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LG Washer Error Codes: What Each One Means

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LG splits its washer codes by machine type, and the same letters can mean different things on a front-load washer, a top-load washer and a SideKick pedestal. This guide follows LG’s US error-code list and its separate top-load blinking-code page. Find your type first, read the code exactly as it appears, including capitalization, and do only the owner steps LG lists. Several displays that look like faults are normal status messages, and a handful of codes have no description on LG’s page, so this guide leaves them unexplained rather than guessing. If the real problem is water left in the tub or a basket that will not turn, the washer not-draining guide and the washer not-spinning guide cover those symptoms.

Front-load washers and wash towers

LG lists these front-load codes, with the owner action it gives for each.

Code What LG says it means What LG lists for the owner
IE Inadequate water supply Fully open the supply tap, straighten any kinked hose, clean the inlet filter and check water pressure; if pressure is low, test another tap and consult a certified plumber
OE Water will not drain Straighten or clear a kinked or clogged drain hose and clean the drain filter
UE Unbalanced load Add one or two similar items if the load is too small; if it appears at the end of a cycle the clothes are too wet; rearrange the load, close the door and press Start/Pause
LE Motor overloaded and locked Let the washer rest 30 minutes, then restart the cycle
FF Unit frozen Check the inlet and drain hoses and the drain pump, add warm water to the drum and wrap the supply hose in a warm, wet towel
PF Power failure during a cycle Restart the cycle
SUD Too many suds A suds-reducing cycle runs and adds about two hours; use less detergent, no more than the manufacturer’s amount
CE Motor circuit over-current Unplug for 10 seconds, plug back in and run a cycle; if it persists, close the tap, unplug the washer and request repair
Ed / OP Easy dispense issue LG points to its easy-dispense troubleshooting video; it is not a repair fault

Top-load washers

Code What LG says it means What LG lists for the owner
OE Draining slowly or not at all Confirm the drain hose is installed correctly and is not pinched, clogged or frozen
IE No water supply or low pressure Confirm the supply lines are connected and on, check for pinches, bends or leaks and clean the inlet filters; LG gives a water pressure of 14.5 to 116 psi
dE Lid not closed properly Close the lid fully and press Start/Pause; the washer will not spin until the lid is locked
uE (small letter) Unbalanced load, auto-correcting No action; the washer retries up to three times
UE (cycle paused) The load could not be balanced Rearrange the items in the tub, then continue

Top-load blinking LED codes

LG’s separate page covers codes that appear as blinking lights on top-load models.

Code LG’s description Owner action LG lists
dE (drawer) The washer could not lock the drawer Turn off the washer, open the drawer, remove anything caught under the lid such as shipping material or clothing, close the drawer firmly and press Start/Pause
dR Not a fault; a special drain feature that drains the tub after 8 minutes paused mid-cycle or 4 minutes powered on with no cycle started None
EE Main control board memory problem Unplug the washer for 10 minutes; if it persists, the board may need replacement
E6 Usually a coin or foreign object stuck between the pulsator and tub Empty the tub, check the bottom and the seam between drum and pulsator, and remove any item with pliers
LE1 Locked motor, often an obstruction or excessive load Use the same steps as E6
PS Incorrect supply voltage LG says the unit needs 120 VAC (±5%) with correct polarity; if it will not power up, check the power source
tE Temperature sensor error LG gives no owner steps; contact support if it persists
PE Water pressure sensor not working properly Excess suds from too much detergent or softener may be the cause; a tub-clean cycle with a cleanser such as Affresh may help, otherwise a technician should inspect it
FE Fill error: water level too high, possibly from a faulty inlet valve, and the machine may fill while off Turn off the water supply, run a drain-only or spin-only cycle, and leave the unit unplugged until repair
dL Door latch switch not working properly Remove any items from the door, unplug for 10 seconds, plug back in and retry

LG warns to use pliers only on the stuck object and keep your hands clear of moving parts for E6 and LE1, and to shut off the water and stay unplugged for FE.

SideKick pedestal codes

For a SideKick pedestal, LG lists dE1 (drawer open: close it), dE2 (drawer closed but not locked: turn the washer off, hold the drawer open, restart and close it firmly), dE3 (lid not latched), IE and OE (water supply and drain checks, with the drain no more than 53 inches above the floor), UE (redistribute clothes), tCL (tub clean due) and E7 (improperly installed under a front-load washer). LG’s warning is never to use the SideKick alone, under any other washer or under a dryer. For tCL it gives a mix of one quarter cup of bleach in a quart of water poured into the empty tub, or a commercial cleaner used in a lesser amount. A tub-clean reminder is also a good moment to read the front-load washer smell guide.

Status messages that are not errors

LG lists Cd as a cool-down that runs after drying to reduce wrinkles for up to four hours and stops when you remove the clothes or press Start/Pause. CL means child lock is active; press and hold the child-lock button for three seconds to toggle it, and some models use two buttons together. Do not call for service for either one.

An unbalanced-load error that keeps returning

LG’s UE help page lists four causes: unevenly distributed laundry, often from a laundry net used wrongly; items not suited to machine washing; a washer that is not level; and a load that is too large or too small. It says to aim for a drum about two-thirds full, to remove unsuitable items such as bathroom mats, carpets, electric blankets, curtains, rubber mats, waterproof clothing and dolls, and to use the Duvet cycle with medium spin for blankets or Sportswear with medium spin for padded jackets. To level the washer, rock it front to back and side to side, adjust the leg on the tilted side with a wrench, and use a level on the top plate until the bubble is centered at the front and in the middle.

Codes LG lists without a description

LG’s page names DE, DE 1, DE 2, DE3, DL, DR, D3, DHE, HE, SE, CD, FE, PE, TE and uB among others without describing them in the page content, and it has separate pages for blinking codes, a clock that does not advance and unresponsive buttons. That does not mean the codes have no meaning; it means this page cannot assign one. Check your manual or contact LG, and do not borrow the meaning of a similar-looking code.

When to stop

Stop and contact LG if the same code returns after the listed action, if water is leaking or if the display shows a motor, board or sensor code with no owner step. Have the model number, the exact code and the actions you tried ready when you call. If the washer shows no code but will not begin a cycle, the washer won’t-start guide lists the visible checks.

A washer that shakes hard on the spin, with or without a UE code, is covered in the washer shaking guide, and water on the floor around the machine is covered in the washer leaking guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is CL an error code on an LG washer?

No. LG says CL means child lock is active. Press and hold the child-lock button for three seconds to toggle it; some models use two buttons together.

What does Cd mean on an LG washer?

LG describes Cd as a cool-down that runs after drying to reduce wrinkles for up to four hours. It stops when you remove the clothes or press Start/Pause.

What does OE mean on an LG washer?

OE means the washer is not draining. LG lists straightening or clearing a kinked or clogged drain hose and, on front-load models, cleaning the drain filter.

What does UE mean on an LG washer?

UE is an unbalanced-load error. LG says to rearrange the laundry, keep the drum about two-thirds full, avoid unsuitable items and make sure the washer is level.

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