General ITAdvanced

Kenmore Washer Error Codes and Solutions: Complete Troubleshooting Guide for IE, OE, UE, LE, FE, PE, dE, CE, tE, PF, F20, F21, F22, F24, F28, F32, F33, F5 E2, F8 E1, F9 E1 and Sud

Kenmore washer error-code troubleshooting requires an extra step that is not as important with many other appliance brands: identify the exact model number b...

Bison Technical Team Enterprise IT specialists

Updated 25 Aug 2026 15 min read 1 total views

Kenmore washer error-code troubleshooting requires an extra step that is not as important with many other appliance brands: identify the exact model number before interpreting the code.

Kenmore has sold washing machines manufactured on different underlying OEM platforms. As a result, two machines carrying the Kenmore name may use completely different electronic controls, components, diagnostic procedures and error-code definitions.

For example, many 796-series Kenmore washers use LG-derived platforms, while many 110-series machines use Whirlpool-derived platforms. Codes such as IE, OE, UE, LE and dE are commonly encountered on the former, whereas codes such as F20, F21, F28, F8 E1, F9 E1 and Sud/Sd occur on various Whirlpool-derived platforms.

Kenmore's official support site provides model-number-based manuals rather than one universal error-code table, which reinforces the importance of identifying the complete model before diagnosis.

Therefore:

Never replace a component solely because a generic internet list says a Kenmore error code means a particular failure. Verify the complete model number and the applicable technical documentation first.

Step 1: Find the Kenmore Washer Model Number

Before troubleshooting, locate the appliance identification label.

Record the complete model number, for example:

796.xxxxxxxx

110.xxxxxxxx

Do not diagnose the machine using only:

Kenmore
Kenmore Elite
HE
HE2
HE3
HE4
front load
top load

These descriptions do not uniquely identify the electronic platform.

The first three digits of many traditional Kenmore model numbers are particularly useful for identifying the manufacturing platform.

Kenmore itself recommends entering the model number into its manual lookup system to retrieve the appropriate owner's documentation.

Quick Kenmore Washer Error Code Reference

Error Code	Common Interpretation	Typical Area to Inspect
IE	Water inlet/fill problem	Supply, hoses, inlet valves
OE	Drain problem	Filter, hose, drain pump
UE/uE	Unbalanced load	Load, leveling, suspension
LE	Motor/drive problem	Motor, Hall sensor, wiring
FE	Overfill condition	Inlet valve, pressure system
PE	Water-level/pressure sensor problem	Sensor, hose, wiring
dE	Door error	Door, lock, wiring
CE	Electrical/current or drive-system fault	Motor/control circuit
tE/TE	Temperature-sensor fault	Thermistor, wiring
PF	Power failure/interruption	Power supply
F20	Water inlet/fill problem	Water supply/inlet system
F21	Long-drain problem	Pump/filter/drain hose
F22	Door-lock related fault on applicable platforms	Door lock/wiring
F24	Water-temperature sensor fault on applicable models	Thermistor/wiring
F28	Communication fault	Control boards/wiring
F32	Pressure-switch/sensor related on applicable models	Pressure system
F33	Pump/drive-system related fault on applicable models	Pump/control circuit
F5 E2	Door/lid lock problem	Lock mechanism
F8 E1	No/low water or long fill	Inlet system
F9 E1	Long drain	Drain system
Sud/Sd	Excess suds/poor draining	Detergent/drain system

Important: This table is a diagnostic starting point, not a universal Kenmore code definition. Always verify it against the model-specific documentation.

Kenmore IE Error – Water Inlet Error

On applicable 796-series washers, IE indicates that the washer is not filling correctly or the expected water level has not been reached within the allowed period. Sears PartsDirect documentation for Kenmore 796 front-load machines identifies IE as an inlet water supply/fill error.

Common causes

Water faucet partially or completely closed
Low household water pressure
Kinked supply hose
Clogged inlet screen
Failed water inlet valve
Damaged wiring
Electronic control fault

Troubleshooting

Verify that both water faucets are fully open.

Inspect the hot and cold inlet hoses for:

kinks
crushing
blockage
freezing

Turn off the water before disconnecting hoses.

