Washer Error Codes: Every Brand, Every Code Explained
Every washer brand speaks its own error-code dialect: Samsung shows short codes like 4C and 5C, LG uses two-letter codes like OE and IE, and the Whirlpool family (Whirlpool, Maytag, Kenmore) uses F-codes and two-letter Cabrio codes. This page is the index: pick your brand for its complete, verified code list.
Which list do you need?
Three questions pick the right list in under a minute. First, the badge: whose name is on the front of the machine — that is the list you start with, even when another company built the platform underneath (Kenmore is the exception, below). Second, the machine type: front-load and top-load models of the same brand share most codes but not all — the brand lists flag platform-specific codes in their meaning text. Third, for Kenmore machines, the model prefix: 110 means the Whirlpool-built list applies, 796 means the LG-built list applies, and using the wrong one will send you after parts your machine does not have.
How washer error codes work
The control board watches sensors — water level, temperature, door lock, motor speed, drain time — and stops the cycle with a code when a reading falls outside its allowed range. The same physical fault can carry different codes on different brands, and the same code can change meaning between model series of one brand, which is why each brand below has its own verified list rather than one merged table.
| What the control watches | How it knows | Codes it produces |
|---|---|---|
| Water level | A pressure sensor reads air trapped in a hose as the tub fills and empties | Fill codes (4C, IE, LF) and drain codes (5C, OE, F21) when level changes too slowly or not at all |
| Drain time | The level must fall within a set window after the pump starts | Long-drain codes (F9E1, LD, nd) when water leaves too slowly |
| Load balance | Motor current and drum speed are sampled during distribution and spin-up | Balance codes (UB, UE, UL) when the load cannot be spread evenly enough to spin safely |
| Door / lid state | Switches inside the lock report shut and locked as separate signals | Lock codes (DC, dE, F5E2/F5E3) split by direction — failed to lock vs failed to unlock |
| Motor drive | Tachometer/Hall signals and current draw are compared with the commanded speed | Motor codes (3C family, LE, F6/F7 family) for stalls, overloads and lost position signals |
| Water temperature | A thermistor in the tub or sump is read against the cycle target | Heating codes (HE, tE) when water does not warm or the sensor reads out of range |
Samsung washer error codes
Samsung speaks in short alphanumeric codes (4C, 5C, UB) whose second character names the family — C-suffixed codes are the current generation of faults that older displays showed with E (4E, 5E).
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 3C | Motor error — the washer's drive motor is not running correctly (motor drive/PCB communication family). |
| 4C | Water supply error — the washer is not filling with water (or is filling too slowly). |
| 4E | Water supply error — the washer is not filling (older-display version of 4C). |
| 5C | Drain error — the washer is not draining water out of the tub. |
| 9C8 | Software Overcurrent Error — Samsung's published definition for 9C8, from the all-other-errors list on its washer information page. It is not a voltage code: Samsung's voltage family is 9C1 (over-voltage check) and 9C2 (low voltage detected). |
| AC6 | Communication error — AC6 is one spelling in Samsung's AC/AE communication family (AE, AE6, AEb, AC6, ACb, AC, AC4, AC3, AC5 and relatives): the washer's control boards have failed to communicate. Samsung's washer table defines the family's lead code AE as a signal communication error between the main PCB and the sub PCB. |
Full list: Samsung Washer Error Codes List — every verified Samsung code with causes and first fixes.
