Ice Maker Diagnostics

Kenmore Ice Maker
Error Codes

Meanings, severity levels, safe checks you can perform, and when to call a technician.

Enter the code shown on your ice maker 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
BAD-TASTE-ICE Ice Has Bad Taste or Odor Low The off-taste is noticed specifically in ice and beverages made with ice, but the household tap water and the refrigerator water dispenser taste normal — indicating the problem is in the ice maker or ice storage bin rather than the water supply itself. View E1 Thermistor / Temperature Sensor Fault High The control board on Kenmore Elite 89xxx stand-alone units displays the E1 fault through a diagnostic LED sequence on the control panel. The harvest cycle halts and no new ice is produced until the fault is resolved. View HI High Water Temperature / Condenser Over-Temperature Medium The Kenmore Elite 89xxx control panel displays the HI fault code via LED indicator. The machine suspends the freeze cycle until temperatures fall within operating range, which may happen automatically once ambient or water temperature drops. View LO Low Water Temperature / Freeze-up Detected Medium The control panel shows LO during or immediately after a freeze cycle begins. The board interprets the abnormally low temperature reading as a freeze-up risk and shuts down production before ice cubes can be harvested. View NO-ICE Ice Maker Not Producing Ice Medium The most definitive symptom — a normally functioning Kenmore built-in ice maker produces a full bin (approximately 4–6 lbs) every 24 hours. If the bin is empty after a day of normal refrigerator use, production has stopped for a diagnosable reason. View SMALL-ICE Ice Cubes Too Small, Hollow, or Misshapen Low Each harvest cycle ejects cubes, but they are noticeably smaller than normal full-size cubes — indicating the tray is receiving less than the required fill volume. The shortfall is consistent across every cycle rather than intermittent. View STUCK-HARVEST Ice Maker Stuck in Harvest Cycle — Continuous Motor Run High 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. View