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Fault code database · ● Live
Tumble dryers.
What the code on your display means, what causes it, and which part to check first — for washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers.
199 fault codes documented94% with a documented cause
In short
We have documented 199 tumble dryers fault codes from published technical sources. 188 of them (94%) also carry the cause, not just the meaning. The most frequent subjects are control board, sensors, door or lid lock. On 13 codes the same code means different things depending on the brand — always check yours.
What can go wrong
Most frequent fault codes
Each code below comes from a published source, with the cause and the check to run. We never invent a cause we cannot document.
| Code | What it means | Cause & what to check |
|---|---|---|
| E:17 Bosch | Lint screen temperature sensor error | Unplug the dryer and reconnect the wire harness on the lint screen temperature sensor if loose. Replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire harness connections are okay, replace the lint screen temperature sensor |
| E:18 Bosch | Heater temperature sensor error | Unplug the dryer and check the wire harness connections on the heater temperature sensor. Reconnect the wire harness if loose. Replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire harness connections are okay, replace the heater temperature sensor |
| E31 Electrolux | Moisture sensor frequency too high | Check for any metal or foreign objects stuck between the moisture sensor bars. If you find nothing stuck between the moisture sensor bars, unplug the dryer and check the moisture sensor wire harness for damage. Replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire harness is intact, replace the electronic control board |
| E32 Electrolux | Moisture sensor frequency too low | Clean the moisture sensor bars using rubbing alcohol. A coating on the moisture sensor bars could be preventing them from detecting moisture. If the error code continues after cleaning the bars, unplug the dryer and check the moisture sensor wire harness connections. Reconnect any loose wires or replace the wire harness if damaged. If the bars are clean and the wire harness is okay, replace the electronic control board |
| E42 Electrolux | Door sensing error | Unplug the dryer and check the door switch wire harness connections. Reconnect any loose wires or replace the wire harness if damaged. Test the door switch operation using a multimeter. Replace the door switch if defective. If the door switch and wiring are okay, replace the electronic control board |
| E51 Electrolux | Motor relay failure | Unplug the dryer and check the motor wire harness for damage. Replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire harness is okay, replace the electronic control board |
| E52 Electrolux | Motor stopped or not starting | Overloading can overheat the drive motor, causing a tripped thermal protector. Reduce the load and allow the motor to cool off for 30 minutes before restarting the dryer. If the dryer won't restart, remove the load from the dryer and see if the drum turns freely by hand. If not, unplug the dryer and examine the drive system. Replace any damaged drive components. Check the motor wire harness. Reconnect any loose wires or replace the wire harness if damaged. If the drive system and wire harness are okay, then you may need to replace the drive motor |
| E53 Electrolux | Motor centrifugal switch failure | The motor centrifugal switch is part of the drive motor assembly. Unplug the dryer and check the motor wire harness. Reconnect any loose wires or replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wiring harness is okay, replace the drive motor. If the problem continues, replace the electronic control board |
| E54 Electrolux | Motor sensing failure | The electronic control board detects an internal problem with its drive motor relay circuit. Unplug the dryer and replace the electronic control board |
| E59 Electrolux | No drive motor tachometer signal | The inverter board supplies run voltage to the drive motor. Unplug the dryer and check the wire harness connections between the inverter board and the drive motor. Reconnect any loose wires or replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire connections are okay, replace the drive motor because the tachometer is a component of the drive motor and isn't available as a separate part |
| E5A Electrolux | Overheated inverter board | This error can be caused by continuous dryer operation in hot ambient conditions. Allow the dryer to cool and then try to restart the dryer. If the code appears under normal operation and conditions, unplug the dryer and replace the inverter board |
| E5C Electrolux | Voltage supply is too high (above 240 volts) | Unplug the dryer and check the voltage supply using a multimeter. Supply voltage shouldn't exceed 240 volts. Contact your electric company is supply voltage is too high. If supply voltage is okay, you'll usually need to replace the inverter board |
