Miele F231 fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
F231 is not in Miele’s published washing machine fault list. Their TwinDos codes are F211 to F214, so check the display, then follow Miele’s generic Fault F instruction.
Take care
What F231 means
People arrive here having searched for error 231 on a TwinDos machine, and the first honest thing to say is that Miele do not publish an F231 for their washing machines. Their support site carries a dedicated page for every fault code the current W1 range can show, fifty-one of them, and this site has read the list from end to end: the F2 hundreds that exist are F210, the suds circulation nozzle; F211 to F214, the four TwinDos thermocouple faults; F220, a leak detected; F242, a communication fault between the touch display and the electronic module; and F252.
There is no F231, and no Miele operating manual read for this page lists one either. That leaves three possibilities, in the order they are worth checking. The first is a misread. On a segment display F and the number alternate rather than appearing together, and 213 and 231 are one transposition apart; F213 is a real TwinDos code, the thermocouple in container two short-circuited, which is exactly the fault a TwinDos owner would expect to be looking at.
The second is that the display is showing a TwinDos message rather than a fault code: Miele’s TwinDos texts include cartridge not recognised, cartridge leaking, TwinDos not usable and TwinDos maintenance for compartment one or two must be started, none of which is a technical fault and all of which have an owner remedy. The third is that the machine really has shown a number Miele have not written up, in which case the only manufacturer instruction that applies is the one Miele give for any Fault F they do not name: disconnect the machine from the electricity supply, wait at least two minutes, switch on again and restart the programme, and if the message appears again contact Miele. This page carries no meaning for F231 because none exists to carry, and the manufacturer-silent marker on it says so. What it does carry is what Miele say about the codes it is most likely to be, and the one instruction they give for the rest.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| F213 misread as F231 | A real TwinDos code one transposition away: thermocouple sensor short-circuited, container 2. Miele say you can continue with manual dispensing. | Common |
| A TwinDos message rather than a fault code | Cartridge not recognised, cartridge leaking or TwinDos maintenance must be started all appear on the display and all have an owner remedy in Miele’s guide. | Common |
| A code Miele have not published | Possible on a machine with newer firmware than the support pages. Miele’s only instruction for an unlisted Fault F is a two-minute disconnection, then contact them. | Occasional |
| Another F2 hundred read in poor light | F211, F212, F214 and F220 all exist. F220 is a leak and is the one worth ruling out first, because it is the only one of these that can leave water on the floor. | Occasional |
What to try yourself
Read the display again with the door light on and write down every character in order. On a segment display the F and the digits alternate; watch a full cycle before deciding what the number is.
If it reads F213, or any of F211 to F214, go to the F211 page. Miele’s statement for all four is that you can continue to use the machine with manual dispensing.
If the display is text rather than a code, check the TwinDos cartridges are seated and not empty, and run the TwinDos maintenance programme if the machine asks for it. Those are Miele’s owner remedies and they need a TwinDosCare cleaning cartridge.
Look under and behind the machine for water. F220 is a leak code that Miele say can also be shown in error; if there is water, stop and follow the F220 page instead.
If it really does say F231, follow Miele’s generic instruction: switch off at the socket and unplug, or switch off at the circuit breaker, wait at least two minutes, switch on and restart the programme. If it returns, contact Miele with the exact display and the model number from inside the door.
Do not run the machine repeatedly against a recurring fault code. Miele’s instruction after one restart is to contact them, and the cause of an unlisted code is theirs to diagnose.
Get a qualified appliance engineer to look at your Miele F231
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. When you book a qualified appliance engineer, tell them the make, the model and the exact code or message on the display, and ask whether they carry parts for this make — that is what turns one visit into a repair rather than a quote.
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£320
Time on site
10 minutes
Nothing if it is a misread TwinDos code and you dispense by hand, or a maintenance message. A TwinDos unit repair sits around the £200 to £320 Miele quote for the F211 family; an unlisted code has no honest estimate until Miele have diagnosed it.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 2026. Your quote may differ.
Own this appliance and had this code? . Nothing is published until a person has read it.
Related Miele fault codes
- F92Usually simple to fixMould. Miele are telling you that months of cool washes have grown bacterial colonies, and the remedy is a maintenance wash.Related: detergent and foam
- F16Usually simple to fixToo much detergent or too many additives. Miele want you dosing for your water hardness and the actual soiling, not filling the cap.Related: detergent and foam
- F211Usually simple to fixA TwinDos fault. Miele say you can carry on using the machine with manual dispensing, which makes this an inconvenience rather than a breakdown.Related: detergent and foam
- F11Get it checkedThe drain is restricted. Miele publish a maximum drain height of one metre, and they warn that straightening a kinked hose can weaken it enough to split later.Related: same brand
- F10Get it checkedWater is not getting in. Miele point at the stopcock and the inlet filter, and both are owner jobs on their own guidance.Related: same brand
- F34Get it checkedThe door could not be locked. Miele’s manual says close the door again and restart; their website adds an overloaded drum and a two-minute power-off. Try those before calling.Related: same brand
Own a Miele washing machine? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Common questions about Miele F231
Does Miele F231 mean the TwinDos has failed?
Miele publish no F231, so nobody can say what it means from their documents. The TwinDos codes they do publish are F211 to F214, thermocouple faults, and for all four they say you can carry on with manual dispensing.
Can I keep washing while I sort it out?
If the code is one of the TwinDos family, yes, by Miele’s own statement, with detergent in the drawer. If it is an unlisted code that returns after the two-minute disconnection, Miele’s instruction is to contact them rather than carry on.
Where is the full list of Miele codes?
On miele.co.uk under washing machine support, one page per fault, and this site has pages for the ones that matter to owners. If your number is not on Miele’s list, it is not on anyone’s, whatever a third-party table says.
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
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 documentation checked — this code is not published in it, and we say so on the page
- Manufacturer support portal
- Manufacturer technical and service documentation
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.