The Lexus ES300 tail light requires a bulb size of 1157 for the specific lighting components located at the rear of the vehicle. Data for the bulb requirements covers the period from 1992 through 1996.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Lexus ES300 tail light specifications cover two distinct positions: the inner tail light and the outer tail light, each using a different bulb type across the model's production years.
The inner tail light across the 1997-2003 ES300 uses the 168 bulb, an ANSI-standard miniature wedge type with a T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 4.9W. Its low wattage reflects its role as a marker or courtesy light rather than a primary stop or turn signal source.
The outer tail light on the 1997-2003 ES300 uses the 7443, a dual-filament T20 wedge bulb rated at 12V with a 21W high filament and a 5W low filament. The dual-filament design allows a single bulb to serve both the brake and running light functions simultaneously.
The 7443 and the 1157 share the same 12V, 21W/5W electrical rating, meaning both bulbs deliver identical wattage output across their two filaments despite differing in base type and physical construction.
The outer tail light on the 1995 ES300 and on 1992-1994 models uses the 1157, which carries a BAY15d bayonet base. This base style uses two pins offset at different heights to prevent incorrect installation orientation.
The 1996 outer tail light position includes a production date qualifier, with the 7443 applying to vehicles produced after August 1996 and the 1157 applying to those produced up to that point. This reflects a mid-year specification change during the 1996 model year.
The T10 wedge base of the 168 and the T20 wedge base of the 7443 are physically incompatible with each other and with the BAY15d bayonet base of the 1157. None of these three bulb types are interchangeable despite some sharing voltage and wattage characteristics.
All three bulb types listed in the ES300 specifications, the 168, 7443, and 1157, conform to ANSI standards applicable in both the United States and Canada.