Siemens Washing Machine
Error Codes — Complete Guide
Every E and F fault code explained in plain English. What broke, why it happened, and exactly how to sort it — step by step.
Before you panic — read this first
Siemens washing machines use error codes starting with E or F to tell you something's gone wrong. Not all of them are serious. In fact, most common ones — like E18, E17, E32 or E33 — you can sort yourself in under 10 minutes without calling anyone. This guide covers every known error code across the full Siemens IQ300, IQ500, IQ700, WM and WD range. Click any code below to jump straight to the fix.
The child lock feature is turned on. This is not a fault — it's a safety lock that stops anyone from changing the programme or stopping the machine mid-cycle. The machine will not respond to button presses.
You need to deactivate child lock by pressing and holding a specific button combination (usually two buttons simultaneously for 3–5 seconds). Check your model's manual as the button combo varies.
- 1 Look at your control panel for symbols marked with a padlock or key.
- 2 On most Siemens models, press and hold the relevant buttons (varies by model — often two spin/temp buttons) for 3–5 seconds until the key icon disappears.
- 3 If you are not sure which buttons, switch off the machine, then switch on and try. The icon should clear.
- 4 Refer to your instruction manual for your exact model if needed.
Water pressure is too low, the supply tap is closed, the inlet hose is kinked, or the mesh filter on the hose connection is blocked with debris. The machine needs a steady flow to fill.
Tap not fully open. Kinked or flattened supply hose. Blocked inlet mesh filter. Low household water pressure. AquaStop safety hose triggered.
- 1 Check that the water supply tap (usually behind or under the machine) is fully open — turn anti-clockwise until it stops.
- 2 Pull the machine slightly forward and inspect the blue/grey inlet hose. Make sure it's not bent, kinked or squashed.
- 3 Turn off the tap, unscrew the hose from the machine's inlet valve. You'll see a small mesh filter inside — rinse it under running water to clear any grit.
- 4 Test the water pressure by filling a bucket from the tap. You need at least 10 litres per minute (roughly a full bucket in 6 seconds).
- 5 Reconnect, turn on the tap, and restart the machine.
The machine's control board has hit a general error it can't categorise. This can be a one-off glitch caused by a power fluctuation, static, or a brief sensor misread. Not always a hardware fault.
Brief power surge or dip. Communication glitch between control board and sensors. Rare: control module starting to fail.
- 1 Turn the machine off using the power button.
- 2 Wait a full 10 seconds.
- 3 Switch it back on and select your programme again.
- 4 If the error immediately reappears, call Siemens service — the main board may need attention.
The machine started or tried to start, but the door interlock hasn't confirmed that the door is properly shut. The machine won't run without this safety confirmed. A sock or small item caught in the seal is often the culprit.
Clothing jammed in the door seal. Door not pushed shut firmly. Overloaded drum stopping the door from sealing. Faulty door interlock switch (less common).
- 1 Open the door fully and check the rubber door seal all the way around for trapped clothing or fabric.
- 2 If the drum is very full, remove 2–3 items and try again.
- 3 Push the door firmly closed — you should hear an audible click when it latches.
- 4 Press the Start/Pause (play and pause) button to resume.
- 5 Try switching the machine off and back on, then setting a fresh programme.
The machine waits a set amount of time for water to reach the correct level. If the flow rate is too slow, it gives up and throws E17. The drum has either not filled at all, or filled too slowly.
Water tap not fully open. Blocked inlet mesh filter. Kinked supply hose. Low water pressure in the property. AquaStop hose blocked or triggered.
- 1 Turn off the water supply tap fully, then back fully open — sometimes it's only half open without realising.
- 2 Pull the machine away from the wall and check the supply hose for kinks or tight bends.
- 3 Turn off the tap. Unscrew the hose from the inlet valve at the back of the machine. Inside the valve connection, there's a small mesh filter — gently pull it out with pliers and rinse under the tap.
- 4 Reattach hose, turn water back on, and restart.
- 5 Test flow rate by putting a bucket under the open tap — 10 litres per minute minimum is what Siemens requires. If pressure is low, contact a plumber.
The machine can't drain water fast enough. Either the pump filter is clogged with fluff, coins, hair grips or debris — or the drain hose has become kinked or blocked. The machine won't spin until it drains.
Blocked pump filter (main cause — should be cleaned every 3 months). Kinked or flattened drain hose. Blocked standpipe. Foreign object (coin, button) stuck in the pump impeller.
