The Chevrolet Tahoe side marker uses a 194 bulb size for the lighting components located on the exterior of the vehicle. Data for the specific bulb requirements covers the period from 1995 through 2007.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 194 bulb follows the ANSI standard recognized in the US and Canada. It is a miniature wedge type in the T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 3.78W, and it serves as the front side marker bulb on the Chevrolet Tahoe across the 1995-2006 model years.
The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe front side marker departs from the 194 bulb used in prior years, instead requiring the 12961, a Philips part number designation for a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W.
The W2.1x9.5d base specification on the 12961 refers to a wedge base with a 2.1mm wire width and a 9.5mm pin spread, which is the standard physical configuration for T10 wedge bulbs.
Although both the 194 and the 12961 share the T10 form factor, their wattage ratings differ. The 12961 draws 5W while the 194 draws 3.78W, which means the two bulbs are not direct electrical equivalents despite their physical similarities.
The rear side marker positions on the Tahoe use the 194 bulb across the 1995-2000 model years, with the 2000 entry specifically noted as an Early Model fitment.
The T10 designation refers to a tubular bulb with a width of 10 thirty-seconds of an inch. This is a widely used miniature bulb format in automotive marker and courtesy light applications.
The rear side marker data covers only the 1995-2000 range, while the front side marker data extends through 2007, indicating the two positions do not share an identical model year coverage in these specifications.
The 2000 model year rear side marker carries an Early Model qualifier, which signals that a production change occurred within that model year and the 194 bulb applies only to vehicles built before that change.
The 194 bulb operates at 3.78W on a 12V circuit, which corresponds to a current draw of approximately 0.315 amperes, placing it in the low-current range typical of side marker applications.
Because the 12961 is identified by a manufacturer part number rather than an ANSI code, sourcing equivalent replacements may require cross-referencing against the T10 W2.1x9.5d base specification and the 12V 5W rating rather than relying on a universal industry designation.