LG dishwashers fault codes

LG dishwashers show two-letter codes, and the manual is unusually upbeat about them — LG open the troubleshooting section by telling you that you can remedy most problems yourself and save the cost of a call-out. That is largely true. Where it is not true, and where LG are noticeably quieter than other manufacturers, is on the codes that involve water escaping.

Where the code shows on a LG

Do not carry LG washing machine codes across to the dishwasher. The dishwasher manual uses IE for a water inlet problem and never 1E, and it lists LE and NE as two separate motor codes rather than the single motor fault a washer shows. There is no CE and no E1 in the dishwasher manual at all, whatever third-party sites list. One code in the set is not a fault: CL means the Control Lock is on, and it clears by holding Half Load and Energy Saver together for three seconds.

How to reset a LG

LG generally have you fix the cause and restart the programme rather than perform a reset sequence. Where the manual does prescribe an action it is usually the phrase "call for service if the same problem occurs again", which amounts to running it once more and seeing — sensible for a drain hose, much less so for a leak.

Most common LG faults

The LG codes people look up most.

Every LG fault code

6 published codes. Filtering happens in the page — every code is in the HTML.

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Showing 6 of 6 codes

Every published LG fault code with its meaning and severity
Code	What it means	Severity
OE	Drainage problem. LG list this twice — once as a running fault and once as an installation fault — and the second is the one people miss.	Get it checked
IE	Water inlet problem. It is IE with a letter I, not 1E — the washing machine convention does not apply here.	Get it checked
AE	LG’s leak code. LG tell you to call for service if it happens again — we think that is the wrong advice and explain why.	Stop — call an engineer
HE	Heater circuit failure. The dishes come out wet and nothing has been properly sanitised, even though the cycle appeared to finish.	Get it checked
LE	Motor trouble on the Direct Drive motor — and the code where LG’s 10-year warranty claim needs checking carefully before you pay for anything.	Get it checked
bE	Oversudsing, and LG name the culprit outright: liquid dish soap. Their published remedy involves a bowl of milk, which sounds like folklore but is in the manual.	Usually simple to fix

LG models

Codes can differ between generations. Check yours.

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