Dodge Dakota Back Up Light Bulb Size

The Dodge Dakota back up light utilizes unique bulb sizes 2458, 3157, 1156, and P21W depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available data for the components covers the range from 1987 through 2010.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Bulb Size by Year Range

Years	Bulb Size
1997-2010	3157
1987-1996	1156

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament wedge bulb (T25). 12V, 27W/7W.	3157
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	1156

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Dodge Dakota uses two distinct back up light bulb types across its production span: the 3157 and the 1156.
The 3157 bulb is a dual-filament T25 wedge bulb rated at 12V with a 27W/7W output, conforming to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The 1156 bulb is a single-filament bulb featuring a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 21W, also conforming to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The Dodge Dakota (1997-2010) uses the 3157 bulb for the back up light position.
The 1156 bulb is specified for the Dodge Dakota (1987-1996) back up light position.
Because the 3157 carries a dual filament and the 1156 carries a single filament, the two bulb types are not interchangeable despite both operating at 12V.
The BA15s bayonet base of the 1156 and the wedge-style base of the 3157 represent physically incompatible mounting configurations, reinforcing that direct substitution between the two is not possible.
The 3157 designation indicates the bulb serves applications where two separate circuits share one housing, with the 27W filament handling the higher-draw function and the 7W filament handling the lower-draw function.
For back up light use specifically, only one filament of the 3157 is engaged at a time, as the back up light circuit operates as a single on/off function.
A 1997 Dodge Dakota and a 1996 Dodge Dakota require different back up light bulbs, marking 1997 as the transition point between the 1156 and 3157 specifications.