Toyota 4Runner License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Toyota 4Runner license plate bulb specifications cover model years 1984 through 2024, with three distinct bulb types appearing across that range: 194, 168, and 12961.
• The 168 and 194 are both ANSI-standardized miniature wedge bulbs sharing the T10 form factor and a 12V operating voltage, which places them in the same physical bulb family despite their different wattage ratings.
• The 194 bulb operates at 3.78W, while the 168 bulb operates at 4.9W. Although both fit the T10 socket, the wattage difference means they are not rated as interchangeable replacements in positions where the original specification is defined.
• The 12961 is a Philips part number rather than an ANSI designation. It describes a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W, and it was the specified license plate bulb for the Toyota 4Runner (1997-2002).
• The W2.1x9.5d base designation on the 12961 is a standardized IEC base code, indicating a wedge-type base with a 2.1mm wire width and a 9.5mm pin spread, which is the same base geometry shared by the 194 and 168 T10 bulbs.
• The 194 bulb is specified for the 4Runner across 2021-2024, representing the most recent fitment in the dataset, as well as for several earlier model years spanning 1984-1992.
• The 168 bulb is the most frequently specified type across the full dataset, covering the 4Runner from 1990-1996 and again from 2003-2020, with the exception of 1991 and the 1997-2002 gap where the 12961 was specified.
• The 1992 model year specifies the 194 bulb, while the adjacent 1991 and 1993 model years specify the 168, indicating that the same generation of the vehicle did not consistently use a single bulb type throughout its production run.