Samsung Dishwasher Error Codes List: Every Code Explained
Every Samsung dishwasher error code we could verify against Samsung'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 Samsung dishwashers
Samsung dishwashers have a service/test mode on many models (entered with a button combination such as holding Normal + Power or a Delicate/Heavy pairing, model-dependent) that runs each component — fill, wash motor, drain, heater, dispenser — and displays stored codes. The combination for your model is in the service manual; the user manual does not document it.
The complete Samsung dishwasher error code list
| Code | Meaning | Most likely cause | First fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1C | Low-water level check (fold 'C1' is this code transposed) | Clogged filter, non-dishwasher detergent, or uneven loading keeping the detected level low | Check the filter is not clogged, use dishwasher detergent, load dishes evenly, and turn the dishwasher off and on again |
| 1E | Clogged filter error on WaterWall models; low water level error in DW80 manuals (fold 'E1' is this code transposed) | Water is not making it through the fine filter, or a low level is detected in the tub | Clean the fine filter at the bottom of the dishwasher and remove excessive soils from the tub, then run a cycle with detergent |
| 3C | Wash motor (circulation pump) error — the main wash pump is not running correctly. | Debris jammed in the wash pump | Clear debris from the sump/pump inlet area. |
| 3E | High temperature water supply error on Samsung support pages; communication error (3E1 to 3E5, grouped with AE and bE3) in DW80 WaterWall manuals | Supply water is too hot, or a board communication fault on WaterWall models | Verify the hot water supply is not set above 176°F (80°C); if the temperature is correct and the code returns, request Samsung service |
| 4C | Water supply error — the dishwasher is not filling (or filling too slowly). | Supply tap off or partly open | Restore full supply: tap open, hose unkinked, screen cleaned. |
| 4E | Water supply error (older display of the 4C water supply check) | Water supply valve closed, water supply suspended, or the water inlet valve or line frozen or clogged by foreign particles | Check the water supply valve is open and the inlet valve and line are not frozen or clogged; if it continues, close the supply valve and contact a Samsung service center |
| 4E5 | Water supply error variant; the dishwasher attempts to fill, then stops early with a dry tub (also shown as 4C5) | Water supply missing or at incorrect pressure, a closed tap, or a kinked supply hose | Make sure the water supply exists with proper pressure, the tap is open, and the hose is not kinked |
| 5C | Drain error — the dishwasher did not drain in the allowed time. | Matted sump filter | Clean filter and air gap; clear hose/sink path. |
| 5E | Drain error (older display of the 5C drain check; 5E1 to 5E5 in DW80 manuals) | Drain hose clogged or folded, or the drain hole inside the sump clogged | After closing the water supply valve, check whether the drain hose is clogged or folded and whether the drain hole inside the sump is clogged |
| 7C | Water-level / wash-system error on WaterWall models — the WaterWall reflector (vane) movement is not being confirmed. | Object obstructing the vane track | Clear the obstruction and reseat the vane on its track. |
| 7E | WaterWall reflector error; the water reflector is not able to move correctly | Flatware or dishware interfering with the water reflector, or the reflector still fixed by packing tape | Remove anything interfering with the reflector and any tape fixing it; if it happens without interference, close the water supply valve and contact an authorized Samsung service center |
| 9E | Low water level error; there is not enough water in the dishwasher | Low water level detected during the cycle | Empty the dishwasher, add detergent, and run a normal cycle; if the error still occurs, switch off power at the circuit breaker and request Samsung service |
| AC | PCB communication check; abnormal communication between the main PCB and the sub PCB | Open circuit or broken communication wiring between the main and sub boards | Power-cycle the dishwasher once and retry; if the problem continues, contact an authorised Samsung service centre |
| AE | Communication error listed with the 3E communication group in DW80 WaterWall manuals | Communication failure between the main PBA and the sub PBA | Turn the dishwasher off and try to start it again; if the problem continues, contact an authorized Samsung service center |
| AP | Access Point mode; the dishwasher is in AP mode to assist with connecting to a mobile device | SmartThings / Wi-Fi connection setup was started | Complete the connection setup, or turn the dishwasher off and back on again if you are not trying to connect it |
| CA | Communications check between the main and sub PBAs | The circuit is open or the communication wiring is broken | This needs a Samsung service technician; do not open the unit to inspect board wiring yourself |
| CE | Communication error; the control panel is unable to communicate with the rest of the dishwasher | Communication fault between the control panel and the main control | Turn off the dishwasher and try to start it again; if the error continues, request Samsung service |
