Ford Explorer Sport 2013 - Keyless Entry Code

50 Replies

Recently, I purchased a Ford Explorer and for whatever reason the keyless entry code was not bundled with the owner's manual nor is it listed when you type the VIN number into Ford's website and browse the vehicle's installed accessories.

Luckily, rather than bringing the vehicle back into the dealership, there is a way to lookup the default entry code.  On the fuse box, the car has a label with a 5 digit code (sometimes followed by a single letter).

Next question is, where is the fuse box?  Interestingly, there are two on the explorer.  The first one is under the hood, on the right side inside of a "black box".  The second one is in the typical spot underneath the steering wheel on the driver side (if anyone has an explorer in Europe and it has the steering wheel on the right side of the car, you should let me know if the fuse box is on the side with the steering wheel or still on the left side by what would be the passenger :P).  Oddly enough, at a quick glance I couldn't find the fuse box as it was hidden by a piece of plastic.  Luckily, if you can grab a flashlight and stick your head underneath the steering wheel far enough, you should be able to see the sticker, otherwise you will have the pull the hex screw off and remove the plastic guard.

For whatever reason, this isn't inside the owners manual, so hopefully this helps someone else with their explorer 🙂

50 thoughts on “Ford Explorer Sport 2013 - Keyless Entry Code”

    2. Stephanie Doss

      Thank you thank you thank you. After purchasing a new to me 2013 Ford Explorer I had no clue where to begin. But after reading this, I got everything situated! Thank you again!

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  2. Annelise Freeman

    Jack: Many, many thanks. You saved me a trip to the dealership and a long wait drinking not so great coffee.
    I located the number, followed your instructions and now have a fully operational keypad.

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  3. Marcia

    Just bought a used 2013 explorer and no door code was given to me. I looked for the number way under the steering wheel area as directed above. The code listed there consisted of :
    2 letters
    3 numbers
    1 letter
    3 numbers
    There is no 5 digit grouping that would be the door code. Am I looking in the wrong place?

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    1. Jack Post author

      Hey Marcia,

      The sticker is white and should only consist of 5 numbers. I had to remove the plastic cover the first time to be able to spot the sticker. If you have a nice flashlight, you should be able to look a tad to the left of beneath the stearing wheel area without having to remove the cover.

      Hope this helps!
      Jack

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      1. Marcia

        OMG! I found it! I may have thrown my back (and a few other body parts) out of alignment in order to see it initially however!! I ended up using a mirror and a flashlight to see it well enuf to write it down.
        Ford wanted $75 to "find the code" for me. Ha!
        Thank you thank you, Jack.

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  4. Roberto

    Jack, I really appreciate your help, after a look up for every place, I found this article and now I get my factory code, Thanks to Marcia for the tips (mirror and flashlight) it took me about two minutes to get that code... I think and I will make me a tattoo with this one...

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      1. Recee

        Thanks so much! The dealership wanted me to pay $65 for them to "call" and get the code. The right side rear passenger seat belt will not release when we try to pull it to fasten and buckle. The dealership said that it would cost $740 to repair it. Any suggestions? Anyone?

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  5. John

    Dude, you rock!! I just got home after purchasing a new-to-me 2013 Explorer and, of course, the highly touted owner's information card that was supposed to be in the glove box was nowhere to be found. Your instructions were right on and much like Marcia, I twisted in new ways to find the magic code. Thanks for helping us mere mortals.

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  6. J. Vickers

    THANK YOU!!! Once i stood on my head to find it, i found the factory code was EXACTLY where you said it may be. Your a life saver. I'm not a blogger or a follower but I will be looking to you in the future with issues you can help with. Thanks again! !!!

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  7. mesha

    This was a big help. My almost brand new 2013 explorer i purchased in 2014 didn't even come with an instructors manual. Street o pitched a fit thru gave me one. I asked about the code they told me it would take 2 hours for them to do it at the dealership. Smh

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  9. Dan T

    Thanks a big ole bunch! It's up under there pretty good, but it's there!
    At least now I can reset it to something I can remember.

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  10. Jenna

    Hi Everybody - every sticker I found under the steering wheel area has a bar code, or some form of number letter combination...What am I doing wrong? Pls help. I have a 2013 XLT and no Keyless entry code!

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    1. Jack Post author

      Hi Jenna,

      Unless the dealer removed it, it should be under there. The first time I looked for the code, I saw all of the barcode type stickers as well, but if you really really really get your head underneath the dash with a bright flashlight it should be there.

