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Ford C-Max radio code from your serial

Most C-Max radios show their serial on the screen when you hold two buttons. Type it in and your Ford C-Max radio code appears in seconds.

Where do I find it?
Know your radio type? Choose it

Free check · No account needed · Help finding your serial · Send us a photo instead

  • Years we cover: 2003–2010
  • Serial: V and 6 numbers, like V123456
  • Where: on the screen: hold 1 and 6
  • Code: in seconds, every V serial covered
Radios we cover
  • 6000 CD
  • 6006 CD
  • Sony CD
  • 4500 RDS
  • 4000 RDS
  • 5000 RDS
  • 2000 RDS
  • £9.99one price per code
  • Freeserial check before you pay
  • Under 30 secondshow long a code actually took, measured on our own orders
  • Money backif the code doesn’t work

Which radio is in your Ford C-Max?

The C-Max has had 2 sets of radios since 2003, from the 4500 RDS, 6000 CD, 6006 CD and Sony CD to the Ford CD and Sony DAB radios. Find yours by year below, but go by the serial: radios get swapped, and the free check reads it for you.

YearsRadiosSerialCode
2003–2010Focus C-Max and C-Max 4500 RDS, 6000 CD, 6006 CD and Sony CD Hold 1 and 6: V and 6 numbers (M on some 4500 RDS radios) Instant
2010–2019C-Max and Grand C-Max Ford CD and Sony DAB radios, touchscreens on later cars Z on most, V on some early cars Some radios

How to find your Ford C-Max radio serial number

Quickest way

On the screen

  1. Turn the ignition on and switch the radio on.
  2. Hold buttons 1 and 6 together for 2–3 seconds.
  3. Watch the screen: the serial scrolls past, usually last. Write down the letter and 6 numbers.
  4. Nothing? Try buttons 2 and 6 instead. Still nothing? The serial is also on a label on the radio itself.
DISPLAY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!V123456!!!!!123456BUTTONS 1–6
Hold the lit buttons with the radio on.
If the screen shows nothing

On the label

The serial is also printed on a label on the top or side of the radio. It comes out with a pair of radio removal keys. Which keys, and where they go: how to remove a car radio.

Photograph the label rather than copying it by hand — 0 and O, 1 and I are easy to mix up.

RADIOPush both keys in until they click, then pull the radio forward

Tips for your Ford C-Max

  • Hold buttons 1 and 6 with the radio on. If nothing scrolls past, try 2 and 6.
  • The Grand C-Max uses the same radios as the C-Max, so the same steps work.
  • If your car has a TravelPilot sat nav radio, its serial starts BP or C7 and is on the label. We can do those by email.

What your serial looks like

  • V123456 Ford V-series (6000 CD)V and 6 numbers Instant
  • M123456 Ford M-series (Visteon)M and 6 numbers Instant
  • Z123456 Ford Z / A serials (2008 on)Z or A and 6 numbers Not available

How to enter your Ford C-Max radio code

DISPLAY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!CODE!!!!!!123456BUTTONS 1–6
Press button 1 twice for 2, button 2 five times for 5, button 3 eight times for 8, button 4 four times for 4, then press button 5 to confirm.
  1. Press button 1 until the first number of your code shows. Do the same with buttons 2, 3 and 4.
  2. Press button 5 to finish (Land Rover: the right-hand arrow button).
  3. Code not accepted? The screen shows LOCKED and a number. Stop before it gets to 10 and read our locked radio help.

Every button press, and what the screen does if the code is wrong: How to enter a Visteon radio code.

If your Ford C-Max radio says LOCKED, WAIT or SAFE

RadioWhat to do
Ford V-series (6000 CD)LOCKED 10: leave the radio and ignition on for about an hour, then try again, or hold button 6 for 10 seconds to get 3 more tries. LOCKED 13 means those tries are used up: the radio then needs a Ford dealer or a radio specialist.
Ford M-series (Visteon)LOCKED 10: leave the radio and ignition on for about an hour, then try again, or hold button 6 for 10 seconds to get 3 more tries. LOCKED 13 means those tries are used up: the radio then needs a Ford dealer or a radio specialist.

What LOCKED, WAIT and SAFE mean, and how long to wait →

Ford C-Max radio code questions

How do I see the serial on a C-Max radio?

Switch the radio on and hold buttons 1 and 6 for a few seconds. The serial scrolls across: a letter and six numbers.

Is the Grand C-Max any different?

No. Same radios, same buttons, same serials.

My C-Max is a 2012 car.

Not at the moment. Fords from about 2008 have a serial starting with Z, and from about 2018 with A. These work differently, and our free check tells you straight away, before you pay.

Can you do every Ford C-Max radio?

For 2003–2010, yes: the code appears on screen as soon as you have paid; for 2010–2019, some of the radios but not the usual one. The free check tells you which yours is before you pay.

Which radio does my Ford C-Max have?

It depends on the year. 2003–2010 (Focus C-Max and C-Max): 4500 RDS, 6000 CD, 6006 CD and Sony CD. 2010–2019 (C-Max and Grand C-Max): Ford CD and Sony DAB radios, touchscreens on later cars. Radios were often swapped, so the serial on yours is what counts.

What does the serial look like on a Ford C-Max?

2003–2010: Hold 1 and 6: V and 6 numbers (M on some 4500 RDS radios). 2010–2019: Z on most, V on some early cars. For example V123456.

Do I have to take the radio out of my Ford C-Max?

Usually not: with the radio on, hold 1 and 6 and the serial shows on the screen.

How do I enter the code on a Ford C-Max?

Press preset 1 until the first digit shows, then 2, 3 and 4 for the rest. Ten presses brings a digit back round to zero. Press 5 to submit — on Land Rover and other Visteon units it is the right-hand search arrow instead, not preset 5.

Another Ford?

Every Ford radio we can unlock is on our Ford radio code page. Close to this one: Escort, S-Max, Fusion, Galaxy, Ka, Mondeo, Fiesta, Focus.

Updated October 2026