Toyota RAV4 tail light bulbs utilize 4 distinct sizes across inner and outer positions, with the inner tail light requiring either 168 or 194 bulb sizes and the outer tail light requiring either 7443 or 1157 bulb sizes. The replacement chart covers vehicle production years spanning 1996 through 2018 with corresponding bulb size specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 7443 is the most frequently specified bulb across the Toyota RAV4 tail light data. It is a dual-filament T20 wedge bulb rated at 12V with a 21W high filament and a 5W low filament, making it suitable for combined stop and tail light functions within a single unit.
The 1157 shares the same 12V, 21W/5W dual-filament electrical rating as the 7443 but uses a BAY15d bayonet base rather than a wedge base, meaning the two types are not physically interchangeable despite identical wattage ratings.
The 168 and 194 are both T10 miniature wedge bulbs operating at 12V, though they differ in wattage. The 168 draws 4.9W while the 194 draws 3.78W. Although they share the same base type, the wattage difference means they are not direct substitutes for one another in applications where output levels are specified.
For the Toyota RAV4 inner tail light, the 2016-2018 model years fitted with Halogen Capsule Headlamps use the 168 bulb, while the 2015 model year uses the 194. These two bulbs occupy the same T10 wedge socket but carry different wattage ratings.
The outer tail light on the RAV4 uses the 7443 for the 2015-2018 model years. On 2016-2018 vehicles, this fitment is specifically noted for those equipped with Halogen Capsule Headlamps, while the 2015 entry carries no such condition.
The 1157 was the outer tail light bulb on the RAV4 for the 1996-1997 model years. The 1996 entry applies to vehicles produced from November 1995 onward.
The 1998 RAV4 outer tail light has a production-date split. Vehicles built up to September 1997 use the 1157 with its BAY15d bayonet base, while those built from September 1997 onward use the 7443 wedge type. Selecting the wrong bulb for a 1998 vehicle therefore depends on its specific build date.
The outer tail light on the RAV4 used the 7443 continuously across the 1999-2005 model years, with no conditional fitment notes attached to any of those entries.