Mazda CX-5 License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Mazda CX-5 uses the 12961 bulb for its license plate light across all listed model years from 2013 to 2023.
• The 12961 is a Philips part number designating a miniature wedge bulb in the T10 form factor, operating at 12 volts and 5 watts.
• The T10 bulb uses a W2.1x9.5d wedge base, which is a pinless base type that is held in place by friction within the socket rather than by pins or a bayonet mechanism.
• At 5 watts, the 12961 is a low-power bulb consistent with the modest illumination requirements of a license plate light.
• The 2019-2020 model years carry a fitment note specifying that the 12961 applies only to vehicles without LED tail lights, indicating that CX-5 trims equipped with LED tail lights use a different license plate light configuration for those years.
• The 2021-2023 model years list the 12961 without any trim-level restriction, indicating the bulb applies across all variants for those years.
• The T10 wedge base format is widely used in automotive interior and exterior lighting, and bulbs sharing the W2.1x9.5d base are generally interchangeable in terms of physical fitment, though wattage and voltage ratings must match the vehicle's socket specifications.
• The consistent use of the 12961 across the 2013-2016 and 2019-2023 model years reflects a stable socket specification maintained throughout multiple generations of the CX-5.