Kenmore Washer Error Codes: What They Mean and What to Check First
Front load, top load and Elite: the code lists from the companies that build Kenmore washers, and when a code means a repair
Quick answer
Kenmore does not build its own washers, so there is no single Kenmore error-code list. The code on your display belongs to the company that made the machine. Read the model number on the label, work out the maker, then use the matching table below.
Most codes have a simple first step: an open tap, a kinked hose, a clogged filter, an unbalanced load, a door that did not latch. If the code comes back after the checks, it is usually a part, and that is the point to stop and call.
Step 1: find out who built your Kenmore
The label is inside the door frame, on the back, or under the lid. Match the first three digits of the model number.
- 110.xxxxx
- Built by Whirlpool. Codes look like F8 E1 and F5 E2. Use the Whirlpool tables below.
- 795.xxxxx or 796.xxxxx
- Built by LG, which is the Kenmore Elite front load. Codes are letters such as UE, OE, IE and dE. Use the LG table below.
- Other prefixes
- Sources disagree on 417 (Frigidaire, Kelvinator or Electrolux depending on the list), so go by your own manual. A search of the model number with the word manual finds it.
The prefix mapping is long-standing servicer knowledge rather than anything Sears published, so treat it as a guide. Check the full model number before you order a part.
Kenmore Elite front load (LG-built, 795 and 796): error codes
From LG’s own error-code list. LG notes the list may differ by model.
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| UE | Unbalanced load, usually a small load, mixed fabrics or one big item like a blanket | Spread the items evenly and restart |
| OE | The washer cannot drain | Check the drain hose for a kink, clean the drain pump filter, run a spin cycle, use less detergent |
| IE | The tub did not fill in time | Taps open, hoses straight, inlet screens clean. If none of that helps, the water valve may be faulty |
| dE1 and dE2 | The door did not lock. dE1: door not closed properly. dE2: closed but not locked | Free the gasket of laundry, reclose the door, power off and unplug, hold START/PAUSE for 5 seconds, plug in. Repeating means the latch needs service |
| LE | Motor locked: the tub cannot spin, usually an overload or an object in the tub | Unplug for 5 minutes, reduce the load, remove any coin or object. If it returns, call |
| FE | Overfill, usually a faulty water valve | Close both taps, run a no-spin drain, restart. If it persists, repair |
| PE | Water level sensor fault | Unplug for 10 seconds and restart. If it persists, repair |
| PF | The power went off during the cycle | Unplug, hold START/PAUSE for 5 seconds, restore power and run a cycle |
| tE | Heating error, usually a faulty thermistor | Unplug for 10 seconds, no-spin drain, restart. If it persists, repair |
| CE | Motor over-current: a short, loose connection or power surge | Unplug for 10 seconds and run a cycle. If it persists, close the taps and repair |
| AE | Leak inside the machine, the safety switch has stopped it | Check the inlet hoses for loose connections or cuts, unplug for 60 seconds, restart. If it persists, service |
| Sud | Too many suds, the washer adds a suds-reducing cycle of about 2 hours | Use HE detergent only, and less of it |
| dHE, HE and SE | Dry function, heater and sensor errors, often temporary | Unplug for 10 seconds and restart. If it persists, a technician is needed |
Not faults: CL means the child lock is on (hold the button for 3 seconds), tCL is a reminder to run the Tub Clean cycle, Cd means the cool-down tumble after a dry cycle. Source: LG front load washer error code list (LG support).
Kenmore 110 front load (Whirlpool-built): error codes
From Whirlpool’s front load code page. Whirlpool notes that the list may not cover every model.
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| F5 E2 | The door is not locking properly | Remove anything blocking the door, close it fully, press Pause or Cancel twice, then Power once |
| F7 E1 | Motor speed sensing error | Confirm the shipping bolts are out and the washer is not overloaded, then clear the code the same way |
| F8 E1 or LO FL | Low water flow | Both taps fully open, hoses not kinked, no anti-flood devices on the line |
| F8 E2 | Problem with the dispenser system, on select models | Check that the drawer or cartridge is not clogged and clean the dispenser |
| F9 E1 | Drain takes longer than expected, typically over 8 minutes | Drain hose not kinked or clogged, U-shaped hose form, standpipe 39 to 96 inches high, HE detergent |
| Sud or Sd | Too many suds | HE detergent only, regular liquid bleach, drain hose not kinked or clogged |
| Int | The cycle was paused or canceled | Wait 20 to 30 minutes for the drum to stop and drain, then press Pause or Cancel twice and Power once |
| rL or F34 | Items detected during the Clean Washer cycle | Empty the drum and restart the cycle |
| dET | Detergent cartridge not detected, on select models | Seat the cartridge and close the drawer fully |
| LOC or LC | Control lock is on | Touch the Control Lock button. Some models need a press and hold |
| Any other F# E# | Other error | Unplug for 5 minutes, reconnect and restart. If it comes back, call for service |
Source: Whirlpool front load washer error codes (Whirlpool product help).