| FC | Drying / fan fault; the dishwasher stops or shows FC during the dry phase and dishes remain wet | Dry fan motor, connector, or vent fault with little or no warm air at the vent | Check the vent is not blocked and power off for at least 5 minutes before retrying; fan motor and wiring checks need Samsung service |
| HC | High temperature heater error; the temperature inside the dishwasher is too hot | High-temperature heating fault in the heater circuit | Switch the power off at the circuit breaker for 30 seconds and back on, empty the dishwasher, fill the detergent drawer, and start a Normal cycle; request service if it returns |
| HE | Heater error; in any mode the heater is not working, or the temperature is being detected incorrectly | Heater or temperature sensor breakdown, or water level too low during the heating step | Empty the dishwasher, add detergent, and run a normal cycle; if the error still occurs, switch off power at the circuit breaker and request Samsung service |
| IE | Clogged filter error on WaterWall models (variant display of 1E); high temperature heater error on rotary models | Blocked fine filter on WaterWall models, or the temperature inside the dishwasher is too hot on rotary models | Clean the fine filter; on rotary models switch power off at the breaker for 30 seconds, empty the dishwasher, add detergent and run a Normal cycle |
| LC | Leak error — the dishwasher's leak sensor (in the base tray) has detected water. | A genuine small leak | Fix the leak source: reseat/replace hose washers, replace a cracked spray arm, renew the sump or door gasket as found. |
| LE | Leakage error; the leakage sensor switch is on and moisture is detected (shown as LC on newer models) | Overfill into the dishwasher, or a leak from somewhere into the bottom tray | Close the water supply valve, go to the circuit breaker panel and set the dishwasher's breaker switch to off, then contact the installer or a Samsung service center to repair |
| NORMAL BLINKING | Blinking-light code on models without a display: the leak sensor detects moisture, or the WaterWall reflector is blocked | A leak, water splashed near the sensor when the dishwasher was recently moved, or an overfilled detergent dispenser | If no leak is visible, allow splashed water time to dry and check the garbage disposal connection; if it persists, disconnect power and contact the Samsung Service Centre |
| OC | Overflow error — the dishwasher has detected too much water entering / an overfill condition. | Oversudsing | Suds: remove foam, run an empty hot cycle, correct detergent and rinse-aid dosing. |
| OE | Drain error — the dishwasher is not draining (OE rendering of the drain fault on some Samsung displays). | Clogged filter/sump | Clean filter; clear hose/air gap. |
| PC | Zone-wash / wash-arm position error — the distributor (zone control) that directs water between wash zones is not positioning correctly. | Debris in the diverter/distributor | Clear debris from the sump and diverter area. |
| PE | Half load function error (grouped with PC as the dividing valve check on newer support pages) | The half load / dividing valve function is not performing correctly | Empty the dishwasher, add detergent and run a half load cycle; if the error still occurs, switch off power at the circuit breaker and request Samsung service |
| QUICK BLINKING | Blinking-light code on models without a display: incorrect water pressure or temperature | Supply pressure or temperature does not meet the dishwasher's requirements, or an incompatible Floodsafe hose is fitted | Ensure the water meets the dishwasher's requirements and the supply valve is fully operational; do not use Floodsafe hoses |
| SC | Drain check error — the dishwasher is not draining properly (display variant of the 5C drain fault family). | Clogged sump filter | Clean/replace the filter; clear the air gap and hose. |
| SE | Drain error, variant display in the 5C / 5E drain group | The dishwasher can't drain, usually a clogged or folded drain hose or a clogged drain hole in the pump | Check the drain hose is not clogged, folded, pinched, or kinked, and clear the drain hole inside the pump |
| UC | Abnormal or excessive voltage condition; the dishwasher has entered protection mode (grouped with 9C1 and 9E1) | Power flicker, surge, or breaker trip disturbing the incoming supply | Turn the dishwasher off at the wall or breaker for at least 1 minute, power it back up on a good dedicated outlet with no extension lead, and try a normal wash |
| bC2 | Button check; displayed by pressing any button for more than 30 seconds (also shown as bE2) | A button held down too long, or moisture or foreign objects on a touch panel | Try to bounce the buttons with your fingers; for a touch screen, wipe off any moisture or foreign objects with a dry towel |
| bC3 | Button check variant; the control panel does not respond or acts erratically (also shown as bE3) | Moisture, spills, or steam on the touch panel after wiping, spills, or moving the unit | Dry the touch surface thoroughly with a lint-free cloth, power off at the breaker for at least 30 seconds, restart, and use brief taps rather than long presses |