Inspect the valve inlet screens. If the valve assembly is damaged or badly contaminated, replacement may be safer than attempting aggressive screen cleaning.

If water supply is normal, inspect the electrical connections between the inlet valves and control board.

A failed inlet valve assembly is a common repair when adequate external water supply has already been confirmed.

Kenmore OE Error – Drainage Failure

OE commonly indicates slow or failed draining on applicable 796-series machines.

Typical symptoms include:

water remaining inside the drum
washer stopping before spin
unusually long drain period
humming drain pump
OE appearing on the display

Common causes

Clogged drain-pump filter
Blocked drain hose
Kinked drain hose
Foreign object inside pump
Failed drain pump
Wiring problem
Control-board problem

Solution

Disconnect power.

Check the drain hose for obstruction or kinking.

On models equipped with an accessible drain-pump filter, drain residual water carefully and clean the filter.

Common objects include:

coins
buttons
hair
lint
small socks
fabric
pins

If the pump receives power but does not operate correctly, the pump may require replacement.

Kenmore UE/uE Error – Unbalanced Load

UE normally indicates that the washer cannot balance the load sufficiently for high-speed spin on applicable 796 models.

Causes

Single heavy item
Very small load
Tangled clothing
Washer not level
Overloaded basket
Weak suspension components

Solution

Pause the washer and redistribute the laundry.

For an extremely small load, adding one or two similar items may improve balance.

Check that all washer feet are firmly contacting the floor.

Repeated UE errors with ordinary balanced loads can indicate worn suspension components.

Kenmore LE Error – Drive Motor Problem

On applicable 796-series front-load washers, LE can indicate a locked drive-motor condition. Diagnostic information points technicians toward the motor circuit, wiring and Hall/tachometer sensing system.

Possible causes

Drum mechanically restricted
Overloaded washer
Motor wiring failure
Hall sensor problem
Drive motor problem
Electronic control problem

Troubleshooting

Disconnect the washer from power.

Rotate the drum manually.

It should rotate without severe mechanical resistance.

Inspect:

motor connectors
Hall sensor connector
harness
motor assembly

A recurring LE code should not automatically result in motor replacement. Wiring and motor-position sensing should also be tested.

Kenmore FE Error – Overfill Condition

On applicable LG-derived Kenmore platforms, FE is associated with excessive water or an overfill condition.

Possible causes include:

inlet valve stuck open
pressure-sensing problem
blocked pressure hose
control-board problem

Important test

If water continues entering the washer after the appliance has been unplugged, immediately shut off the household water faucets.

That symptom strongly suggests that an inlet valve is mechanically stuck open.

Do not continue operating the washer because flooding can occur.

Kenmore PE Error – Water-Level Sensor Failure

PE commonly indicates a water-level/pressure-sensor problem on applicable 796 machines. Sears troubleshooting information directs diagnosis toward the water-level sensor, its wiring and related circuitry.

Inspect

Pressure sensor
Pressure hose
Sensor connector
Harness
Main control

Check the pressure hose for:

cracks
pinching
disconnection
blockage

A pressure sensor cannot correctly measure water level if the air-pressure path is compromised.

Kenmore dE Error – Door Error

On applicable LG-derived Kenmore washers, dE generally indicates that the control cannot confirm that the washer door is properly closed or locked.

Causes

Door not fully closed
Clothing trapped in door
Damaged latch
Failed door-lock assembly
Wiring problem
Control-board problem

Solution

Remove any clothing trapped between the door and gasket.

Close the door firmly.

If the error returns, inspect the latch and lock assembly.

Never bypass the door-lock safety system.

Kenmore CE Error

On applicable LG-derived platforms, CE generally points toward an abnormal electrical-current or motor-control condition.

Potential causes include:

overloaded motor
drive-system restriction
motor wiring fault
motor problem
control-board problem

Disconnect power and determine whether the basket/drum rotates freely.

Because CE can involve energized motor-control electronics, advanced diagnosis should normally be performed with the correct service information.

