Subaru Outback License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Subaru Outback license plate position uses two bulb types across its model years: the 12961 and the 168, both of which share the T10 miniature wedge form factor.
• The T10 designation refers to a tubular bulb body approximately 10mm wide, a standard size widely used in low-intensity automotive lighting positions such as license plate and courtesy lamps.
• The 12961 is a Philips part number for a 12V, 5W T10 wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, meaning it is a manufacturer-specific designation rather than a universal industry code.
• The 168 is an ANSI-standardized designation recognized across the United States and Canada, specifying a 12V, 4.9W T10 wedge bulb, making it broadly available across multiple brands.
• The wattage difference between the two bulbs is minimal at 0.1W, with the 12961 rated at 5W and the 168 rated at 4.9W.
• Both bulbs use the wedge base design, which relies on the glass envelope itself to make electrical contact rather than a separate metal base, a construction common in small-format automotive bulbs.
• The Subaru Outback (2023-2024) uses the 12961 bulb for the license plate position, while model years 2013-2019 use the 168.
• The W2.1x9.5d base specification on the 12961 defines the contact wire width at 2.1mm and the base length at 9.5mm, which are physical fitment parameters relevant to socket compatibility.
• The Subaru Outback (2010-2012) uses the 12961, while the 2008-2009 model years use the 168, indicating that the two bulb types have alternated across different generations of the vehicle.
• Because the 12961 carries a manufacturer-specific part number while the 168 follows an ANSI standard, direct interchangeability between the two should not be assumed despite their shared T10 body type.