Saab 9-3 Courtesy Bulb Size

The Saab 9-3 courtesy light utilizes bulb sizes 6411, 3893, and 12961 depending on the specific version required for the interior lighting system. Data provided for the bulb specifications covers the range from 1999 through 2011.

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
2008-2011	6411
2004-2007	3893
1999-2002	12961

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Festoon bulb, 36mm length, SV8.5 base. 12V, 5W.	6411
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base, specialty application. 12V.	3893
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Saab 9-3 courtesy bulb specifications cover model years 1999-2011 and reference three distinct bulb types across that span: the 6411, 3893, and 12961.
The 6411 is an ANSI-standard festoon bulb rated at 12V and 5W, featuring a 36mm length and an SV8.5 base, and it is specified for the Saab 9-3 across the 2008-2011 model years.
Festoon bulbs are cylindrical lamps that make contact at both ends rather than through a base socket, which is a defining characteristic of the SV8.5 base type used by the 6411.
The 3893 is an ANSI-standard dual-filament bulb with a BAY15d bayonet base, rated at 12V, and is listed for the 2004-2007 model years of the 9-3.
A BAY15d bayonet base features two offset pins, a design that physically prevents incorrect single-filament bulbs from being seated in its place, which is relevant when sourcing a replacement for the 2004-2007 9-3.
The 12961 is a Philips part number rather than an ANSI industry code, and it designates a miniature wedge-style T10 bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W, specified for the 1999-2002 model years.
The W2.1x9.5d base of the 12961 is a wedge type, meaning the bulb is held in place by the tension of the socket itself rather than by a bayonet or screw mechanism.
All three bulb types share a 12V operating voltage, but the 3893 has no wattage listed in the specifications, while the 6411 and 12961 are both rated at 5W.
The three bulb types use physically incompatible bases, specifically SV8.5, BAY15d, and W2.1x9.5d, meaning they are not interchangeable with one another regardless of shared voltage ratings.
A change in bulb type occurs between the 2007 and 2008 model years of the 9-3, where the dual-filament 3893 with a bayonet base is replaced by the single-contact 6411 festoon bulb.