Kenmore tE / TE Error – Temperature Sensor

On applicable Kenmore 796 models, tE indicates a thermistor/temperature-sensing problem. Sears documentation for 796 top-load machines directs troubleshooting toward the thermistor, wiring and electronic control.

Check

Thermistor
Wiring harness
Connector
Control board
Heater circuit where applicable

Thermistor resistance should be tested against the specification for the exact model and temperature.

Do not use one resistance value for every Kenmore washer.

Kenmore PF Error – Power Failure

PF generally indicates that electrical power was interrupted during operation on platforms that support this code.

Possible causes:

Utility outage
Loose wall plug
Tripped breaker
Poor receptacle connection
Voltage disturbance
Appliance power-supply problem

Solution

Verify that the washer is connected directly to a properly grounded outlet of the required rating.

Avoid extension cords.

If PF occurs repeatedly while other appliances remain unaffected, inspect the outlet, plug, power cord and washer electrical system.

Kenmore F20 Error – Fill/Water Supply Problem

F20 appears on various Whirlpool-derived Kenmore front-load platforms and is generally associated with an inadequate fill or water-supply problem.

Inspect

Hot and cold faucets
Supply hoses
Inlet screens
Water pressure
Inlet valves
Pressure hose/system
Wiring
Electronic controls

If the machine fills with water but still reports F20, the problem may involve water-level detection rather than the external water supply.

Kenmore F21 Error – Long Drain

F21 commonly indicates that the washer is taking too long to drain on applicable Whirlpool-derived platforms.

Common causes

Clogged pump filter
Blocked drain hose
Foreign object inside pump
Failed drain pump
Excess detergent
Electrical connection failure

Troubleshooting

Disconnect power.

Drain the machine safely.

Inspect and clean the pump filter where applicable.

Check the hose from the tub to the pump and the external drain hose.

If the drain path is clear but the pump is weak, noisy or nonfunctional, test the pump.

Kenmore F22 Error

F22 is model/platform dependent but can be associated with a door-lock or door-detection problem on certain Kenmore front-load machines.

Check:

Door alignment
Door latch
Door-lock assembly
Wiring
Connectors
Control electronics

Always verify the model-specific meaning before replacing the lock.

Kenmore F24 Error – Temperature Sensor Fault

On applicable Whirlpool-derived platforms, F24 is commonly associated with the water-temperature sensor circuit.

Possible causes include:

Failed temperature sensor
Open wiring
Shorted wiring
Loose connector
Control-board problem

Measure the sensor according to the service manual's resistance-versus-temperature specification.

Kenmore F28 Error – Communication Failure

On applicable electronic Whirlpool-derived Kenmore washers, F28 commonly indicates a communication problem between electronic control modules.

Depending on the platform, diagnosis may involve the central control and motor-control electronics.

Inspect

Control-board connectors
Harnesses
Corrosion
Loose plugs
Damaged wiring
Motor control
Main control

Disconnect power before unplugging electronic connectors.

Do not automatically replace both boards. Harness and connector problems should be eliminated first.

Kenmore F32 Error

F32 is platform dependent and can relate to the pressure/water-level sensing circuit on certain models.

Possible checks include:

Pressure switch/sensor
Pressure hose
Wiring
Connectors
Control board

Because Kenmore used multiple electronic platforms, verify F32 against the exact model before diagnosis.

Kenmore F33 Error

F33 can have a pump or pump-drive/control-related meaning on certain Kenmore/Whirlpool-derived machines, but its definition is not universal across the Kenmore range.

Inspect the model-specific technical sheet before replacing components.

Potential diagnostic areas may include:

Drain pump
Pump wiring
Harness connections
Electronic control

Kenmore F5 E2 Error – Door/Lid Lock Problem

On applicable newer Whirlpool-derived platforms, F5 E2 generally points toward a door/lid locking or sensing problem.

Check for:

Obstruction around latch
Broken latch
Damaged strike
Failed lock assembly
Loose wiring
Control fault

Do not defeat or bypass the safety interlock.

Kenmore F8 E1 Error – Long Fill / No Water

F8 E1 generally indicates that the washer is not detecting the expected amount of incoming water on applicable platforms.

