Morimoto LED Tail Lights for 5th Gen 4Runner – Install & Overview

Xenon Depot’s Morimoto XB LED Tail Lights Step-By-Step Install Guide and Review for the 5th Gen 4Runner

The long-awaited Morimoto XB tails are finally out in the wild and might be the sharpest tail light upgrade to date.

Released in November 2020, the lights have attracted a lot of attention and have freshened up my truck. Although they definitely aren’t the cheapest option out there, they are absolutely worth the extra money. If you’re looking for a rear-end refresh, these lights will be just the thing you need.

If you have one of the OG 5th gens (2010-2013), the XB tails are perfect for your truck. The 2010-2013 stock tail lights are not only basic and unattractive but are also outdated as they use incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs typically run hotter and do not last as long as the LED. To put it into perspective, halogen bulbs have a life expectancy of roughly 12,000 hours, whereas, LED bulbs have 50,000 hours of them. The XB tail lights will give your truck a much-needed makeover with a modern style and upgraded LED performance.

The OEM tail lights have certainly become outdated since their debut in 2014. Although the OEM tails are considered LED, they still have dull incandescent bulbs in the turn signals and reverse lights. You can always upgrade the bulbs, but you are still left with those ugly chrome accents. In order to remedy this, you could replace the entire housing with the Morimoto XBs.

Find it Online

• Morimoto XB LED Tail Lights: Check price
• Two Week Code on YotaMafia.com: 10% OFF (xbtails)

Key Features

• Smoked Black Housing
• SSC LED Red and Amber Signal
• Sequential Turn Signals
• Modes: Turn, Running, Brake
• Plug and Play Harness
• IP67 Waterproof
• High Impact Polycarbonate Lens (UV Resistant)
• 5 Year Warranty
• Compatible with 2010-2021 models
• Meets DOT Standards

Morimoto XB Tails

Pictured: @wideopenoverlandllc

The Morimoto XB tail lights are by far my favorite tail light replacement on the market today. The housing is made up of an abs injection mold plastic and poly carb, UV-resistant lens. The UV-resistant lenses are made to last and will keep your XB’s looking new for a very long time. They are IP67 rated, so you will never have to worry about water damage to your tail lights.

Since the XB tails use only LED chips, the tail lights with their sweet smoked black color really draw the eye. Before installing the Morimoto tails, I was that guy who rarely used his turn signals. However, now that I have these beauties, I find myself using them to show off their sick sequential turn signal feature. The horseshoe-shaped LEDs with their rippled lighting effect grabs your attention much more than the traditional stock turn signal.

What makes them stand out from other tail lights?

They are the triple threat of lights! They are safer, better quality, and dress up your truck!  Since the tail lights attract everyone’s attention, this makes me feel that they are a safer alternative to the stock lights. Drivers behind me can easily see my truck when I’m stopping, turning, or reversing. In addition, the upgraded tails will have people guessing the year of the truck as the stock lights usually date the vehicles. This is a quick and easy way to make your truck look newer.

One of my favorite things Morimoto has to offer is their exceptional 5-year warranty. Since these lights aren’t exactly the least expensive, it is very reassuring to know that they will be covered for half a decade, again making them worth the extra money. As long as the lights are purchased through them or a licensed Morimoto dealer, they stand completely behind their product.

Amber Sequential Turn Signals

Sequential turn signals…I mean who doesn’t love that!

Just like the Morimoto XB headlights, the XB tails offer a matching amber sequential turn signal and they look AMAZING! Although other options on the market offer sequential as well, Morimoto set themselves apart with a U-shaped LED strip. This LED strip gives the XB tails a very modern, sporty look which the stock housings lack.

LED Rever Light Chips

The reverse light output in the stock tail lights is one of their biggest downfalls. The Morimoto tails offer extremely bright LED reverse chips that are a huge upgrade overstock. Although they may not be as bright as a Tail as Turn Module, the light output is more than sufficient to get the job done. The XB’s reverse lights have a very clean cut offline which will help prevent blinding other drivers.

Brake Light/Running Light

Although the stock brake/running lights are LED, they aren’t that bright. Because of this, your 4Runner can blend in with other traffic on the road and be less visible at night. The XB tails are a major upgrade from stock with a much brighter output. This is where the Morimoto quality really speaks for itself.

The XB tails will definitely make your 4Runner stand out on the road in a very sporty and modern way. The XB’s styling is completely unique compared to other options with the oval-shaped brake lights.

Install Overview

The Morimoto XB tail lights are so easy to install. You don’t have to do any extra wiring as they are 100% plug-and-play. The XB tails do not require any additional resistors or connectors, they simply just plug into the factory harness.

Tools and Materials 

• Trim removal tool or a flat head screwdriver
• Deep socket 10mm ratchet

Step 1. Remove Factory Housings

The first step in installing your new Morimoto tails is removing the boring factory housings. To do this, take your trim removal tool or flat head screwdriver and pop out the plastic access panel. This can be found on the left and right sides inside of your cargo area.

Step 2. Remove Access Panel & Hardware

Once you have the access panel removed, you will then unscrew the two 10mm nuts with your deep socket ratchet. After that, you can then unplug the wiring harness and remove the factory housings.

Removing the factory housings may be a little difficult, especially if they’re a little older. One trick I found that makes taking them off a little easier is to bang on the side of the top corner with the side of your fist. By doing this, you will loosen up the housing from the retainer clips. After doing that a couple of times, you can then pull them out.

Step 3. Install XB Tails

Now that you have your factory housings removed, you can then insert your XB tails. When putting them in, make sure to line up the retainer clips on the side of the housing. You should feel them “click” into place.

After everything is lined up properly, you can plug in the wiring harness and tighten the two 10mm nuts with your ratchet.

Step 4. Clip-in Harness & Reinstall Hardware

Finally, reinstall the plastic access panel and you’re halfway there. Now repeat on the other side.

Before you hit the road, it is very important to test that all of the functions are working properly.

There are two ways to go about this by yourself…

1. The safest and easiest way to do this is to record a video of you testing the different functions. To record a video, you will need a tripod or something to prop up your phone.
2. Another way to do this, if you don’t have the ability to take a video, is to utilize your parking brake. However, this method can be very unsafe especially if you’re not parked on flat ground. I would personally only resort to this method if no other option is available.

Final Thoughts

We all know the saying “you get what you pay for”, which is why these tails don’t come cheap. Morimoto is the industry leader in aftermarket lighting upgrades, and the quality of their parts speaks volumes. Not only is the styling on point, but the quality of these tail lights is amazing. The fact that they stand behind their lights for 5 years says something about their commitment to customer satisfaction.

Also, navigating their website is super easy, and if you have any questions about what product to order, their customer service is superb. I’ve spoken to a few of their reps and each of them was highly informed and helped ensure that I ordered the correct lights for my truck. In a time when so many companies are difficult to contact, Morimoto reps are very accessible and trained on product knowledge.

Are they worth it?

There are a few other options out there for tail light upgrades and while the competition’s products may have some similarities, Morimoto is the leader for a reason. Their styling is completely unique in comparison and thoroughly compliments the design of the 5th Gen 4Runner. Adding the XB tail lights to your build will completely transform the look of your truck, and (believe me!) people notice them. I’m frequently stopped everywhere, the parking lot at the grocery store or even in my driveway. I happily recommend them every time.