Kia Forte Tail Light Bulb Size

The Kia Forte tail light utilizes 12961, 2357, and P21/5W bulb sizes for the rear lighting system. Data for the specified components covers the range from 2010 through 2023.

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

If US Type and EU Type show the same value, a direct cross-reference for this bulb is not available or the data is insufficient.

Years	US Type	EU Type	Shop
2023	12961	12961	Check Price
2022	2357	2357	Check Price
2021	1157	P21/5W	Check Price
2014-2018	2357 (With Halogen Capsule Headlamps)	2357	Check Price
2010-2013	2357	2357	Check Price

Bulb Specifications

Description	Type	Shop
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. Brighter variant of 1157. 12V, 26.9W/8W.	2357	Check Price
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Dual-filament signalling bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. 12V, 21W/5W.	P21/5W	Check Price
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. 12V, 21W/5W.	1157	Check Price

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 2357 is the most frequently specified tail light bulb across the Kia Forte lineup, appearing in the 2010-2013 model years without condition and in the 2014-2018 model years specifically under a "With Halogen Capsule Headlamps" fitment condition.
The 2357 is an ANSI-standard dual-filament bulb operating at 12V with a high-filament draw of 26.9W and a low-filament draw of 8W, fitted with a BAY15d bayonet base. It is a brighter variant of the widely known 1157 bulb.
The P21/5W, specified for the 2021 Forte, follows the ECE standard used in Europe and worldwide. It also uses a BAY15d bayonet base and operates at 12V, but its filaments are rated at 21W and 5W rather than the higher wattage of the 2357.
Although the 2357 and P21/5W share the same BAY15d bayonet base, their wattage ratings differ, which is a relevant factor in determining whether one can substitute for the other in a given application.
The 12961, specified for the 2023 Forte, is a Philips part number designating a miniature wedge-type T10 bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. Its base type is physically incompatible with the BAY15d base used by the 2357 and P21/5W.
The 2014-2018 Forte entries carry the qualifier "With Halogen Capsule Headlamps," indicating that the 2357 tail light bulb size applies specifically to that headlamp configuration rather than to all variants of those model years.