Same-Day Service · $89 Residential Diagnostic · Brand-by-Brand Code Translation
Dishwasher Error Codes: Brand-by-Brand Reference Los Angeles
Bosch E-series, Whirlpool/KitchenAid F-series, Samsung LE/LC, LG OE/IE, Miele F-series, GE Beep, Frigidaire. Code points to symptom; we diagnose the cause. $89 diagnostic waived with repair.
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8 service territories across Southern California
Dishwasher Error Code Repair
Southern California
01 · Dishwasher error codes
A code is the symptom the board detected, not the cause.
Modern dishwashers (Bosch, Miele, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, GE Profile/Café, Maytag, Frigidaire, Thermador, Cove) display error codes when their control board detects a fault. The codes are useful, they cut diagnostic time meaningfully, and they tell us which subsystem to test first. They are not a complete diagnostic.
Bosch E15 says "flood sensor tripped." It does not say which fitting leaked, which gasket failed, or whether the leak is currently active or already resolved by the customer. That diagnostic still has to happen on-site.
This page is the brand-by-brand reference we use during diagnostic visits across LA, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside. $89 residential diagnostic, waived with repair. BHGS Licensed #A49573 and EPA 608 Universal certified (#1346255700410). 90-day warranty.
Try the reset protocol first
About 10 to 15% of error codes clear at the reset step because they were transient (a momentary sensor read the board latched as a fault). Reset varies by brand:
- Bosch / Thermador: Press and hold Start for 3 to 5 seconds with the door open. Or kill the breaker for 5 minutes.
- KitchenAid / Whirlpool / Maytag: Open the door, press Cancel or Cancel/Drain twice. Or unplug for 5 minutes.
- Samsung: Press and hold Start for 8 seconds. Or unplug for 5 minutes.
- LG: Press the Power button to cancel, then unplug or breaker-off for 1 minute. Restart.
- Miele: Cancel cycle via the Cancel button held 5 seconds; F-codes that persist require service-mode reset which we perform.
- GE Profile / Café: Unplug or breaker-off for 30 seconds, restore power.
If the code returns within one cycle after reset, the underlying cause is real. Call us.
02 · Bosch and Thermador E-series
Bosch E-codes (also Thermador, shared platform).
| Code | Meaning | Typical cause |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | Control board fault | Board replacement, $480 to $820 |
| E02 | NTC temperature sensor | Sensor replacement, $200 to $340 |
| E04 | Flow meter fault | Inlet valve or flow meter, $200 to $380 |
| E05 | Overfill detected | Float switch or inlet valve stuck open, $260 to $420 |
| E06 | Door switch fault | Door latch assembly, $260 to $440 |
| E09 | Heater circuit fault | Heating element or board, $260 to $820 |
| E15 | Leak detected (flood sensor in base pan) | Most common Bosch service code. Water in base pan from any leak source. Diagnostic identifies which. |
| E16 | Inlet valve stuck open / overfill | Inlet valve replacement, $200 to $340 |
| E22 | Filter blocked, residual water in sump | Filter cleaning, $89 diagnostic only typically |
| E23 | Drain pump fault | Drain pump, $260 to $440 |
| E24 | Drain hose blocked or kinked | Hose service, $180 to $280 |
E15 specifically: Bosch's most common service call. The flood sensor in the base pan triggers and locks the unit. Resetting requires water removal from the pan plus underlying leak repair. We see E15 about 12 to 18 times per month across the LA service area.
03 · Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag F-series
Shared F-code platform across Whirlpool family.
| Code | Meaning | Typical cause |
|---|---|---|
| F0E1 | Control board fault | Board replacement, $480 to $820 |
| F1E1 | Control fault, watchdog | Board replacement, $480 to $820 |
| F2E1 | Stuck button on user interface | UI panel cleaning or replacement, $200 to $440 |
| F2E2 | User Interface board failure | KitchenAid common 2014-2019 model years. UI board replacement, $340 to $540. Known fatigue pattern on this generation. |
| F3E1 | Thermistor (temperature sensor) | Thermistor, $200 to $340 |
| F6E1 | No water detected during fill | Inlet valve or supply, $200 to $340 |
| F6E2 | Inlet valve electrical fault | Inlet valve, $200 to $340 |
| F7E1 | Heater circuit fault | Heating element, $260 to $460 |
| F8E1 | Turbidity sensor | Sensor, $200 to $380 |
| F8E4 | Turbidity sensor fault (most common F8 variant) | Sensor, $200 to $380 |
| F9E1 | Drain failure (long drain time exceeded) | Drain pump, hose, or filter, $89 to $440 |
| F9E4 | Vent fan fault | Vent fan motor, $180 to $320 |
KitchenAid F2E2 is the highest-frequency code we see on 2014-2019 KitchenAid dishwashers (KDTM, KDTE, KDPE series). User Interface board fatigue is the documented pattern; the board's internal traces stress-fail at year 6 to 9. Replacement runs $340 to $540 with labor. Cleaning the touch panel does not resolve F2E2 because the failure is internal to the board, not a stuck button.