| E5F Electrolux | Inverter board failed to start the drive motor | Unplug the dryer and check the wire harness connections between main control board and the inverter board. Reconnect any loose wires and replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire connections are okay, replace the inverter board. If the problem continues, replace the main electronic control board |
| E5H Electrolux | TMotor voltage is too low (below 100 volts) | Unplug the dryer and check the wire harness connections between the drive motor and inverter board. Reconnect any loose wires or replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire connections are okay, replace the inverter board |
| E61 Electrolux | Heater relay failure | Unplug the dryer and check the wire harness between the electronic control board and the heating element. Replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire harness is okay, replace the electronic control board |
| E63 Electrolux | Heating element shorted to ground | Unplug the dryer. Inspect the heating element for damage. Replace the heating element if broken. If you see no visible damage to the heating element, test it for a short to the metal cabinet using a multimeter. If you detect a short, replace the heating element |
| E64 Electrolux | Open heating element circuit | Unplug the dryer and check the wire harness connections between the electronic control board and the heating element. Reconnect any loose wires and replace the wire harness if damaged. Inspect the heating element for damage and replace the element if broken. If you see no visible damage to the heating element, test it for continuity using a multimeter. If the heating element is electrically open, replace it |
| E65 Electrolux | High limit thermostat tripped open too many times (Electric dryer) | Check the exhaust vent system for a restriction or blockage. Make sure that you don't have a kink in the flexible exhaust vent hose. If the exhaust vent system is clear, replace the high limit thermostat. If the problem continues, have a service technician examine the dryer and determine the cause of overheating that's causing the Electrolux dryer error code E65 |
| E66 Electrolux | Thermal limiter tripped | Unplug the dryer and check the thermal limiter for continuity using a multimeter. Replace the thermal limiter if it's electrically open. Check the exhaust vent system for clog or restriction because that's what may have caused the thermal limiter to trip. Clear any clog or restriction in the exhaust vent system |
| E67 Electrolux | Heating sensor failure | The electronic control board detects an internal problem with its heater relay circuit. Unplug the dryer and replace the electronic control board |
| E73 Electrolux | Inlet thermistor failure | Unplug the dryer and check the inlet thermistor (temperature sensor) wire harness connections. Reconnect any loose wires. Replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire harness is okay, check the resistance of the inlet thermistor using a multimeter. You should measure around 50,000 ohms of resistance at room temperature of 70 degrees. Replace the inlet thermistor if resistance is off |
| E74 Electrolux | Drive motor relay failure | Unplug the dryer and check the drive motor wire harness. Reconnect any loose wires. Replace the drive motor wire harness if damaged. If the wire harness is okay, replace the electronic control board because the motor relay on the electronic control board is defective |
| E91 Electrolux | Communication, error | Unplug the dryer. Check the wire harness connections between the user interface control and the electronic control board. If the wiring and connections are okay, replace the user interface control. If the problem continues, replace the electronic control board |
| E92 Electrolux | User interface control and electronic control board mismatch | This code appears when you replace the user interface control or electronic control board using the wrong part. Use your dryer model number to check the part number for the replacement part. Unplug the dryer and install the correct part for your model |
| E93 Electrolux | Machine configuration error | Unplug the dryer and check the wire harness connections between the user interface control and the electronic control board. Reconnect any loose wires or replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wiring is okay and you just replaced the user interface control or electronic control board, then you could have used the wrong part. Use your dryer model number to check the part number for the replacement part. Install the correct part for your model |
| E94 Electrolux | Cycle configuration error | The electronic control board is defective. Unplug the dryer and replace the electronic control board |
| E95 Electrolux | Power supply voltage error. The board detects abnormal line voltage | Check the outlet with a multimeter — should read 240V AC (+/- 10%) for electric, 120V AC for gas. Loose connections at the outlet or breaker can cause voltage drops |
| E97 Electrolux | Program mismatch | The electronic control board is defective. Unplug the dryer and replace the electronic control board |
| EA1 Electrolux | Incoming power frequency out of limits | Unplug the dryer and have your local electrical power service provider check the power supply frequency. If it's normal and the code doesn't clear, replace the electronic control board |
