The Oldsmobile Alero tail light requires a 3057 bulb size for proper installation and function within the rear lighting assembly. Data for the specified component covers the range from 1999 to 2004.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Oldsmobile Alero uses three bulb types across its tail light positions: 3157NA, 3157, and 3057. All three are ANSI-standard dual-filament T25 wedge bulbs rated at 12V with a 27W/7W filament configuration, making them electrically identical in output.
The 3157NA is distinguished from the standard 3157 by its natural amber glass envelope. This tinting is built into the glass itself rather than applied as a coating, which affects the color of emitted light without altering the electrical or physical specifications.
The 3057 shares the same T25 wedge base and 12V, 27W/7W rating as the 3157, but the two are not directly interchangeable. The 3057 and 3157 differ in filament positioning within the bulb, which means substituting one for the other in a socket not designed for it can result in incorrect function of the stop and tail circuits.
The inner tail light position on the Oldsmobile Alero uses the 3157NA for all model years from 1999-2004, with no variation across the production run.
The outer tail light position shows a split specification. For the 2001 and 1999 model years, the outer tail light uses the 3057, while the 2000 and 2002-2004 model years use the 3157.
A second outer tail light sub-position specifies the 3057 uniformly across all model years from 1999-2004, indicating the Alero carries more than one bulb socket within the outer tail light assembly.
The dual-filament design present in all three bulb types serves two separate circuits within a single bulb. The higher 27W filament typically serves the brake or turn signal function, while the lower 7W filament serves the running light function.