04 · Samsung dishwasher codes
Samsung LE / LC / 3C / OC / 4C / 5C / 9E.
| Code | Meaning | Typical cause |
|---|---|---|
| LE / LC / 1 5C | Leak detected (flood sensor) | Door gasket, inlet valve, sump seal. $200 to $980 depending on source. |
| 3C | Wash motor fault | Wash pump motor, $480 to $820 |
| OC | Overfill / overflow detected | Float switch or inlet valve, $260 to $420 |
| 4C / 4E | Water supply issue | Inlet valve, supply hose, water pressure low. $200 to $340. |
| 5C / 5E / SE | Drain failure | Drain pump or filter, $89 to $440 |
| 9E / 1 9C | Water level sensor | Sensor, $200 to $380 |
| tE | Temperature sensor | Thermistor, $200 to $340 |
| HC / HE | Heating circuit | Heating element, $260 to $460 |
05 · LG dishwasher codes
LG OE / IE / HE / CE / PE / FE / tE / AE.
| Code | Meaning | Typical cause |
|---|---|---|
| OE | Drain fault | Drain pump, hose, or filter, $89 to $440 |
| IE | Water inlet fault | Inlet valve or supply, $200 to $340 |
| HE | Heater fault | Heating element, $260 to $460 |
| CE | Communication error (motor / control) | Wiring harness or board, $300 to $820 |
| PE | Water level sensor | Sensor, $200 to $380 |
| FE | Overfill detected | Inlet valve or float, $260 to $420 |
| tE | Temperature sensor | Thermistor, $200 to $340 |
| AE | Leak detected | Door gasket, hose, sump. $200 to $980 depending on source. |
06 · Miele F-codes
Miele uses F-codes too, but with brand-specific meaning.
| Code | Meaning | Typical cause |
|---|---|---|
| F11 | Drain failure | Drain pump or hose, $260 to $440 |
| F12 | Water inlet fault | Inlet valve, $200 to $340 |
| F13 | Cold water inlet (dual-inlet models) | Inlet valve, $200 to $340 |
| F14 | Heater fault | Heating element, $260 to $480 (Miele heater costs more) |
| F15 / F16 | Heater overheating | NTC sensor or board, $200 to $480 |
| F19 | NTC temperature sensor | Sensor, $200 to $340 |
| F24 | Water hardness setting fault | Hardness recalibration; SoCal hard water specific |
| F70 / F78 | Circulation pump fault | Wash pump, $580 to $980 |
Miele leak detection note: Miele dishwashers have a dual-leak detection sensor system in the base. When triggered, the unit locks in protected mode and will not run again until a technician resets via service-mode procedure after the underlying leak is repaired. Customer-side reset does not work on Miele leak lockouts.
07 · GE Profile and Café
Older units use beep codes; newer GDT/ZDT show alphanumeric.
GE dishwashers split into two error-code generations. Older units (pre-2017 typical) use beep code patterns combined with cabinet light flash combinations to signal faults. Newer GDT and ZDT (Profile and Café) display alphanumeric codes on the LED panel.
Common newer-generation GE codes:
- F11 / FH: Water inlet fault. Inlet valve or supply, $200 to $340.
- F2: Stuck button on user interface. Cleaning or panel replacement.
- F4 / F5: Temperature sensor or heater. $200 to $460.
- FE / PF: Power failure during cycle (informational on first occurrence).
- FF: Float switch fault. Float assembly or wiring.
For older GE beep-code units, we identify by counting beeps and observing cabinet light flash patterns at diagnostic. The patterns map to the same fault categories (drain, inlet, heater, sensor) but require model-year-specific reference.
08 · Frigidaire and Electrolux
Two-letter alphanumeric codes.
| Code | Meaning | Typical cause |
|---|---|---|
| UO | Vent fan fault | Vent fan motor, $180 to $320 |
| CL | Cycle complete (informational, not a fault) | No action |
| iC | Inlet circuit fault | Inlet valve or wiring, $200 to $340 |
| iE | Inlet flow fault | Inlet valve or supply, $200 to $340 |
| PF | Power failure during cycle | Informational; if persistent, board fault |
| ER | Turbidity sensor | Sensor, $200 to $380 |
| HS | Heater fault | Heating element, $260 to $460 |
| LE | Motor fault (some Electrolux models) | Wash pump, $480 to $820 |
09 · Pricing
Code-based diagnostic and repair costs.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic (code translation plus on-site root cause) | $89, waived with repair |
| Reset that resolves the code (no parts) | $89 (diagnostic only) |
| Filter / drain repair (E22, F9E1, OE, 5C) | $89 to $440 |
| Inlet valve replacement (E04, E16, F6E1, IE, 4C, F12) | $200 to $340 |
| Door gasket / seal (E15, AE, LE, F11) | $200 to $440 |
| Heating element (E09, F7E1, HE, F14, HS) | $260 to $480 |
| Wash pump (3C, F70, LE Frigidaire) | $480 to $980 |
| Sensor (NTC, turbidity, water level) | $200 to $380 |
| User interface board (F2E2 KitchenAid 2014-2019) | $340 to $540 |
| Main control board (E01, F0E1) | $480 to $820 |
| Multi-component repair | $420 to $1,200 |
| Warranty | 90 days parts plus labor |
10 · When to call us
Three triggers for service.