| EA2 Electrolux | Incoming line voltage is above 130 volts AC | Unplug the dryer and check the electrical outlet voltage with a multimeter. If the voltage is high, have an electrician repair it. If the voltage is normal, replace the electronic control board |
| EA3 Electrolux | Incoming line voltage is below 90 volts AC | Unplug the dryer and check the electrical outlet voltage with a multimeter. If the voltage is low, have an electrician repair it. If the voltage is normal, replace the electronic control board |
| EA4 Electrolux | Improper wiring on the terminal block | Unplug the dryer and connect the power cord wires correctly on the dryer terminal block |
| EA5 Electrolux | Electronic control board defective | Unplug the dryer and replace the electronic control board |
| EF1 Electrolux | Blocked exhaust vent | Check the exhaust vent system for a blockage or restriction. Clear any clog or restriction in the exhaust vent system to the outside of your home. If the exhaust vent system is clear, unplug the dryer and measure the resistance of the inlet and outlet thermistors with a multimeter. The outlet thermistor should measure between around 5000 ohms at room temperature of 70 degrees. The inlet thermistor should measure around 50,000 ohms at room temperature of 70 degrees. Replace any defective thermistors |
| EF3 Electrolux | Maximum dry time has expired | The electronic control board detected the clothes have not dried in the maximum amount of dry time. Check the exhaust vent system for blockages. Clear any restrictions in the exhaust vent system. Check for any metal or foreign objects stuck between the moisture sensor bars. If you find nothing stuck between the moisture sensor bars, unplug the dryer and check the moisture sensor wire harness for damage. Replace the wire harness if damaged |
| EF8 Electrolux | Stuck key on the user interface control | Push on all the buttons to try to free the stuck key. If you can't free the stuck key, replace the user interface control |
| EX53 Electrolux | Motor sensing circuit error | The main electronic control board detects an internal error in its motor circuit. Unplug the dryer and replace the main control board |
| Ex45 Electrolux | Door open | The main electronic control board detects whether the door is open. Close the door if it's open. If the door is closed, unplug the dryer and check the wire harness between the door switch and the main electronic control board. Reconnect any loose wires or replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire connections are okay, replace the door switch. If the problem continues, replace the main electronic control board |
| Ex51 Electrolux | Drive motor failure | Unplug the dryer and check the wire harness connections between the main electronic control board and the drive motor. Reconnect any loose wires or replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire connections are okay, replace the main electronic control board. If the problem continues, replace the drive motor |
| Ex52 Electrolux | Drive motor thermal cut-out tripped | The thermal cutout trips when the drive motor overheats. Overloading the dryer can cause the motor to overheat. Remove some of the load if too large or heavy. Allow the motor time to cool off and restart the dryer. If the dryer isn't overloaded, unplug the dryer and remove the load. Spin the drum by hand to check for drive system friction. If you detect excessive friction, check all drive components and replace any damaged parts |
What actually breaks
Counted on the 199 codes on this page, not estimated.
| subject | codes | share |
|---|---|---|
| control board | 107 | 54% |
| sensors | 53 | 27% |
| door or lid lock | 37 | 19% |
| heating | 29 | 15% |
| water fill | 29 | 15% |
| motor and drive | 27 | 14% |
| drainage | 2 | 1% |
The parts that fail
The components behind the codes above: pump, heating element, seal, filter.
control board 54%sensors 27%door or lid lock 19%heating 15%water fill 15%motor and drive 14%
Brands covered
KenmoreElectroluxFrigidaireWhirlpoolLgMideaGeHaierBoschAmanaMaytag
Frequently asked questions
Answers counted on our own data, with the sources cited at the bottom of the page.
What is the most common tumble dryers fault code?
In our data the code that appears on the largest number of brands is E4A. On Electrolux it means: Outlet Thermistor Error
Does the same code mean the same thing on every brand?
No, and this is the single most useful thing to know. We found 13 codes that appear on two or more brands with different meanings. For example E4A: on Electrolux it means «Outlet Thermistor Error», on Frigidaire it means «Long dry time».
What goes wrong most often on a tumble dryers?
Counting the causes we documented: control board (54%), sensors (27%), door or lid lock (19%), heating (15%). This is what the codes actually describe.
Which brands are covered?
For tumble dryers we currently document codes for: Kenmore, Electrolux, Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Lg, Midea, Ge, Haier, Bosch, Amana, Maytag. The list grows as we verify new sources.
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TroubleAtlas Technical Team · Last verified:
Fault code data on this page is compiled from published technical sources: How we verify — methodology →