Volkswagen Vanagon Back Up Light Bulb Size

The Volkswagen Vanagon back up light utilizes a P21W bulb size for the rear illumination system. Data for the specified component covers the range from 1980 to 1991.

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
1980-1991	P21W

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ECE standard (Europe & worldwide). Single-filament signalling bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	P21W

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Volkswagen Vanagon uses the P21W bulb as the back up light bulb across all listed model years, spanning 1980-1991.
The P21W is an ECE-standard bulb, meaning it conforms to the Economic Commission for Europe's regulations, which govern lighting equipment used in European and many international vehicle markets.
The P21W operates at 12 volts and 21 watts, placing it in the single-filament signalling category rather than the higher-wattage range associated with illumination bulbs.
The P21W uses a BA15s bayonet base, where "BA" denotes a bayonet cap fitting, "15" refers to the 15mm base width, and the lowercase "s" indicates a single contact at the base.
The single-filament construction of the P21W means it is designed for on/off signalling functions, such as reverse lighting, rather than variable-intensity applications that would require a dual-filament bulb.
The BA15s base is not interchangeable with the BA15d base, which carries two contact points at its base. Substituting a BA15d bulb in a BA15s socket would result in an improper fit.
The P21W designation follows the IEC/ECE naming convention, where "P" indicates a prefocus-style bulb body and "21W" reflects the wattage rating.
Because the Volkswagen Vanagon back up light specification remains unchanged across 1980-1991, replacement bulbs sourced for any single year within that range are electrically and physically consistent with all other listed years.