The Lexus SC300 tail light utilizes 168 and 1157 bulb sizes depending on the specific production period for the vehicle. Available data covers the range from 1992 through 2000 for the specified lighting components.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Lexus SC300 outer tail light draws from three distinct bulb types across its production run: the 12961, 168, and 1157.
The 1157 is a dual-filament bulb rated at 12V with a 21W/5W output, using a BAY15d bayonet base. Its two filaments serve separate functions within a single housing, typically handling both stop and tail light duties simultaneously.
The 1157 fitment applies to the SC300 outer tail light for the 1992-1993 model years.
The 168 is an ANSI-standard miniature wedge bulb in a T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 4.9W. It carries no bayonet or pin base, relying instead on a wedge-style fit.
The 168 fitment covers the SC300 outer tail light from 1994 through 2000, representing the longest span of any single bulb type in these specifications.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designation for a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. The W2.1x9.5d base is a metric wedge standard common in European and Japanese vehicle applications.
The 12961 fitment applies to the SC300 outer tail light for the 1995-2000 model years, running concurrently with the 168 across those same years.
Both the 168 and 12961 share the T10 wedge form factor, though their base designations differ. The 168 follows the ANSI standard while the 12961 follows the IEC metric W2.1x9.5d standard, and the two are not guaranteed to be interchangeable despite their physical similarities.
The wattage difference between the 168 (4.9W) and the 12961 (5W) is negligible in practical terms, but the base specification difference is the more relevant factor when considering fitment compatibility.
The shift from the dual-filament 1157 to the single-filament T10 wedge types between 1993 and 1994 reflects a change in how the outer tail light assembly was designed to distribute its electrical functions across that model year transition.