Chevrolet Tahoe Dome Light Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Chevrolet Tahoe dome light specifications cover model years 1995 through 2007, with three distinct bulb types used across that span: the 211-2, the 578, and the 212-2.
• All three bulb types share the same physical length of 41mm and operate at 12 volts with a 12-watt output, placing them in the same general performance class for interior lighting.
• All three types are classified as festoon bulbs, meaning they are cylindrical in form and mount by bridging two contact points at either end of a housing rather than inserting into a socket from below.
• The 211-2 and 212-2 both use an SV8.5 base, which is a side-contact festoon base where the electrical contacts are located along the sides of the bulb ends rather than at the tips.
• The 578 uses end-cap contacts, meaning its electrical connection is made at the flat tips of the bulb rather than along the sides, which distinguishes its mounting interface from the 211-2 and 212-2 despite identical physical length.
• Because the 578 and the 211-2 or 212-2 differ in contact type, they are not directly interchangeable even though all three measure 41mm in length. A socket designed for an SV8.5 base will not function correctly with a 578, and vice versa.
• The Chevrolet Tahoe used the 211-2 for model years 1995-2001, the 578 for model years 2002-2006, and the 212-2 for the 2007 model year, indicating the dome light socket specification changed at least twice across the vehicle's production history in this period.
• All three bulb types carry ANSI standardization recognized in both the United States and Canada, meaning they conform to a defined specification rather than being proprietary to a single manufacturer.
• The 211-2 and 212-2 share the same base type, voltage, wattage, and physical length, making them functionally equivalent in most applications where an SV8.5 festoon socket is present.