- 1 Place a large shallow tray or towel on the floor in front of the machine. At the bottom front panel, there's a small access door or flap — open it.
- 2 You'll see a small drain hose (pull it out and put it in your tray) and a large circular filter cap. Drain the water through the small hose first.
- 3 Slowly unscrew the filter cap anti-clockwise. More water will come out — have your tray ready.
- 4 Pull the filter out. Clean away all fluff, debris, hair, and foreign objects. Check the cavity too for any coins or buttons stuck in the impeller (the rotating part).
- 5 Screw the filter back in firmly and close the panel.
- 6 Check the drain hose at the back — make sure it's not kinked, squashed behind the machine, or sitting too deep in the standpipe (should not go more than 15cm in).
- 7 Restart the machine. Error should clear.
The washing machine's heater couldn't bring water to the selected temperature within the expected time window. This typically means the heating element has failed, or there's an issue with the thermistor (temperature sensor) sending wrong readings.
Burnt out heating element. Faulty NTC thermistor. Wiring fault to the heater. Scale buildup on element reducing efficiency (if machine has never been descaled).
- 1 Try a full reset — off, wait 30 seconds, back on. Run a cold wash to see if the error appears without heating involved.
- 2 Check when the machine was last descaled. If never, consider running a descaling programme — heavy limescale buildup can insulate the element.
- 3 If the error returns on any programme with heating, a technician will need to test the element resistance with a multimeter and check the thermistor.
The machine detected heat in the drum when no heating was commanded by the programme. This could mean the heating element relay on the control board is stuck closed, or there's a wiring fault causing unintended current to the heater.
A soft reset sometimes clears this if it was a false reading. Turn off, wait 30 seconds, restart. If it comes back, the control board needs professional inspection.
- 1 Turn the machine off at the power button and wait 30 seconds.
- 2 Switch back on and run a short cold programme.
- 3 If E20 reappears — stop using the machine and call a technician. An uncontrolled heater is a safety risk.
A flood switch (anti-overflow protection) in the machine's base has detected water. The machine shuts down immediately to prevent water damage. There is water sitting in the bottom tray of the machine. This is a real fault — not a glitch.
Leaking drum seal or door seal. Loose or cracked internal hose. Faulty detergent drawer letting water overflow. Cracked sump hose or pump housing.
- 1 Turn off the water supply tap immediately.
- 2 Turn off and unplug the machine from the mains.
- 3 Tilt the machine slightly backwards (get help — they're heavy) — water will drain out from the base tray. Mop it up.
- 4 Inspect the door seal, drum seals, detergent drawer and visible hoses for the source of the water.
- 5 Do not restart the machine until the leak source is found and fixed.
Siemens IQ series machines have a turbidity sensor that measures how dirty the water is during washing, so it can adjust rinse cycles automatically. E25 means this sensor is giving readings outside its expected range or has failed.
Try a full reset. If error persists, the sensor itself or its wiring connection needs professional diagnosis. This is not a DIY repair.
The analogue pressure sensor tells the machine how much water is in the drum. If it fails, the machine doesn't know the water level and can't safely run a cycle. It will stop to prevent over-filling or running dry.
Blocked pressure chamber tube (sometimes can be cleared). Failed pressure sensor (pressure switch). Wiring fault to the sensor.
- 1 Try a reset first — off, wait 30 seconds, on again.
- 2 Check the thin plastic tube running from the drum to the pressure switch (usually visible when the top panel is removed) for kinks or blockages.
- 3 If error persists, a technician is needed to replace the pressure switch.
The digital pressure sensor (on models that use a digital rather than analogue switch) has failed. This is essentially the same issue as E26 but affecting a different component type depending on which model you have.
Reset first. If error returns, a technician is needed. Note your model number before calling as it determines which pressure sensor type your machine has.
E29 is related to the water inlet — the machine detected a problem getting water in. This can be caused by the same issues as E17 (blocked filter, low pressure, kinked hose) but may also relate to the inlet valve solenoid itself not opening properly.
Tap not fully open. Blocked inlet mesh filter. Kinked supply hose. AquaStop hose issue. Less common: faulty solenoid inlet valve.
- 1 Open the supply tap fully.
- 2 Check and straighten the supply hose.
- 3 Clean the inlet mesh filter (see E17 steps above).
