The Subaru Outback side marker utilizes a specific bulb size identified as 12961 for the lighting components. Data for the specified vehicle covers the range from 2017 through 2024.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 168 bulb is the dominant fitment across both front and rear side marker positions on the Subaru Outback, appearing across the majority of model years listed in the specifications.
The 168 is a T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, conforming to ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada.
The T10 wedge base is a push-in socket type, meaning the bulb seats directly into a friction-fit holder without a bayonet or screw mechanism.
The front side marker position on the 2008-2009 Subaru Outback uses the 3457NA instead of the 168, making those two model years distinct from all other listed years in that position.
The 3457NA is a T25 dual-filament wedge bulb rated at 12V with a 27W main filament and a 7W secondary filament, also conforming to ANSI standards for the US and Canadian markets.
The "NA" designation in the 3457NA indicates natural amber glass, meaning the color is produced by the glass envelope itself rather than by a colored lens or housing.
Because the 3457NA carries two filaments at substantially different wattages, it is not electrically interchangeable with the single-filament, low-wattage 168 bulb, even if a physical fit were possible.
The rear side marker position on the 2008-2009 Outback uses the 168, while the front position on those same years uses the 3457NA, indicating the two positions are not served by the same bulb in those model years.
Front side marker fitment on the Outback shifted from the 3457NA to the 168 starting with the 2010 model year, aligning the front position with the rear for all subsequent listed years.