LG Dishwasher Error Codes: Complete 2026 Troubleshooting Guide

Start Here: The Power-Cycle Reset

Before diagnosing any specific code, run the LG power-cycle reset — it takes 10 minutes and clears control board glitches that cause false error codes, particularly after a power surge or interrupted cycle.

1. Press Cancel/Drain and let the drain pump run for a full 90 seconds to empty the tub.
2. Unplug the dishwasher from the wall outlet, or trip the dedicated circuit breaker.
3. Wait a full 10 minutes — this discharges the control board capacitors completely.
4. Restore power and run a short test cycle (Rinse Only is ideal for a quick drain-fill-drain check).

If the same error code appears within the first minutes of the test cycle, you have a genuine hardware fault. The reset did its job — you now have a confirmed diagnosis, not a ghost reading. If the error doesn't return, it was a transient board state and the reset solved it.

Complete LG Dishwasher Error Code Reference

OE — Drain Error: The Most Common LG Dishwasher Code

OE is the error code LG dishwasher owners search for most. It triggers when the drain pump cannot clear the tub within the expected drain window. The control board monitors drain pump operation via the pressure switch; if water remains after the pump has run for its allotted time, OE trips and the cycle halts.

Step 1: Clean the filter (free — resolves ~60–70% of OE cases)

LG dishwashers use a two-part manual filter system at the tub floor. Unlike older models with self-cleaning grinders, LG filters must be cleaned regularly — and most owners never do it. Monthly cleaning is LG's recommendation; reality is most units go years without it.

1. Pull out the lower rack completely.
2. Turn the cylindrical mesh filter counterclockwise (a quarter turn) and lift it straight out.
3. Remove the flat coarse filter beneath it by pulling it up from the sump.
4. Rinse both filters under warm running water. Use a soft brush to dislodge food particles, grease buildup, or broken glass chips — a toothbrush works well for the mesh cylinder.
5. Reinstall the flat filter first, then seat the cylinder and turn clockwise to lock.
6. Run a Rinse Only cycle to test drainage.

Step 2: Check the drain hose and air gap

If OE persists after filter cleaning, inspect the drain hose connection. Pull the dishwasher forward enough to access the back. The drain hose should have a high loop (routed up near the underside of the countertop) and should not be inserted more than 6–8 inches into the standpipe. Check that the hose is not kinked at the sharp bend behind the unit. If you recently installed a new garbage disposal, confirm that the knockout plug in the disposal's dishwasher inlet port was removed — a missed knockout plug blocks drainage completely and is a common source of OE on new installations.

Step 3: Inspect the drain pump

If both steps above fail, the drain pump impeller has a blockage or the pump motor has failed. The pump is accessible by removing the lower spray arm and filter assembly to expose the sump floor. Listen during a drain cycle: if the pump hums but water remains, there's likely a blockage in the impeller. If no sound comes from the pump at all, the motor has failed. LG drain pump assemblies cost $40–$90 OEM and are a moderate DIY replacement (2–3 hours, accessible from below the sump).

AE — Aqua Error: Leak Detected in Base Pan

AE triggers via a float switch mounted in the dishwasher's waterproof base pan. Even a small amount of water pooling under the tub activates the switch, and the control board locks out operation completely — the unit will not run a cycle until the float resets. This is a safety feature, not a nuisance; running with a leak can damage flooring and electrical components.

Immediate steps when AE appears:

1. Press Cancel and power off the dishwasher at the circuit breaker.
2. Close the water supply shutoff valve under the sink.
3. Do not run another cycle until the leak source is identified and repaired.

Common AE leak sources:

• Door gasket: Inspect the full perimeter of the door gasket for cracks, stiffness, or sections that have pulled away from the channel. A worn gasket is the most common cause of slow leaks that accumulate in the base pan.
• Inlet hose connection: Check the hose fitting at the back of the unit where it meets the inlet valve. Hand-tighten if loose; replace the hose if cracked.
• Sump seal / tub bottom: Look for cracks in the plastic tub floor or a deteriorated gasket between the pump assembly and the tub.
• Spray arm: A cracked spray arm can throw water against the door or tub walls at an angle that sends water past the gasket.