LG washer error codes
LG uses two-letter mnemonics — OE (Output Error, draining), IE (Input Error, filling), UE (Unbalanced Error) — the most readable system in the industry once you know the OE/IE pair faces opposite directions.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1E | Inlet error — the washer is not filling (1E is the segmented-display rendering of IE). |
| AE | Two different LG faults share this code, by platform. On LG top-load washers AE is a rotation error: the gears responsible for rotating the drum cannot operate properly. On LG front-load washers (global/EU manuals) AE is a water leakage error: water leaks — call for service. |
| CL | Child Lock is ON — not an error. The control panel is locked on purpose. |
| DE | Door error — the washer door was unable to lock (LG US wording). The door is open, not fully closed, or the lock has not engaged/reported. |
| FE | Overflow error — the water level is too high (LG's manuals: 'Water level is too high due to a faulty water valve'; LG's top-load list: the washer has detected an overfilled tub). |
| HE | Heating error — the washer's heater circuit is not performing (on LG washers with a built-in heater). |
Full list: LG Washer Error Codes List — every verified LG code with causes and first fixes.
Whirlpool washer error codes
Whirlpool electronic models alternate two-part codes (F21, then a second half on some displays); its VMW top-loaders use two-letter codes (LD, UL, LF) instead — one brand, two dialects, split by platform.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 5D | Suds detected — 5D is how some Whirlpool displays render the Sd suds code (7-segment 5/S confusion). |
| DL | Door lock error — the door latch/lock failed to lock (front-load, older Duet rendering; the F5E2 of its generation). |
| E01 | Part of a split F-code display — E01 is the second half of codes like F8E1/F9E1; read it together with the F-code shown alternately (on this platform the common pairing for drain topics is F9 E1 = drain pump system error). |
| E1 | The E-half of an alternating Whirlpool F-code (see E01) — or, on Whirlpool's stacked laundry centers, a standalone E1 'water inlet alarm' (the correct water level has not been reached within 20 minutes). A standalone E1 is never a washer SENSOR code in Whirlpool's documentation: sensor faults are full F-pairs (F3E1 level system, F3E2 inlet temperature). Identify the full code from the display before diagnosing. [Sensor footnote corrected 2026-10-28, verification pass: Whirlpool/Maytag tech sheets + product help.] |
| F1 | Control board error — the main electronic control has detected an internal fault (EEPROM/control failure family). |
| F3E1 | Pressure system fault — the main control detects an out-of-range pressure (water level) signal (written F03 E01 on zero-padded displays). |
Full list: Whirlpool Washer Error Codes List — every verified Whirlpool code with causes and first fixes.
Maytag washer error codes
Maytag shares the Whirlpool family's code system — the same F-codes and VMW two-letter codes — because the platforms are shared; Maytag's own manuals are the authority for which list a given model uses.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 5D | Suds detected — Maytag's segmented-display rendering of the Sd suds code. |
| CL | Control Lock / Child Lock status on Maytag washers — the panel is locked (not a fault). Maytag also uses CL-family prompts around its cleaning cycle on some models; in both cases it is a status, not an error. |
| E01 | E01 is the zero-padded E-half (E1) of a Maytag two-part F/E code — incomplete on its own. The pairings owners actually search are F03+E01 = F3E1 (water level / pressure system fault), F06+E01 = F6E1 (serial communication error between the main control/CCU and the motor control/MCU), and F09+E01 = F9E1 (drain pump system error / long drain). |
| E3 | On a current Maytag washer, E3 by itself is not a complete code — it is the second half of the two-part F#E# fault display, and the pairing owners are almost always catching is F5 + E3: F5E3, the lid lock (top-load) or door lock (front-load) unlock fault. The tech sheet's wording: the fault is displayed if the lid lock has not moved into the unlocked position, or its motor cannot be powered. |
| LD | Long Drain — the washer is draining too slowly (Maytag top-load rendering; sibling of ND). |
| ND | No Drain — the washer is not draining (Maytag legacy/top-load rendering of the drain fault). |
Full list: Maytag Washer Error Codes List — every verified Maytag code with causes and first fixes.
