LG Washer Error Codes List: Every Code Explained
Every LG washer error code we could verify against LG's own documentation — what it means, what usually causes it, and the first fix to try — in one table. Codes differ between model series, so treat your model's tech sheet as the final word.
How to read and retrieve error codes on LG washers
LG front-loaders have a test mode used by technicians: with the machine off, a specific three-button combination (commonly Soil Level + Spin Speed + Power held in sequence on many models, and a button-pair hold on others) steps the machine through fill, wash, drain, spin and heater tests while the display shows stored error history. The exact combination differs by model year, so technicians read it from the service manual for the model; if you enter a mode where the tub starts filling or the motor jogs, that is the test mode working — press Power twice to exit.
The complete LG washer error code list
| Code | Meaning | Most likely cause | First fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | Inlet error — the washer is not filling (1E is the segmented-display rendering of IE). | Taps/hoses restricting flow | Restore full flow; replace the valve if a solenoid meters open. |
| AE | Leak error — water detected by the leak sensor (AquaStop-style base/float detection on LG models that have it). | Slow leak into the base | Repair the actual leak (washers, clamps, gasket, hose). |
| CE | Current error; the motor control component is damaged. | Damaged motor control component, per LG WashTower guide. | LG states this cannot be fixed by basic troubleshooting; request service. |
| CL | Child Lock is ON — not an error. The control panel is locked on purpose. | Child Lock activated | Deactivate: hold the Child Lock button (or the two buttons marked with the lock icon — often Temp + Spin or the dedicated button) for about 3 seconds until CL disappears. The exact pairing is printed on your panel. |
| DE | Door error — the door is open or the door lock is not engaging/reporting. | Door not fully closed / item in the seal | Replace the door lock assembly if the door latches mechanically but dE persists (Moderate DIY — it mounts behind the gasket lip). |
| E1 | Drainage error in LG's group listing; the washer is struggling to drain water properly. | Blocked drain path, per LG drainage group listing. | Clean the drain pump filter and confirm the drain hose is not blocked. |
| E3 | Drain motor error; there is an issue with the operation of the drain motor. | Drain motor fault, or water inside the washer frozen in cold weather. | Unplug, reconnect and retry; thaw the tub and drain hose if frozen. |
| E6 | Motor and drum rotation error in LG's group listing; drum or motor faces resistance. | Overload, imbalance, or tangled and heavy clothes, per LG group listing. | Remove tangled or heavy items, spread the load evenly, restart the cycle. |
| E7 | Stacking switch error on SideKick pedestal washers; switch not working or unit misinstalled. | SideKick not properly installed under the front-load washer, or stacking switch misaligned. | Align the SideKick correctly and verify the stacking switch sits properly. |
| FE | Fill error / overflow — the washer has overfilled or the fill ran abnormally long (water level too high). | Inlet valve passing/stuck | Replace a passing inlet valve. |
| FF | Freeze failure; prolonged cold weather has frozen the inlet or drain hose. | Inlet or drain hose frozen during prolonged cold weather. | Thaw the tub, drain hose, inlet hoses and taps with warm water. |
| HE | Heating error — the washer's heater circuit is not performing (on LG washers with a built-in heater). | Failed heating element | Replace an open element; descale-recoverable elements are the minority — burnt is burnt. |
| IE | Inlet error — the washer is not filling with water properly (Water Inlet Error). | Taps off/partly open or hoses kinked | Restore flow (taps/hoses/screens). |
| LC | Door or lid lock error in LG's group listing; door is not closing or locking. | Clothes caught in the door seal, per LG group listing. | Clear the seal, close until it clicks; replace lock assembly if it persists. |
| LE | Locked motor error — the washer's direct-drive motor cannot rotate (or the control can't confirm it is rotating). | Overloaded or single-heavy-item load | Reduce load size; wash bulky items one at a time with a couple of towels for balance. |
