About Visteon radio codes
Visteon made most Ford radios from the mid-1990s to about 2008, and radios for Jaguar, Land Rover and the Fiat Stilo and Bravo. On Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover models, hold two buttons to see the serial: a letter M or V and six numbers.
How to find your Visteon radio serial number
Most Visteon radios show their serial on the screen, so you don’t need to take anything apart. The serial tells us exactly which code your radio needs.
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. Most radios slide out with a pair of radio removal keys (a few pounds from any car parts shop). Push them into the slots on the front until they click, then ease the radio forward. Some have screws to undo first.
Photograph the label rather than copying it by hand — 0 and O, 1 and I are easy to mix up.
What your serial looks like
-
V123456Ford V-series (6000 CD)V and 6 numbers Instant -
M123456Ford M-series (Visteon)M and 6 numbers Instant -
999999Fiat Stilo / Bravo (Visteon)6 numbers Instant
Can’t find it or can’t read it? Send us a photo of the label: £9.99, with a full refund if we can’t find your code.
Screen shows nothing and the radio has to come out? How to remove a car radio shows which release keys you need and where they go.
Which Visteon radio do you have?
These are the Visteon radios we know about, and whether we can unlock them. Not sure which is yours? Type the serial in: the free check works it out for you.
Ford V-series (6000 CD)
Serial V123456 Locked CODE ---- Serial: Hold 1 + 6
InstantGuide
Ford M-series (Visteon)
Serial M123456 Locked CODE ---- Serial: Hold 2 + 6
InstantGuide
Locked display
CODE ----
Serial 999999
Fiat Stilo / Bravo (Visteon)
Serial: On the label on the radio
InstantGuide
Radios and cars
Covers:
- 4500 RDS
- 6000 CD
- 6006 CD
- FL3
- FL5
Years: 1995–2008. The serial is what counts, as radios are often swapped between cars.
How to enter your Visteon radio code
Once you have your code, key it in like this. The example below shows the button presses. Your order page shows the same steps next to your 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.
- Set each number with the numbered buttons, then confirm.
Which buttons set the numbers, which one finishes, and what the screen does if the code is wrong: How to enter a Visteon radio code.
If your Visteon radio says LOCKED, WAIT or SAFE
Each wrong code makes the radio wait longer before the next try, and some radios lock for good after too many. Don’t guess: get the right code first, then follow the steps for your radio.
| 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 →
What we can and can’t do
We can do
- Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover radios (M and V serials)
- Fiat Stilo and Bravo radios
We can’t do (yet)
- Z and A serials
We always tell you before you pay. Not sure? Send us a photo of the label.
Visteon radio code questions
Where is my Ford radio serial number?
Switch the radio on and hold buttons 1 and 6 (2003–2008) or 2 and 6 (up to 2005) for a few seconds. The serial scrolls across the screen: a letter M or V and 6 numbers. It is also on the label on the radio.
My Ford radio says LOCKED 10. What now?
Leave the ignition and radio switched on for about an hour, or hold button 6 for 10 seconds to get 3 more tries. Don’t keep guessing: LOCKED 13 needs a dealer.
Can you do Ford serials starting Z or A?
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.
Do I need to remove my Ford radio?
Almost never. M and V series radios show the serial on screen when you hold two buttons.
How much is a Visteon radio code?
£9.99 per code. The free check comes first, so you only pay once we know we can do it, and you get your money back if the code doesn’t work.
How long does it take?
Most Visteon codes appear on screen the moment you’ve paid, and we email you a copy. If yours has to be looked up by our team, we email it within 2 hours and tell you before you pay.
What if the code doesn’t work?
Check the serial first: 0 and O, or 1 and I, are easy to mix up. Still stuck? Tell us from your order page and we’ll put it right or refund you in full.
Updated October 2026