Kenmore Ice Maker STUCK-HARVEST Error: Ice Maker Stuck in Harvest Cycle — Continuous Motor Run
The kenmore ice maker stuck-harvest error is a fault signal from the control board — this guide walks through what it means, common causes, and safe diagnostic steps. Why Is My Kenmore Ice Maker Stuck in the Harvest Cycle? A Kenmore ice maker that runs its harvest motor continuously without stopping is one of the […]
Quick Assessment
Answer to continue safely
Is it safe to keep using?
No. A stuck-harvest ice maker should be switched off (arm raised) immediately. The continuous motor run risks overflowing the tray, creating ice dams on the freezer floor, and burning out the harvest motor. Raise the shutoff arm and discontinue use until the module is replaced.
Can I reset the code?
No. A stuck-harvest condition caused by a failed module thermostat or seized gearbox does not respond to resets. Lowering the arm and pressing the test button will restart the cycle but the same stuck condition recurs. Module replacement is the only permanent resolution.
When to stop immediately?
Stop if you notice: Harvest motor has been running continuously for more than 30 minutes — switch ice maker off immediately, Water is overflowing the tray onto the freezer floor or ice dam is forming under the ice storage bin.
Symptoms You May Notice
Ice maker motor runs continuously without stopping between cycles
The harvest motor on the Kenmore 106.xx ice maker module should run for approximately 10–15 minutes per cycle then stop and wait for the tray to refreeze. A stuck-harvest condition keeps the motor running indefinitely — audible as a constant low hum from the freezer upper left wall.
Water overflows the ice tray and freezes on the freezer floor
When the module cannot complete the harvest cycle, the water inlet valve may be triggered to fill a tray that is not fully ejected, causing water to overflow onto the freezer floor and form a sheet of ice under the bins.
Ice cubes are ejected into a clumped mass rather than individual cubes
A harvest cycle that does not pause long enough between fills produces ice before the previous batch has fully cleared the tray or bin, resulting in large clumped masses rather than individual cubes.
Ejector fingers scrape loudly against an empty tray
With the harvest motor running non-stop, the plastic ejector fingers grind audibly against the metal ice mold between fills, producing a repetitive scraping or ratcheting noise from the freezer rather than the normal brief harvest sound.
Possible Causes
Failed ice maker module thermostat (bimetal switch)
The bimetal thermostat inside the ice maker module senses tray temperature and signals the end of the freeze cycle. A failed-closed thermostat keeps the harvest motor running indefinitely because it never signals that the freeze cycle has ended.
DIY PossibleIce maker module harvest motor or gearbox failure
The harvest motor gearbox has stripped a tooth or the motor has reached an internal stop position and cannot advance to the end-of-cycle shutoff position, leaving the motor energized and stalled at the shutoff cam lobe.
DIY PossibleFreezer temperature too warm for freeze cycle to complete
If the freezer is consistently warmer than 15 F, the ice maker tray never reaches the low temperature needed to trip the bimetal thermostat, so the module keeps the fill valve open waiting for a freeze that never completes — producing the same symptom as a failed thermostat.
DIY PossibleSafe Checks You Can Do
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1
Switch the ice maker off and confirm freezer temperature
Raise the ice maker shutoff arm to the off position to stop the harvest motor immediately and prevent water overflow. Place an independent thermometer in the center of the freezer and leave it for 2 hours. The reading should be at or below 0–5 F. If the freezer is warmer than 10 F, investigate the freezer cooling fault before diagnosing the ice maker module — the ice maker behavior is a symptom of inadequate cooling, not an ice maker failure.
On Kenmore 106.xx models, the ice maker thermostat trips at approximately 15–16 F tray temperature. A freezer set to 0 F ensures the tray reaches this temperature well within a normal freeze cycle. A freezer set to 10 F may cause intermittent stuck-harvest symptoms even with a healthy thermostat.
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2
Perform a manual harvest cycle test and observe module behavior
With the freezer confirmed at 0–5 F and the shutoff arm lowered, press and hold the test button on the front face of the Kenmore 106.xx ice maker module for 3 seconds until the motor starts. Observe: the ejector blades should rotate one full revolution (approximately 10 minutes), stop at the end-of-cycle position, and the fill valve should open briefly to refill the tray before the motor stops. If the motor runs past one full revolution without stopping, the module thermostat has failed and the module must be replaced.
A Kenmore 106.xx ice maker module that runs through multiple revolutions without stopping in a properly cold freezer has a confirmed module thermostat failure. The entire module assembly must be replaced — individual thermostat replacement is not practical on most 106.xx modules.
When to Call a Professional
Contact a qualified technician if:
- Manual test cycle confirms motor does not stop after one full ejector revolution in a freezer at 0–5 F — module thermostat has failed
- Harvest motor runs hot to the touch during the stuck condition — motor windings may be failing
- Ice dam on the freezer floor has reached the point of blocking the freezer door seal and requires professional removal
Need Professional Help?
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