The Dodge Ram 3500 brake light utilizes unique bulb sizes 2458, 3057, 3157, and 1157 depending on the specific configuration. Available data for the lighting components covers the range from 1994 to 2010.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 3157 and 3057 are the most frequently specified brake bulb sizes across the Dodge Ram 3500 model years covered. Both are ANSI-standard dual-filament wedge bulbs in the T25 form factor, rated at 12V with a 27W high filament and 7W low filament, making them functionally similar in output and construction.
Despite their near-identical electrical ratings, the 3157 and 3057 are not directly interchangeable. The two types differ in their base configuration, meaning a socket designed for one may not accept the other without modification or adapter use.
The 1157 brake bulb, specified for the 1996-1998 model years, uses a BAY15d bayonet base rather than a wedge-style base. This base type is physically distinct from the T25 wedge used by the 3157 and 3057, making the 1157 incompatible with sockets from later model years without a socket change.
The 1157 is rated at 12V with a 21W high filament and 5W low filament, which is a lower output than the 27W/7W rating of the 3157 and 3057 used in surrounding model years.
The 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 is the only model year in these specifications where the brake bulb size varies by headlamp configuration. Trucks with two headlamps use the 3157, while those with four headlamps use the 3057.
The same headlamp-count condition applies to the 2009 center high mount stop light. Two-headlamp configurations use the 912, while four-headlamp configurations use the 921.
The 921 is the dominant center high mount stop light bulb across the Ram 3500 specifications, appearing in the 1994-2002 and 2010 model years. It is a single-filament T15 wedge bulb rated at 12V and 16W.
The 912 is a variant of the 921, sharing the same T15 wedge form factor but rated at a lower 12W output. It is specified for the center high mount stop light in the 2003-2009 model years, with the exception of the four-headlamp 2009 configuration.
Because the 912 and 921 share the T15 wedge base, they are physically compatible with the same socket type. However, their wattage difference means substituting one for the other results in a change in light output intensity.
All five bulb types covered in these specifications, the 3157, 3057, 1157, 921, and 912, conform to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.