The Ford Explorer side marker utilizes bulb sizes 12961, 168, 916, and 194 across various production versions. Available data for the specified components covers the range from 1995 through 2016.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 194 bulb is the most frequently specified size across the Ford Explorer's side marker positions. It is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W, conforming to the ANSI standard for the US and Canadian markets.
The front side marker position of the Ford Explorer (1991-2015) uses the 194 bulb without exception, making it the single consistent fitment across that entire span of model years.
The 168 bulb is a T10 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 4.9W. Although it shares the T10 wedge form factor with the 194, its wattage rating differs, which is a relevant distinction for mirror-mounted side marker applications.
Mirror-mounted side marker bulbs on the Ford Explorer transitioned from the 168 to the 194 between the 2010 and 2011 model years, representing a change in wattage specification within the same T10 wedge form factor.
The 3757NA is a dual-filament T25 wedge bulb with natural amber-tinted glass. Its amber coloring is built into the glass itself rather than applied through a lens or coating, which is the functional distinction the "NA" designation indicates.
The Ford Explorer (2021-2023) rear side marker uses the 3757NA bulb. The natural amber glass construction of this bulb is a fitment-specific characteristic that distinguishes it from the clear-glass 3157 used in earlier model years.
The 3157 bulb is a dual-filament T25 wedge type rated at 12V with a 27W high filament and a 7W low filament. It was specified for the rear side marker on the Ford Explorer in 1995-1996.
The 3157 and 3757NA share the T25 wedge base and dual-filament configuration, but the 3757NA incorporates natural amber glass. Substituting one for the other would affect the amber output requirement where that characteristic is part of the original specification.
The rear side marker position on the Ford Explorer (2006-2010) uses the 194, a single-filament miniature wedge bulb, which differs in both filament count and bulb size from the T25 dual-filament types specified for other rear side marker model years.