| LE1 | Motor error; the motor is stuck and the drum cannot rotate (variant of LE). | Coin or foreign object trapped between wash plate and drum. | Remove the trapped object with tweezers; request service if rotation stays affected. |
| OE | Drain error — the washer is not draining (Output Error in LG's naming). | Clogged pump filter | Clean the filter; remove objects from the pump housing (unplug first). |
| OPN | Dispenser open notice on ezDispense models; the automatic dispenser is not fully closed (display OPn). | Automatic detergent dispenser drawer not pushed fully closed. | Push the dispenser in fully and check for obstructions in its compartment. |
| PE | Pressure (water level) sensor error — the level sensor is faulty or its signal is implausible. | Air hose compromised | Clear/replace the air hose with correct routing (no low loops that trap water). |
| PF | Power failure — the washer lost power during a cycle (and is telling you so). | Household power cut or breaker trip | Press Start (or power-cycle) to continue/clear after a genuine outage. |
| SE | Motor and drum rotation error in LG's group listing; drum or motor faces resistance. | Overload, imbalance, or tangled and heavy clothes, per LG group listing. | Remove tangled or heavy items, spread the load evenly, restart the cycle. |
| SUD | Suds detected — too much foam in the tub (suds-reduction routine running). | Too much detergent | Let the reduction routine finish; don't force the door. |
| U5 | Vibration sensor error — the washer's vibration sensor is faulty or reporting implausibly (on LG models fitted with one). | Vibration sensor failure | Refit the sensor firmly if loose; clean/reseat its connector. |
| UB | Unbalance error variant in LG's motor group listing; load is imbalanced. | Laundry bunched on one side or load unevenly distributed. | Spread the load evenly in the drum, then restart the cycle. |
| UE | Unbalanced error — the load could not be balanced for spin. | Single dense item or clumped load | Rebalance loads; pair bulky items with similar weights. |
| US | Vibration sensor error; vS may appear as uS on the display (fold 'US'). | Vibration sensor contact issue or sensor malfunction. | Press Start/Pause to resume, or power off and restart; request service if it persists. |
| dE1 | Door lock error (variant 1) — the door lock did not engage properly. | Door ajar or seal obstruction | Replace the door lock assembly if engagement is mechanically sound but unreported. |
| dE2 | Door lock error (variant 2) — the door lock switch state is inconsistent (lock reports engaged/not-released correctly). | Lock switch failure inside the assembly | Replace the door lock assembly — the standard cure for dE2. |
| dE3 | Door error on SideKick pedestal washers; the door did not properly latch. | Lid film not removed, or clothing obstructing the lid on SideKick models. | Remove lid film, clear obstructions, close the lid firmly and restart. |
| dE4 | Door error variant grouped with dE1 and dE2 on WashTower models. | Door not properly closed, damaged gasket, or damaged door lock mechanism. | Close the door firmly; request service if the latch or gasket is damaged. |
| dL | Door lock error; the door locking mechanism is not functioning properly (fold 'DL'). | Foreign objects obstructing the locking mechanism, or use in humid conditions. | Remove objects from the locking mechanism; request service if the error continues. |
| tCL | Tub Clean reminder; not an error, it is time to run Tub Clean. | Reminder interval reached for cleaning dirt and microorganisms from the tub. | Run the Tub Clean cycle with tub cleaning agent; repeat monthly. |
| tE | Thermistor (temperature sensor) error — the wash-water temperature sensor is faulty. | Thermistor failure | Reseat and clean the sensor connector first (free fix, common cure). |
| vS | Vibration sensor error; a potential issue with the vibration sensor (folds 'VS', 'US'). | Vibration sensor contact issue or sensor malfunction. | Press Start/Pause to resume, or power off and restart; request service if it persists. |
How to reset / clear error codes on LG washers
LG's standard reset is a power cycle: press Power off, unplug the washer for about 5 minutes, then — with the machine still unplugged — press and hold the Start/Pause button for 5 seconds to drain residual charge from the board. Plug back in and run a test cycle. There is no hidden reset button on LG washers; any code that reappears after this procedure is an active fault the control is still detecting, not a glitch that needs a deeper reset.
