The Scion tC tail light utilizes 168 and 7443 bulb sizes for the rear lighting components. Data for the specified vehicle covers the range from 2005 through 2016.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 7443 bulb is a dual-filament T20 wedge type rated at 12V with a 21W/5W output, meaning it serves two lighting functions within a single housing. The higher 21W filament typically handles stop or turn signal duties, while the lower 5W filament handles running light functions.
The 168 bulb is a single-filament T10 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 4.9W. At that wattage, it is suited only to low-intensity applications such as parking or marker lighting rather than stop or turn signal functions.
Both the 168 and 7443 are ANSI-standardized bulb types recognized in the United States and Canada, meaning their electrical and physical specifications are defined by a common industry standard rather than being proprietary to any manufacturer.
The Scion tC outer tail light used the 7443 bulb from 2005-2012, then transitioned to the smaller, lower-wattage 168 bulb for 2014-2016. These two bulb types are not interchangeable due to differences in filament count, wattage, and base size.
The 2013 model year of the Scion tC outer tail light involved a mid-year bulb change. Units produced through May 2013 used the 7443, while those produced from May 2013 onward used the 168. This production date distinction is critical when selecting a replacement bulb for a 2013 tC.