Kenmore washer error codes
Kenmore codes follow the builder, not the badge: 110-series machines use Whirlpool family codes, 796-series machines use LG codes. Check the model prefix before any list.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CL | Child Lock status on Kenmore washers — panel locked, not an error. On LG-built Kenmores (796) it's LG's CL; the release is the marked button hold. |
| IE | Inlet error on LG-built Kenmore washers — the machine is not filling properly (rendered 1E on some displays). |
| LE | Locked motor error on Kenmore washers built by LG — the direct-drive motor cannot rotate. (On Whirlpool-built Kenmores LE-family topics route to the F-code system instead — check your model plate.) |
| ND | No Drain — the Kenmore washer is not draining (Whirlpool-built Kenmore rendering). |
| NF | No Fill on Whirlpool-built Kenmore washers — the machine is not filling (fill fault, letter rendering; F8E1/LF siblings). |
| OE | Drain error on LG-built Kenmore washers — the machine was unable to drain the water. |
Full list: Kenmore Washer Error Codes List — every verified Kenmore code with causes and first fixes.
Bosch washer error codes
Bosch numbers its codes by system — teens for water in/out, twenties for the door, thirties for the drive — so the number range is itself a first hint about where to look.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| E18 | The washer is not draining — there is no drainage of water, and water may be left standing in the drum. |
| E23 | AquaStop has been activated: there is water in the base trough — the appliance is leaking. |
| E27 | Pressure sensor faulty — Bosch lists this fault as F27 on its washing machine error list (worded 'Error code E27 / F27: pressure sensor faulty'). |
| E36 | Drain pump is blocked — on current Bosch models shown as E:36-10 (the detergent solution is not being pumped out) and E:36-25 / -26 (drain pump blocked). |
Full list: Bosch Washer Error Codes List — every verified Bosch code with causes and first fixes.
Fault families every brand shares
Water in: the machine is not filling, or filling too slowly (Samsung 4C, LG IE, Whirlpool F8E1 family). Water out: draining too slowly or not at all (Samsung 5C, LG OE, Whirlpool F21/F9E1). Balance: the load cannot be distributed for spin (Samsung UB/UE, LG UE, Whirlpool UL). Door: the lock cannot confirm the door is shut (Samsung DC, LG dE, Whirlpool F5E2). Find the family first, then your brand's exact code in its list.
Water in — fill faults
| Brand | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 4C | Water supply error — the washer is not filling with water (or is filling too slowly). |
| LG | IE | Inlet error — the washer is not filling with water properly (Water Inlet Error). |
| Whirlpool | F8E1 | Long fill — the washer is taking too long to fill (the F-format rendering of LF). |
Water out — drain faults
| Brand | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 5C | Drain error — the washer is not draining water out of the tub. |
| LG | OE | Drain error — the washer is not draining (Output Error in LG's naming). |
| Whirlpool | F21 | Long drain — the washer is taking too long to drain (Whirlpool's drain fault; F9E1 is its sibling rendering on Duet platforms). |
| Bosch | E18 | The washer is not draining — there is no drainage of water, and water may be left standing in the drum. |
Balance & spin faults
| Brand | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | UB | Unbalanced load — the washer cannot distribute the load evenly enough to spin safely. |
| LG | UE | Unbalanced error — the load could not be balanced for spin. |
| Whirlpool | UL | Unbalanced load — the washer cannot balance the load for spin. |
| Maytag | UL | Unbalanced load — the washer can't balance the load for spin (Maytag top-load). |
Door & lock faults
| Brand | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | DC | Door error on some Samsung models, unbalanced load error on others — Samsung publishes DC in both families, and the model's own manual decides which meaning applies. |
| LG | DE | Door error — the washer door was unable to lock (LG US wording). The door is open, not fully closed, or the lock has not engaged/reported. |
| Whirlpool | F5E2 | Door/lid lock will not lock — the control cannot confirm the door (front-load) or lid (top-load) is locked, so the cycle cannot start. |
Motor & drive faults
| Brand | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 3C | Motor error — the washer's drive motor is not running correctly (motor drive/PCB communication family). |