- 4 Test water pressure (10 litres/minute minimum).
- 5 If all of the above check out fine and the error persists, the inlet valve solenoid may need testing or replacing — this requires a technician.
The machine has a vibration/balance detection system. If the load clumps to one side during spin, it creates dangerous vibration. The machine automatically stops the spin to protect itself, the bearings, and the surrounding floor and walls. This is actually the machine working exactly as designed.
Single heavy item (like a duvet or jeans) on its own. Too many small items. Synthetic fabrics clumping together. Overloaded drum. Very small load in a large machine.
- 1 Open the door (wait for it to unlock — usually takes 2–3 minutes after the drum stops).
- 2 Physically redistribute the wet laundry in the drum — spread items evenly, untangle twisted items.
- 3 For a single heavy item, add a couple of towels to balance the load.
- 4 Close the door and run a spin-only programme.
The machine detected foam levels above what the turbidity and pressure sensors expect. Too much foam can block sensors and prevent accurate water level readings. The machine pauses the programme and may add extra rinses automatically.
Too much powder or liquid detergent. Using non-HE (High Efficiency) detergent in a machine that needs HE. Washing lightly soiled items with a full detergent dose. Soft water area amplifying suds.
- 1 Allow the machine to complete its cycle — it may add extra rinses to clear the foam on its own.
- 2 If the machine is stuck mid-cycle, cancel the programme, let it drain, and restart without detergent to rinse the drum clean.
- 3 Going forward — use half the recommended detergent dose for lightly soiled loads, especially if you have soft water.
- 4 Check your detergent is suitable for front-loading washing machines (low-foam or HE type).
E34 and E16 are closely related door lock codes. E34 usually indicates the door isn't fully latched at the point of starting a programme. The machine refuses to run for safety reasons — you can't have the door popping open mid-wash.
Clothing caught between door glass and rubber seal. Overloaded drum pushing against door. Worn door hinge (door sitting slightly low). Damaged or worn door interlock mechanism.
- 1 Open the door and carefully check the entire door seal for trapped items of clothing.
- 2 Check if the drum is overloaded — items should not be packed too tight; you should be able to get a hand flat on top of the laundry.
- 3 Close the door firmly until you clearly hear the click of the latch engaging.
- 4 Restart the programme.
- 5 If your door sags or doesn't line up well with the latch, the hinge may need tightening or replacing.
Some error codes are model-specific or relate to internal diagnostic codes not published in standard consumer documentation. These are usually communication errors between modules, motor driver faults, or control board internal errors.
Always try the standard reset procedure first. If the code returns after two attempts, don't keep running the machine — call a professional with your model number ready.
- 1 Press the power/on-off button to turn the machine off completely.
- 2 Unplug from the wall socket.
- 3 Wait a minimum of 30 seconds (some engineers recommend 2–3 minutes for capacitors to fully discharge).
- 4 Plug back in, turn on, select a fresh programme and try running it.
- 5 If the same error code appears again — note the exact code and your model number and call a technician or Siemens service.
Child lock is on. The machine is locked against accidental use. Hold the correct button combination for 3–5 seconds to deactivate. Check your manual for your model's specific buttons.
Water supply issue. Machine can't draw water properly. Check tap is open, hose isn't kinked, and inlet filter isn't blocked.
Door is locked mid-cycle. This is normal during operation. Wait 2–3 minutes after the machine stops before the door will open. If stuck, try turning off and on again.
Too much foam detected. The machine is pausing to deal with excess suds. Let it finish, then reduce detergent next time.
If "End" flashes alternately with E32, the spin was stopped due to imbalance. Redistribute the laundry and run a spin programme again.
Links to E23. Water detected in the machine's base tray. Stop using immediately. Turn off water supply and unplug machine. Source and fix the leak before restarting.
| Series | Common Model Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IQ300 | WM14N190GB WM14N293GB WM14NV93 | Entry level, uses all standard E/F codes |
| IQ500 | WM14PI90GB WM14UT89GB WM14T591 | Mid range, includes turbidity sensor (E25 relevant) |
| IQ700 | WM16XKH9GB WM14VK09GB WM16W790 | Top range, all sensor codes apply |
| WD (Washer-Dryer) | WD14H542 WD14H422 WD15G442 | Washer-dryer combos use same E/F fault system |
| iSensoric | WM14S892 WM12S891 | Smart sensor models, all codes in this guide apply |
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