Kia Optima Courtesy Bulb Size

The Kia Optima courtesy light utilizes 168 and 12961 bulb sizes for the interior lighting components across various production versions. Data for the specific lighting requirements covers the period from 2001 through 2010.

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
2006-2010	168
2005	12961 (From 10/1/2004)
2002-2004	12961
2001	12961 (From 10/1/2000)

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Kia Optima uses two distinct bulb types across its model years for the courtesy light position: the 168 and the 12961.
The 168 is an ANSI-standardized bulb used in the United States and Canada, rated at 12 volts and 4.9 watts, housed in a T10 miniature wedge form factor.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designation for a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12 volts and 5 watts.
Both the 168 and the 12961 share the T10 miniature wedge form factor, though the 12961 carries a specific base designation (W2.1x9.5d) that the 168 listing does not reference.
The Kia Optima (2006-2010) uses the 168 bulb for the courtesy light position.
The 12961 bulb applies to the 2002-2004 Optima without condition, while the 2001 and 2005 model years carry production date qualifiers tied to specific cutoff dates within those years.
The 2001 Optima uses the 12961 bulb for units produced from October 1, 2000 onward, indicating a mid-cycle specification that applies through the remainder of that production run.
The 2005 Optima uses the 12961 bulb for units produced from October 1, 2004 onward, reflecting a similar within-year production boundary before the model transitioned to the 168 in 2006.
The wattage difference between the 168 (4.9W) and the 12961 (5W) is minimal, though the two are catalogued as separate fitments across different production periods of the Optima.
The T10 wedge base is a widely used automotive bulb format, meaning physical fitment alone is not a reliable indicator of correct specification when the two part numbers overlap in base type.