The Jeep Compass dome light utilizes 12961, 168, and 578 bulb sizes depending on the specific version of the interior lighting component. Data for the bulb sizes covers the range from 2007 through 2023.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 578 is the most frequently specified dome light bulb across the Jeep Compass lineup, appearing in both general dome and sub-part positions across multiple model years.
The 578 is an ANSI-standard festoon bulb with a 41mm length, end-cap contacts, and a 12V, 12W rating, making it a relatively high-wattage choice for an interior dome application.
The 212-2 shares the same 41mm length and 12V, 12W electrical rating as the 578 but uses an SV8.5 base rather than end-cap contacts, meaning the two are not interchangeable despite their otherwise identical physical size and power draw.
In the Jeep Compass, the rear dome light for 2007-2008 takes the 212-2, while the front dome light for those same years takes the 578, so the front and rear positions require different bulbs within a single vehicle.
For 2009-2013, the rear dome light specification shifts to the 578, aligning it with the front dome light fitment used in earlier years.
The 168 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, operating under the ANSI standard applicable in the US and Canada, and it is specified for the 2021-2022 Compass dome light.
The 12961 is a Philips-designated part number for a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W, and it is specified for the 2023 Compass dome light.
The 168 and 12961 are both T10 wedge bulbs with nearly identical wattage ratings (4.9W and 5W respectively), though they carry different part number designations, with 168 being an ANSI standard and 12961 being a Philips-specific number.
The transition from festoon-type bulbs (578 and 212-2) in earlier model years to wedge-type bulbs (168 and 12961) in 2021-2023 reflects a change in socket design between generations of the Jeep Compass, and these bulb families are not interchangeable.
A single model year can require more than one bulb type across its dome light positions, as seen in 2007-2008 where the 578 and 212-2 are each assigned to separate sub-parts of the same vehicle.