Which radio is in your Ford Focus?
The Focus has had 4 sets of radios since 1998, from the 4000 RDS, 5000 RDS and early 6000 CD to the Sony, SYNC and touchscreen radios. Find yours by year below, but go by the serial: radios get swapped, and the free check reads it for you.
How to find your Ford Focus radio serial number
On the screen
- Turn the ignition on and switch the radio on.
- Hold buttons 1 and 6 together for 2–3 seconds.
- Watch the screen: the serial scrolls past, usually last. Write down the letter and 6 numbers.
- Nothing? Try buttons 2 and 6 instead. Still nothing? The serial is also on a label on the radio itself.
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.
Tips for your Ford Focus
- On a Focus you almost never need to take the radio out: hold buttons 1 and 6 (or 2 and 6 on the first Focus) with the radio on.
- Write the serial down exactly: it is one letter and six numbers, like V123456.
What your serial looks like
-
V123456Ford V-series (6000 CD)V and 6 numbers Instant -
M123456Ford M-series (Visteon)M and 6 numbers Instant -
Z123456Ford Z / A serials (2008 on)Z or A and 6 numbers Not available
How to enter your Ford Focus radio code
- Press button 1 until the first number of your code shows. Do the same with buttons 2, 3 and 4.
- Press button 5 to finish (Land Rover: the right-hand arrow button).
- Code not accepted? The screen shows LOCKED and a number. Stop before it gets to 10 and read our locked radio help.
- Press button 1 until the first number of your code shows. Do the same with buttons 2, 3 and 4.
- Press button 5 to finish (Land Rover: the right-hand arrow button).
- 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 Focus radio says LOCKED, WAIT or SAFE
| Radio | What 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 Focus radio code questions
Where is the radio serial on a Ford Focus?
Switch the radio on and hold buttons 1 and 6 for a few seconds (2 and 6 on the first Focus). The serial scrolls across the screen: a letter and 6 numbers. It is also on a label on the radio.
My Focus radio says LOCKED. What do I do?
Leave the ignition and radio on for about an hour and it will let you try again. Get the right code first rather than guessing.
Can you do the Focus radio with a Z serial?
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 Focus radio?
For 1998–2004, 2004–2008, yes: the code appears on screen as soon as you have paid; for 2008–2011, some of the radios but not the usual one; for 2011 on, not at the moment. The free check tells you which yours is before you pay.
Which radio does my Ford Focus have?
It depends on the year. 1998–2004 (First Focus): 4000 RDS, 5000 RDS and early 6000 CD. 2004–2008 (Second Focus): 6000 CD and Sony CD. 2008–2011 (Second Focus, facelift): 6000 CD and Sony CD, some with Bluetooth. 2011 on (Third and fourth Focus): Sony, SYNC and touchscreen radios. Radios were often swapped, so the serial on yours is what counts.
What does the serial look like on a Ford Focus?
1998–2004: M and 6 numbers (V on some later cars). 2004–2008: V and 6 numbers. 2008–2011: Z on most, V on some early cars. For example V123456.
Do I have to take the radio out of my Ford Focus?
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 Focus?
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.
Updated October 2026