Jeep Cherokee License Plate Bulb Size

The Jeep Cherokee license plate light utilizes bulb sizes 12961, 168, 67, and 97 depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available data covers the range from 1974 through 2019 for the components listed in the provided specifications.

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
2014-2019	12961
1997-2001	168
1996	67
1995	168
1993-1994	67
1990-1992	168
1989	67
1985-1988	168
1974-1984	97

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). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 8W.	67
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Jeep Cherokee license plate bulb specifications span model years 1974 through 2019, with four distinct bulb types appearing across that range: 12961, 168, 67, and 97.
The 168 is the most frequently specified bulb across the listed years, appearing in the 1985-1988, 1990-1992, 1995, and 1997-2001 model years. It is an ANSI-standard T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W.
The 12961 is a Philips-branded T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. It is specified for the Jeep Cherokee across the 2014-2019 model years.
Both the 168 and the 12961 share the T10 wedge form factor, though the 12961 carries a manufacturer part number rather than an ANSI designation. The 12961 operates at 5W versus the 168's 4.9W, a negligible difference in output.
The bulb 97 is an ANSI-standard single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 13W. It is specified for the 1974-1984 model years, making it the earliest bulb type in these specifications.
The bulb 67 is also an ANSI-standard single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 8W. It is described as a lower-wattage variant of the 1156 and appears in the 1989, 1993-1994, and 1996 model years.
The 67 and 97 both use the BA15s bayonet base, which is physically distinct from the wedge base used by the 168 and 12961. Bayonet-base and wedge-base bulbs are not interchangeable due to their different socket designs.
Although the 67 and 97 share the same BA15s base type, their wattage ratings differ significantly at 8W and 13W respectively. Direct substitution between them is not supported by these specifications.
The 1996 model year specifies the 67 bulb, while the adjacent 1995 and 1997 model years specify the 168. These three years require different socket types and are not cross-compatible.
The transition from the 97 bulb to the 168 in 1985 represents a shift from a BA15s bayonet base to a T10 wedge base, indicating a socket change between the 1984 and 1985 Jeep Cherokee model years.