How Serial Numbers Work and Where to Find Them on 2018 Dodge Charger Radios
The useful thing to know is that factory radios use a specific serial number to identify each unit.
Your anti-theft system links the code directly to the serial.
Unlike car-specific data such as VIN or registration information, it is not determined by the model or production year, so you'll be able to retrieve it even if you have an aftermarket radio.
Depending on the maker and radio installed in your Dodge Charger, the access method varies.
These are the best ways to locate it.
Find Your S/N via the Radio Display
Try the following for your 2018 Dodge Charger:
The 2018 Dodge Charger is a performance muscle sedan and is equipped with the Uconnect 8.4" (RA3) touchscreen angled toward the driver from the top of the center stack. The serial number can be retrieved directly on screen via Dealer Mode.
Climate Button Method:
- Turn the ignition to ACC or ON.
- On the Charger's center stack, the Climate Up, Climate Down, and Front Defrost buttons are positioned just beneath the 8.4" screen. Hold all three simultaneously for 5 seconds.
- Dealer Mode opens on the display.
- Go to: System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number.
Alternative: Hold Temperature Up (red) and Temperature Down (blue) together for 5 seconds to enter Engineering Mode, then follow the same menu path.
View the S/N by Pulling Out the Unit
If the serial number cannot be accessed via display, use the pull-out method.
Most Dodge Charger factory radios include a sticker with the serial number printed on the chassis.
Basic process:
- Ensure the ignition is off.
- Carefully remove surrounding mounting frame.
- Remove fasteners holding the radio.
- Slide outward to inspect the label.
If Dealer Mode is unresponsive on your 2018 Dodge Charger, the radio must be removed to read the serial label. The Charger's streamlined sedan center stack has a single trim panel around both the radio and HVAC controls:
- Remove the center stack bezel – Use a plastic pry tool along the lower edges of the bezel – the panel uses friction clips and typically starts at the lower edge.
- Remove the 4 Torx T20 screws – Located at the corners of the radio mounting frame.
- Slide the radio forward – Pull the unit out enough to expose the serial label on the side or top surface.
The serial is on a barcode sticker: a 14-character alphanumeric code. Cables can remain plugged in while you note it.
Example: Dodge Charger serial number label location
Typical Serial Number Examples for 2018 Charger
The 2018 Dodge Charger Uconnect 8.4" radio is made by Harman or Continental. Standard serial number prefixes:
T00AM– Harman VP2 Uconnect 8.4" (standard format)T00BE– Continental Uconnect 8.4" variantTM9– Earlier Harman production units
Radio model designations for the 2018 Charger: RA3 (standard 8.4"), VP2 (8.4" with Beats audio). Example serial: T00AM394958584 (14 characters).
Reminder Do not mistake the part number (P05064... or 68...) with the serial number. Only the serial is used for code retrieval.
Unlocking the Radio After Code Generation
Once you receive the correct unlock code based on the serial number, you can restore default functionality by entering it into the unit.
The code entry process depends on the head unit design, but most 2018 Charger systems follow a similar structure using preset buttons, touch controls, or rotary knobs - depending on if it's a factory or an aftermarket unit.
You will typically see ENTER CODE displayed on screen.
Entering Process
To type in the unlock code on the 2018 Dodge Charger's Uconnect 8.4":
- The screen displays "ENTER CODE" or ---- when the radio is locked.
- Use the on-screen touchscreen keypad to enter each digit of the 4-digit code.
- After the 4th digit, the radio auto-confirms – no confirm button is required.
Lockout: Three wrong attempts activate a 60-minute lockout. Keep the ignition ON for the full lockout period. Turning off the ignition resets the timer.
Step-by-Step Dodge Charger 2018 Radio Code Retrieval Guide
To get the code, you'll take only 4 easy steps.
- Find the radio's serial number - this is the only information required by our side.
Unlike when contacting the dealer, no VIN is needed. - When you've found the S/N, type it into the form above.
The system checks it against a database of supported radios and automatically retrieves the matching radio code. - In most cases, the code appears instantly on the screen after you pay and is also sent to your email for backup.
If manual verification is required (rare situations), you'll be notified before checkout. - Once you get it, just enter it into the radio to restore full functionality.
Why Did the Radio Lock and Ask for a Code?
Charger owners experience radio lockouts most commonly because of:
- Battery work during performance mods — Owners who disconnect the battery for accessories, audio upgrades, or ECU work trigger the lock every time.
- Seasonal storage and battery drain — Muscle sedans like the Charger that sit over winter can deplete enough to trigger the anti-theft.
- Routine battery replacement — any battery swap activates the code screen.
- Used purchase without history — second-hand purchase without the unlock code means the radio is locked from the start.
Your Charger's unlock code is linked to the RA3 serial number and does not expire.
Fixing Common Code Entry Problems for 2018 Charger
The Uconnect 8.4" (RA3/VP2) uses a touchscreen number pad exclusively for code entry — there are no physical preset buttons involved in this process. When you see the code entry screen:
- Touch each digit on the digital number pad.
- The radio unlocks automatically after the 4th digit — no "Enter" or "OK" button is required.
If the touchscreen seems unresponsive, try cycling the ignition and allow 30 seconds for the system to reload.
If you've entered 3 wrong codes, the Uconnect 8.4" triggers a 60-minute lockout and displays "WAIT" or "LOCKED" on screen. To end the lockout:
- Leave the ignition ON — the key must stay in the ON position.
- Let the timer run for the complete lockout period.
- Cycling the ignition before the timer ends resets the timer back to 60 minutes.
After 60 minutes, try again carefully.
The serial number label on Uconnect 8.4" radios contains multiple identifiers, and confusion is common. Use this guide to identify the correct one:
- Serial number — 14 alphanumeric characters, starts with
T00AM,T00BE, orTM9. This is the one you want. - Part number — begins with
P05064...or68.... This is not the serial.
The easiest approach on 2018-era Dodge Charger units is through Dealer Mode — it shows only the serial with no risk of confusion.
A typical cause for a rejected code is entering a code tied to the incorrect serial number. On Uconnect 8.4" radios, the label contains both the serial number (14 characters, starting with T00AM, T00BE, or TM9) and a part number (begins with P or 68) — only the serial is used for code generation.
If your code was rejected, re-read the serial from Dealer Mode or the label and contact support for a free re-check if anything looks off.
When no "ENTER CODE" screen appears after a battery event, these steps may help:
- Make sure the radio is fully powered and allow 10–20 seconds to start up.
- Check the radio fuse — a failed fuse can prevent the radio from powering on at all.
- Some Dodge vehicles require pressing any button on the touchscreen to wake the code entry prompt.
If the screen stays black, the fuse or a wiring issue is the most probable cause — consult the manual for the radio fuse location.