Kenmore 110 top load (Whirlpool-built): the codes we see most
Top-load codes are a different list from front load, and Whirlpool’s help pages cover them one code at a time. These are the ones we have confirmed from them.
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| F8 E1, LF or Lo FL | The washer is taking too long to fill | Hot and cold taps both fully open, hoses connected and straight, inlet screens clean. Check the drain hose does not extend more than 4.5 inches into the standpipe |
| F5 E1 | Door switch | Make sure the lid is fully shut and nothing blocks the switch. Unplug the washer for 5 minutes, then plug it in. If it returns, call |
| F9 E1 or DRN | Slow drain | Check the drain hose and standpipe for a kink or clog and clean the pump filter if your model has one |
| Sud | Excess suds | HE detergent only, in the amount on the label |
| LdL and LdU | The lid is not locking, or cannot unlock | Check the lid and what is in the lid lock area. A lid hinge that no longer lines up can do this (see the case below) |
Source: Whirlpool top load washer error codes (Whirlpool product help). Check your owner’s manual for any code that is not here.
How to reset a Kenmore washer
-
Whirlpool-built (110)
Unplug the washer or switch off its breaker for 5 minutes, plug it in, choose a cycle and press Start. On many front loads you can also press Pause or Cancel twice, then Power once, to clear a code.
-
LG-built (795 and 796)
Power off and unplug (or switch off the breaker), hold START/PAUSE for 5 seconds, then plug it back in. For some codes LG advises waiting 10 seconds, for AE 60 seconds.
-
If the code returns
A reset only clears the memory, not the fault. If the same code comes back within a cycle or two, the cause is a part or a connection. Stop and call, because running a fault repeatedly is how a cheap valve takes a control board with it.
What a code is telling us on a real job
LG washer, Bradenton: wet clothes after the spin and a lid that would not always lock
| Brand | LG washer, about 5 to 7 years old (LG also builds the Kenmore Elite 795 and 796) |
|---|---|
| City | Bradenton, FL |
| What failed | Water valve assembly (part 5221EA1008F) and a damaged lid hinge (part AGM73832001) |
| Visits | 2 |
| Total | $375 |
The customer’s complaint was clothes that stayed wet after the spin. Debris had stopped the valve seals from closing, so water kept creeping into the drum. The valve was on the truck and went in the same day. The lid hinge was damaged as well, so the lid did not always engage the lid lock; it is not a stock part, so we ordered it and fitted it three days later.
A code on the display points at a system, not at a part. IE, FE and F8 E1 point at the water supply and the valve, but the diagnosis separates a clogged screen from a failed valve from a second fault. More on that job on our washer water inlet valve page.
When a Kenmore washer code means call a technician
- The same code comes back after the basic checks and a reset.
- FE, AE, CE, LE or any heating or sensor code that returns.
- There is water on the floor, or near the wiring or the control board.
- The washer trips the breaker or smells hot.
- A door or lid code that repeats after you have cleared the gasket and reclosed it.
- You cannot tell who built the machine or which table applies.
Kenmore washer showing a code?
We take same-day calls across Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Bradenton, 8 AM to 7 PM, seven days a week.
Kenmore washer error codes: questions we get
Why are there different Kenmore washer error codes?
Kenmore is a brand, not a factory. Whirlpool builds the 110 models and LG builds the 795 and 796 Elite front loads, and each uses its own codes. Find the model number on the label and use the table for that maker.
What does UE mean on a Kenmore washer?
Unbalanced load. Rearrange the laundry evenly in the drum, or take out one heavy item such as a blanket, and restart the cycle.
What does OE mean on a Kenmore washer?
The washer cannot drain. Check the drain hose for a kink, clean the drain pump filter and use less detergent. If it keeps coming back, the pump may need service.
What does IE mean on a Kenmore washer?
The tub is not filling in time. Check that the taps are open, the hoses are straight and the inlet screens are clean. If all of that is fine, the water valve may be faulty.
What does F8 E1 mean on a Kenmore washer?
On Whirlpool-built washers it means low incoming water. Check both taps, the hoses and the inlet screens, and avoid anti-flood devices on the supply line.
What does F5 E2 mean on a Kenmore washer?
On a Whirlpool-built front loader it means the door is not locking properly. Remove anything blocking the door and close it fully. F5 E1 on a top loader is a door switch code.
How do I reset a Kenmore washer?
Unplug it, or switch off the breaker, for 5 minutes and plug it back in. On LG-built models, hold START/PAUSE for 5 seconds while it is unplugged. A reset clears the display, not the fault.
Can I keep using a Kenmore washer that shows a code?
For UE, a door code or a suds code, yes, once you have fixed the cause. If the code is a motor, overfill, leak or heater code, do not keep running it: switch it off, close the taps and call.
Do you charge for the service call?
Not when you go ahead with the repair. You pay $79 only if you hear the diagnosis and the price and decide against the work.
Andrew Teodor — Owner of Teodor Appliance Repair. The job on this page and the Kenmore figures come from our own service records.
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