Volkswagen Vanagon front turn signal bulbs use P21/5W size while rear turn signal bulbs use P21W size. The replacement chart covers vehicle production years spanning 1980 to 1991.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The Volkswagen Vanagon uses two distinct bulb types across its front and rear turn signal positions, with the front requiring a dual-filament P21/5W and the rear requiring a single-filament P21W across all model years from 1980-1991.
The P21/5W is a dual-filament bulb rated at 12V with a 21W primary filament and a 5W secondary filament, mounted on a BAY15d bayonet base. The two filaments serve separate functions within the same housing.
The P21W is a single-filament bulb rated at 12V and 21W, mounted on a BA15s bayonet base. It carries only one filament, unlike the P21/5W used at the front.
The BAY15d base of the P21/5W and the BA15s base of the P21W are physically different and not interchangeable. The BAY15d base features offset pins to prevent incorrect installation, while the BA15s base has a single contact pin.
Because the front position requires a dual-filament P21/5W and the rear requires a single-filament P21W, substituting one for the other would result in either a missing filament function or a base mismatch.
Both the P21/5W and P21W conform to ECE standards, which are recognized across Europe and internationally. This classification reflects a regulated specification for bulb output and base configuration rather than a manufacturer-specific designation.
The front turn signal specification of P21/5W remained unchanged across the entire 1980-1991 production span of the Vanagon, indicating a consistent lamp housing design throughout that period.
The rear turn signal specification of P21W similarly remained unchanged across all 1980-1991 model years, reflecting the same continuity seen at the front position.