The Mitsubishi Montero side marker utilizes a 12961 bulb size for the lighting components located on the exterior of the vehicle. Available data for the specified bulb covers the range from 1995 through 2006.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Mitsubishi Montero front side marker uses three distinct bulb types across its production span: the 194, 168, and 1157. The 194 and 168 are both T10 miniature wedge bulbs sharing the same 12V rating, though they differ in wattage at 3.78W and 4.9W respectively, making them physically similar but not electrically identical.
The 1157 is the only dual-filament bulb specified across the Montero's side marker positions. It carries a BAY15d bayonet base and a 21W/5W rating, which reflects its two separate filaments. This base type is mechanically incompatible with the wedge-style sockets used by the 168, 194, and 12961 bulbs.
The Mitsubishi Montero front side marker for 1998-2000 uses the 1157, while the surrounding model years use the single-filament 168. The 1157 requires a different socket type, so substituting a 168 or 194 in those years would not be a direct physical fit.
The 194 and 168 are both classified under the T10 wedge form factor and share the same ANSI standardization for the US and Canadian markets. Despite this shared form factor, the wattage difference means they are not rated identically, and direct substitution may affect circuit load.
The 12961 is a Philips part number rather than an ANSI industry-standard designation. It is a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W, and it appears exclusively in the rear side marker position for the 2003-2006 Montero.
The rear side marker for the 2003-2006 Montero uses the 12961, while the 2000-2002 rear position uses the 168. Both are T10 wedge-type bulbs at 12V, with the 12961 rated at 5W and the 168 at 4.9W, placing them in close but not identical electrical specifications.
The front and rear side marker positions do not always share the same bulb type within a given model year. For example, the 1997 Montero uses a 168 at the front and a 1157 at the rear, requiring two different bulb types for the same vehicle.
The 194 bulb is the specified front and rear side marker bulb for the 1983-1991 Montero across both positions, representing the longest continuous use of a single bulb type in these specifications.
The 1157 appears in both the front and rear side marker positions across different model years, but never simultaneously in both positions for the same year. Its dual-filament design and bayonet base distinguish it from all other bulb types listed in these specifications.
All four bulb types listed operate at 12V, which is consistent with standard automotive electrical systems. The primary differences among them are base type, filament count, and wattage, each of which affects physical fitment and socket compatibility.