Mazda MPV License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Mazda MPV license plate bulb specifications cover model years 1989 through 2006, with four distinct bulb types used across that span: 12961, 168, 89, and 194.
• The T10 wedge form factor is the most prevalent across these specifications, with bulb types 12961, 168, and 194 all sharing that physical format despite differences in wattage and base designation.
• Although 12961 and 168 are both T10 miniature wedge bulbs, the 12961 carries a W2.1x9.5d base designation and is a Philips part number rather than an ANSI standard designation, which is a relevant fitment distinction for the 2004-2006 model years.
• The 168 bulb operates at 4.9W and the 12961 at 5W, making them nearly identical in power draw, though their standardization origins differ as noted above.
• The 194 bulb, specified for the Mazda MPV in 1989-1992, is rated at 3.78W, the lowest wattage of any bulb type in these specifications.
• The 89 bulb, used in 1993-1995, is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, which is a physically distinct mounting type from the wedge base found in all other bulb types listed in these specifications, making it non-interchangeable with them.
• At 13W, the 89 bulb draws substantially more power than the T10 wedge types in these specifications, a characteristic it shares with its higher-wattage relative, the 1156, from which it is considered a lower-wattage variant.
• The 168 bulb is specified across 1996-2003, representing the longest continuous application of a single bulb type in these specifications.
• Because the 89 bulb uses a bayonet base and the surrounding model years use wedge-base bulbs, substitution between the 1993-1995 fitment and adjacent years is not supported by these specifications.
• The 194 and 168 bulbs are both ANSI-standard T10 wedge types but differ in wattage, with the 194 at 3.78W and the 168 at 4.9W, which may affect socket compatibility depending on the vehicle's housing tolerances.