Check

Water faucets fully open
Supply pressure
Kinked hoses
Clogged screens
Inlet valve
Pressure system
Wiring

A siphoning installation problem can sometimes confuse water-level control because water enters and leaves the machine simultaneously.

Check the drain-hose installation as well.

Kenmore F9 E1 Error – Long Drain

F9 E1 commonly indicates that draining is taking longer than expected on applicable Whirlpool-derived platforms.

Check:

Drain hose
Pump filter
Pump impeller
Tub-to-pump hose
Drain pump
Pump wiring
Water-level sensing system

If excessive detergent created heavy suds, the washer may also have difficulty draining and detecting an empty tub.

Kenmore Sud / Sd Error – Excessive Suds

Sud or Sd generally indicates excessive suds or a condition that the washer interprets as excessive sudsing.

Common causes include:

Too much detergent
Non-HE detergent in an HE washer
Concentrated detergent overdosing
Drain restriction
Partially clogged filter
Weak drain pump
Pressure-sensing problem

Solution

Allow the washer's automatic suds-reduction routine to operate if applicable.

For future loads:

Use HE detergent when specified.
Follow detergent concentration instructions.
Reduce detergent for small loads and soft water.
Clean the drain system if Sud repeatedly returns despite correct detergent use.

Kenmore 796 vs 110 Error Codes

This distinction is extremely important.

Kenmore 796-Series

Many 796-series machines use an LG-derived architecture.

Frequently encountered codes include:

IE
OE
UE/uE
LE
FE
PE
dE
CE
tE

Sears PartsDirect publishes separate diagnostic tables specifically for Kenmore 796 front-load and top-load machines, confirming that these model families require their own code interpretation.

Kenmore 110-Series

Many 110-series machines are Whirlpool-derived.

Depending on generation, codes can include:

F20
F21
F22
F24
F28
F32
F33
F5 E2
F8 E1
F9 E1
Sud/Sd

Even within the 110 family, however, different generations use different control systems.

Therefore, 110 alone is not sufficient for ordering electronic parts. Use the complete model number.

How to Reset a Kenmore Washer Error Code

A reset can clear a temporary electronic condition, but it cannot repair a failed component.

A safe generic procedure is:

Cancel the current cycle if possible.
Turn the washer off.
Disconnect it from electrical power.
Wait approximately 5 minutes.
Restore power.
Select a short cycle.
Observe operation.

If the same code returns, troubleshoot the underlying fault.

Repeatedly resetting a washer without fixing a drain, fill, motor or lock problem is not a repair.

Recommended Diagnostic Order

When troubleshooting any Kenmore washer error, use this sequence.

1. Record the complete model number

Never skip this step.

2. Record the exact error

For example:

F8 E1

is more useful than:

Do not omit letters, spaces or secondary codes.

3. Observe when the code occurs

Determine whether it happens during:

startup
filling
washing
heating
draining
spinning
door locking

4. Check simple external causes

Inspect:

power
water
faucets
hoses
drain
load balance
detergent

5. Disconnect power

Before accessing internal components, unplug the appliance.

6. Perform visual inspection

Look for:

loose connectors
damaged harnesses
corrosion
leaks
burned components
foreign objects

7. Test components

Use a multimeter only when you understand the circuit and have the correct technical specification.

8. Replace parts only after diagnosis

Error codes normally identify a detected condition or circuit, not necessarily the exact failed component.

Safety Precautions

Washing machines combine:

mains electricity
water
moving components
high-current motors
electronic control boards

Always unplug the washer before opening cabinets or disconnecting components.

Turn off water before servicing inlet components.

Never bypass:

door locks
lid switches
ground connections
thermal protection
safety interlocks

Electronic boards can retain dangerous voltage after the washer is disconnected.

Service literature for Kenmore 796 machines specifically warns technicians about electrical hazards around the PWB/control circuitry during troubleshooting.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are Kenmore washer error codes difficult to identify?

Because Kenmore washing machines have historically been produced using different OEM platforms. Different models can therefore use completely different error-code systems.

2. What should I check before searching for a Kenmore error code?

Find the complete model number first. Kenmore's official manual system also uses the model number to locate the appropriate documentation.

