Samsung Washing Machine Fault Codes

This is the full list of fault or error codes used on Samsung washing machine and washer dryer models from about 2009 or so onwards and many of these will apply to the newer Ecobubble machines. And, if you own a Samsung don’t be too shocked that you need to look these up, most owners will have to at some point.
These codes for Samsung washing machine and washer dryer models will displayed as a digital code, exactly as you will see below, in an LED or LCD panel or display on the front of the washing machine.
We do not have a definitive list of the models that these fault codes apply to but we expect these to cover most Samsung models one way or another. There are some codes in separate articles used in older ranges and also other regions, primarily North America.
Before you start any investigation of the fault or even remove the lid of your Samsung washing machine or washer dryer please read and fully understand this article in full and pay particular attention to the safety and information notices at the bottom of this page as they contain extremely important information!
Please remember to support our site and our ability to publish fault codes, provide support and so on by buying Samsung spares from our spare part store and, if you decide that you need an engineer please support the local repairers that help make this site possible, you can find an engineer using the engineer search facility.
Samsung Washing Machine Fault Codes
Like other fault codes these written for washing machine repairers and not for the general public by Samsung and UK Whitegoods and they assume a certain level of competence on the part of the user in diagnostic routines. We have added some notes to try to assist you in determining the nature of the fault you have but you will still need to investigate each failure on its own merits. For more help and advice on fault finding on a washing machine please refer to our washing machine fault finding guide from this link before you begin.
Therefore while these error codes give you a clue as to what the problem might be as well as what to look at they will not pinpoint an exact point of failure nor will they tell you how to repair your Samsung washing machine.
Please check that any Samsung washing machine spares recommended are suitable for use on your particular model and production code or serial number. If you are unsure about the suitability of any spare part, please ask to ensure that you get the correct spares for your washing machine.
Please, don’t guess or assume as spares can be altered on a production run with the same model number having several different alternative components used.
If you struggle or cannot find the appropriate fault code that you need for your machine please ask in the forums and the gusy there will do what they can to help and locate the meaning of the fault code you need
1E |
Water level sensor errorEssentially the machine has encountered an error related to teh pressure switch but if can be caused by any number of issues so, like most error codes you will need to investigate.
Can be displayed on older models as 1E or E7. |
3E |
Motor tacho fault detectedCan also be caused by be main PCB If the motor tacho signals are inputted less than 2 for 2 seconds after main drive motor started, this error will occur.
On older models can be displayed as 3E, EA, EB or 8E. |
3E1 |
Motor overloadedNormally only displayed when too much laundry is put in the machine so of you see this, reduce the load sizes as you are overloading the machine without doubt!
|
3E2 |
Motor driving errorDon’t blame us for the cryptic descriptions, we don’t make this stuff up! Basically from what we can gather this means that the main control module is fried and can’t drive the motor so, the machine is probably scrap assuming the board is as expensive as most prove to be.
|
3E3 |
Motor signal errorThe main board is getting signals from the motor that it cannot understand in essence.
|
3E4 |
Motor fault detectedOnce more with feeling, the motor can’t be detected or there’s a weird signal coming back that the board can’t understand. This one however ain’t good news to see.
|
4E |
Water fill time outThe washing machine has failed to fill with water in a reasonable time. If there is no higher change in water frequency than 100Hz for 2 minutes during the initial time of water supply and if water level doesn’t reach the preset level in 10 minutes, this error will occur. This error will be released using Start/Pause button, the washing machine will restart and attempt to fill with water again.
Can be shown as E1 on older models. |
4E1 |
Incoming water temperature issueThe this one is basically to prevent damage and would usually indicate an installation problem in that the hot water hose is on incorrectly or that the temperature of the water is too high. The odd bit with this error is the dryer side that we think is an internal water temperature too high whcih would prevent the dryer from operating as it should do.
Can be 4Ed on some models |
4E2 |
Incoming water temperature too highPretty simple one this and, it’s an installation issue. The inbound water temperature is detected as exceeding 50˚C on the woolen, delicate or lingerie cycles and has to be reduced.
Can be E8 on older models |
5E |
Washing machine has failed to drain the waterIf water level frequency is still lower than the reset level frequency (25.20kHz) in 10 minutes after starting of water drain, this error will occur. This error code is very common and can be read as being either “SE” or “5E” due to the digital display as we are often asked what either could mean, they are the same code. This error will be released using Start/Pause button, the washing machine will restart and attempt to drain the water out again.
If the pump is faulty then ask us about it as there are low cost compatible pumps for Samsung that can be less than half the price of a Samsung part, for the same component.
