Nissan Maxima License Plate Bulb Size

The Nissan Maxima license plate component utilizes bulb sizes 12961, 168, 89, and 67 depending on the specific version. Available information covers the range from 1981 to 2023.

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
2016-2023	12961
1995-2014	168
1989-1994	89
1981-1985	67

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). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	89
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Lower wattage variant of 1156. 12V, 8W.	67

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Nissan Maxima uses four distinct bulb sizes across its license plate lighting history: 12961, 168, 89, and 67.
The 168 bulb is the most widely used across the Maxima's license plate specifications, covering model years 1995-2014.
Both the 168 and 12961 are T10 miniature wedge bulbs, sharing the same physical form factor. However, the 12961 is a Philips-specific part number with a W2.1x9.5d base rated at 5W, while the 168 is an ANSI-standardized bulb rated at 4.9W.
The Nissan Maxima (2016-2023) uses the 12961 bulb, a designation tied to Philips rather than the ANSI numbering system used by the other bulbs in these specifications.
The 89 and 67 bulbs both use a BA15s bayonet base, which is a fundamentally different mounting type from the wedge base found in the 168 and 12961. These bulb types are not interchangeable with each other.
The 89 bulb, used in the Maxima for model years 1989-1994, operates at 13W, making it notably higher in wattage than any other license plate bulb listed in these specifications.
The 67 bulb, used in model years 1981-1985, is described as a lower wattage variant of the 1156, rated at 8W with a BA15s bayonet base.
The 89 bulb is also described as a lower wattage variant of the 1156 and shares the same BA15s base as the 67, though the two differ in wattage and are separate ANSI designations that are not rated as interchangeable in these specifications.
All four bulb types in these specifications operate on a 12V electrical system, consistent with standard automotive voltage.
The transition from the 168 wedge bulb to the 12961 wedge bulb between the 2014 and 2016 Maxima reflects a shift from an ANSI-standardized part to a manufacturer-specific designation, despite both occupying the same T10 form factor.