| LG | LE | Locked motor error — the washer's direct-drive motor cannot rotate (or the control can't confirm it is rotating). |
| Kenmore | LE | Locked motor error on Kenmore washers built by LG — the direct-drive motor cannot rotate. (On Whirlpool-built Kenmores LE-family topics route to the F-code system instead — check your model plate.) |
Heating & temperature faults
| Brand | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | HE | Heater Error — Samsung's washer information page files HE in the group 'HC, HE, HE1, Hr, 1 HC — Heater Error', and Samsung washer manuals define the plain HE display as a water temperature control problem (heater control problem). It is a heating-system fault report, and Samsung's published owner remedy is a power cycle, then service. |
| LG | tE | Temperature sensor error — LG's front-load manuals head this code 'Temperature Sensor Error' and give its cause, in one word pair, as a control error; LG's top-load list describes a problem with the temperature sensor inside the tub. |
| Bosch | E36 | Drain pump is blocked — on current Bosch models shown as E:36-10 (the detergent solution is not being pumped out) and E:36-25 / -26 (drain pump blocked). |
Suds & sensing faults
| Brand | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | SUD | Excess suds detected — the washer has found too much foam in the tub. |
| Whirlpool | SD | Suds detected — oversudsing condition (also rendered SUD / 5D on Whirlpool displays). |
| LG | AE | Two different LG faults share this code, by platform. On LG top-load washers AE is a rotation error: the gears responsible for rotating the drum cannot operate properly. On LG front-load washers (global/EU manuals) AE is a water leakage error: water leaks — call for service. |
Start from the symptom when there is no code
Plenty of washer faults never produce a code: a machine that hums but will not start may have a failed capacitor or a jammed pump the control cannot see; a slow leak may only announce itself at the floor. Work backwards from the symptom instead — standing water in the drum means treat it as a drain fault even without OE, 5C or F21 on the display; a tub that will not spin a balanced, drained load is a drive fault whatever the panel says; repeated mid-cycle stops with no code usually trace to power (a sagging outlet) or an overheating motor cooling between attempts. The family tables above still apply: the symptom picks the family, the family picks the checks, and the brand list settles the exact part names for your machine.
Intermittent faults deserve one extra habit: a log. A code that appears twice a month is nearly impossible to diagnose from a single event, but three lines in a notebook — date, cycle selected, load type, what the machine was doing, the exact code — usually reveal the pattern (only on hot washes, only with the big duvet, only when the dishwasher runs at the same time and pressure dips). Heat-, load- and voltage-sensitive faults all confess to a log eventually, and a technician given the log starts halfway down the fault tree instead of at the top.
Reading a code correctly
Three display habits cause most mis-searches. First, many Whirlpool-family machines alternate the two halves of a code — F9, then E1 — so a photo of the display beats a memory of one half. Second, segmented displays blur letters and numbers: 5C and SC, IE and 1E, CL and C1 can be the same code rendered two ways, which is why the brand lists on this site note display variants inside each entry. Third, a code shown during a cycle is not always a fault: child-lock (CL), delay-start timers and demo modes all light up displays on healthy machines. If the machine otherwise runs normally, check those three before opening the fault tables.
End-of-cycle and state displays deserve the same caution. Many machines light every segment for a few seconds at power-up as a display test, show a countdown or a spinning icon while a cycle finishes its anti-crease or cooling phase, and display a lock symbol the whole time child lock is armed. None of these are codes, and all of them get searched as codes every day. The distinguishing test is behaviour: a machine that fills, washes, drains and spins normally is not reporting a fault, whatever the panel is showing — finish the cycle, then look the display up as a state, not an error.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common washer error codes?
Across brands the most searched codes are drain codes (LG OE, Samsung 5C, Whirlpool F21), fill codes (Samsung 4C, LG IE), balance codes (LG UE, Samsung UB) and door-lock codes (LG dE, Whirlpool F5E2). Use the brand lists above for your exact code.