Volkswagen Rabbit Back Up Light Bulb Size

The Volkswagen Rabbit back up light utilizes P21W and 1156 bulb sizes for the rear illumination system. Available information covers the production span from 1975 through 2009.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Bulb Size by Year Range

Years	Bulb Size
2006-2009	1156
1975-1984	1156

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	1156

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Volkswagen Rabbit uses the 1156 bulb for its back up light across all model years listed in the specifications, spanning 1975-1984 and 2006-2009.
The 1156 is an ANSI-standardized bulb type, meaning its physical and electrical characteristics conform to a defined North American standard used across many vehicle makes.
The 1156 bulb operates on a 12-volt electrical system and draws 21 watts, which is typical for incandescent reverse lighting applications.
The 1156 uses a BA15s bayonet base, a single-contact fitting where the "s" denotes a single pin, distinguishing it from double-contact bayonet bases used in other bulb types.
Because the 1156 is a single-filament bulb, it serves one lighting function only, which is consistent with its use in a dedicated back up light socket rather than a combined stop/tail application.
The BA15s bayonet base of the 1156 is not interchangeable with the BA15d base found on dual-filament bulbs such as the 1157, despite the similar physical housing size.