To reset the AE lock, the base pan must dry out. Tilt the dishwasher 45 degrees backward (with power disconnected) to drain accumulated water from the pan. The float switch resets automatically once dry — typically 30–60 minutes with a fan blowing into the base. Reconnect power and run a test cycle with the kick plate removed to visually confirm the leak is resolved before reassembling.

IE — Water Inlet Error

IE triggers when the pressure switch doesn't confirm that the tub has reached the required fill level within approximately 8 minutes — LG's standard fill timeout on most models. The four most common causes, in order of how often they actually explain the code:

1. Closed or partially closed supply valve. The shutoff valve under the sink should be fully open (counterclockwise until it stops). A valve that's only 80% open can still reduce flow enough to cause an IE timeout.
2. Clogged inlet screen. The threaded connection where the inlet hose meets the back of the dishwasher houses a fine mesh screen. In hard-water areas, mineral scale and sediment accumulate on this screen within 2–4 years. Disconnect the inlet hose, look into the port with a flashlight, and clean the screen with a toothbrush. This fix is free and often permanent with a water softener.
3. Low water pressure. LG specifies a minimum of 14.5 PSI (1.0 bar) for dishwasher fill. Homes on private wells or at the end of municipal supply lines can run below this during peak demand. Test with a gauge at the supply shutoff.
4. Failed inlet valve solenoid. If supply checks out, the solenoid coil inside the water inlet valve has failed. Replace the valve — LG inlet valves are model-specific but typically run $25–$55 OEM and are a straightforward DIY replacement (remove kick plate, disconnect hose and harness, swap valve).

HE — Heater Error

HE triggers under two opposite conditions: the water temperature failed to reach the target wash temperature within the expected heating window, or the thermistor read a temperature above 149°F (65°C), indicating a potential runaway condition. Two components are in scope:

• Thermistor (NTC temperature sensor): Before assuming the heating element has failed, test the thermistor. At room temperature (~70°F / 21°C), LG NTC sensors should read approximately 10–12 kΩ resistance. A reading of 0 or ∞ indicates an open or shorted sensor. LG NTC probes cost $15–$35 and are the cheaper first-replacement option.
• Heating element: A visually burned or open heating element will produce HE when the thermistor is reporting correctly. The element is typically accessible from the tub floor (remove the lower spray arm and filter assembly). Test resistance across the element terminals — an open circuit (infinite resistance) confirms failure. LG heating elements cost $40–$80 OEM.

HE can occasionally result from very cold incoming water that the element can't bring up to temperature quickly enough (inlet water below 50°F / 10°C is a real factor in northern climates during winter). In that case, running hot water at the kitchen sink for 30 seconds before starting the dishwasher pre-warms the supply line and can prevent HE on the first wash.

tE — Thermistor Fault

While HE can indicate either a heating element failure or a sensor issue, tE is specifically a thermistor fault — the sensor circuit itself reads an open or short condition rather than any valid temperature. This distinction matters for diagnosis: tE means the thermistor itself needs attention before you can even assess the heater.

Before replacing the thermistor, inspect the wiring harness connector. On most LG dishwasher models, the NTC probe is clipped into the sump assembly with a two-pin connector nearby. Water ingress or a loose connector seat is a surprisingly common cause of tE. Unplug the connector, dry it out, reseat it firmly, and power-cycle before ordering a sensor. If tE clears, you found the fault. If tE returns, replace the probe ($15–$35 OEM).

FE — Fill / Overflow Error

FE triggers when the float switch or pressure sensor detects water above the maximum fill line. The drain pump activates automatically to prevent overflow. Three scenarios produce FE:

• Non-dishwasher detergent: Even a small amount of handwashing dish soap (Dawn, Palmolive, etc.) creates massive suds that fool the water level sensor. The foam reads as excess water. The machine locks and drains. The fix: remove all dishes, run a Rinse cycle without detergent twice to clear the suds, then resume with proper dishwasher detergent. Using gel pods rather than powder reduces accidental sudsing.
• Stuck-open inlet valve: With the machine powered off, observe the tub over 30 minutes. If water slowly fills without a cycle running, the water inlet valve is not closing fully. Replace the inlet valve ($25–$55 OEM).
• Float switch stuck high: The float assembly in the base pan that triggers AE can stick in the raised position after debris accumulates around its base. With power off, locate the float (a small plastic dome or cylinder on the tub floor, front-left corner on most LG models) and check that it moves freely up and down.

