Michael Thompson Key Takeaways
- LG dishwasher error codes name the failing system with two letters, and they fall into four groups: water in, water out, wash motor, and heat and detergent.
- AE, E1, FE, IE, OE, CE and LE are stop codes; bE and PF are not faults at all once cleared.
- A reset only clears the display; if the cause remains, the code returns on the next cycle.
- nE keeps the dishwasher running but washes only part of the load.
- A code that never returns after a reset was a one-off; one that returns is a fault worth reporting.
The Bottom Line
Find the group first, then the page for the exact code: water and motor codes mean stop, while bE and PF clear and go. The price of a repair is confirmed after diagnosis, with a written estimate before work begins.
LG dishwashers use two-letter codes, and the letters are shorthand for the failing system: A for aqua, O for outlet, I for inlet, H for heater and so on. Learn the pattern and most of them read themselves. There are twelve on this site, and they fall into four groups: water in, water out, the wash motor, and heat and detergent. The group tells you how worried to be before you open a single code page.
| Code | What it means | Keep running it? |
|---|---|---|
| AE, E1 | Leak or flood water in the base pan | No |
| FE | Fill error, the tub overfilled | No |
| IE | Water inlet error, not enough water | No |
| OE | Drain error, water will not pump out | No |
| CE, LE | Wash motor overcurrent or locked | No |
| nE | Vario spray arm motor fault | With care, only if needed |
| HE, tE | Heater or thermistor fault | Briefly, not for sanitizing |
| bE | Excessive suds | Yes, once cleared |
| PF | Power failure during the cycle | Yes |
What Do LG Dishwasher Error Codes Mean?
Each LG dishwasher error code names one monitored system that returned a reading outside its limits, and the control stops the cycle to protect the machine and your floor. The first letter points at the system, which is why AE and E1 both concern leaks and OE and IE are opposites, water out and water in.
Most of the codes can be cleared by a reset, but a reset only clears the display. If a part has failed, the code returns on the next cycle, and the pages for each code on this site say so. Start with the group below that matches what you saw, then open the page for the exact code. If two codes appear in the same cycle, such as AE followed by E1, treat the more serious one as the real fault and the other as its consequence.
Which LG Dishwasher Codes Mean Stop?
Seven codes are marked stop on their pages, and they share a theme: water where it should not be, or a motor that cannot be trusted. Stopping costs you one load of dishes; carrying on can cost a floor or a motor.
- AE and E1. Water in the base pan. The page says not to use the dishwasher until the source is found.
- FE. An overfill; turn off the water supply in the meantime.
- IE. Not enough water, and running dry can damage the wash pump and heating element.
- OE. Standing water with an active OE; continuing risks an overfilled tub or a burned-out drain pump.
- CE and LE. A motor fault that can overheat the motor or wiring.
Water Codes: AE, E1, FE, IE and OE
AE, for Aqua Error, means water has been detected in the base pan beneath the tub, and E1 is the base-level flood protection that trips when more has gathered. In both cases the float sensor will trip again as soon as water re-enters the pan, so a reset does not fix anything until the leak is found. Look for wet flooring at the front of the machine, then read the AE page and the E1 page.
FE is the opposite fault, more water than allowed, and the dishwasher pumps out the excess on its own. IE is the starved side, and OE is a drain failure with water left in the tub. The OE page and our guide to an LG dishwasher that is not draining cover the commonest of the five.
Motor Codes: CE, LE and nE
CE is a current error: the control board has seen abnormal electrical current on the wash motor circuit of LG's inverter direct-drive motor, and the page warns of a short that can heat the wiring. LE means the motor is locked or stalled and cannot rotate. Both are stop-use faults, and the repair is a technician's.
The nE code is a different matter, a fault in the Vario motor that steers the spray arm. The machine keeps running but washes only part of the load, so dishes on one rack come out dirty. Our LG dishwasher nE code guide covers it in detail.
Heat and Detergent Codes: HE, tE, bE and PF
These four are the mild ones, and one is not a fault at all. HE is a heater error and tE is a thermistor error, so dishes come out cold or greasy and are not sanitized; both are safe to run briefly but should be fixed before you rely on the machine for heavy loads. bE means excess suds, a detergent problem, and PF is a notice that power was cut during the cycle.
- bE. Cancel the cycle, clear the suds, run a rinse and restart with dishwasher detergent only.
- PF. Press any button to clear it and restart the cycle; nothing has failed.
- HE and tE. The HE page and the tE page cover the heating checks; stop if steam pours from the vent or tE returns within minutes of every reset.
What to Tell the Technician
A visit goes faster when the details are ready, and codes are the best detail you have. Collect them before you call, because the display only shows what the last cycle left behind.
- The exact code. Write it down as it appears before you reset it, because a reset can clear the only evidence you have.
- When it appeared. At the start, during the fill, in the wash or at the drain tells the technician which system to test first.
- What the machine did. Standing water, a wet floor, a silent motor or cold dishes are each a different clue.
- What you already tried. A reset, a filter cleaning or a detergent change rules causes out.
The pages for each code list the safe checks in order, so working through the right one before the visit often shortens it. A page also says plainly when the next step is a technician and not another reset, and that is the line worth respecting: repeated resets on a stop code do not diagnose anything and can add wear to a motor or a pump that is already struggling.
How Do You Reset an LG Dishwasher Code?
For OE and IE the pages say to press and hold the Power button for three to five seconds; for PF any button clears it. For anything else, switching the dishwasher off at the breaker for a few minutes is the usual route. Remember that a reset only clears the display: if the cause is still there, the code comes straight back.
That is useful information in itself. A code that disappears and does not return was a one-off; one that returns on the next cycle is a fault, and the details are worth writing down for the technician.
Our LG dishwasher repair costs guide shows what each kind of repair tends to cost, and LG dishwasher repair covers every code on this page. The price is confirmed after on-site diagnosis, with a written estimate before work begins. Schedule a visit or contact us with the code and the model number.