Tesla Puddle Lights and Interior LED Upgrades: Door, Footwell, Trunk and Frunk Lights

Owners usually notice the lights in two places: stepping out onto a dark street, and looking for something in the trunk at night. This guide shows where the lights you can upgrade are, when Tesla's manuals say they come on, the difference between projector and plain LED puddle lights, and how the swap works, as the sellers describe it. Product claims are the sellers', and the Tesla facts come from the Lights pages of Tesla's owner's manuals, linked at the end.

1. Where the lights are

The LED packs we list are made for five kinds of small light: the puddle lights in the doors, the footwell lights, the glovebox light, the trunk lights and the frunk light.

Not every car has every light, and the number differs by model and year. Before you choose a pack, open each door, the trunk, the frunk and the glovebox, and count the lights you want to replace.

2. When Tesla turns them on

Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y manuals describe convenience lights that turn on and off by themselves based on what you are doing. The interior lights, marker lights, tail lights and puddle lights turn on when you unlock the car, when you open a door and when you shift into Park. They turn off after a minute or two, or when you shift or lock the car.

The dome (map) lights follow a similar rule when they are set to Auto. You can also turn one on or off by touching its lens. On cars with accent lights, the manuals say you can turn the footwell lights on or off under Controls > Lights. Our ambient lighting guide covers the accent light settings.

3. Projector or plain LED puddle lights

There are two ways to upgrade the door lights:

• Projector puddle lights have a lens that puts a pattern on the ground. The set we list has a glass film lens, which the seller says keeps the image sharp and stops it fading, with a light-ray pattern or a red-and-white plaid pattern.
• Plain LED modules light the ground without a pattern. They are part of the LED upgrade pack, in white or a color.

Puddle lights shine outside the car, so if you choose a colored light for the doors, check the rules where you live.

4. Footwell, trunk, frunk and glovebox

The same LED upgrade pack covers the trunk, frunk, footwell and glovebox lights, according to the seller. Pick a color, then a pack size that matches the number of lights you counted. White is the practical choice for the trunk and frunk, where you want to see what you're loading.

The Model Y also has a dedicated option: a flexible LED strip for the trunk, which the seller says turns on when the trunk opens and off when it closes. It lights the whole cargo area, which helps when you load the car after dark or camp in it.

5. How the swap works

The sellers describe these lights as plug-and-play: they go in where the factory lights were, with no extra wiring.

1. Pry the factory light out with a plastic trim tool, not a screwdriver, so you don't mark the trim. Our tool kit guide covers trim tools.
2. Unplug it from its connector.
3. Plug in the new light and test it before you press it in: open the door, trunk or frunk and check that it turns on.
4. Press it in until it sits flush, and keep the factory lights in case you want to go back.

One more thing to know: in the edition of Tesla's New Vehicle Limited Warranty that we read (Qatar, effective July 2024), non-genuine parts and accessories, and their installation, are not covered, and damage linked to their installation or use is excluded. Editions differ by region, so read yours.

6. What we list

For colored lighting along the dash and doors, read our ambient lighting guide first.

How we pick what we list

The products in this guide are from third-party sellers on AliExpress, not made by Tesla. We look for stores with high positive feedback and read buyer reviews for fit and quality problems. Product claims on our pages are the seller's, and facts about the car come from Tesla's manuals. When you buy through the button on a product page, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

What are puddle lights on a Tesla?

The small lights on the bottom edge of the doors that light the ground when a door opens. Tesla's manuals list them among the convenience lights.

When do Tesla puddle lights turn on?

According to Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y manuals, when you unlock the car, open a door or shift into Park. They turn off after a minute or two, or when you shift or lock the car.

Can I replace Tesla interior lights with brighter LEDs?

The sellers of LED upgrade packs say their modules plug in where the factory trunk, frunk, door, footwell and glovebox lights were. Check that your factory lights match the seller's photos before you order.

How many lights do I need?

Count the lights you want to replace in your own car. The number differs by model and year, which is why the packs come in 2, 4, 8 or 12.

Will LED puddle lights affect my warranty?

They can. In the edition of Tesla's New Vehicle Limited Warranty that we read, non-genuine parts and their installation aren't covered, and damage linked to them is excluded. Keep the factory lights so you can put them back.

Does the Model Y trunk LED strip turn off by itself?

The seller says it turns on when the trunk opens and off when it closes.

Next steps

Browse our interior LED lights, or read our interior accessories guide for more ideas for the cabin.

Sources

The Tesla facts in this guide come from these pages of Tesla's owner's manuals:

• Model 3 Owner's Manual: Lights
• Model Y Owner's Manual: Lights