A dark or unevenly lit rear plate on a 2012–2013 Honda Civic sedan may be caused by a failed 5-watt license-plate bulb, but moisture, a loose connector, corroded contacts or damaged wiring can produce the same symptom. This guide covers gasoline four-door Civics with the original trunk-lid lamp housings and removable 168 miniature wedge bulbs. There is no dedicated OBD-II engine code that proves a license-plate bulb has failed.
Easy, with intact trim clips
20–35 minutes
$7–$15 for a two-pack
Safety before opening the trunk-lid liner
Park on level ground, select Park, apply the parking brake, switch the exterior lamps off and keep the key away from the controls. Support the trunk lid in its fully open position and keep hands clear of the hinge and latch areas. Do not work beneath a lid that will not remain open reliably.
Let illuminated bulbs cool before handling them. Use a plastic trim tool when possible, keep metal tools away from exposed terminals and disconnect the lamp connector before pulling the bulb. Never bridge contacts or tug the harness. Stop for a cracked housing, brittle liner, melted socket, trapped water or exposed wiring.
This bulb-only job requires no vehicle lifting, main-battery disconnection, fluid, programming, relearn or numerical torque specification. Plastic fasteners are secured by engagement, not by applying a guessed torque.
Confirm the application
| Vehicle | Supported lamp | Engine / drivetrain | Exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2013 Honda Civic four-door gasoline sedan, U.S./Canada-style trunk-lid arrangement | Original rear license-plate lamp assembly with a removable 12V 5W miniature wedge bulb | 1.8L or 2.4L gasoline; front-wheel drive. The lamp itself is not engine-specific. | Coupe, Hybrid, Natural Gas, other years or markets, sealed LED units, LED conversions, modified trunk lids and any housing or bulb that does not match |
Honda’s 2012 and 2013 sedan manuals specify a 5-watt rear license-plate lamp and describe removing the assembly from the open trunk lid. An original photographed 2013 sedan procedure identifies the removable wedge lamp as number 168. The actual housing, connector and old-bulb marking remain the final checks. Do not extend this article to another body style merely because a parts selector displays the same bulb number.
Symptoms and diagnosis before replacement
- One side dark: a broken filament is likely, but a loose bulb, corroded socket or damaged connector can look identical from outside.
- Both lamps dark: confirm the parking/headlamp switch is on. Two bulbs can age together, but a shared supply, connector or wiring fault must not be ignored.
- Flicker over bumps: inspect the bulb fit, connector latch and socket contacts. Replacing the bulb alone may provide only a temporary result.
- Condensation or staining: identify the leak and inspect the housing. A fresh bulb will not seal a cracked lens or restore heat-damaged plastic.
- Repeated failure: stop fitting bulbs and diagnose charging voltage, heat, water entry and the lamp circuit.
With the car parked, deliberately turn on the parking lights and observe both sides of the plate. Then switch the lights off before opening the liner. A scan tool is not required for a straightforward burned filament, and no generic engine OBD-II code proves that this lamp or its wiring has failed.
Featured replacement bulbs
SYLVANIA 168 Long Life Miniature Bulb
Manufacturer part number: 168LL.BP2
Amazon ASIN: B01FWODPFA
Selected variation: 168 Long Life incandescent miniature bulbs, two-pack
Quantity: two bulbs.
The package contains two standard 168 bulbs. It does not include lamp housings, lenses, sockets, connectors, trunk-lid clips, tools or wiring. SYLVANIA identifies the OE bulb number as 168 and recommends clean gloves or a clean shop towel when handling the glass. The article validates this incandescent two-pack; it does not treat an LED conversion as equivalent.
Check the exact SYLVANIA 168 two-pack
Amazon purchase activity recorded for this exact ASIN: “300+ bought in past week,” retrieved October 20, 2026 from a cached result crawled the prior week. This is a rounded marketplace indicator, not audited unit sales or a live price, seller or availability statement.
Tools and supplies
| Tool or Supply | Exact Product | Product Link | Purpose and Selection Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required bulbs | SYLVANIA 168 Long Life, 168LL.BP2, two-pack | Exact ASIN B01FWODPFA | Use only after confirming a removable 5W 168 wedge lamp and matching housing. |
| Required liner access | Small plastic trim tool and correctly fitting small Phillips hand screwdriver already owned | No purchase needed | Raise the reusable clip centers and turn the center plastic retainer without marring trim. Use only light hand pressure; do not use an impact driver. |
| Required handling aid | Clean lint-free towel or clean gloves already owned | No purchase needed | Keeps skin oil off the new glass and provides a clean place for the lens. |
| Optional parts tray | Small container already owned | No purchase needed | Keeps multi-piece plastic liner clips together. Do not leave loose clips inside the trunk lid. |
Estimated DIY versus professional cost
DIY estimate: about $7–$15 for a two-pack, plus $0–$5 for cleanup material when suitable tools are already available. There is no required fluid, gasket or one-time metal fastener in the documented bulb-only service.
Professional estimate: roughly $30–$90 for straightforward bulb replacement after a minimum labor charge, plus parts. Housing, socket, water-leak or wiring repair can raise the total. These figures are planning allowances, not current Amazon pricing or a local shop quote.
