Write Up: 2020+ Power Leather Seats in a 2nd Gen

Finally got around to installing 2021 power leather seats in my 2015 Tacoma. I read a lot of possible info ahead of time but couldn’t find anything definitive so thought I’d share what it takes to do the swap. In short, they fit and work but its not exactly plug and play. Physical location of mounting bolts are identical. The heating elements do NOT work (at least I couldn't figure it out a way without considerable work).

Seat Comparison:
The cushion themselves in the 2021 leather seats aren’t comfier, they are actually a bit firmer, but the fact that they are 10 way adjustable makes the seat and driving position infinitely better than the original manual seats. Overall driving comfort is vastly improved for me. They are a bit wider than the 2nd gen seats, and opening the center console rubs slightly and there’s less space for your hand to access the power adjustments, but they fit.

Harnesses/Connections:
Driver Seat

• Seat belt connection - needs to be swapped from 2nd gen seat
• Airbag position sensor - needs to be swapped from 2nd gen seat. It works via a magnet on the sliding rail on the 2nd gen seat. Figure out if the magnet is connected in your driving position and mount accordingly on your new seat.
• Yellow airbag harness - harnesses have the same 2 wires, but the harness connectors are slightly different in shape. You either need to repin the trucks wires to the 3rd gen harness, or use a resistor to bypass. Of course if you're 2nd gen doesn't have seat airbags you dont have to worry about this
• Main power + heating harness - need to run power and ground yourself, lots of options for this. I just tapped into rear power window cabin fuse since I dont even have rear windows (access cab). Heating element does NOT work (see below)

Passenger Seat

• Airbag occupancy sensors - plug and play
• Seatbelt connector - needs to be swapped from 3rd gen seat

Heating Elements

• After staring at various wiring diagrams for the 2020+ heated seats and looking at the heating seat controllers in 2020+ Tacomas, I realized that they arent controlled with a simple switch like aftermarket ones. The controls for the heating elements are integrated into the HVAC controller and are controlled via single high speed LAN. I couldn't figure out a way to make it work without a 2020+ HVAC controller but if any experts here know a way I'd love to hear.

Seat Connections

Airbag harnesses compared

 

Nice job, I was just wondering about doing this the other day..slowly upgrading my base truck. Bet that's nice to sit in now. Where'd you get the seats from ?

 

Thanks, it feels like a different truck with them. I found them on car-part.com and specifically through LKQ. I got pretty lucky and got them both for about $450 out the door (shipped to my local LKQ warehouse for free). Driver seat is a little worn but everything works fine and airbags were never deployed.

 

Interesting, I'll have to keep an eye out. Did you just go with the 3rd gen seats vs 2nd gen because likely less wear on leather and 10 way adjustable? (Not sure if 2nd gen had that?) Assume harder to find 3rd gen seats but then again maybe not.

 

The whole reason for the swap was I wanted a power adjustable seat that did more than tilt forward/back and slide horizontally, leather was just a bonus. These seats are 10 way adjustable and I can get the perfect height and position that isn’t remotely possible even with seat jackers (I used the seat jackers still with this power seat). Tacomas didn’t start having a power seat option until 2020, so that’s why they have to be 2020+ seats.

 

Perfect thanks. That's great to know.

 

I did this swap in my 2005 last summer. They’re great! Never did figure out how to get the heated seats to work. I even bought an after marker set and tapped into the oem wires feeding into the seat. I came to the same conclusion as you.

 

Yeah having the 10 way adjustments make a world of difference. It’s too bad about the heaters but I figured if I really want it I’ll just do an entire new aftermarket set. May happen in future, but probably only if I decide to do Kaztkins or something.