Washer Error Codes by Brand: What They Mean
Washer error codes identify which subsystem failed — water supply, drainage, door lock, motor, or balance. The same fault often has different code letters per brand: a slow-drain fault is F21 on Whirlpool, OE on LG, 5C on Samsung, and E20 on Electrolux. Find your brand below to decode yours.
What to Check First
- 1
Note the exact characters shown — washer codes are case- and digit-specific.
- 2
Identify your brand and look up the code on its dedicated page for causes and fix steps.
- 3
Drain codes (F21/OE/5C/E20) usually mean a clogged drain filter — check it first.
- 4
Door/lid codes mean the lock isn't confirming — inspect the latch and strike.
- 5
A code that returns after a power-cycle reset indicates a real, present fault.
Error Codes for This Problem, by Brand
If your washing machine is showing an error code along with this symptom, find your brand below — each code links to its full fix guide.
Samsung Washing Machine
4C UE OE LE DE tE CE PE 3E SE nF AP FL dC Ub U6 E2 E3 5C LC
Water supply not detected
⚠ Medium Severity Unbalanced load detected
✓ Low Severity Drain failure — water not draining
⚠ High Severity Motor locked — drum cannot rotate
⚠ High Severity Door not properly closed or door lock failure
⚠ Medium Severity Temperature sensor (thermistor) fault
⚠ Medium Severity Over-current motor protection — motor drawing excessive current
⚠ High Severity Water pressure sensor (pressure switch) failure
⚠ Medium Severity Motor drive error — motor cannot reach commanded speed
⚠ High Severity Motor tachometer / hall sensor error
⚠ High Severity No fill — water supply insufficient at start of cycle
⚠ Medium Severity Aqua Protection activated — flood protection triggered
⚠ High Severity Door lock failure — cannot complete lock engagement
⚠ Medium Severity Door cannot close — door detected open or unlatched during operation
⚠ Medium Severity Unbalanced load — drum cannot reach spin speed safely
✓ Low Severity Unbalance error variant — repeated failed redistribution attempts
✓ Low Severity Drain error (older Samsung models) — water not draining in time
⚠ High Severity Overflow / water level error (older Samsung models)
⚠ High Severity Drain error — water not draining within the time limit
⚠ High Severity Leak detected — moisture sensed in the base pan
⚠ High Severity 
Whirlpool Washing Machine
F8E1 F9E1 F5E2 F7E1 F0E1 F3E1 F3E2 F8E3 F5E1 F5E3 F7E5 F7E6 F7E7
Low water fill detected — water inlet problem
⚠ Medium Severity Drain failure — cycle paused, water not draining
⚠ High Severity Door lock failure — latch cannot engage
⚠ Medium Severity Motor speed error — motor not reaching target RPM
⚠ High Severity Inlet water supply problem — excessive water or suds overflow
✓ Low Severity Pressure sensor failure — water level sensing fault
⚠ Medium Severity Pressure switch failure — open circuit
⚠ Medium Severity Flow meter error — water volume sensor fault
⚠ Medium Severity Door switch failure — lid/door switch not actuating
⚠ Medium Severity Door lock not engaging — lock timeout
⚠ Medium Severity Shifter fault — the drive shifter cannot move between agitate and spin
⚠ High Severity Motor fault — the drive motor is not responding correctly
⚠ High Severity Motor unable to reach target speed
⚠ Medium Severity 
LG Washing Machine
OE UE IE LE dE CE SE PE E6 nE F6 AE
Drainage error — water not draining within expected time
⚠ High Severity Unbalanced load — cannot complete spin cycle
✓ Low Severity Water inlet error — water not filling within expected time
⚠ Medium Severity Motor locked — hall sensor or stator fault
⚠ High Severity Door open or door lock failure
⚠ Medium Severity Over-current error — motor drawing too much current
⚠ High Severity Hall sensor error — motor speed sensor fault
⚠ High Severity Water level pressure sensor error
⚠ Medium Severity Clutch motor error (top-load models)
⚠ High Severity Noise sensor error (front-load models)
✓ Low Severity Overcurrent error — excessive current detected in the motor drive circuit
⚠ High Severity Leak detected (Aqua error) — water sensed in the base pan
🛑 Critical — Stop Using 
Kenmore Washing Machine
F21 F20 OE LE UE IE
Slow drain — pump is draining but too slowly
⚠ High Severity Water supply error — no water detected
⚠ Medium Severity Drain error (LG-platform Kenmore models)
⚠ High Severity Motor locked (LG-platform Kenmore models)
⚠ High Severity Unbalanced load (LG-platform Kenmore models)
✓ Low Severity Water inlet error (LG-platform Kenmore models)
⚠ Medium Severity 
Haier Washing Machine
E1 E2 E4 E3 E7 F7
Water inlet error — no water detected
⚠ Medium Severity Drain error — water not draining
⚠ High Severity Door not closed or door lock failure
⚠ Medium Severity Motor error — drive motor fault
⚠ High Severity Water level sensor fault
⚠ Medium Severity Motor fault — drum motor not responding
⚠ High Severity 
GE Appliances Washing Machine
Miele Washing Machine
F11 F19 F16 F53 F31
Pump fault — water not draining
⚠ High Severity Drain time exceeded — slow or failed drain
⚠ High Severity Water protection system activated — flood protection triggered
⚠ High Severity Motor fault — drive motor failure
⚠ High Severity NTC temperature sensor fault
⚠ Medium Severity 
Bosch Washing Machine
Electrolux Washing Machine
Speed Queen Washing Machine
Fisher & Paykel Washing Machine
KitchenAid Washing Machine
Frigidaire Washing Machine
Maytag Washing Machine
Amana Washing Machine Frequently Asked Questions
Are washer error codes the same across brands? +
No — each brand uses its own code scheme, though the underlying faults overlap. A slow-drain error is F21 (Whirlpool), OE (LG), 5C (Samsung), and E20 (Electrolux). Always look up the code under your specific brand.