Ford Rapid Red Paint Code D4: Location, Models, and Years Guide 2026
The Ford Rapid Red paint code is D4. It’s a metallic tinted clearcoat (tri-coat) finish Ford used across a wider range of models than almost any other color in its recent lineup, from the F-150 to the Bronco to several Lincoln nameplates, though it was recently dropped from the F-150’s color sheet.
If you’re staring at a stone chip or scratch and trying to confirm exactly what red you’re working with, this guide covers where to find the code on your vehicle, which models and years used it, why it sometimes shows up as “Lucid Red” instead, and what to actually buy to fix it.
Ford Paint Code Identification
D4
Recommended Best Deal Products
Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat · also badged Lucid Red on select Lincoln and Explorer ST trims
Where To Find It
Open the driver door and check the label on the door jamb or B-pillar.
Locate the field marked “EXT PNT” near the VIN and compliance data.
Confirm the code D4, sometimes shown with M7444, M7444A, or LRSEWTA.
Why It’s A Tri-Coat Finish
Where D4 Was Offered (2020–2025)
D4 vs. Ford’s Other Reds
| Code | Name | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| D4 | Rapid Red | Metallic tri-coat |
| RR | Ruby Red Metallic | Metallic tri-coat, returned for 2026 F-150 |
| PQ | Race Red | Solid, non-metallic |
Where To Find Your Ford Rapid Red D4 Code
Every Ford carries its exact factory paint code on the Safety Compliance Certification Label, commonly called the door jamb sticker. Here’s how to confirm D4 on your own vehicle:
- Open the driver’s door and look at the white or silver label on the door jamb or the B-pillar edge, where the door latches when closed.
- Find the field marked “EXT PNT” (Exterior Paint) near the bottom of the label, next to the VIN and other compliance data.
- Read the code next to it. For Rapid Red, you’ll see D4. You may also see a longer manufacturer reference number nearby, such as M7444 or M7444A, and sometimes LRSEWTA or PN4HQ on the same line. These longer strings are Ford’s internal tracking codes for the same paint and are useful when ordering from paint suppliers that ask for more than the two-character code.
- If the label is faded, painted over, or missing, don’t guess by eye. Call a Ford dealership parts counter with your 17-digit VIN, or use a reputable VIN decoder service that pulls factory build data, and they can confirm D4 in a few minutes.
Once you’ve confirmed D4, the next question is which models and years actually got this color.
Which Ford Models Used Rapid Red D4 By Year
Rapid Red wasn’t exclusive to one nameplate. It became one of the most widely shared colors in Ford’s lineup after its 2020 launch, and it also appears on several Lincoln models under a different marketing name (more on that below).
| Model | Years Confirmed With D4 | Vehicle Type |
|---|---|---|
| F-150 | 2020–2025 (discontinued for 2026) | Truck |
| Super Duty (F-250/F-350/F-450/F-550) | 2020–2025 | Truck |
| Bronco / Bronco Sport | 2021–2025 | SUV |
| Escape | 2021–2025 | SUV |
| Explorer (including Explorer ST) | 2020–2025 | SUV |
| Expedition | 2020–2025 | SUV |
| Edge | 2020–2025 | SUV |
| Ranger | 2022–2025 | Truck |
| Maverick | 2022–2025 | Truck |
| Mustang | 2020–2023 | Car |
| Mustang Mach-E | 2021–2025 | SUV/EV |
| Fusion | 2020 (final model year) | Car |
That wide reach across the lineup, and its recent retirement from the F-150, is also why the color goes by more than one name depending on the badge on the hood.
Why Rapid Red Is Also Called Lucid Red
If your window sticker, paperwork, or door label says “Lucid Red” instead of “Rapid Red,” you haven’t been given the wrong information. Ford has a long-standing practice of using the same paint formulation across different brands and nameplates under different marketing names.
D4 is documented as Rapid Red on most Ford models, but shows up as Lucid Red on some Explorer ST configurations and certain Lincoln trims. Owner threads on Explorer-focused forums confirm the same two-character code, D4, appears on both labels.
Two other names tied to this same formulation are “Red Carpet” and occasionally “Red Hot” in aftermarket paint-matching catalogs. For matching purposes, the marketing name doesn’t matter. The two-character code does.
Knowing the name doesn’t help much if you’re trying to explain the finish type to a paint shop, though, so here’s what D4 actually is.
Why D4 Is A Tri-Coat Finish Not A Standard Color
D4 isn’t a simple basecoat-and-clear like most factory colors. It’s a three-layer tri-coat system, sometimes called Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat.
What Tri-Coat Means For Touch-Up Repairs
The finish is built from a base color layer, a tinted mid-coat that carries the metallic flake and the color’s depth, and a clearcoat on top. Getting the mid-coat right is the hard part. Apply too few layers and the color reads too light; apply too many and it goes too dark. This is why a single bottle of a similar-looking red, like Ruby Red, will not match D4 even under the same lighting.