| bE | Button error; the panel detects a stuck button (also shown as 6E) | A button pressed or stuck for more than 30 seconds | Turn off the dishwasher and touch every button on the panel; if any button is not working correctly or the code returns, request Samsung service |
| bE2 | Button error; displayed by pressing any button for more than 30 seconds (also shown as bC2) | A button held down too long, or moisture or foreign material on the panel | Turn off the dishwasher and try to start it again; free any stuck button and wipe touch panels dry first |
| bE3 | Button error variant listed with the communication codes in DW80 manuals (also shown as bC3) | Touch panel input fault, or sub PBA / touch panel communication failure | Dry the touch surface thoroughly, power off at the breaker for at least 30 seconds, and restart using brief taps; request service if it returns |
| dC | Door display; 'dC' is displayed when the door is opened while the dishwasher is operating (shown as DC on Samsung UK support) | Door opened mid-cycle, or the door is not latched so the unit will not start or stops shortly after Start | Close the door firmly and dC is released; remove protruding utensils or pan handles and clean the latch if it will not close |
| dE | Door open warning; the door is open during the washing period (light-symbol code on DMT300 models) | Door not closed properly, or a faulty door lock switch | Make sure to close the door properly; if the problem continues, contact an authorized Samsung service center |
| tC | Temperature sensor error, grouped with tE and tE1 on Samsung support | Temperature sensor (thermistor) output out of range | Power off at the breaker or wall for at least 5 minutes, restore power, and try a Normal cycle once; request service if it returns |
| tE | Temperature sensor error; the temperature inside the dishwasher is being detected incorrectly | Short or open circuit of the thermistor (temperature sensor) | With the dishwasher empty, add detergent and run a cycle; if the problem continues, set the dishwasher's circuit breaker switch to off and contact an authorized Samsung service center |
How to reset / clear error codes on Samsung dishwashers
Samsung dishwashers clear most codes when you cancel the cycle (hold Start/Cancel for about 3 seconds so the machine drains), then cut power at the breaker for 5 minutes. Restore power and run a short cycle. Leak-related codes (LC) will return immediately if water is still sitting in the base pan — the reset cannot clear water that is physically still there.
How to diagnose any Samsung dishwasher code
Work the problem in this order: (1) record the code exactly, including any flashing tap or salt/rinse-aid symbols shown with it; (2) establish the water story — is there water in the base, is the tub dry, did the cycle stop early or never start — because dishwasher codes split into leak, fill, drain and heating families; (3) run the external checks first: supply tap and inlet hose for fill codes, filters, sump and drain hose for drain codes, and for leak codes, dry the base and watch where water appears on a short test cycle; (4) clear the code and re-run the shortest programme while observing — most dishwasher faults announce themselves in the first ten minutes; (5) replace parts last, in the order the code family suggests. A leak code in particular should never be cleared and ignored: the float that raised it is the only thing between a small leak and a floor.
Samsung dishwasher codes: two dialects and a set of lights
Samsung dishwashers report faults three ways. Older models use the E-family (E1-E9 style codes); current WaterWall and DW80-series models use two-character codes (3C, 4C, 5C, LC, OC and relatives) that share their dialect with Samsung washers — 4C is water supply, 5C is drain, LC is a leak; and models without a display report through combinations of blinking cycle lights, which are codes in their own right, documented separately on this site. Read your machine in its own dialect: a code list for the wrong generation will confidently mislead you.
Leak codes and the base pan: the Samsung pattern
Samsung's most consequential dishwasher fault family is the leak family (LC, and LE on some series): a moisture sensor in the base pan reports water where no water should be, and the machine stops and drains in response. The pan can hold water from a genuine leak — a split hose, a door seal, an over-sudsing cycle pushing foam past seals — or from a one-off event like a tipped-over bowl releasing its water late in the cycle. The code cannot tell you which; drying the base and watching a short test cycle to see whether and where water returns is the diagnosis, and a leak code should never simply be cleared and forgotten.
The most searched Samsung dishwasher codes, in detail
3C — Wash motor (circulation pump) error
3C on a Samsung dishwasher reports a problem with the circulation (wash) motor — the pump that drives the spray arms. The control detects the motor not starting, running at the wrong speed, or its feedback failing. A dishwasher with 3C may fill and drain normally but wash weakly or stop during the wash phase, because without circulation there is no wash. Debris jamming the pump, a failed motor, or its control are the causes.
