Ford Escape Brake Bulb Size

Ford Escape brake bulb sizes include 7440, 921, and 4157, with the center high mount stop light utilizing a 12961 bulb size. The replacement chart covers vehicle production years spanning 2001 to 2020 with corresponding bulb specifications.

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

Brake

If US Type and EU Type show the same value, a direct cross-reference for this bulb is not available or the data is insufficient.

Years	US Type	EU Type	Shop
2020	7440	W21W	Check Price
2018	921	W16W	Check Price
2006-2012	4157	4157	Check Price
2001-2005	3157	P27/7W	Check Price

Center High Mount Stop Light

Years	Bulb Type	Shop
2001-2012	12961	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

Description	Type	Shop
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament wedge bulb (T20). 12V, 21W.	7440	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Wedge bulb (T15). 12V, 16W.	921	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament wedge bulb (T25). 12V, 27W/7W.	4157	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament wedge bulb (T25). 12V, 27W/7W.	3157	Check Price
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961	Check Price

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 4157 is the most frequently specified brake bulb for the Ford Escape, covering model years 2006-2012. It is a dual-filament T25 wedge bulb rated at 12V with a 27W high filament and a 7W low filament, which allows it to serve both brake and parking light functions from a single unit.
The 3157 shares the same T25 wedge form factor and identical 12V, 27W/7W dual-filament ratings as the 4157. Despite these similarities, the two types are not universally interchangeable, as socket keyway differences between the 4157 and 3157 are designed to prevent incorrect installation.
The Ford Escape (2001-2004) uses the 3157 for the brake light position, while the 2006-2012 model years use the 4157 in the same position.
The 2020 Ford Escape uses the 7440, a single-filament T20 wedge bulb rated at 12V and 21W. Because it has only one filament, it is dedicated solely to the brake light function rather than a combined brake and parking role.
The 2018 model year specifies the 921, a T15 wedge bulb rated at 12V and 16W. At 16W, it operates at a lower wattage than the 7440 and the dual-filament types used in other years.
The 12961 is designated for the Center High Mount Stop Light (CHMSL) across all listed model years from 2001-2012. It is a Philips part number referencing a miniature T10 wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W.
The 12961 CHMSL fitment remains unchanged across a twelve-year span of the Ford Escape, indicating a consistent housing design for that lamp position throughout the first and second generations covered in these specifications.
All bulb types listed across these specifications conform to ANSI standards for the US and Canadian markets, with the exception of the 12961, which is identified by a Philips part number rather than an ANSI designation.
The T25, T20, T15, and T10 designations refer to the outer envelope width of the bulb in eighths of an inch, meaning a T25 bulb has a wider body than a T20, which in turn is wider than a T15 or T10. This size difference is a factor in socket compatibility across the different Ford Escape model years listed.