Ford Explorer Courtesy Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The 168 bulb is an ANSI-standard miniature wedge type with a T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 4.9W. It serves as the courtesy bulb in the Ford Explorer for the 2013-2015 model years, as well as the 2001, 2004, and 2005 model years.
• The 906 bulb is also an ANSI-standard miniature wedge type with a T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 8W. It is specified for the Ford Explorer across the 1991, 1993-1995, and 1996 model years.
• The 912 bulb is an ANSI-standard wedge type with a T15 form factor, rated at 12V and 12W. It is the courtesy bulb for the 1992, 1997, 1999, and 2000 model years.
• Although the 168 and 906 bulbs share the same T10 wedge form factor, their wattage ratings differ. The 168 draws 4.9W while the 906 draws 8W, which means the two are not electrically equivalent despite their physical similarities.
• The 912 is classified as a variant of the 921 bulb. Both share the T15 wedge base, though they carry different wattage ratings, making direct substitution a consideration that depends on the specific electrical tolerance of the socket.
• The T15 wedge base of the 912 is physically larger than the T10 wedge base shared by the 168 and 906. This size difference means bulbs from the T10 and T15 groups are not interchangeable across the courtesy light positions that specify one or the other.
• All three bulb types, the 168, 906, and 912, conform to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada, placing them within a standardized sizing and performance framework used across a wide range of North American vehicle applications.
• The courtesy bulb specification for the Ford Explorer shifted from the 906 and 912 types used through the 1990s and into 2000 toward the lower-wattage 168 in the 2001 model year, reflecting a change in the bulb type designated for that lighting position.