Radio Code Nissan Qashqai J10

The Nissan Qashqai J10 is one of the most popular crossovers of the past two decades, and there are still plenty of them on the road. After a battery change, or a battery that has drained due to a light left on, the radio displays "CODE". This article explains how to retrieve the code.

The Qashqai J10 (2007–2013) was fitted with a Clarion OEM radio sourced exclusively for Nissan. Clarion is a Japanese audio company that served as Nissan's exclusive OEM supplier for decades. In some variants, Bosch supplied the radio instead.

You can identify the Clarion unit by the CL-, PN-, or PP-serial number on the back. Bosch units have their own alphanumeric format.

An important distinction: The Qashqai J10 (2007–2013) requires a radio code. The successor Qashqai J11 (2013+) has Nissan Connect — an integrated infotainment system without traditional PIN security. Not sure which one you have? Check whether you can see five preset buttons on the radio. If so, it is almost certainly a J10 with Clarion.

Nissan included an anti-theft card in the documentation wallet when the car was new. Check the following places:

The Qashqai J10 has a large centre console trim panel that runs around the radio. You need to remove this first before you can access the screws.

Tools

• Plastic trim lever (pry tool)
• PH2 crosshead screwdriver
• Torx T20 bit (may be needed)

Step by step

The Clarion serial number in the Qashqai J10 starts with CL, PN, or PP, followed by twelve alphanumeric characters — fourteen to fifteen characters in total.

Example: CL123456789012

Things to watch out for

• The label is on the back of the unit, not on the side as with VAG radios. You will need to pull the unit further out or disconnect the connectors.
• The part number is not the same as the serial number. You need the number that begins with CL, PN, or PP.
• If the label is illegible or missing, enter three incorrect codes (see below) — after the third incorrect attempt, the Clarion display automatically shows the serial number.

The entry procedure for Clarion radios works slightly differently from European brands:

Clarion radios in the Qashqai J10 have a built-in emergency procedure. After three incorrect attempts the display automatically shows:

• The serial number of the radio
• The device number
• The date of manufacture

Make a careful note of this information. With the serial number you can then obtain the correct code. This is also useful if the label on the back is illegible — you deliberately enter three incorrect codes to bring up the information.

After three incorrect entry attempts the radio locks for 60 minutes. The display shows "WAIT" or the system information (see above).

To clear the lockout:

Not all Qashqai models require a radio code. Here is the breakdown:

If in doubt: check whether the radio has five preset buttons. A Nissan Connect display is a touchscreen with no separate preset buttons.

With the CL- or PN-serial number you can retrieve the code online straight away. Enter the serial number on RadioCodeOpvragen.nl and receive the code within minutes by email.

Order your Nissan radio code via RadioCodeOpvragen.nl →