Samsung LE Error Code: Leak Detected
High severity
LE on a Samsung dishwasher's display is the leakage error: the machine's internal moisture sensor has found water outside the tub and cut the cycle short before a small leak turns into a flooded kitchen floor.
Applies to: Most Samsung DW-series built-in and portable dishwashers with digital displays
What it means
Samsung's own support documentation labels this the “leakage error,” and it isn't subtle — the dishwasher stops mid-cycle rather than finish and let water keep collecting. The dishwasher's internal leak or moisture sensor has detected water where it shouldn't be, or the Waterwall reflector isn't moving correctly, so the unit stops itself as a safety precaution.
Common causes
- Oversudsing from regular dish soap instead of dishwasher detergent
- Overfilled detergent dispenser
- A leak from a loose hose connection, worn door gasket, or cracked tub component
- Debris blocking the Waterwall reflector on Waterwall-model dishwashers
- A blocked or missing garbage disposal knockout cap letting water back up
What you can check yourself
- Turn off the dishwasher and check underneath and around it for standing water
- Confirm you're using dishwasher-specific detergent, not dish soap, and using the correct amount
- Check the door gasket for damage or trapped food and clean it
- On Waterwall models, check that the reflector area is free of packing material or debris and moves freely
- Dry up any spilled water, reset the breaker, and run a normal cycle
Call a professional when
If LE keeps returning after you've ruled out oversudsing and cleared visible debris, or you can see an actual leak from a hose or the tub itself, call a technician to pressure-test the water system.
Related
- Samsung dishwasher codes — full list of Samsung fault codes
- Samsung 5E / SE — drain error, another common trigger for standing water
- Samsung 4E / 4C — water supply fault
- Dishwasher Leak Detected / Water Under the Unit — symptom guide across brands