Unlock Your 2020 Honda Passport Radio in Minutes - How It Works
Getting your radio code takes only 4 easy steps.
- Find your radio's serial number - this is the only information required by our side.
Unlike when contacting the dealer, no VIN is needed. - Enter the serial number into our generator above.
Our system checks it against a database of supported radios and automatically retrieves the matching radio code. - In most cases, the code will appear instantly on the screen after you pay and is also sent to your email , just in case.
If we need to check it manually, you'll be notified before checkout. - Once you get it, just enter it into your radio to restore the functionality.
Got the Code? Here's How to Enter It
Once the system gives you 2020 Honda Passport radio code from the serial number, you're ready to reactivate the radio.
Some drivers get stuck at this stage because input process can look different across radio versions, but it's usually quick.
When the radio shows dashed lines, it means the unit is waiting for the correct numbers.
Entering Process
To enter the code on the 2020 Honda Passport:
- Ignition ON. Radio displays "CODE" or "ENTER CODE".
- Non-touchscreen models: Use preset buttons 1-5 to select each digit, then hold button 6 to confirm.
- Display Audio touchscreen: An on-screen keypad appears. Tap each digit and press "Enter" or "OK".
Lockout: 3 wrong attempts activate a 60-minute lockout. Keep ignition ON. Don't cycle the key or the timer starts over.
How to Enter the Code on the 2020 Passport
- 8-inch Display Audio (EX-L / Touring / Elite). When the radio prompts 'Enter Code', the touchscreen shows a numeric keypad. Tap the five digits of your code in order, then tap Enter (or Done) on the touchscreen. If accepted, the radio resumes normal operation. If rejected, the screen shows the remaining attempts.
- 5-inch Audio (Sport). Use the preset buttons on the front of the head unit. Press the preset whose number matches each digit of the code, one tap per digit and in order - a '3' is a single tap of preset 3, not three taps of preset 1. Some firmware uses the tuning knob and a confirmation button; the on-screen prompt will tell you which.
- Lockout protection. Most Honda head units lock out after about ten failed attempts and require a one-hour cooldown with the radio powered on before they accept further attempts. Leave the ignition in accessory and the radio on, then try again after an hour.
- VIN-pairing note. Some 2020 Display Audio units may also revalidate against the VIN through HDS after a battery disconnect. If the code is correct but the radio still refuses to unlock, a Honda dealer can re-pair the unit through their diagnostic tool.
Can't Find Your Radio S/N? Follow The Steps Below for Honda Passport 2020
Very important fact to know is that factory radios use a unique S/N to identify each unitindividually.
Your anti-theft system links the code directly to this serial.
Different from vehicle-specific data like VIN or registration info, it is not determined by the model or production year, so you'll be able to get it even if you have a radio that you bought afterwards.
Depending on the manufacturer and radio installed in your Honda Passport, the retrieval method varies.
Here are the best ways to find it.
2020 Passport - Which Radio Did You Get?
- 5-inch Color LCD Audio (Sport) - the smaller non-touch 5-inch colour LCD in the upper centre dash, with a row of physical buttons and a rotary knob underneath. Standard with AM/FM, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and a 7-speaker, 215-watt audio system. The Sport trim does not get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on its 5-inch unit and is the only 2020 Passport trim with this head-unit family.
- 8-inch Display Audio with High-Resolution Electrostatic Touch-Screen (EX-L, Touring, Elite) - the larger 8-inch landscape touchscreen with capacitive Home, Back and Brightness controls down the left edge and a volume/power knob. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wired) are standard, alongside Bluetooth, SiriusXM, HD Radio and HondaLink. Software is updatable over Wi-Fi from the Settings menu.
- 8-inch Display Audio with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation (Touring, Elite) - same 8-inch hardware as the EX-L unit but with factory navigation built in. Touring and Elite trims pair this unit with a 10-speaker, 590-watt premium audio system; the EX-L stays with the 7-speaker, 215-watt setup. The Elite adds wireless phone charging in the centre console.
- Standard connectivity across the line-up - every 2020 Passport, regardless of head unit, has Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, SiriusXM-ready hardware (subscription required after the trial), and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. The differences between head units are screen size, touch capability and the navigation/CarPlay/Android Auto feature set.
- For radio code retrieval - your 2020 Passport falls into one of two head-unit families: the 5-inch Audio (Sport) or the 8-inch Display Audio (EX-L and above, with or without navigation). Audio package and trim level change the speakers and amplifier, not the head-unit module that needs the anti-theft code.
Access Your S/N via the Radio Display
The method for 2020 Honda Passport is this:
The 2020 Honda Passport may feature Honda's Display Audio system (5" depending on trim) or a standard non-touchscreen radio. Either type support serial number retrieval via the 1+6 button method:
- Turn ignition to ON. Let the radio to boot. The screen shows "CODE" if locked.
- Simultaneously press preset buttons 1 and 6 for about 5 seconds.
- The serial number shows in two halves (e.g.,
U3210+L0482).
Also: On 2020 Passport with the Display Audio touchscreen, navigate to Settings → System → Device Information – the serial may be listed there without needing the button combination.
Releasing the Unit to View the S/N on the Tag
If the serial does not appear on display, the next step is checking the radio itself.
Many Honda radios require physical access to the serial tag attached to the unit.
Usual approach:
- Start by completely shutting off the engine - pull the key out.
- Then lift the trim panel.
- Next, unscrew the mounting points and pull the radio forward.
- Look for a factory sticker showing the serial number.
If none of these methods display the serial on the 2020 Honda Passport:
- Power down the vehicle.
- Detach the dashboard trim. The 2020 Passport's integrated dashboard uses snap-fit clips.