- Code returns after reset. Transient codes clear with a power cycle. Persistent codes mean the underlying fault is real.
- Code prevents cycle start. Some codes lock the unit (Bosch E15, Miele F-codes, Samsung LE) and require tech-mode reset after underlying repair.
- Multi-component cascade. One code triggers another within days or weeks (turbidity sensor fault leading to heater stress, leak detection leading to motor protection mode). Cascade patterns mean multiple components are aging together; we diagnose the cluster.
11 · Why homeowners call us
Seven reasons.
- Brand-specific code translation. Same alphanumeric, different brands, different meanings. We don't cross-apply.
- Code is symptom, we diagnose the cause. Bosch E15 means flood sensor tripped, finding which leak is our work.
- KitchenAid F2E2 expertise. 2014-2019 user-interface board failure pattern; we identify by serial and source UI board through Whirlpool authorized network.
- Miele service-mode reset. Miele leak lockouts and multi-stage fault codes require service-mode procedure that customer-side reset cannot perform.
- Common parts on the van. Inlet valves, door gaskets, common control boards for major brands.
- BHGS Licensed #A49573 and EPA 608 Universal certified (#1346255700410). See our licensing page.
- $89 residential diagnostic, no after-hours surcharge. Same-day across LA, OC, Ventura.
Sister sub-services: dishwasher not draining, dishwasher not cleaning, dishwasher leaking water. Parent: residential dishwasher repair pillar.
12 · FAQ
Dishwasher error codes, common questions.
Can I clear the error code myself?
Sometimes. Reset protocol per brand: kill the breaker for 5 minutes, OR press Cancel/Drain twice with the door open, OR open the door for 10 seconds. About 10 to 15% of error codes clear at the reset step because they were transient (a momentary sensor read the board latched). If the code returns within one cycle, the underlying cause is real and that's the diagnostic. Our $89 residential diagnostic translates the code to the actual fault.
Same alphanumeric code, different brands, different meanings, is that real?
Real and important. Industry has rough conventions (OE often equals drain across multiple brands, IE often equals inlet) but the same code can mean very different things on different manufacturers. LE on Samsung equals leak detected. LE on a Whirlpool washer equals lid lock. F11 on Miele dishwasher equals drain failure; F11 on Frigidaire ranges equals oven door fault. Always look up by brand, never assume cross-brand equivalence.
My panel-ready dishwasher hides the display. How do I see error codes?
Most panel-ready installations (Miele, Bosch, Thermador, Cove, Gaggenau) have the display on the top edge of the door, visible only when the door is open. Some Bosch panel-ready models have an LED beam projected onto the floor (TimeLight); error codes show on the door display when opened. We document any visible display reading at diagnostic; if no display is accessible, we use service-mode procedures via the control board.
My dishwasher shows a code but otherwise seems to work. Should I ignore it?
No. The code points at a fault the control board detected and latched. Even if the symptom isn't dramatic yet, the underlying issue is real. Common pattern: turbidity sensor fault (F8E4 on Whirlpool/KitchenAid) shows the code but cycles continue, customer ignores for months, then heating element fails because the sensor was telling the board the water was clean when it wasn't. Codes deserve attention.
Is the code always accurate? Can the control board be wrong?
Codes report the symptom the board detected, not the root cause. Bosch E15 says "flood sensor tripped," not "leak at fitting #3 behind cabinet." The flood sensor is correctly reporting that water reached the bottom pan; finding which fitting leaked is our diagnostic job. Less commonly the board itself fails and reports false codes; we test for board failure when the code doesn't correlate with observed symptoms.
What's your warranty?
90 days SDAR labor warranty on every repair. Component manufacturer warranties (Bosch, Miele, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, GE, Maytag, Frigidaire, Thermador, Cove) processed separately through the manufacturer's authorized network. BHGS Licensed #A49573 and EPA 608 Universal certified (#1346255700410). BBB A+ accredited.
Dishwasher showing an error code? Call today.
$89 residential diagnostic waived with repair. Brand-by-brand code translation. Same-day across LA, OC, Ventura. BHGS Licensed #A49573.