The Toyota Prius brake light requires a bulb size of 7443 for the specific lighting component located at the rear of the vehicle. Data for the bulb specifications covers the range from 2001 to 2003.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Toyota Prius (2001-2003) uses two distinct bulb types across its brake lighting system: the 7443 and the 168, both of which conform to ANSI standards applicable in the United States and Canada.
The 7443 is a dual-filament wedge bulb in the T20 form factor, rated at 12V with a wattage split of 21W and 5W across its two filaments. The higher-wattage filament serves the active brake signal, while the lower-wattage filament typically handles a secondary function such as a tail or running light.
The 168 is a single-filament miniature wedge bulb in the T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 4.9W. Its significantly lower wattage reflects its role as an indicator-level light source rather than a primary stop signal.
For the Toyota Prius (2001-2003), the 7443 is specified for both the general brake position and the outer brake position, covering the primary stop light functions on the vehicle.
The Center High Mount Stop Light on the 2001-2003 Prius uses the 168 bulb, which is a physically smaller and lower-wattage unit than the 7443 used in the outer brake positions.
The T20 and T10 designations refer to the wedge base width of each bulb type. These two form factors are not interchangeable, as the physical base sizes and socket configurations differ between them.
The dual-filament design of the 7443 means it is not a direct substitute for the single-filament 168, even where voltage compatibility might otherwise suggest a possible fit. Substituting one for the other would result in incorrect wattage output and potential socket incompatibility.
The 7443 specification remains consistent across all three model years (2001-2003) for both the general brake and outer brake positions, as does the 168 specification for the Center High Mount Stop Light across the same period.