When To Use A Body Shop Instead
For small stone chips and light scratches, a DIY touch-up bottle or pen designed specifically for D4’s tri-coat structure (base plus mid-coat plus clear, not a single-stage color) works well and is the cheapest fix. For anything larger than a coin-sized chip, or for a full panel, the mid-coat blending is difficult to get consistent by hand and a professional body shop with spray equipment will produce a far more reliable match.
With the finish type understood, here’s what to actually buy for the repair.
Best Ford Rapid Red D4 Touch-Up Products To Buy
Not every Rapid Red repair calls for the same product. Match the tool to the size of the damage.
For Small Chips and Scratches: OEM-Matched Touch-Up Bottle or Pen
Genuine Ford Motorcraft-style touch-up kits for D4 pair a paint bottle with a clearcoat bottle, sized around 0.25–0.5 fl oz per component, and are the right choice for stone chips and light key scratches. Real current retail pricing for D4-specific bottle kits runs $21.99–$25.70 for basic OEM-matched pen or bottle products on third-party retail listings (eBay), up to $35.65–$50.65 for a more complete bottle kit that adds primer, applicators, and polishing compound (ScratchesHappen, live pricing confirmed).
For Larger Areas: Tri-Coat Aerosol Kits
For scratches or chip clusters too large to brush by hand, aerosol kits bundle the base, tinted mid-coat, and clearcoat in spray form. Confirmed current pricing for D4 aerosol kits runs $88.55–$123.55 depending on package tier (ScratchesHappen, live pricing confirmed), sized for door panels, bumpers, or fenders rather than pinpoint chips.
For Full Panel or Multi-Panel Resprays: Professional Tri-Coat Quart Kit
For a full door, fender, or hood respray, a professional-grade tri-coat quart kit is the appropriate product, intended for use with spray equipment rather than by hand. Auto Paint HQ’s Ford D4 Rapid Red Tri-Coat Candy Complete Quart Kit, which includes the base color, candy mid-coat, reducer, clearcoat, and activator, currently retails at $261.95 (live pricing confirmed). Note that kits at this scale are formulated for overall panel or full-vehicle refinishing rather than blended spot repairs.
Once you’ve got the right product, here’s how D4 compares to Ford’s other factory reds.
Rapid Red D4 Versus Ruby Red RR And Race Red PQ
Rapid Red is often confused with two other Ford reds, so here’s the quick distinction. D4 (Rapid Red) is a metallic tri-coat finish that was in production from 2020 through the 2025 model year on most nameplates.
RR, Ruby Red Metallic, was Ford’s previous premium metallic red, discontinued around 2020, and has since returned for the 2026 F-150 as D4’s replacement on that model’s color sheet. If you’re not sure which of the two you actually have,
our Ruby Red Metallic restoration guide covers RR’s specific application and repair details. Race Red (PQ), by contrast, is a solid, non-metallic red and is visually easy to tell apart from D4 once you know what to look for.
For the full picture beyond just red, here’s where D4 fits in Ford’s complete paint code system.
Getting An Exact Match On Your Rapid Red Ford
The Ford Rapid Red paint code is D4, a metallic tri-coat finish used across most of the Ford lineup from 2020 through 2025, and it carries the “Lucid Red” name on some Lincoln and Explorer ST configurations without being a different color.
It was retired from the F-150’s color sheet for 2026, replaced by the returning Ruby Red Metallic. Before ordering any product, confirm D4 against your own door jamb label rather than assuming your model matches the chart above, since color availability shifts by trim and year.
For our full breakdown of every Ford exterior color and how the coding system works across the entire lineup, see the Ford paint code list and color chart. Once confirmed, match the product to the damage: a touch-up pen for a stone chip, an aerosol kit for a scuffed panel, or a body shop for anything larger than that.
FAQ
What is the Ford Rapid Red paint code?
The Ford Rapid Red paint code is D4. It’s a metallic tinted clearcoat (tri-coat) finish, and the manufacturer reference numbers M7444 or M7444A may also appear on your door jamb label alongside it.
Is Rapid Red the same as Lucid Red?
Yes. Rapid Red and Lucid Red share the same D4 paint code and formulation. Ford uses the Lucid Red name on some Lincoln models and certain Explorer ST configurations, while most other Ford models list it as Rapid Red.
What years was Ford Rapid Red D4 available?
D4 was in production from the 2020 model year through 2025 on most Ford models, with some nameplates like the Bronco, Escape, Ranger, and Maverick adding it in 2021 or 2022 as those vehicles launched. Ford’s 2026 F-150 Order Guide confirms it was dropped from that model for 2026, replaced by the returning Ruby Red Metallic.
Can I touch up Rapid Red myself or do I need a body shop?
Small stone chips and light scratches can be handled with a D4-specific touch-up bottle or pen designed for the tri-coat structure. Anything larger than a small chip, especially a full panel, is better handled by a body shop, since blending the tinted mid-coat evenly is difficult without spray equipment.
What’s the difference between Rapid Red and Ruby Red Metallic?
Rapid Red (D4) was Ford’s metallic tri-coat red from 2020 to 2025. Ruby Red Metallic (RR) was the previous premium metallic red, discontinued around 2020, and has now returned for 2026 as D4’s replacement on the F-150. They look similar but will not match if used interchangeably.
