Which radio is in your Ford Ka?
The Ka has had 3 sets of radios since 1996, from the 2000 RDS, 4000 RDS, 4500 RDS and 6000 CD to the 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 Ka 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 Ka
- Hold buttons 1 and 6 with the radio on; on older Kas try 2 and 6.
- If your serial starts with M or V, the code comes straight away.
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 Ka 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 Ka 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 Ka radio code questions
Where is my Ford Ka radio serial?
Hold buttons 1 and 6 (or 2 and 6) with the radio switched on. The serial scrolls across the screen. It is also on the radio’s label.
My Ka is a 2010 model. Can you help?
Hold buttons 1 and 6 and type in what the screen shows. The free check tells you straight away whether we can do it, before you pay.
Can you do every Ford Ka radio?
For 1996–2008, yes: the code appears on screen as soon as you have paid; for 2008–2016, some of the radios but not the usual one; for 2016 on, not at the moment. The free check tells you which yours is before you pay.
Which radio does my Ford Ka have?
It depends on the year. 1996–2008 (First Ka): 2000 RDS, 4000 RDS, 4500 RDS and 6000 CD. 2008–2016 (Second Ka): Ford CD radios. 2016 on (Ka+): 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 Ka?
1996–2008: M on earlier cars, V on later ones. 2008–2016: Hold buttons 1 and 6 to see it. For example V123456.
Do I have to take the radio out of my Ford Ka?
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 Ka?
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