Thermador (part of the BSH Group) uses a 4-digit FD code to indicate the manufacture date. For units built before 2020, add 20 to the first two digits to get the year, and the last two digits represent the month. For example, FD 9701 decodes as January 2017. For modern units built after 2020, Thermador has transitioned to a clearer format where the first two digits are the actual year (e.g., FD 2410 is October 2024).
Locating Your Thermador Rating Plate
Thermador appliances are built with precision, and their identifying tags are usually located in discrete areas:
- Dishwashers: On the top or side edge of the inner door.
- Wall Ovens & Ranges: Inside the door frame or behind the lower kickplate.
- Refrigerators: On the interior side wall or near the vegetable crisper.
- Cooktops: On the underside of the unit (requires looking from the cabinet below).
Decoding the FD Code: The Standard Formula
The "FD" stands for "Fertigungsdatum" (German for "production date"). This code is shared across all BSH Group brands, including Bosch and Gaggenau.
The Pre-2020 Formula:
- Take the first two digits of the 4-digit FD number.
- Add 20 to that number to get the year.
- The remaining two digits are the month.
Example: FD 9412
- 94 + 20 = 114 (Representing the year 2014).
- 12 = December.
- Manufacture Date: December 2014.
The 2020 Format Change
Starting in 2020, BSH updated the FD code format for many product lines to be more intuitive. In the newer format, the first two digits are the actual year of the 21st century.
Example: FD 2405
- 24 = 2024.
- 05 = May.
- Manufacture Date: May 2024.
If you encounter an FD code like 21xx or 23xx, it is almost certainly a modern unit using the new direct-year convention. For older units, the "+20" rule remains the authoritative method.
The BSH Group Connection
Thermador was acquired by BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH in 1998. This acquisition unified the engineering standards for Bosch and Thermador. Today, while Thermador maintains its luxury positioning with features like the Star® Burner and Freedom® Induction, the internal logic for serial numbers and "FD" date codes is standardized across the group. This means that a Thermador dishwasher and a Bosch dishwasher built in the same factory will follow identical dating conventions.