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Ford Fiesta Radio Code
Fitted a new battery to your Fiesta and the radio now shows CODE? The code is stored against the radio's serial number. Send us the serial and our UK team will look up your Fiesta radio code and email it to you, free of charge.
- Free, no card details
- Emailed by our UK team
The factory radio sits in the centre of the dashboard. Which unit you have depends on the year and trim, so the sections below show the typical radios for the Ford Fiesta and how to read the serial from yours.
Skip to the request form if you already have your serial.
Why your Ford Fiesta radio is asking for a code
Most Fiestas built before the SYNC era have a factory radio with an anti-theft lock. The lock switches on whenever the radio loses its power supply: a flat or replaced battery, a removed radio fuse, or the radio being taken out of the dash. When power returns the display shows CODE (or ENTER KEYCODE) and the radio stays silent until the correct four-digit code is entered.
The code never changes for a given radio, which is why it is worth writing down once you have it. Ford originally supplied it on a Security Code card in the document pack. If that card is missing, or the radio has been replaced since the car was built, the code can be looked up from the serial number on the radio itself.
This problem is very often reported on the Mk6 Fiesta (2002 to 2008), including 2005, 2006 and 2007 cars, and the Mk7 (2008 onwards, including 2011 cars), because these generations had the most CD radios of the locked type.
Which radio does your Fiesta have?
The table shows the radios that are typical for each Fiesta generation. Fitment notes on this site describe what is typical. They are not guaranteed: trim level, market and any radio swap during the car's life can change what is fitted, so always use the serial from the radio in your car.
| Generation / years | Typical radios | Serial and how to read it (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Mk5 (approx. 1999 to 2002) | 5500 RDS cassette, 6500 CD, 3500 RDS | M serial, usually on the label (radio out) |
| Mk6 (2002 to 2008) | 4500 RDS E-O-N, 6000 CD, 6000 MNE (MP3) | 4500 RDS: M serial, often shown with buttons 2 + 6. 6000 CD: V serial, often shown with buttons 1 + 6 |
| Mk7 (2008 to 2017) | 6000 CD, Sony CD / DAB | V serial (or a SOCD... Sony string), often shown with buttons 1 + 6 |
| Mk8 (2017 onwards) | SYNC 3 touchscreen | Normally no code needed |
A CD slot with round presets is usually the 6000 CD. A cassette radio with an M key between the presets is usually the 4500 RDS. Sony-badged units appear on Mk7 cars.
How to find the serial number on a Fiesta radio
The serial is the number we need. Do not use the Ford part number printed on the same label, or the VIN. Start with the display, and only remove the radio if nothing shows.
6000 CD and Sony radios
With the radio on and CODE showing, hold buttons 1 and 6 together for a few seconds. On many units the display then shows a serial starting with V (for example V123456), sometimes M, or a longer SOCD... string on some Sony units. Film the screen if it changes quickly.
4500 RDS and some other units
On some units the serial appears with buttons 2 and 6 held together, usually while CODE is displayed. The serial typically starts with M followed by six digits.
Cassette radios and older units
These often do not show the serial on screen. Remove the radio with Ford release keys (it normally slides out) and read the serial from the label next to the barcode.
Travelpilot navigation
Navigation units need removing. The serial is on the label on the case and typically starts with BP or C7. Copy the full string, not the Ford part number.
Not every unit behaves the same, so if a button combination does nothing, use the label. Never use the VIN, the registration or the long Ford part number as the serial.
How to get your Fiesta radio code
- Find the serial as above and write it down exactly, including the first letter.
- Open our request form, choose Fiesta and your year, then pick your radio and enter the serial.
- Give your name and email address, tick the consent boxes and send the request.
- Our team looks up your code and emails it to you. It is free.
You do not need to give a registration number or VIN. If we cannot find a code for your serial we will email you to say so.
How to enter the code on a Fiesta
- Switch the ignition and the radio on. The display shows CODE, ENTER CODE or ENTER KEYCODE.
- On a typical 6000 CD or similar radio, press preset 1 until the first digit is right, then preset 2 for the second digit, 3 for the third and 4 for the fourth.
- Check all four digits, then press and hold button 5 for a couple of seconds to confirm. The radio should start playing.
Radios with a keypad or touchscreen, such as Travelpilot, use their own entry method instead. If your handbook describes a different method for your radio, follow the handbook.
Fiesta radio says WAIT / LOCKED 10 / LOCKED 13: what to do
These messages come from the radio's anti-theft system, and the exact behaviour depends on the unit.
- CODE / ENTER KEYCODE: the radio is locked and is waiting for the four-digit code.
- WAIT: the radio is pausing code entry, usually after a wrong code. Do not keep guessing.
- LOCKED (sometimes followed by a number, such as LOCKED 10 or LOCKED 13): the radio is refusing further entries, usually after repeated wrong attempts.
Websites give different waiting times and recovery steps for these messages, and Ford does not publish them for its older radios, so we do not quote a time or a method. If your radio says WAIT or LOCKED, stop entering codes, check the serial you used, and contact a Ford dealer or radio specialist for the safest next step. The best prevention is to take the code from a reliable source and check each digit before you confirm.
Ford Fiesta radio code FAQ
Where is the code written down?
Ford supplied a Security Code card in the document pack with the car. If you cannot find it, check the handbook wallet and any service book. If it has gone, you need the serial from the radio to get the code again.
Where do I find my Ford radio serial number?
On many 6000 CD and Sony radios you can show it on the display: switch the radio on and hold buttons 1 and 6 together. On some 4500 RDS units it is buttons 2 and 6. If nothing appears, remove the radio with Ford release keys and read the label on the case. It usually starts with M or V followed by six digits.
Will the code still work after I disconnect the battery again?
Yes. The code stays the same for that radio, so keep it somewhere safe. You will need to enter it again whenever the radio loses power.
Does a newer Ford with SYNC need a radio code?
Normally not. Ford says that models with SYNC are digitally paired with the vehicle and do not need a code. The code lock mainly affects older factory CD, cassette and navigation radios.
Which Fiesta radio do I have, 6000 CD or 4500 RDS?
Look at the front panel. A CD slot with round presets is usually a 6000 CD. A cassette radio with an M key is usually a 4500 RDS. The serial letter normally matches: V for most 6000 CD units, M for most 4500 RDS units.
Can I get my radio code from my registration number or VIN?
No. We do not look codes up by registration number or VIN. The code belongs to the radio unit, and a radio may have been replaced during the car's life, so we need the serial number printed on the radio that is in the car now.
Request your free Ford Fiesta radio code
Free. Our team looks up your code and emails it to you.