LG Washing Machine Error Code tE

Reviewed by the ApplianceErrors Editorial Team · Verified against manufacturer service documentation · Last verified: June 11, 2026

⚠ Medium Severity 🔧🔧 Moderate DIY

Thermistor error — water temperature sensor reading out of range

The most common cause of the tE error on a LG washing machine is thermistor failed open or shorted (~50% of cases); start with: power cycle the washer.

💰 DIY cost: $12–$85 👨‍🔧 Pro cost: $150–$290 Save $138+ by doing it yourself

LG Washing Machine error code tE on the display panel — How the tE code appears on a LG washing machine display

What Does Error Code tE Mean on a LG Washing Machine?

Thermistor error — water temperature sensor reading out of range.

The tE code fires when the control board reads the heating thermistor's resistance as open, shorted, or outside the expected range, leaving it unable to verify or regulate water temperature. Heated and steam cycles abort as a safety measure. Unlike LE (motor/rotor) or PE (pressure/water-level sensing), tE is specific to the temperature-sensing circuit — typically the thermistor at the heating element, its connector, or the board's sensing input.

Models affected: LG front-load and steam-capable washers with a heating element and integrated thermistor, such as the WM3900HWA, WM4000HBA, WM4500HBA, and WM8100HVA; top-load models without a heater are far less likely to show tE

What owners report: Owners commonly report tE appearing partway through warm, hot, or steam cycles while cold washes still run fine. A loose or corroded connector at the heater can trigger it falsely, so reseating that plug is a frequent quick win before replacing parts.

What Causes Error Code tE?

Here are the most common causes in order of frequency. Start with the most likely cause before moving to the next:

1

Thermistor failed open or shorted 50% of cases
2

Loose or corroded connector at the heater 25% of cases
3

Heating element assembly fault 15% of cases
4

Main board sensing circuit fault 10% of cases

How to Fix LG Washing Machine Error Code tE

🔧🔧 Moderate DIY Est. time: 30–60 min

⚡ Safety first: Unplug the appliance before opening any panels or touching internal components.

1

Power cycle the washer

Unplug for 10 minutes to clear a transient sensor fault, then rerun a warm cycle.
2

Test the thermistor

Unplug the washer, access the heater through the rear panel, and measure thermistor resistance — roughly 30k–50k ohms at room temperature on most LG models; open or zero confirms failure.

⚠️ Unplug the washer before probing the mains-powered heater circuit.
3

Replace the thermistor

Disconnect the sensor from the heater assembly and swap it; if integrated, replace the heating element assembly.

🔩 LG washer thermistor ($12–$30) 🔩 LG heating element with thermistor ($40–$85)

⚠️ Confirm power is disconnected before touching heater terminals.

How to Reset Error Code tE

Unplug for 10 minutes and restart. If tE returns on heated cycles, the sensor needs replacement.

Note: If the error returns after resetting, the underlying issue has not been resolved. Work through the fix steps above.

Full LG washer reset guide → Enter diagnostic mode →

Did this guide fix your appliance?

When to Call a Professional

If a new thermistor still throws tE, the main control board's sensing circuit needs professional diagnosis.

Average professional repair cost for this issue: $150–$290

Related Error Codes

Motor locked — hall sensor or stator fault

⚠ High Severity

Water level pressure sensor error

⚠ Medium Severity

Same Code on Other Brands

Error code tE appears on these other brands too. See every brand that shows tE →

Samsung Washing Machine tE

Temperature sensor (thermistor) fault

Samsung Dryer tE

Thermistor (temperature sensor) failure

Samsung Dishwasher tE

Temperature sensor failure — NTC thermistor fault

Find Replacement Parts

Use these links to find the exact replacement parts for your LG Washing Machine:

🔩

Search PartSelect

LG Washing Machine repair parts

🔧

Search RepairClinic

Step-by-step video guides

External links — ApplianceErrors.com is not affiliated with these retailers.

More LG Washing Machine Error Codes

OE Drainage error — water not draining within expected time UE Unbalanced load — cannot complete spin cycle IE Water inlet error — water not filling within expected time dE Door open or door lock failure tCL Tub clean reminder — drum needs cleaning FE Water overflow error — drum overfilling

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep using my LG Washing Machine when error tE appears? +

You often can for a cycle or two, but the temperature issue behind tE will keep interrupting normal operation until it is fixed. Plan the repair rather than ignoring the code.

What most commonly causes tE on a LG Washing Machine? +

Across reported LG washing machine repairs, the most frequent is thermistor failed open or shorted (50% of cases), loose or corroded connector at the heater (25%), then heating element assembly fault (15%). Check them in that order before replacing any parts.

tE keeps coming back after a reset — what should I check next? +

A reset only clears the stored tE fault; if it returns, the temperature problem is still present. Move on to the physical checks — power cycle the washer, then test the thermistor — since the code will reappear until the root cause is resolved. This is a moderate job — a multimeter and some disassembly are usually involved.

How much does it cost to fix LG Washing Machine error tE? +

A DIY repair typically runs $12–$85 in parts, versus $150–$290 for a professional service call, so handling it yourself saves around $138. Expect the work to take roughly 30–60 minutes.

Which LG Washing Machine models show error tE? +

tE is documented on LG front-load and steam-capable washers with a heating element and integrated thermistor, such as the WM3900HWA, WM4000HBA, WM4500HBA, and WM8100HVA; top-load models without a heater are far less likely to show tE. Other units sharing the same control platform can display it too, so the fixes here generally transfer across the series.

Sources & References

• LG Support — Help Library — official manufacturer documentation
• Our editorial & verification policy

Content verified against manufacturer service documentation. Last verified: June 11, 2026.

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