      Jack

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  11. Travis

    Hey Jack,

    Thanks for the save my man. Saved the hassle of driving to the dealership to only have them charge to do it with my new 13 XLT Nav.

    My 2 cents to add if you don't mind, as Jack noted the paper will look like this:

    barcode
    5 numbers & a letter and a LARGE letter to the right.

    I made the mistake of taking the first bar code which is high up in the dash. That has 7 numbers and whole bunch of other letters and numbers. Thats not the right one. The sticker you want is very low on the left hand side of the wheel but almost all they way back right above the pedals, its not very far up under the plastic guard there. Good luck!

    Thanks again Jack!

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  12. Randy

    Thanks I just bought a used 2011 Explorer and I found the factory code using your help. Thank you

    Randy e

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  13. Beth

    OMG! You are a lifesaver! My dealership wanted $125 and am SO glad I found this. You saved me big! Thanks so much! 😀

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  15. Stacey

    I just bought a 2011 Ford Explorer XLT & it didn't come with the code just the manual. I found the code with your help. It was exactly where you said it would be & wasn't hard for me to find at all. Thank you for posting this because if not I would had to have brought it into a dealership & probably paid lots of money to get the code.

    Reply ↓
  17. Emmie

    Bought our Ford Explorer yesterday and thanks to your advice I was able to find the code! I did bend in a curious way, and thanks to my husband...he had to pull me out! Ha Thanks a ton for sharing this!

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  18. Nathan

    I just picked up a new used 2015 xlt. The sticker is still right where Jack said. And exactly as Travis described. Thank You for the post.

    Reply ↓
  20. BENJAMIN DAVIS

    I found it and thanks for the info. The dealer wanted 100.00 probably to do the same thing. Another dealer told me at least 2 hours of work. But in any case all is well. Thanks!

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    1. Jack Post author

      Is the sticker still there? You might be able to reset the computer back to factor presets and see if you can use the code on the sticker. Otherwise, you might have to make a trip to the local Ford shop 🙁

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    2. Collin

      The original code should work no matter what the owner has changed it to. I have reprogrammed mine a couple of times to test it.

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  23. Heather

    Jack,

    My Dad just bought a 2013 Explorer and came across the same unknown factory code issue.
    He was going to ask the dealership that sold it to him, however I know to always ask google first.
    Your post was the first link in the results, and helped me find the code super fast.

    *Tip for the lazy (like me)*
    Use a camera phone (with flash on) to reach around and take a pic of it.

    My boobs were precluding me from getting far enough under the dash to see anything more than the giant letter on the right of the sticker. Took a picture and had it right on my phone to reference (took a few tries to get the angle right).

    Thank you Jack!

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  24. Rondel

    Thanks for the info. Found the sticker with no problem. Glad i didnt have to go to the dealership. Thanks again

    Reply ↓
  26. Chris

    Rather than contorting myself under the dash I just pointed a flashlight up under there and peeked through the slot on the right side of the hood release lever. It took a little squinting, but I could make out the number. Hope this helps others.

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    1. Jack Post author

      Don't have a 2016 explorer, but according to the manual the code is on the owner’s wallet card in the glove box or you can bring your car to the dealer and they can look it up. I am a bit surprised the sticker isn't under the dash, if you grab a mirror and use that to look under the dash, are there any other labels under the steering column that you may not see otherwise?

      -Jack

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  28. mike p

    well kiss my ass! ive had my 2013 explorer for about 2 years and never knew the code! I came across this and just walked outside to try and it worked!
    WOW

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  29. Darin

    Thank you so much!
    I called the dealership to look into this problem and they wanted to charge me for it. They never mentioned this little trick. Thank you manufacturer but screw you mechanics!

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  30. AMC

    I have a 2015 Ford Explorer limited and the code was right where you describe and super easy to find once I knew where to look. Thank you!!

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  31. John

    Chris was right on! All that was needed was a good light (even a phone), peek around the hood release. Pulling the release gives an even better view. Don't forget to slam the hood!
    Thanks Jack and Chris.
    John

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  33. Gale

    You just saved me a lot of time, hassle and money. Thank you!
    By the way, this method works for a 2013 Edge too.

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  34. GB

    Worked Perfect. Bought my Explorer used and no one ever knew the code????
    Right where you said it would be. No too much of a hassle with a flashlight.
    Thanks
    GB

    Reply ↓

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