Whirlpool Dishwasher Error Codes
Whirlpool dishwashers report faults as an "F" number paired with an "E" number — F6E1, F9E1, and so on — either spelled out on a digital display or blinked out on models with only a Clean light. Find your code below for what it actually means and what to check before calling for service.
How the F#E# format works
On models with a digital display, the code appears directly — no counting required. Older or simpler models that only have a Clean light communicate the same information by flashing: Whirlpool's own guidance is to count the first burst of rapid flashes for the Function (F) number, wait through a short one-to-two second pause, then count the second burst for the Error (E) number. The whole pattern repeats after a longer pause of around five seconds. Seven flashes, a pause, then one flash is F7-E1; six flashes, a pause, then one flash is F6-E1.
Whichever way your model shows it, the code is the starting point, not the diagnosis — the tables and pages below go from the code to what's actually wrong.
Every Whirlpool code in this reference
| Code | Means | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| F1E1 | Control board (control module) fault | Medium |
| F2E1 | Stuck key / console error on the touch panel | Low |
| F3E1 | Water temperature sensor circuit open | Medium |
| F5E1 | Door latch switch fault | Medium |
| F6E1 | No water fill detected | Medium |
| F7E1 | Heating element fault | High |
| F8E4 | Water detected in the drip tray (leak) | High |
| F9E1 | Long-drain fault | Medium |
No code on the display?
Plenty of real Whirlpool dishwasher problems never trigger a code at all — the machine just stops behaving normally. These symptom pages start from what the dishwasher is doing rather than what letters are on the screen:
- Dishwasher Not Draining
- Dishwasher Not Filling With Water
- Dishwasher Leak Detected / Water Under the Unit
- Dishwasher Door Won't Latch or Close
- Dishwasher Not Heating, Drying, or Sanitizing
- Dishwasher Won't Start
Still not sure which code you're looking at, or want to search across every brand at once? The code lookup tool covers Whirlpool alongside Bosch, Samsung, LG, and KitchenAid.