Nissan Pathfinder Back Up Light Bulb Size

The Nissan Pathfinder back up light utilizes bulb sizes 921, 1156, and P21W for various lighting components located at the rear of the vehicle. Available data covers the range of years from 1987 through 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
2022-2023	921
2015-2020	921
2000-2013	921
1999	1156 (Early Model)
1999	921 (Late Model)
1987-1998	1156

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Wedge bulb (T15). 12V, 16W.	921
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	1156

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Nissan Pathfinder back up light uses one of two bulb types across its model years: the 921 and the 1156, both of which are ANSI-standardized bulbs for the US and Canadian markets.
The 921 is a T15 wedge-base bulb rated at 12V and 16W. Its wedge-style base means it is held in place by the socket itself rather than by a locking mechanism.
The 1156 is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 21W. The BA15s base uses a twist-and-lock mounting style with a single locating pin.
The 1156 draws 21W compared to the 921's 16W, meaning the two bulbs are not electrically equivalent and are not interchangeable without accounting for that difference.
The Nissan Pathfinder used the 1156 bulb from 1987 through 1998, spanning over a decade of production.
The 921 bulb was adopted from the 2000 model year onward through 2023, with the exception of the 1999 model year, which represents a transitional period between the two bulb types.
The 1999 Nissan Pathfinder is the only model year in these specifications to carry two distinct bulb sizes, with the Early Model requiring a 1156 and the Late Model requiring a 921. Selecting the correct bulb for a 1999 unit depends on which production variant is present.
Because the 921 uses a wedge base and the 1156 uses a bayonet base, the two bulbs require physically different socket types and cannot be fitted into each other's housing.