Ford Escape License Plate Bulb Size

Ford Escape license plate bulb sizes include 2825, 168, and 12961 specifications across different model generations. The replacement chart covers vehicle production data spanning from 2001 to 2023.

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

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
2021-2023	2825	2825	Check Price
2018-2020	168	W5W	Check Price
2008-2012	168	W5W	Check Price
2001-2007	12961	12961	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

Description	Type	Shop
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	2825	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168	Check Price
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Single-filament signalling bulb with W2.1x9.5d wedge base. 12V, 5W.	W5W	Check Price
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961	Check Price

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford Escape uses three distinct license plate bulb types across its model years: the 2825, 168, and 12961, all of which belong to the T10 miniature wedge family.
The 2825 and 12961 both operate at 12V and 5W with a W2.1x9.5d base, while the 168 operates at 12V and 4.9W, making the wattage difference between these bulbs negligible in practical terms.
The 2825 is an ANSI-standardized bulb, meaning it is produced by multiple manufacturers to a shared specification rather than being tied to a single brand.
The 12961 is a Philips part number rather than an ANSI designation, which means it is a manufacturer-specific identifier for what is otherwise a T10 wedge bulb with the W2.1x9.5d base.
The Ford Escape (2001-2007) uses the 12961 bulb for the license plate position, representing the longest continuous bulb fitment across the model's history in these specifications.
A bulb change occurred between the 2007 and 2008 model years, with the Escape switching from the 12961 to the 168 for the license plate position.
A second bulb change occurred between the 2020 and 2021 model years, with the Escape switching from the 168 to the 2825.
Because the 2825 and 12961 share the same base type, voltage, wattage, and T10 form factor, they are physically and electrically equivalent, though the 12961 designation is brand-specific.
The 168 shares the T10 wedge form factor with the 2825 and 12961 but draws 4.9W rather than 5W, and its base specification is not listed under the same W2.1x9.5d designation in these specifications.
The 2013-2017 model years are not represented in these specifications, so no license plate bulb size is attributed to those years.