Ford Fusion License Plate Bulb Size

The Ford Fusion license plate light uses bulb sizes 12961, 168, and DE3423 depending on the specific version required for the vehicle. Available data covers the range from 2006 through 2020 for the components listed.

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
2020	12961
2013-2019	168
2006-2012	DE3423

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). Festoon bulb, 41mm length, end-cap contacts. 12V.	DE3423

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford Fusion license plate position uses three distinct bulb types across its model years: the 12961, the 168, and the DE3423.
The 168 is an ANSI-standardized miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, and it fits the Ford Fusion across the 2013-2019 model years.
The T10 wedge form factor is shared by both the 168 and the 12961, as both are miniature wedge bulbs operating on a 12V circuit.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designation for a T10 wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W, and it applies to the 2020 Ford Fusion.
Although the 168 and the 12961 share the T10 wedge form factor, their wattage ratings differ slightly, at 4.9W and 5W respectively, and the 12961 carries a manufacturer-specific designation rather than an ANSI standard number.
The DE3423 is an ANSI-standardized festoon bulb with a 41mm length and end-cap contacts, operating at 12V, and it fits the Ford Fusion across the 2006-2012 model years.
Festoon bulbs such as the DE3423 use a cylindrical body with contacts at each end, a configuration that is physically incompatible with the wedge-base socket used by the 168 and 12961.
The transition from the DE3423 festoon type to the 168 wedge type occurred between the 2012 and 2013 Ford Fusion model years, reflecting a socket change that makes the two bulb types non-interchangeable.