LE — Wash Circulation Motor Error

LE is distinct from OE: OE covers the drain pump, while LE concerns the main wash motor — the pump that pressurizes water through the spray arms during the wash cycle. LE triggers when the motor can't reach operating RPM, stalls under load, or draws an abnormal current reading.

After a power-cycle reset, try running a cycle with a fully emptied tub (remove all dishes). An overloaded drum is a genuine cause of LE on initial motor spin-up. If LE appears on an empty machine, the motor itself has failed.

On most LG dishwasher models, the wash pump and circulation motor are a single combined assembly — you cannot replace just the motor windings. Expect to pay $120–$200 OEM for the assembly plus 1.5–2 hours of labor. Before ordering parts, run repair-vs-replace math: a dishwasher with a median lifespan of 9 years that presents LE at year 8 is rarely worth a $300–$400 total repair. See our appliance repair-vs-replace decision tree for the full calculation workflow, or how long dishwashers last for lifespan context.

nE, CE, CL — Other LG Dishwasher Codes

nE — Vario Motor / Spray Arm Selector (QuadWash models)

LG's QuadWash dishwashers (model numbers with "Q" in the series designation, like the LDFN series) use a secondary vario motor to direct water between multiple spray arm configurations — the multi-motion arms that move in opposing directions. nE indicates a fault in this vario motor. It is less commonly serviced than drain or inlet issues. To confirm nE, enter diagnostic test mode (on most LG DW models: press and hold Cancel + any cycle button simultaneously for 3 seconds — the display will show a test sequence). If nE appears in diagnostics, the vario motor assembly requires replacement. This is a service-level repair given the disassembly required.

CE — Communications Error

CE signals a failure in the communications pathway between the main control board and the motor assembly. Always start with a full power-cycle reset — CE can appear as a false positive after power fluctuations. If CE persists, the most likely physical cause is a loose or damaged connector in the motor wiring harness. The harness connector at the motor base (accessible by removing the kick plate and lower tub panel) is the highest-failure-rate connection point. If harness connectors are secure and CE continues, the main control board has an internal fault. Control boards run $150–$300 OEM, making CE one of the more expensive LG dishwasher diagnoses. Verify the serial number age before investing — a board failure on a 10-year-old unit is a replacement indicator.

CL — Control Lock / Child Lock

CL is not a fault code — it appears when the Control Lock feature is active. This feature disables all panel buttons to prevent accidental cycle changes. To deactivate: press and hold the designated lock button (typically marked with a padlock icon, or sometimes the Rinse or Dual Zone button depending on model) for 3 seconds until CL disappears and the display returns to normal. Consult the model-specific owner's manual if the button is unclear. CL does not require any service.

DIY vs. Call a Tech

Repair vs. Replace Math for LG Dishwashers

The standard appliance repair threshold: replace if repair cost exceeds 50% of replacement cost. LG dishwashers range from $550 (entry LDF series) to $1,800+ (premium LSAS Studio series). For the most common mid-range LG models, replacement cost is approximately $700–$1,000, setting the repair ceiling at $350–$500.

Combine the cost threshold with age. According to NAHB data, dishwashers have a median lifespan of 9 years. An LG dishwasher presenting LE or CE at year 8 or beyond is almost always a replace recommendation — even if the repair cost is technically below the 50% threshold, the remaining expected life doesn't justify the investment. An OE or IE code at any age resolves cheaply enough that repair always wins.

One more check before deciding: verify the manufacture date from the serial number to confirm the actual age (not the install date, which can be off by 6–18 months), and check whether the unit has any open recalls. Use ApplianceIQ's serial decoder to get the manufacturing date and recall status in one lookup — the first 25 lookups are free. For a complete LG serial decode walkthrough, see our LG serial number decoder guide.

Check Your LG Dishwasher's Age Before You Decide

Appliance age drives repair math — and the serial number, not the install date, is the authoritative source. LG encodes the manufacture year and month in positions 1–3 of the serial number. A serial beginning with 410 means the 4th factory, manufactured in 2010 (or 2020 — decade context required). The full LG date-code table is in our LG serial number decoder guide.

Once you know the age, factor in whether any open CPSC recall applies to your model. LG has had recalls on specific dishwasher models (most notably a 2021 recall involving overheating in certain LDF series units). Enter your model number into ApplianceIQ's recall check before committing to any repair cost.