tundra interior lights?
Yes, the GTR Lighting 194 and T5 LED bulbs used in this kit are available in white, yellow, red, blue, and green, allowing you to customize the color of your map, dome, vanity, and courtesy lights.
Meet the Experts Behind Headlight Revolution
Chris Nelson – Founder
Before founding Headlight Revolution in 2011, Chris worked as an automotive install technician specializing in lighting, sound systems, and engine performance parts. He has personally tested thousands of lighting products and works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation.
Josh Beberg – Content Production Manager
Josh leads hands-on testing and content production at Headlight Revolution. From beam pattern comparisons to real-world installations, he works directly with lighting engineers to ensure every review is grounded in measured results, not marketing specs.