2012–2013 Civic sedan license-plate bulb steps
- Secure and identify the car. Open the trunk fully, confirm the lid remains safely supported and verify the original lamp positions beneath the trunk lid. Switch all exterior lamps off.
- Choose the affected side. Work on one lamp at a time so the opposite housing remains a reference. If both are dark, complete the diagnosis above before assuming two failed bulbs.
- Release only the necessary liner fasteners. Use a small plastic tool to lift the center pin of the nearby push clips, then remove each complete clip. At the center retainer, turn the small plastic screw counterclockwise with a correctly fitting hand screwdriver and remove the outer piece. Keep every component organized.
- Move the liner aside. Pull back only enough trunk-lid carpet to reach the lamp. Do not crease the liner, strain wiring or disturb unrelated trunk-release hardware.
- Disconnect and release the housing. Press the connector latch and slide the plug from the lamp body. Squeeze the two housing sides gently and push the assembly out through the trunk lid. Do not pull on wires or pry the painted opening.
- Open the lamp. Press the two retaining clips on the housing and remove the lens cover. Set it on a clean surface. Inspect the lens, gasket area, connector and socket for moisture, cracks, corrosion or heat damage.
- Remove and compare the bulb. After it is cool, pull the wedge bulb straight from the socket. Confirm that its base and 5-watt application match the new 168. A mismatch means stop and identify the installed lamp.
- Install the replacement. Hold the new bulb with clean gloves or a clean towel and press its base straight into the socket until fully seated. Do not twist or side-load the glass.
- Reassemble the lamp. Refit the lens until both clips engage, insert the assembly into the trunk lid until secure, and reconnect the plug until its latch clicks. Ensure the harness is not pinched.
- Test before closing the liner. With hands clear, switch on the parking lamps and verify steady illumination. Switch them off again. A dark or flickering new bulb calls for diagnosis, not repeated wiggling of a powered socket.
- Restore the liner. Position the carpet correctly, install the outer bodies of the retainers, then secure their center pins or plastic screw by hand. The clips should sit flush without being forced.
- Complete the final check. Turn the lights on, confirm both lamp housings illuminate the plate evenly, then close and reopen the trunk to confirm the liner and latch area remain clear.
No threaded metal fastener is disturbed in this documented sequence, so no torque wrench or numerical tightening value applies. Plastic retainers that will not seat are usually misaligned, damaged or assembled in the wrong order.
Final inspection checklist
- Each fitted bulb is fully seated and illuminates steadily.
- Both housings and lens covers are latched, with no visible gap or moisture.
- Connectors are locked and wiring is not trapped behind the liner.
- Every liner fastener is present, assembled correctly and flush.
- The trunk lid opens, stays supported, closes and latches without interference.
- No unusual heat, odor or repeated lamp failure appears after the test.
Common mistakes
- Extending fitment: coupe, Hybrid, Natural Gas and later Civic procedures are not established by this sedan guide.
- Prying the exterior lens: access the housing from behind the trunk-lid liner instead of levering against paint or a brittle lens.
- Losing clip pieces: reusable push fasteners have separate centers and outer bodies; keep them together.
- Pulling the harness: release the connector by its latch and body, never by its wires.
- Using a hotter or unverified lamp: the validated application is a 5W 168 incandescent bulb. Similar wedge bases do not prove a safe equivalent.
- Ignoring water or heat damage: a new bulb cannot repair a cracked housing, failed seal or overheated socket.
Frequently asked questions
What bulb does a 2012–2013 Civic sedan license-plate lamp use?
Honda specifies a 5-watt lamp, and the original 2013 sedan demonstration identifies the removable wedge bulb as number 168. Verify the actual housing and old bulb before ordering.
Does the two-pack cover both lamp positions?
Yes for the original pair of removable 168 lamp positions described here. Replace only after inspecting both housings; the pack does not include lenses, sockets or clips.
Can I install a 194 or LED bulb instead?
This guide validates the SYLVANIA 168LL.BP2 incandescent pack. A similar base does not prove equal wattage, heat, light distribution or electrical behavior, so an unverified substitute remains outside this procedure.
Why is the new bulb still dark?
Switch the lamps off, reseat the bulb and connector, and inspect for corrosion or damage. If a known-good correct bulb remains dark, diagnose power, ground, socket and wiring rather than installing another bulb.
Must I disconnect the car battery?
No battery-disconnection procedure is specified for this bulb-only service. The lamps are switched off and the individual connector is unplugged before bulb handling. Do not expand that statement to unrelated electrical work.
Sources and related Civic guides
- 2012 Honda Civic Sedan Owner’s Manual — 5W rear license-plate lamp and assembly removal.
- 2013 Honda Civic Sedan Owner’s Manual — 5W specification and lamp replacement.
- Original photographed 2013 Civic procedure by Paul B. Michaels — trunk-liner access, housing clips and 168 identification.
- SYLVANIA 168LL.BP2 product page — exact part number, two-pack and handling guidance.
- Vehicle-reference photograph and permission — IFCAR, public domain.
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