Can also be shown as E5 and “nd” on USA models |
8E |
Motor errorLargey the same as the 3E error but this used on some models
|
9E1 |
Mains power issueThe mains power supply is not right, in this case over voltage and the machine will just error out until that problem is resolved. This error code may not be displayed on fully automated machines as Samsung say there is no error code for a voltage issue. Don’t ask us, we just work here!
Can be shown as PH1 or 2E on some models. |
9E2 |
Mains voltage errorWe have not a clue why Samsung used another error code for exactly the same problme but, they appear to have done so. As with the previous, this error code may not be displayed on fully automated machines as Samsung say there is no error code for a voltage issue.
Can be shown as Plo or 2E on some models. |
PF |
Power failureThis error code does not indicate a fault with your machine, it is telling you that at some point there’s been a power cut and the cycle restarted. Once again however, as with the previous two fault codes, this error code may not be displayed on fully automated machines as Samsung say there is no error code for a voltage issue.
|
Uc |
Supply voltage too lowReading this from Samsung made our heads spin! Okay so the voltage supply to the Samsung machines has to be in the range of 176 Volts to 276 Volts. If you go under that you get this error code, go over it and you get the ones above. Trust us, that’s a lot easier than Samsung’s explanation.
|
AE |
Communication errorSamsung, communications error… no, never! Just kidding. The boards aren’t seeing one another and this will be on machines that have a display board or card for user input on the control panel and another actual control module buried in the machine somewhere, the two of them cannot communicate. Usually this isn’t that they’ve had a falling out or suchlike, it’ll often be the wiring or plugs that are a problem. That’s the go-to for this one.
|
bE1 |
Switch or main relay errorThis error code is a bit wacky but it is Samsung we’re talking about here.
Can be shown as 12E or E2 on some models. |
bE2 |
As bE1This error is the same thing only different to the one before it only this time it’s any button other than the power one.
Can be also shown as 14E or E2. |
bE3 |
Main relay shortNot good news, the main motor relay on the control board has packed in and is shorted out
Can be shown as either 18E or as Sr on some models. |
CE |
Abnormal water temperature detectedFor many models this means that the temperature of inbound water is detected as being greater than 55˚C but, if the water isn’t that temeprature then you should replace the wash heater that comes with the sensor. Ask us to look up the correct one for your model, as it’s desperately confusing at times. In Samsung speak, they say the temperature is above 55˚C and that the machine will not drain because it could burn. We know, go figure.
Can be shown as cE also. |
dE |
Washing machine door error
Can be displayed as dE or Ed as well, but if you see dS, it’s this fault before the cycle starts. If you see dL then it’s detected this error while running and Samsung say that this can happen on the boil wash because the door is pushed due to a pressure change and temperature differential. Essentially not a fault, and quite probably down to overloading the machine. |
dE1 |
Door lock error again
Much the ssame it seems as the good old dE code but with a twist as you have two conditions in addition. LO means that the door lock has failed in the unlocked position, and barring the lock being disconnected, you need to replace it. Or the PCB is toast. FL means the lock has failed in the locked positio,n which is just as above. Fault lock or PCB fried. |
dE2 |
Stop playing with the power button!Yep, we’re serious. This code is very hard to get to come up according to Sammy as, you need to be constantly switching the machine on and off at the power switch and too much heat is generated which pops up this error. Needless to say, usually a result of curious kids watching the pretty lights go on and off.
|
FE |
Fan errorOnly seen on washer dryers whcih are bad anyway and Sammy’s advice here is to replace the start condenser or, capacitor to us. But it can be caused if a wire comes off the cap whilst putting the lid on or taking it off so, be careful of that if you go prodding about in your machine. It can also indicate an issue with the fan motor, though so you need to investigate to get to what is causing this error.
|
HE |
Water heating error detectedFor this error code you need to check both the water heater or element and thermistor, basically the washing machine is reporting a fault on the heating circuit with this fault code but it is not capable of identifying exactly where the fault actually lies. This error will be released by turning off the power switch. Display : “HE1″(Over Heat), Display : “HE2”, indicating no operation of the heating element.
It can also be shown as E5 on older models. If you’ve got a USA model and the heater is okay, the main control board is fried. Not good. |
HE3 |
Steam errorYou only see this one of machiens that have a steam function and all it is telling you is that there is some sort of error with that and not much more we’re afraid. No details provided at all. Probably though it’s an issue with the steam generator and, if you can live without it and put up with the error we would. Steam generator units ain’t cheap! |
LE |
Water leak detectedFor machines that have a water leak detection system fitted or where the water level drops, this code gets thrown up. There are a number of reasons for it to be shown, and it’s a case of trying to work out why through a process of elimination.