How to diagnose any LG washer code
Work the problem in this order: (1) write the code down exactly as displayed — photograph it, because opening the door or pressing pause can clear it; (2) ask what the machine was doing when the code appeared — filling, washing, draining, spinning or heating points straight at the fault family; (3) run the external checks for that family first: taps and inlet screens for fill codes, the pump filter and drain hose for drain codes, load size and levelling for balance codes, the door seal and latch for lock codes — these cure the majority of washer codes without a single part; (4) clear the code and run the shortest cycle that exercises the same function (a rinse-and-spin for drain faults, a small wash for fill faults) while you watch — a code that returns in the same phase is an active fault, not a glitch; (5) only then test or replace the component the code monitors, and re-test under the same conditions that produced the fault. Skipping to step 5 is how good parts get replaced for a clogged filter.
The most searched LG washer codes, in detail
1E — Inlet error
1E and IE are the same LG fault: the washer called for water and the fill did not register in time. Some displays render the code as 1E, others as IE; owners search both. The diagnosis is the fill chain — taps, hoses, inlet screens, inlet valve, level sensor.
Most likely cause: Taps/hoses restricting flow — Closed taps, kinked or frozen hoses.
First check: Taps fully open; hoses unkinked.
If it keeps coming back: Pressure sag at busy times or a waterlogging sensor hose are the usual return stories.
AE — Leak error
AE means the washer's leak detection has tripped: water where it shouldn't be — typically collected in the base — or a float/sensor reporting leakage. The control stops the cycle to limit damage. As with all leak codes, the sensor is almost always the messenger, not the culprit: a weeping hose joint, a worn door seal (front-load) or a perished internal hose is the real story.
Most likely cause: Slow leak into the base — Hose connections, pump housing, or dispenser housing drips.
First check: Look under/behind the machine for water; dry everything before retesting.
If it keeps coming back: Returning AE = water still arriving: test under a full heavy load, and check the dispenser housing — a classic slow-drip source.
CL — Child Lock is ON
CL means LG's Child Lock feature is active: the panel buttons are disabled (except Power on many models) so children can't change or start cycles. It is a status display, not a fault. CL gets mistaken for an error constantly — and on segmented displays it is also mistaken for LE (the motor code), which sends owners down a needless motor diagnosis. CL is the only entry in this guide where the correct repair is to do nothing to the machine at all. LG built Child Lock as a persistent safety state: it disables every control except Power, it can be set at any time including mid-cycle, it survives the end of the cycle, and it survives the power being turned off and on - LG states all of that explicitly, because a lock a power flicker could defeat would protect no one. The display supports it by alternating CL with the remaining time during a locked cycle and lighting the lock icon at power-on. Every CL puzzle — the dead panel, the code that will not clear, the lock nobody remembers setting — is explained by those persistence rules, and every genuine CL is released the same way it was set: powered on, the marked buttons held for a full 3 seconds, and a chime to confirm.
Most likely cause: Child Lock activated — Deliberately, or by a stray long press on the marked button pair.
First check: Look for the lock/child icon lit near the CL display.
If it keeps coming back: If CL re-engages by itself, a sticking panel button is likely — clean around the buttons; persistent self-locking is a panel fault. CL that seems to engage by itself repeatedly deserves a closer look at how the panel is being touched rather than at the washer's electronics. Because arming takes only a sustained 3-second hold on marked buttons, leaning on the panel, wiping it down with a damp cloth, carrying laundry baskets against it, or a child's exploratory pressing can all set it without anyone deciding to. If it still self-engages with no plausible contact, a sticking or moisture-affected panel button is the realistic suspect — keep the panel dry, note whether it is always the same household moment (cleaning day is a classic), and if the Child Lock buttons themselves become unresponsive to the correct release hold, follow LG's direction and treat it as a malfunction for customer support rather than a lock problem.
