Refrigerator Diagnostics

Kenmore Refrigerator
Error Codes

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

Enter the code shown on your refrigerator 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.

Most Common Codes

ER FF ER DH ER CF ER CO ER FS ER RS ER IF F DS SY EF SY CE

All Codes

ER CF ER CO ER DH ER FF ER FS ER IF ER RS F DS PF SY CE SY EF

Error Code Directory

Click any code for detailed troubleshooting steps

Low Medium High

Code Meaning Severity Common Symptom

ER CF Condenser Fan Motor Failure High The condenser coil retains heat that the fan would normally dissipate — the bottom rear cabinet area becomes uncomfortably warm or hot as the heat load backs up into the cabinet. View ER CO Control Board Communication Error High The display board shows Er CO and may not respond to button presses for temperature adjustment, ice maker control, or other settings because the UI board has lost its communication link to the main board. View ER DH Defrost Heater Circuit Failure Medium Unlike a fan or compressor failure, a defrost fault causes slow temperature rise — frost builds on the coil over many days until it restricts airflow enough to cause noticeable warming in both the freezer and fresh food sections. View ER FF Freezer Fan Motor Failure High The compressor is actively cooling the evaporator coil, but without the fan to push that cold air through the compartment, freezer temperature climbs steadily — ice cream softens and frost on food packages begins to melt. View ER FS Freezer Temperature Sensor Fault Medium Instead of the actual compartment temperature, the display may show dashes, an implausibly high or low number, or alternate between Er FS and a wildly inaccurate temperature that does not match an independent thermometer reading. View ER IF Ice Compartment Fan Failure Medium Without the ice compartment fan circulating cold air through the door ducts, the ice maker compartment warms above the threshold temperature needed to initiate harvest cycles, progressively reducing ice production until it stops. View ER RS Refrigerator Sensor Fault Medium Without accurate temperature feedback, the damper controlling cold air flow to the fresh food section opens and closes at the wrong times, causing temperature swings of 8°F or more across the compartment. View F DS Freezer Defrost Sensor Short Medium Without the defrost sensor, the control board either cannot initiate defrost cycles or cannot terminate them at the correct coil temperature — frost progressively accumulates on the evaporator and restricts airflow to both sections. View PF Power Failure Detected Low As soon as utility power returns to the Kenmore 106 refrigerator, the electronic control board displays PF and may sound an audible alert to draw the user's attention to the fact that cooling was interrupted. View SY CE System Communication Error High The user interface board cannot transmit button-press commands to the main board or receive temperature and status data from it, leaving the control panel frozen, dark, or showing incorrect information. View SY EF Evaporator Fan Circuit Failure High The evaporator fan on 253-series models distributes cold air to the fresh food section via the air damper — when the fan fails, the freezer may remain marginally cool while the refrigerator section climbs toward room temperature. View

Kenmore RefrigeratorError Codes