Most likely cause: Debris jammed in the wash pump — Glass and hard debris pass the filter and stall the impeller.
First check: Listen to a cycle: fill and drain sounds normal, but the wash phase is quiet or stops — that pattern is 3C's signature.
If it keeps coming back: 3C returning after a motor swap means the drive board or harness is at fault — stop swapping and get a diagnosis.
4C — Water supply error
4C on a Samsung dishwasher is the same supply fault the washer line uses: the control opened the inlet valve, watched the level/flow, and did not see the machine fill in time. Supply problems (tap, hose, pressure) and the valve's inlet screen are the usual causes; the valve itself and the flow/level sensing follow.
Most likely cause: Supply tap off or partly open — Especially after under-sink work.
First check: Confirm the under-sink tap is fully open and test flow at the tap if a hose can be diverted to a bucket.
If it keeps coming back: Returning 4C at busy household times points to pressure sag; returning always points back to the valve or its screen re-clogging (house sediment).
5C — Drain error
5C (older/letter displays: SC, some OE) is Samsung's dishwasher drain fault. The control ran the drain pump and the level sensor said the water was still there. The dishwasher drain chain is short — filter, pump, hose, air gap/sink — and the blockage is in it in the great majority of cases, with filter condition the single biggest factor.
Most likely cause: Matted sump filter — The leading cause; a greasy filter slows drain to a timeout.
First check: Wash the filter assembly in hot soapy water and retest with Cancel/Drain.
If it keeps coming back: If 5C returns within a few cycles of cleaning, the blockage is downstream (house line) or the pump is dying under load.
7C — Water-level / wash-system error on WaterWall models
7C is specific to Samsung's WaterWall dishwashers, where a moving reflector vane sweeps the water wall across the tub instead of a rotating lower arm. 7C reports that the vane's movement or position sensing failed — the reflector motor didn't move the vane as expected or its position switch didn't confirm it. Standard dishwashers without WaterWall never show 7C.
Most likely cause: Object obstructing the vane track — A fallen utensil or food debris in the reflector's rail stops travel.
First check: Empty the lower rack and inspect the reflector vane and its full track for obstructions or damage.
If it keeps coming back: 7C returning after clearing the track suggests the motor gearing is worn — it will stall at the same track position repeatedly.
LC — Leak error
Samsung dishwashers carry a leak sensor in the base. When water reaches it — from a leaking hose, a split sump seal, an overfill, or even foam overflowing the tub — the machine stops, drains, and shows LC (rendered LE on some displays). The sensor is very sensitive and also trips when the machine is tilted during installation or when excess suds push water over the tub lip. LC is a 'find the water' code: the sensor almost never fails itself.
Most likely cause: A genuine small leak — Inlet hose washer, sump seal, spray-arm crack hitting the door, or a perished tub gasket — drips collect in the base until the sensor trips.
First check: Cancel and drain the cycle; open the door and check for foam (suds cause) vs. clear water.
If it keeps coming back: LC that returns every few cycles means a slow drip you haven't caught — run the machine pulled out for one full cycle and watch. LC returning immediately after drying, with no water present, suggests a contaminated or damaged sensor — clean its electrodes first.
OC — Overflow error
OC means the water level rose beyond what the control expects. On Samsung dishwashers the frequent story is not a flood of water but foam: oversudsing pushes the level sensing around and can push water over the tub lip, while a genuinely overfilling machine points at the inlet valve not closing or the level/flow sensing misreading. The machine stops and drains.
Most likely cause: Oversudsing — Wrong detergent, rinse-aid spill, or residue from pre-washing with washing-up liquid.
First check: Open the door: foam filling the tub = detergent problem first.
If it keeps coming back: OC returning with suds means detergent build-up in the sump — several empty hot cycles may be needed. Returning with clear water means the valve or sensing is still at fault.
Less common and model-specific codes
Search data shows owners also meet these codes on Samsung dishwashers: A5, B3, C1, C3, C4, C5, C7, CL, CO, DC1, DC3, E1, E15, E2, E24, E25, E3, E4, E8, EC, F1, F3, F5, F8E4, F9, FE, I20, IC, NE, O3, SC1, U1. They are not part of the core code list Samsung 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
Related guides
Facts on this page were checked against manufacturer documentation: www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · www.samsung.com · mans.io · www.notice-facile.com · www.notice-facile.com · manuals.plus · downloadcenter.samsung.com