Nissan Versa front side marker bulbs use 12961 or 168 size, while rear side marker bulbs use 12961 or P21/5W size. The replacement bulb size chart covers 2013 through 2023 production years.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Nissan Versa uses two distinct bulb types for its front side markers across the model range. The 168 is an ANSI-standard T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, while the 12961 is a Philips-designated T10 wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base rated at 12V and 5W. Both share the T10 form factor but originate from different standardization systems.
The front side marker on the Nissan Versa uses the 168 bulb for 2013-2019 model years and transitions to the 12961 for 2020-2023 model years. These two bulbs are not confirmed interchangeable despite sharing the T10 form factor, as they belong to different specification standards.
The rear side marker follows a parallel split. The P21/5W applies to 2013-2019 model years, and the 12961 applies to 2020-2023 model years. The shift from P21/5W to 12961 represents a significant change in bulb technology and base type.
The P21/5W is an ECE-standard dual-filament bulb with a BAY15d bayonet base, rated at 12V with filaments at 21W and 5W. Its bayonet base and dual-filament design make it physically and electrically incompatible with the T10 wedge-base bulbs used in other positions on the same vehicle.
The 12961 designation is a Philips part number rather than an ANSI or ECE standard code. Its W2.1x9.5d base is the standard wedge base associated with T10 bulbs, which is the same base type used by the 168, making socket fitment physically similar between the two.
The 168 and 12961 differ by approximately 0.1W in rated wattage, with the 168 at 4.9W and the 12961 at 5W. Both operate on a 12V circuit, placing them in the same general electrical category for low-current marker lamp applications.
The rear side marker position on 2013-2019 models uses the P21/5W, a bulb more commonly associated with combination stop and tail lamp functions in European vehicle applications. Its use in a side marker role on these model years reflects a design choice specific to that generation of the Versa.
For 2020-2023 model years, both the front and rear side marker positions on the Nissan Versa share the same 12961 bulb specification, meaning a single bulb type covers both positions on those vehicles.