Why Did the Radio Lock and Ask for a Code?
Honda's Display Audio system uses the same anti-theft architecture as earlier radios: losing battery power triggers a code request at next startup. Applies to both the base radio and the Display Audio touchscreen.
- Battery replacement — the most common trigger.
- Battery disconnect during repairs — any work that interrupts battery power will activate the lock.
- Completely dead battery — a fully discharged battery has the same result.
Note: a number of higher-end Display Audio models from this era do not use a traditional code-based lock — if the radio never prompted for a code after losing power, it could have a different anti-theft method linked to the vehicle VIN.
Step-by-Step Honda Odyssey 2013 Radio Code Retrieval Guide
- Skip long troubleshooting discussions or service visits - you can generate the code online using the radio S/N.
- First locate the serial number. You will always find it on the unit itself, and in some cases it can be visible on the Odyssey's display.
- Type it into the generator above, and our system will identify the correct 2013 Odyssey unlock code.
- When you receive the code, type it in using Odyssey's radio buttons to unlock the system fully.
- The entire process takes less than a minute for most users and requires no VIN, documents, or technical knowledge.
How to Find the Serial Number on Your 2013 Honda Odyssey Radio?
The starting step is writing down the radio serial.
Many people assume the code depends on the Honda model or year, but actually, the whole process depends on the unique radio unit's serial number.
Each radio has its own serial tied to the security system.
This is even better, because if you have an aftermarket radio, the VIN or other vehicle-specific data wouldn't help.
Depending on the radio used, you can retrieve the serial directly from the display or by checking the label on the radio chassis.
Factory radios fitted to the 2013 Honda Odyssey
The 2013 Odyssey closed out the pre-refresh phase of the 4th gen RL5 line-up and continued the same audio strategy as 2011 and 2012. LX vans used a base AM/FM/CD receiver feeding 5 speakers, with the upper i-MID secondary information display handling menus, trip data and album art. EX and EX-L vans stepped up to a 7-speaker system with USB, MP3/WMA playback and XM Satellite Radio support, still using the i-MID for the upper display. Touring and Touring Elite trims used the factory Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with an SD-card-based touchscreen, voice recognition and a 12-speaker premium audio system; on these vans the colour navigation screen replaces the i-MID. EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite buyers could also order the Rear Entertainment System with a roof-mounted screen, wireless headphones and an auxiliary/DVD input that integrates with the front head unit. Every 2013 Odyssey factory unit is anti-theft protected and asks for a 5-digit code after the battery is disconnected or the radio loses power.
Using Hidden Radio Menus to Find the Serial
Try the following for your 2013 Honda Odyssey:
The 2013 Honda Odyssey may feature Honda's Display Audio touchscreen (8" depending on trim) or a standard non-touchscreen radio. Both types support serial number display via the 1+6 button method:
- Turn ignition to ON. Wait for the radio to boot. The screen shows "CODE" when locked.
- Press and hold preset buttons 1 and 6 for approximately 3-5 seconds.
- The serial number displays in two halves (e.g.,
U3210+L0482).
Also: On 2013 Odyssey with the Display Audio touchscreen, navigate to Settings → System → Device Information – the serial may be shown there instead of the button combination.
Reading the serial on a 2013 Odyssey factory radio
The 4th gen Odyssey uses Honda's standard service-screen procedure to expose the serial, so no chassis label needs to be removed. With the doors closed and the radio currently powered off, switch the ignition to ON so the dash is awake, then press and hold preset buttons 1 and 6 together. While still holding the two presets, press the radio power button so the unit enters its service screen. The display alternates between a screen labelled U followed by four digits and a second screen labelled L followed by four digits. Recording the digits from each screen and concatenating them in order yields the 8-character serial used by Honda's official lookup. If the unit is already locked with CODE shown, releasing the buttons and cycling the ignition usually returns it to a state where the procedure can be repeated; on Touring/Touring Elite navigation head units the same key press sequence applies, and the values appear on the colour upper display rather than the i-MID.
Pulling Out the Radio to See the S/N on the Tag
If the serial does not appear in menu, the next step is checking the radio itself.
Many Honda radios require physical access to the serial sticker attached to the unit.
Typical approach:
- Start by completely powering down the engine - pull the key out.
- Then remove the trim panel.
- Next, release the mounting points and move the radio forward.
- Look for a printed tag showing the serial number.
If neither methods display the serial on the 2013 Honda Odyssey:
- Turn off the vehicle.
- Remove the radio surround. The 2013 Odyssey's integrated dashboard uses snap-fit clips.
- For Display Audio models: Unscrew the mounting screws (Phillips) securing the display module.
- On base trims: Remove the 4 Phillips screws holding the radio unit.
- Pull the unit forward and find the serial on the sticker on the back or side.
Note: The Display Audio unit is larger and more integrated than the standard radio. Take care when removing it.
Removing the radio on a 2013 Odyssey to read the serial label
The 2013 van retains the pre-refresh dash, so the receiver lives behind a multi-piece centre stack. Disconnect the negative battery cable first and allow several minutes for SRS power to drain before working in the dash. Use the shift-lock release to drop the gear selector into its lowest position, then pry up the gear-shift trim panel from the rear edge to release its clips and unplug any harnesses. Open the glove box, pry out the rear edge of the dash end cap and remove the upper glove box trim panel by releasing its clips. Take out the four 8 mm screws fixing the climate control and centre vent trim, pry the panel away to release its clips and disconnect the climate and audio control harnesses on the back. The screws holding the receiver to its mounting brackets can then be removed, after which the head unit slides evenly out of the dash and the antenna lead and multi-pin connectors can be disconnected so the chassis label on the side - which carries the same 8-character serial returned by the on-screen procedure - can be read or photographed. Plastic trim tools should be used throughout to avoid scratching the soft-touch dash plastics.
