Clarion car radios — CL/PN prefix, Nissan OEM and lock-out risk outside the EU

Clarion was Nissan's fixed OEM radio partner in Europe for decades. If you have a Nissan Qashqai J10, Micra K12 or Note from the 2000s, you almost certainly have a Clarion unit in the dashboard — even though there is no Clarion logo on it. The CL or PN serial number on the back of the unit is the proof.

Clarion is a Japanese audio company, founded in 1940. The company grew into one of the largest OEM suppliers of car radios in Asia, with strong positions among Japanese carmakers. In Europe, the partnership with Nissan was the most visible: Clarion was for a long time the exclusive radio manufacturer for Nissan models on the European market.

Besides Nissan, Clarion also supplied Suzuki, Subaru and, to a lesser extent, PSA (Peugeot and Citroën) for specific markets. The company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Faurecia (now Forvia), a major French supplier, in 2019.

The most distinctive feature of a Clarion OEM radio is the serial number prefix.

Formats

• CL — the standard Clarion OEM prefix for most European Nissan models
• PN — an alternative prefix, also common on Nissan models in Europe
• PP — found on some variants and export models

The full serial number consists of the prefix followed by twelve alphanumeric characters. That makes fourteen to fifteen characters in total.

Examples:

• CL123456789012
• PN987654321098

The serial number is on a label on the back of the radio unit — not on the side as with VW radios. You have to pull the unit out further or disconnect the connectors to reach the back.

DW prefix: Daewoo, not Clarion

In certain Nissan models, particularly early Micra K12 variants and some export models, you'll find a radio with a DW prefix. These are not made by Clarion, but by Daewoo Electronics (later SsangYong Audio, now part of other conglomerates).

The distinction matters for the code request: a DW serial number does not work with the Clarion code database, and conversely a CL serial number does not work with the Daewoo database. Always check the first part of the serial number before you request a code.

Nissan

Clarion was the primary OEM radio manufacturer for Nissan in Europe. The models with the most Clarion radios:

Nissan Micra K12 (2002–2010) — standard fit with a CL or PN serial number. Note: early examples and some trims have DW-prefix units. More information on the Nissan Micra K12 page.

Nissan Qashqai J10 (2007–2013) — almost always a Clarion OEM unit with a CL or PN serial number. The successor Qashqai J11 (2013+) has Nissan Connect without a radio code. See the Nissan Qashqai J10 page for the removal procedure and code entry.

Nissan Note (2006–2013) — Clarion OEM as standard.

Nissan Juke (2010–2014) — early examples with Clarion, later examples with Nissan Connect.

Nissan Primera P12 (2002–2007) — in some trims.

Suzuki

Suzuki partnered with Clarion in Europe for OEM audio in models such as the Swift and SX4 from the generations around 2005–2012. The serial numbers follow a Clarion format but sometimes start with a different letter or are built up differently.

Subaru

Subaru used Clarion units in early Impreza and Legacy models. This is less common in the UK than the Nissan applications.

PSA (Peugeot and Citroën)

Clarion supplied radios to PSA models for certain export markets. In the UK these combinations are less common — most PSA models have Blaupunkt (RD4) or Continental units.

Clarion radios in Nissan models have a handy built-in emergency procedure: after three incorrect code attempts the display automatically shows the serial number.

Step by step

1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Deliberately enter an incorrect code and confirm.
3. Do this three times.
4. After the third wrong code, the display shows:

- The serial number (starts with CL, PN or PP)

- The device number

- Sometimes the manufacturing date

1. Note down the serial number.
2. The radio is now locked — wait 60 minutes with the ignition on.
3. After the waiting period you can enter the correct code.

This is handy if the label on the back is illegible due to corrosion, wear or a previous workshop visit. It comes at a price, though: three wrong attempts cost you an hour of waiting time.

The entry procedure differs slightly from European radios:

1. Turn the ignition on (position II). The engine does not need to be running.
2. The display shows CODE or a flashing dash.
3. Press preset 1 repeatedly until the first digit is correct.
4. Use preset 2 for the second digit.
5. Use preset 3 for the third digit.
6. Use preset 4 for the fourth digit.
7. Confirm by holding down preset 5 or by pressing the ENTER button.

With a correct code, the radio starts immediately. With an incorrect code, the system counts the number of remaining attempts (three maximum).

Here lies an important difference between Clarion radios for the European market and units from other regions.

European market: fixed factory code

Clarion radios intended for the European market have a factory-set security code. That code is linked to the serial number and stored in the Clarion database. You can always request that code as long as you have the serial number.

Outside the EU: owner-set code

Clarion units for markets outside the EU — North America, Japan, Australia and some Asian markets — use an owner-set code system. The owner sets a code themselves at purchase. Clarion has no central database of those codes.

If that code is lost or the owner forgets to pass it on when selling, there is no way to retrieve the code. The radio can become permanently locked.

Watch out for this with:

• Grey-import Nissan vehicles (from Japan or North America)
• Parallel-import Suzuki or Subaru
• Clarion units bought separately outside Europe

Not sure whether you have a European or non-European unit? Look at the sticker for the region codes. European units sometimes have the marking EUR or EU on the label. Did the previous owner give you a code? Then test it carefully — and store it carefully afterwards.

After three wrong codes, the Clarion radio waits 60 minutes. Here's how to reset the lock-out:

1. Turn the ignition on — key in position II, do not start the engine.
2. Wait at least 60 minutes.
3. Do not disconnect the battery — that restarts the waiting time but sometimes prolongs the lock-out.
4. After the hour, CODE appears again.
5. You have three attempts again.

With the CL or PN serial number you request the code online. Don't have the serial number? Then use the display trick (entering three wrong codes) to find the number.

See your Nissan's model page for the exact removal instructions — the way the centre console panel is dismantled differs per model. Start with Nissan Qashqai J10 or Nissan Micra K12.