3. What does IE mean on a Kenmore washer?

On applicable 796-series machines, IE indicates an inlet/fill problem. Check the water supply, hoses, inlet valves, wiring and control system.

4. What does OE mean?

On applicable 796 machines, OE indicates slow or failed draining. Check the drain hose, filter and drain pump.

5. What does UE mean?

UE indicates that the washer cannot properly balance the load on applicable models. Redistribute the clothing and verify that the washer is level.

6. What does LE mean?

On applicable 796 front-load models, LE can indicate a locked drive-motor condition. Inspect the drive system, motor wiring and Hall/tachometer sensing system.

7. What does PE mean?

On applicable 796 machines, PE indicates a problem involving the water-level/pressure sensor circuit.

8. What does F20 mean?

On applicable Whirlpool-derived Kenmore washers, F20 generally indicates a water-fill problem.

9. What does F21 mean?

F21 commonly indicates that the washer is taking too long to drain on applicable platforms.

10. What does F8 E1 mean?

F8 E1 commonly indicates no water, insufficient water or an excessively long fill condition on applicable Whirlpool-derived machines.

11. What does F9 E1 mean?

F9 E1 generally indicates a long-drain condition on applicable models.

12. What does Sud mean?

Sud/Sd generally indicates excessive suds or a condition causing the washer to detect excessive sudsing.

13. Can too much detergent cause an error code?

Yes. Excess detergent can cause Sud/Sd and may contribute to draining, spinning and water-level detection problems.

14. Can a clogged drain filter cause OE, F21 or F9 E1?

Depending on the washer platform, yes. Drain restrictions are among the first things to inspect when a long-drain code appears.

15. Can I reset a Kenmore washer by unplugging it?

Power cycling can reset some temporary control conditions. Disconnecting power for about five minutes is a reasonable diagnostic step, but a recurring hardware fault will return.

16. Does resetting the washer repair the problem?

No. Resetting only clears the control state. It does not repair a blocked pump, failed valve, broken sensor, damaged lock or defective motor.

17. How do I know whether my Kenmore washer is LG-derived or Whirlpool-derived?

The complete model number is the best starting point. Many 796-series machines are LG-derived and many 110-series machines are Whirlpool-derived, but always verify the complete model.

18. Should I replace the control board when an error appears?

Not immediately. Check external causes, wiring, connectors and the associated component before condemning the control board.

19. Why does my Kenmore washer show UE on every load?

If loads are correctly distributed and the machine is level, inspect the suspension system. Worn suspension components can prevent the washer from balancing properly.

20. Why does OE return after cleaning the filter?

The drain hose may still be restricted, the pump may be damaged, the pump wiring may have a fault or the electronic control may not be operating the pump correctly.

21. What if water continues entering after I unplug the washer?

Immediately shut off the water faucets. A mechanically stuck inlet valve can allow water into the washer without electrical power and presents a flooding risk.

22. Is dE always a defective door lock?

No. The door may simply be obstructed or misaligned. Wiring, the door strike and electronic control can also produce door-related faults.

23. Can low water pressure cause Kenmore fill errors?

Yes. Insufficient water pressure can prevent the required water level from being reached within the control's allowed fill time.

24. Can a bad drain pump cause Sud?

Yes. A washer that cannot remove water efficiently may interpret the condition as excessive sudsing on some platforms.

25. Where can I find the correct Kenmore washer manual?

Use the official Kenmore Manuals and Guides page and search using the complete model number.

Final Technical Advice

The most important rule when troubleshooting a Kenmore washing machine is:

MODEL NUMBER FIRST — ERROR CODE SECOND — PART REPLACEMENT LAST.

Do not assume that an IE, F21, F8 E1 or any other code has one universal meaning across every Kenmore washer.

Identify the full model number, determine the underlying platform, retrieve the appropriate technical documentation, confirm the displayed code, inspect external causes, test the associated circuit and only then replace a component.

This approach is especially important for Kenmore because different generations can contain substantially different mechanical and electronic systems even though they share the same Kenmore or Kenmore Elite branding.