Dishwasher Diagnostics
Kenmore Dishwasher
Kenmore Dishwasher
Error Codes
Meanings, severity levels, safe checks you can perform, and when to call a technician.
Enter the code shown on your dishwasher display
Is it safe to keep using it?
Depends on code severity. Low/Medium codes often allow continued use, High severity requires immediate stop.
Can error codes be reset?
Some codes clear after power cycle. Persistent codes indicate underlying issues needing repair.
When should I stop using it?
Stop immediately for water leak codes, burning smell, or any High severity error.
Error Code Directory
Click any code for detailed troubleshooting steps
Low
Medium
High
Code
Meaning
Severity
Common Symptom
1-1 / F1E1
Control Board Stuck Relay
High
The code appears on the segment display, the cycle halts in place, and the door lock may remain engaged. The dishwasher will not respond to new cycle selections until the fault is cleared.
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2-2 / F2E2
UI–Main Board Communication Failure
High
The UI panel freezes with the fault code displayed and no button presses register — the touch panel cannot relay commands to the main board because the communication bus between them has failed.
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3-1 / F3E1
Thermistor or OWI Sensor Failure
Medium
The code appears when the control board reads an out-of-range or absent signal from the combined thermistor/OWI sensor assembly mounted in the tub sump area, halting or degrading the current wash cycle.
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5-1 / F5E1
Door Switch Failure
Medium
The most common scenario: the user presses Start, the board checks the door switch, finds it open or inconsistent, and displays F5E1 within the first four seconds rather than beginning to fill with water.
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6-1 / F6E1
Dishwasher Will Not Fill
High
The control board energizes the water inlet valve and waits; when no water flow is confirmed within the fill timeout period, the board logs 6-1 / F6E1 and the cycle halts — the tub remains dry or nearly dry.
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7-1 / F7E1
Heating Element Does Not Work
Medium
The code sets when the control board activates the heating element but the thermistor confirms that water temperature did not rise within the required time window — distinguishing it from a sensor fault (3-1) because the heater circuit is the confirmed unresponsive component.
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8-1 / F8E1
Slow or Failed Drain
Medium
The most obvious sign: opening the Kenmore dishwasher after a cycle reveals a pool of dirty water in the tub floor, indicating the drain pump did not remove all water within the allotted drain time.
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9-1 / F9E1
Diverter Disc Position Not Detected
Medium
The diverter disc is stuck in the position that feeds only the lower arm, preventing water from reaching the upper rack — dishes on the top shelf come out with dried-on food despite a complete cycle.
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CLEAN LED BLINKS 7X
Heater Circuit Failure
Medium
The Clean indicator LED pulses seven times, pauses briefly, then repeats the seven-flash sequence — this is the diagnostic language on non-display Kenmore Ultra Wash models to communicate a heater fault code.
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SANITIZE LED BLINKS
Sanitize Temperature Not Reached
Low
The indicator activates at the end of a cycle where the Sanitize option was selected, signaling that the board could not confirm the final rinse reached 150°F — the NSF/ANSI 184 threshold for residential dishwasher sanitization.
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