Saab 9-3 Tail Light Bulb Size

The Saab 9-3 tail light utilizes 12088, P21W, and P21/5W bulb sizes depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available data 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	12088
2004-2007	P21W
1999-2003	P21/5W

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
OEM part number (Sylvania) for the ANSI 1156 bulb. Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	12088
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Single-filament signalling bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	P21W
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Dual-filament signalling bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. 12V, 21W/5W.	P21/5W

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Saab 9-3 tail light specifications cover model years 1999 through 2011, with three distinct bulb types used across that span.
The P21/5W is a dual-filament bulb rated at 12V with a 21W main filament and a 5W secondary filament, mounted on a BAY15d bayonet base. It is specified for the 9-3 from 1999-2003.
The BAY15d base used by the P21/5W has two offset pins at different heights, a physical design that prevents incorrect single-filament bulbs from being seated in its socket.
The P21W is a single-filament bulb rated at 12V, 21W, using a BA15s bayonet base. It is specified for the 9-3 from 2004-2007.
The 12088 is a Sylvania OEM part number corresponding to the ANSI 1156 bulb, a single-filament type rated at 12V, 21W with a BA15s bayonet base. It is specified for the 9-3 from 2008-2011.
The P21W and the 12088 (ANSI 1156) share identical electrical ratings and the same BA15s bayonet base, making them functionally interchangeable in terms of socket fitment and power draw.
The P21/5W is not interchangeable with either the P21W or the 12088, as its BAY15d base differs physically from the BA15s base used by those two bulbs.
The shift from P21/5W to P21W between the 2003 and 2004 model years reflects a change in tail light socket type, since the two bulbs require mechanically different bases.
The P21W designation follows ECE regulations, which are the lighting standards used across Europe and many other markets worldwide, while the 12088 designation follows the ANSI system used primarily in North America.