Hotpoint F01 fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
A control board fault where some or all functions stop responding. Hotpoint give a specific two-minute power cycle, and it is worth doing once properly.
Take care
What F01 means
Hotpoint describe F01 as an electronic circuit board fault, with the symptom that the machine is not operating and some or all functions are not selectable. In practice that is a machine that lights up but will not take an instruction — buttons that do nothing, a programme dial that will not select, a start button that produces no response. The useful part is that Hotpoint publish an exact reset for this one rather than sending you straight to an engineer, and the specifics matter. They ask you to disconnect from the mains for a minimum of two minutes, reconnect, then wait thirty seconds before trying again. Those numbers are not arbitrary padding. The two minutes allows the board to discharge properly, and switching off at the front panel does not achieve the same thing because parts of the board stay live. A great many people try a five-second flick of the switch, conclude the reset does not work, and book an engineer for a machine that would have cleared.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Transient board lock-up | A brief supply disturbance or a software hang leaving the board unresponsive. The reason a proper power cycle is worth doing before anything else. | Common |
| Control board fault | The genuine version, where the board does not recover. This is what the code names, and it is established once a correct reset has failed. | Occasional |
| Poor mains supply | An extension lead, a shared adaptor or a loose socket. Worth ruling out because it is free and because a washing machine should be on its own socket regardless. | Occasional |
What to try yourself
Unplug the machine at the socket. Not the switch on the front, not the wall switch — pull the plug, so the board is genuinely dead.
Leave it for a full two minutes by the clock. This is Hotpoint’s own figure and the most common reason the reset appears not to work is that people give it ten seconds.
Plug back in, then wait a further thirty seconds before touching anything. Hotpoint specify that pause as well, and it lets the board finish its start-up checks before you interrupt them.
Select a short programme and start it. If the machine runs, the fault was transient and there is nothing more to do.
While you are behind the machine, check it is in its own wall socket rather than an extension lead or a multi-way adaptor.
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What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£280
Time on site
10 minutes
Free if the reset clears it, which is a genuine possibility on this code. A replacement control board is typically £180 to £280 fitted, at which point the age of the machine matters.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated August 2026. Your quote may differ.
What other owners found
Nobody has shared what worked for them on this code yet. If you have had it, you would be the first — and it genuinely helps the next person.
Related Hotpoint fault codes
- F09Get it checkedA software fault, usually showing as several lights flashing at once and no way to select a programme. Hotpoint send this one to an engineer.Related: electronics and power
- CEStop — call an engineerAn over-current in the motor circuit. LG’s own instruction is to close the water tap, unplug the machine, and have it repaired.Related: electronics and power
- EH0Get it checkedA mains supply problem, not a water problem — despite what several popular guides say. The manufacturer warns specifically against extension leads here.Related: electronics and power
- 8EGet it checkedThe machine has measured a current it did not expect and stopped. Try one power cycle, and if it returns treat it as electrical rather than mechanical.Related: electronics and power
Common questions about Hotpoint F01
How many times should I try the reset?
Twice at most, done properly. A correct two-minute power cycle either clears it or does not; doing a bad one six times proves nothing. If two proper attempts fail, the board fault is real.
Is a control board worth replacing?
This is where the arithmetic gets uncomfortable. A board is one of the most expensive parts in the machine, and on anything past about seven years old the quote often approaches the price of a new machine with a fresh warranty. Get the figure before agreeing to the work.
F18 sounds like the same thing. What is the difference?
Hotpoint give the identical reset advice for both. F18 is an internal data error rather than a board fault, so the code differs, but from where you are standing the first thing to try is the same.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer support portal
Checked by Appliance technical reviewer (Qualifications to be displayed on appointment) on 5 August 2026.