The radio in your Honda CR-V will automatically lock itself and ask for a unique code when the radio loses power (battery removed) or if it gets disconnected from the car entirely. Honda put this security measure in place to render the radio useless if it ever gets stolen from your vehicle.
When this happens, you will need a set of codes to unlock your Honda CR-V’s radio and restore functionality. The good news is that there are a few easy ways you can try to retrieve your Honda CR-V’s radio code.
Follow the methods we have outlined below.
How do I get the radio code for Honda CRV?
- Check the glove box
- Press and radio preset buttons (2001 or newer models)
- Remove the radio assembly from the dashboard (2001 or older models)
- Access your Honda radio code online.
Having a locked radio might seem like a hassle, but Honda has put this security measure in place to force thieves to think twice before they attempt to steal your car radio. After all, nobody would buy a locked stock radio from a Honda CR-V.
Fortunately, Honda has also made it very easy to spot and locate the necessary codes to unlock your Honda CR-V radio if it goes into locked mode. Follow the methods below to access your Honda CR-V’s radio codes and unlock your car radio.
Check the glove box or owner’s manual
Honda’s Anti-Theft Identification Card can often be found in the vehicle’s glove box. Check the sides of the glovebox itself for a sticker with the Radio Code written on it. Your Honda CR-V’s Anti-Theft ID card might be located somewhere else, but it is worth checking the glove box first to save time.
If you cannot find it in the glove box, you might want to check the owner’s manual instead. The Anti-Theft ID sticker might be stuck somewhere in the owner’s manual.
If you manage to find the Anti-Theft ID card and any of these two locations, write down the Radio Code number on a piece of paper then follow these steps:
- Turn the car into the ON position but do not start the engine.
- Use the radio’s number preset buttons to enter the Radio Code Number
- The radio will beep to let you know you’ve successfully unlocked your Honda CR-V’s radio.
If you can’t find the Radio Code in the glove box or the owner’s manual, proceed to the methods below to find your Honda CR-V Radio Code.
For 2001 or newer Honda CR-Vs, turn the key to the ON position, then press and hold the preset 1 and preset 6 buttons on your radio. Doing so will display a unique 10-digit serial number on your Honda CR-V’s radio screen. Take a piece of paper and write down the codes.
Next, locate your Honda CR-V’s VIN number. You can find this on your vehicle registration card, on the driver-side corner of your Honda CR-V’s windshield, or on the driver-side doorjamb. Write down your vehicle’s VIN number on a piece of paper.
With your radio serial number and your VIN accounted for, go to your computer or phone browser and navigate to radio-navicode.honda.com. After which:
- Click on the “Get Codes” tab.
- Enter your VIN number, Zip Code, Phone Number, Email, Serial # (radio)
- Click Submit.
If you correctly enter the radio serial numbers and VINs, the website will give you the unique five or six-digit code to unlock your Honda CR-V’s radio.
With the codes on hand and the key still in the ON position, use the radio’s preset number buttons and enter the codes into the radio. When done correctly, the radio will beep briefly, indicating you have successfully unlocked your Honda CR-V’s radio.
Remove the radio assembly from the dashboard (2001 models or older)
If you have a Honda CR-V from 2001 or older, you might need to pull out the entire radio assembly to find the serial number. Typically, the serial number can be found on a sticker stuck to the top or bottom of the radio assembly. Write down the radio serial number.
Next, look for your Honda CR-V’s VIN. Check the bottom corner of the driver-side windshield or the driver-side doorjamb for your Honda CR-V’s VIN. Write down your vehicle’s VIN.
With the radio serial number and VIN on hand, go to radio-navicode.honda.com. After which:
- Click on the “Get Codes” tab.
- Enter your VIN number, Zip Code, Phone Number, Email, Serial # (radio)
- Click Submit.
Write down the radio code that the website gives you after clicking on Submit. Go back to your vehicle and turn the key into the ON position. Enter the radio code by pressing on the radio preset numbers. You Honda CR-V radio should now be unlocked.
People Also Asked:
Why is my Honda CRV asking for a code?
Honda factory radios are built with a security measure that Honda put in place to deter thieves from taking your vehicle’s radio.
In general daily use, your Honda CRV’s radio should work normally and should not ask you for any codes. However, in situations where the car radio has been reset (by disconnecting the car battery or the radio itself), you need to enter the unique 5 or 6-digit code before the factory radio before you can start using the radio again.
How do I unlock my Honda CR-V radio without the code?
Try pressing and holding your Honda CR-V radio’s power button for at least 2 seconds. This method should reset the radio and bring it back into working order without entering the code.
However, this method might not always work, and you might still need to find and enter the unique five or six-digit code to unlock your Honda CR-V radio. You can typically find the unique code in the Anti-Theft ID sticker in your glove box. If it is not there, check the owner’s manual.
Sources:
How to Get A Honda Radio Code the Easy Way | Honda Parts Online. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.hondapartsonline.net/blog/how-to-get-a-honda-radio-code
Expert, P. (2021, March 23). Why does my Honda car/truck radio say, ‘Code?’ Meridian Honda. Retrieved October 21, 2022, from https://www.meridianhonda.com/blog/why-does-my-honda-car-truck-radio-say-code/
How To Retrieve Your Honda Radio Code. (2021, July 15). Honda Blog. Retrieved October 21, 2022, from https://www.rensselaerhonda.net/post/how-to-retrieve-your-honda-radio-code
