Ford Expedition License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford Expedition license plate light uses unique bulb sizes 12961, 168, and 194 depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available data for the lighting components covers the range from 1997 through 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

Years	Bulb Size
2021-2023	12961
2007-2020	168
2003-2006	12961
1997-2002	194

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford Expedition license plate bulb specifications span the 1997-2023 model years, with three distinct bulb sizes appearing across that range: 12961, 168, and 194.
All three bulb sizes share the T10 miniature wedge form factor and a 12-volt operating voltage, which reflects the standard 12V electrical architecture used in passenger vehicles.
The 168 bulb is the most frequently specified across the Ford Expedition lineup, covering the 2007-2020 model years for the license plate position.
The 168 is an ANSI-standardized bulb rated at 4.9W, making it a widely available size in the North American market.
The 12961 is a Philips-designated part number for a T10 wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. It is specified for the 2003-2006 and 2021-2023 Ford Expedition model years.
The W2.1x9.5d base designation on the 12961 describes the physical base type, where 2.1 refers to the pin width in millimeters and 9.5 refers to the base height in millimeters.
The 194 bulb, an ANSI-standard T10 wedge rated at 3.78W, is the lowest-wattage bulb among the three sizes and is specified for the 1997-2002 Ford Expedition model years.
Although the 168 and 194 are both ANSI-standard T10 wedge bulbs, their wattage ratings differ, and substituting one for the other may not conform to the original factory specification for a given model year.
The 12961 and the 168 share nearly identical wattage values (5W and 4.9W respectively), yet they carry different part designations, with the 12961 being a manufacturer-specific number rather than an ANSI standard.
The shift from the 194 to the 168 between the 2002 and 2007 model years, and from the 168 to the 12961 between the 2020 and 2021 model years, indicates that the license plate bulb specification changed at least twice across the full production range covered by these data.