DE — Door error
dE means LG's control cannot confirm the door is closed and locked. The washer won't start, or pauses. Physical causes (door not pushed home, clothing in the seal) come first; the door lock assembly — a known wear item on LG front-loaders — is second; hinge sag and wiring follow.
Most likely cause: Door not fully closed / item in the seal — A trapped sleeve stops the latch reaching home.
First check: Clear the seal, close with a firm even push, and retry.
If it keeps coming back: dE returning mid-cycle under spin vibration = marginal lock switch contacts — replace the lock before it strands a load.
FE — Fill error / overflow
FE is LG's overfill-side fill code (the mirror of IE): the level rose past the expected maximum, or kept rising when it shouldn't. Causes split between water genuinely entering uncontrolled (a passing inlet valve) and level sensing lying (sensor/hose), with heavy suds foam as the third actor — foam pressing on the sensor's air hose fakes a high level convincingly.
Most likely cause: Inlet valve passing/stuck — Water creeps in even with the machine off — the giveaway symptom.
First check: Machine gaining water while OFF and unplugged-at-panel = close the taps now; that's a passing valve.
If it keeps coming back: FE returning on hot cycles only can be a valve sticking warm; foam-linked FE returns until tub build-up is cleaned.
HE — Heating error
HE on an LG washer reports a heating fault: the control drove the heater and the thermistor did not report the expected temperature rise, or reported an abnormal one. The element, the thermistor, and their wiring are the suspects — the same trio as tE, with HE emphasising the heater's performance and tE the sensor's reading.
Most likely cause: Failed heating element — Scaled or burnt-open elements are the commonest cause, especially in hard water.
First check: Does HE appear only on heated cycles (sanitize/steam-type)? Cold cycles running fine points at the heater circuit.
If it keeps coming back: HE after a new element = board not powering it, or a drifting thermistor — live measurement territory.
Less common and model-specific codes
Search data shows owners also meet these codes on LG washers: A1, B50, BCL, CD, D32, D80, DHE, DR, E0, ECL, EE, EI, EL, EO, F1, FL, HF, I3, IF, IR, J5, LCL, LEI, LTC, ND, NE, NF, NP, NS, O3, OC, OG, P5, RE, SC, SD, T5, TC, TE1, U6, UG, UR, V5, VE. They are not part of the core code list LG publishes for most models — several are series-specific, abbreviated display readings, or codes carried over from a sister platform — so we do not publish meanings for them rather than guess. Treat them by symptom: note what the machine was doing when the code appeared (filling, draining, heating, spinning), run one full power cycle (5 minutes off), and if the code returns, match the symptom to the closest documented family in the table above and check the tech sheet stored inside your machine for the model-specific definition.
Deep-dive guides for the most searched codes
Frequently asked questions
How do i fix error on my lg washing machine?
Start with the table above: find your code, run its first fix (usually a no-tool check — supply, filter, hose or load), then clear the code and run a short test cycle. If the same code returns, work through the cause list for that code before replacing parts.
How do i fix the error code on my lg washer?
Start with the table above: find your code, run its first fix (usually a no-tool check — supply, filter, hose or load), then clear the code and run a short test cycle. If the same code returns, work through the cause list for that code before replacing parts.
How to fix error code lg washing machine?
Start with the table above: find your code, run its first fix (usually a no-tool check — supply, filter, hose or load), then clear the code and run a short test cycle. If the same code returns, work through the cause list for that code before replacing parts.
How to fix lg washer error.code?
Start with the table above: find your code, run its first fix (usually a no-tool check — supply, filter, hose or load), then clear the code and run a short test cycle. If the same code returns, work through the cause list for that code before replacing parts.
Related guides
Facts on this page were checked against manufacturer documentation: www.lg.com · www.lg.com · lg.com · www.lg.com