Example: Honda Odyssey serial number label location
Typical Radio Serial Prefixes and Formats
Based on which radio installed in the 2013 Honda Odyssey:
U1234L5678– Classic Honda OEM formatHBM####– Found on Display Audio and navigation units913A####– Some Alpine-manufactured radios
The 2013 Odyssey may have: base CD radio (U/L format), Display Audio 5"/7" (HBM format), or navigation unit (HBM format). All require a 5-digit unlock code.
Important Ensure you read the serial number, not the part number (which starts with 39100, 39101, or similar Honda part coding).
What the 2013 Odyssey radio serial usually looks like
The 4th gen Odyssey reports an 8-character alphanumeric serial through its on-screen procedure, and on most LX, EX and EX-L head units the value is purely numeric. The first half is shown after the letter U on screen one and the second half after the letter L on screen two; the letters themselves are screen labels and are not entered into Honda's lookup tools. A representative example reads U2051 followed by L5641, which corresponds to a stored serial of 20515641 for the lookup. Touring and Touring Elite units, which use the factory navigation hardware, follow the same 8-character pattern and present the values on the colour upper display. Some chassis labels carry a longer alphanumeric string with a manufacturer prefix; the 8 characters that match the on-screen U and L pair are the ones Honda's lookup tools expect. If the printed and displayed values disagree, the on-screen value is generally the one accepted by the official Honda radio code portal.
Inputting the Security Code
Once the system gives you 2013 Honda Odyssey radio code from the serial, you're ready to reactivate the radio.
Many drivers get stuck at this stage because input methods can look different across radio versions, but it's usually quick.
When the radio shows CODE, it means the unit is waiting for the correct numbers.
Detailed Input Instructions for Odyssey 2013
To enter the code on the 2013 Honda Odyssey:
- Ignition ON. Radio displays "CODE" or "ENTER CODE".
- Non-touchscreen models: Use preset buttons 1-5 to cycle to each digit, then press and hold button 6 to confirm.
- Display Audio touchscreen: An on-screen keypad is displayed. Tap each digit and press "Enter" or "OK".
Lockout: Three wrong codes cause a 60-minute lockout. Leave ignition ON. Do not cycle the key or the timer starts over.
Entering the unlock code on a 2013 Odyssey radio
With the 5-digit code in hand, switch the ignition to ON and power the radio so that CODE or ENTER CODE appears on the display. Enter the five digits in order, one press of the matching preset per digit. On Touring and Touring Elite navigation head units the digit can also be set by rotating the selector knob and confirmed using the right-arrow soft key on the touchscreen. The preset radio normally checks the code automatically after the fifth digit; on touchscreen units, tap the ENTER soft key if one appears. The radio should resume normal operation immediately if the code is correct. If it is wrong, the attempt should be repeated carefully because each error counts toward the lockout threshold; after roughly ten incorrect entries the unit enters a temporary lockout that requires the ignition to be left in the ON position for about an hour before another attempt can be accepted.
Understanding Unlock Issues with Your Odyssey
For Display Audio-era Honda radios, a rejected code usually points to the serial was misread. Either retrieval method can produce the correct serial — double-check that the serial you submitted came from the radio itself and not from an online database.
If the code was already entered once and rejected, pause and contact support before trying again — a second wrong attempt gets you one step closer to the 60-minute lockout. A free serial reverification can be done on request.
The Display Audio platform uses the same three-try lockout as earlier Honda radios. To recover:
- Maintain the ignition in ON or ACC — avoid turning it off.
- Allow the full 60-minute period. The touchscreen may go to sleep during this time — that's normal.
- After 60 minutes, the radio re-displays "CODE" and you can.
On Display Audio touchscreen models, the lockout countdown runs in the background. Simply leave the vehicle running or the ignition on ACC until the timer expires.
The Display Audio era covers radios using different serial formats depending on the trim level:
U####L####— base CD radio serial (10 characters, two halves).HBM####— Display Audio 5"/7" and navigation units.913A####— some Alpine OEM units.
Part numbers on the same label begin with 39100 or 39101 — do not submit these. When in doubt, use the Settings → Device Information menu or the 1+6 button method to display the serial directly from the radio.
When the touchscreen comes on but goes straight to the home screen without a "CODE" display, check the following:
- The radio may not be locked — certain battery changes don't trigger the lock if done quickly enough.
- On some Display Audio units, the code prompt shows only on the audio portion of the screen, not the navigation display — wait a few seconds after startup.
- Try the Settings → System → Device Information route; should the serial appear, the unit could still be functional without a code.
Should none of the above match, a fuse check is the next step — a failed fuse will stop the radio from powering on at all.
Code entry depends on the specific radio in the 2014–2021 Odyssey:
- Non-touchscreen base radio: Press preset buttons 1–5 to scroll to each digit, then hold button 6 to confirm — same as older Honda platforms.
- Display Audio 5" or 7" touchscreen: An on-screen numeric keypad is shown when the code prompt is active. Enter the digits and press OK or Enter on screen.
If the touchscreen is unresponsive, try the physical preset buttons — certain units support either input method. Ensure the screen is fully powered on before starting entry.