- On touchscreen trims: Unscrew the fasteners (Phillips-head) securing the display module.
- On base trims: Unscrew the 4 Phillips screws holding the radio unit.
- Ease the unit out and read the serial on the sticker on the back or side.
Tip: The touchscreen unit is wider and more integrated than the base radio. Take care when removing it.
Removing the Radio to Reach the Serial Tag
- Safety first. Switch the ignition off, take the key/fob out of reach and disconnect the negative terminal of the 12V battery. Wait at least three minutes for the SRS (airbag) capacitor to discharge before touching anything in the centre stack - the passenger airbag harness runs close to the radio bezel. Apply the parking brake.
- Tools. A set of plastic trim removal tools, a 10mm socket on a short extension, and a small Phillips screwdriver. Masking tape on the dashboard around the bezel will protect the soft-touch trim from scuffs during prying.
- Pop the centre bezel. The 2020 Passport's centre stack is a single gloss-black panel that surrounds the head unit and the climate controls. Start at the lower edge with a plastic trim tool, working gently behind it to release the spring clips along the bottom first, then up each side. The whole panel comes forward as one piece. Tilt it forward and disconnect the climate-control and accessory connectors at the back so it can be set aside.
- Unbolt the head unit. Behind the trim panel are four 10mm bolts holding the radio chassis into the dashboard cradle - two at the top corners, two at the bottom corners. Remove all four, then slide the unit straight out toward you a few centimetres before disconnecting the rear wiring harness, antenna lead and (on Display Audio units) the USB and HDMI ribbon connectors. The head unit is now free.
- Read the serial. The serial number sticker is on the top or the side of the metal radio chassis - usually a small white label with a barcode and an alphanumeric serial. Photograph it with your phone before reinstalling.
- Reassembly. Reverse the sequence - connectors back on, four 10mm bolts back in, climate panel reconnected, trim bezel pressed into its spring clips, battery negative reconnected last. The radio will request its anti-theft code on first power-up.
- If you would rather not DIY, any Honda dealer can read the serial through their HDS (Honda Diagnostic System) tool on the OBD-II port without removing the unit at all - the lowest-risk option on a near-new Passport.
Example: Honda Passport serial number label location
Typical Radio Serial Prefixes and Formats
Based on which radio installed in the 2020 Honda Passport:
U1234L5678– Most common Honda OEM formatHBM####– Used in Display Audio and navigation units913A####– Some Alpine-manufactured radios
The 2020 Passport may have: base CD radio (U/L format), Display Audio 5"/7" (HBM format), or navigation unit (HBM format). All use a 5-digit unlock code.
Important Make sure you copy the serial number, not the part number (which starts with 39100, 39101, or similar Honda part coding).
How the 2020 Passport Serial Looks
The 2020 Passport's 5-inch Audio (Sport) and 8-inch Display Audio (EX-L and above) head units use the standard Honda 8-character alphanumeric serial. It is normally laser-printed or sticker-printed on the metal chassis of the radio and contains only digits 0-9 and uppercase letters A-Z, with no dashes, spaces or special characters. On Honda's older dealer-mode display the same string is shown split into a 'U' (upper) line and an 'L' (lower) line that you concatenate to form the 8-character serial - whether the 2020 Passport's Display Audio still supports that split-display dealer mode is not publicly confirmed, so the safest reference is always the physical sticker on the chassis or an HDS read at the dealer.
Why Is the Radio Asking for a Code?
Honda's Display Audio system carries the same anti-theft architecture as earlier radios: losing battery power activates a code request at next startup. This affects both the non-touchscreen radio and the Display Audio unit.
- Battery replacement — the most common trigger.
- Battery disconnect during repairs — any work that cuts battery power will activate the lock.
- Completely dead battery — a fully discharged battery also triggers the request.
Worth knowing: a number of higher-end Display Audio models from the 2014–2021 period do not use a traditional code-based lock — if the radio never prompted for a code after a battery change, it could have a different anti-theft method linked to the vehicle VIN.
Understanding Unlock Issues with Your Passport
Entry method depends on the exact radio variant in the Display Audio-era Passport:
- Non-touchscreen base radio: Use preset buttons 1–5 to cycle 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 appears 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 accept both input method. Make sure the screen is fully powered on before starting entry.
The Display Audio era spans 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 modules.913A####— certain Alpine OEM units.
Part numbers printed nearby start with 39100 or 39101 — these are not serials. When in doubt, use the Settings → Device Information menu or the 1+6 button method to display the serial directly from the unit.
On the Display Audio, a rejected code usually points to the serial was taken from the wrong source. Both the button method and the settings menu can produce the correct serial — confirm that the serial you submitted came from the radio unit and not from an online database.
If the code was already entered once and rejected, pause and reach out before trying again — another incorrect entry brings you closer to the 60-minute lockout. A no-charge serial reverification can be done on request.
When the touchscreen comes on but goes straight to the home screen without any "CODE" display, check the following:
- Anti-theft may not have triggered — some battery changes skip the lock if done quickly enough.
- Certain Display Audio units, the code prompt shows only on the audio portion of the screen, not the navigation display — wait a moment after startup.
- Try the Settings → System → Device Information route; if the serial is visible there, the unit may still be functional without a code.
If none of these apply, a fuse check is the next step — a blown fuse prevents the radio from powering on at all.
The Display Audio platform uses the same three-try lockout as earlier Honda radios. To recover:
- Leave the ignition in ON or ACC — do not switch off.
- Wait out the full 60-minute period. The touchscreen might dim during this time — that's normal.
- After 60 minutes, the radio re-displays "CODE" and another attempt is possible.
For touchscreen units, the lockout countdown runs in the background. Simply leave the vehicle running or the ignition on ACC until the timer expires.