Can also be displayed as LE1, 11E, E9 |
OE |
Washing machine has detected an overfill situationThis error code can be caused by overfoaming which is a result of overloading or by overdosing or, incorrect detergent as the pressure sensor will falsely read that there is too much water in the washing machine. Also, check the pressure sensor and that the machine has not actually overfilled with water. If Over Flow is also sensed even after the following check of water level frequency indicating that error, the washing machine will attempt to drain the water from the tank.
Can be shown as OF or E3. On USA models a terminal on the water level sensor may be out of place. Quite how that happens, we have no idea. |
tE1 |
Water heating sensor error detectedYou machine has encountered an error or is reading one with the heater sensor, a thermistor used to detect the water temperature. Most probably, it’s a wiring problem or, more accurately, the connections on the thermistor that are a problem.
Can show up as 6E or just tE on US models. |
tE2 |
Duct heating sensor error detectedAnother washer dryer only code, this one telling you that there’s a problem with the sensor on the fan duct. This code applies to models before Samsung introduced the silver nano thing.
|
tE3 |
Duct heating sensor error detectedSame washer dryer code as above, again telling you that there’s a problem with the sensor on the fan duct. This one however, will only show on models after Sammy introduced the silver nano thing.
|
UE |
Washing machine has detected an imbalanced loadThis error code is more for information purposes than actually a fault as such. What the washing machine is telling you is that it has been unable to sort the laundry load and correctly spin without a risk of damage due to an unbalanced load. This error will clear when you restart the machine but do sort the laundry reduce or increase the load as required and for more information on load imbalances please see this article.
Can also be shown as E4 or “dc”. |
Sud |
Too much foam detectedAs it says on the tin, the machine has detected too much foam and isn’t happy about it, but it’ll also throw this up when it’s clearing the foam. Once it clears the foam the program will proceed and “End” wil be displayed once it clears it all down. Samsung say this is part of the normal operation, but we have heard of people struggling to get this error to clear.
Will also show up as SUdS or 5Ud5 on some model,s including many of the Ecobubble ones. Which is kinda funny when you think about it, an error of too much foam on a machine designed to make foam! |
E8 |
MEMS PBA ErrorThis is a USA one only. It’s a data error on one of the boards or a comms error.
|
Get Samsung Washing Machine Parts
Getting the correct spare part to repair your Samsung washing machine can be very confusing as there are many variants, even with the model number it is sometimes the case that a serial or production number will be required to ensure that you get the correct spare part.
Apart from that, there are often lower-cost compatible spares available that we may be able to recommend that can offer you a considerable saving.
We recommend that you contact us with the model information and we will give you guidance on pricing, availability and any lower cost alternaives that can be used.
More Samsung Washing Machine Help
Should you need more help and guidance please use the links from this article as most of them will help you to understand your Samsung washing machine a lot better and probably very much help you in diagnosing the fault you have. Of course, there are many other articles on the site that will also help you do this.
In addition you can post in our washing machine forums after registering but please do pay heed to the information below before doing so and read the guides, they are there to help you. But if you are in any doubt at all or don’t think you are up to diagnosing the fault yourself, please use the engineer search to find a local washing machine engineer.
You must understand certain things before you begin or attempt any repairs on your own, and we want to make these points very, very clear to anyone that decides to investigate one of these or any other washing machines:
- We are not responsible for your safety, you are and by using this guide you accept that and accept that any damage that you may cause and work undertaken is entirely at your own risk.
- We will advise the common causes of the fault codes but we cannot guarantee that any parts or work recommended will resolve the issue. It is entirely your responsibility to diagnose your particular problem and resolve it.
- We are not responsible for you buying spares that do not resolve the problem, this is down to your own diagnosis not ours.
- No warranty is inferred, implied or given.
You also have to recognise that fault or error codes are not a “magic bullet”, they will not tell you eaxctly what the problem is nor the exact component that may have failed, they will only offer you an indication of where the problem lies and they are no substitute for diagnostic skills. You can find out more about what fault codes actually tell you in this article. So please be well aware that, even with this newfound knowledge, you will still have to actually be capable of investigating and diagnosing the problem and this means adhering to basic appliance safety for working on them.
Please do note that manufacturers can and do change fault codes without notice and we cannot guarantee that these error codes will apply to your particular model as all codes apply to a wide range of appliances and not normally any one specific model. To determine if these fault codes do apply to your particular Samsung washing machine model please post a request to confirm this in the forums.

Hi,
My daughters old Samsung ecobubble is showing error code 5Ud which I was told means too much suds but I have run the machine in rinse/spin only and it still shows the same code, any help would be grateful.
Regards Shaun Lea
What does error codeCL6 mean? What do I need to do? It is a Samsung eco washing machine