Nissan Frontier License Plate Bulb Size

The Nissan Frontier license plate light utilizes 12961, 168, and 194 bulb sizes for the exterior illumination system. Data for the specific components covers the range from 1998 through 2020.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Bulb Size by Year Range

Years	Bulb Size
2020	12961
2005-2019	168
2003-2004	194
1998-2002	168

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Nissan Frontier license plate bulb specifications cover model years 1998 through 2020.
Three bulb sizes appear across these model years: 12961, 168, and 194, all of which are T10 miniature wedge bulbs operating on a 12-volt system.
The T10 designation refers to a tubular bulb with a 10/8-inch body width, a form factor widely used in low-intensity automotive lighting positions such as license plate illumination.
The 168 is an ANSI-standardized bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, and it is the most frequently specified size across the Frontier lineup, covering model years 1998-2002 and 2005-2019.
The 194 is also an ANSI-standardized T10 wedge bulb, rated at 12V and 3.78W, and it carries a lower wattage than the 168 despite sharing the same base type.
The Nissan Frontier (2003-2004) uses the 194 bulb, which draws less power than the 168 used in surrounding model years, making direct substitution a consideration that warrants attention to wattage compatibility.
The 2020 Nissan Frontier uses the 12961, a Philips-branded T10 wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W, representing the highest wattage among the three specified bulb types.
The W2.1x9.5d base designation on the 12961 describes a wedge-type base with a 2.1mm wire width and a 9.5mm insertion depth, which is the metric equivalent of the standard T10 wedge base used by the 168 and 194.
Because the 12961 is a manufacturer-specific part number rather than an ANSI standard designation, it may not be interchangeable with generic T10 listings without confirming that the wattage and base specifications align with the socket requirements of the 2020 model.
Although the 168 and 194 share the T10 wedge base form factor, their differing wattage ratings mean that one is not a straightforward drop-in replacement for the other without accounting for the electrical load differences.