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FE

LG FE on a dishwasher: leak or too much water or suds

Verified with sources2 sourcesReviewed Oct 3, 2026
Technician coming? See the 2 steps they must show you
Open dishwasher showing its racks
Yelderberry (talk)CC BY-SA 4.0Image source

Risk level

Medium

Proceed carefully and stop if the check is unclear.

Urgency

High

Quick answer

On an LG dishwasher, FE belongs to the leak and overfill group. Switch the unit off and check whether you used hand dish soap or more than one pod: LG lists that as a cause of suds that overflow.

Safety first

Stop and check this first

  • If there is water on the floor or in the base, turn off the breaker before touching the unit: LG warns of a shock risk through the water.

Safe checks you can perform

  • Detergent used in the last cycle
  • Levelling, gasket and spray arms
  • Water in the base pan

Leave these tasks to a qualified professional

  • Do not attempt this professional task: Leak location
  • Do not attempt this professional task: Leak test after the repair

What a technician must be able to justify

A technician is coming

These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.

These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.

  1. Leak location

    What they doThe technician checks the door gasket, spray arms, internal connections and the base float switch to find where the water comes from.

    They must show youthe leak point found and the condition of the gasket and arms.

    In writingthe leak origin, the repair and the reference of any replaced part.

  2. Leak test after the repair

    What they doWith the base dry, the technician runs a full cycle and checks that no water reaches the pan and FE does not appear.

    They must show youthe pan dry at the end of the test cycle.

    In writingthe test, the result and the date.

Before accepting a part or repair

Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.

Follow these steps

Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.

  1. Detergent used in the last cycle

    No special tools

    Who:
    you.
    How:
    check which detergent you used. LG says not to use hand dish soap, not to use more than one pod and, with liquid or powder, to fill only to the line (15 for light soil, 25 for heavy soil).
    Result that matters:
    knowing whether suds explain the code.
    If you used dish soap or several pods and you see suds:
    it is the likely cause; switch to dishwasher detergent.
    If the detergent and dose were right:
    check levelling, gasket and arms.
    Evidence to keep:
    a photo of the detergent and of the suds if any.

    Evidence: LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting · [LG Dishwasher] Guide to Error Codes

  2. Levelling, gasket and spray arms

    No special tools

    Who:
    you, with a spirit level.
    How:
    place the level on the top, sides and bottom; adjust the legs if needed. Then check the door gasket for grease or tears and remove the spray arms to clean them with a soft brush and warm soapy water.
    Result that matters:
    a level unit with a clean, intact gasket and clear arms.
    If it was off level or the gasket or arms had debris and FE no longer shows:
    that was the cause.
    If you see a torn gasket or a damaged arm:
    it is not a home repair, request service.
    Evidence to keep:
    photos of the level, the gasket and the arms.

    Evidence: LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting

  3. Water in the base pan

    Tools required

    Who:
    you, with a Phillips screwdriver, following LG.
    How:
    turn off the dishwasher breaker first. Remove the two kick plate screws, take the plate off and dry the water in the base pan. If you see no water, leave the plate off for 24 to 48 hours so it evaporates, restore power and run an empty cycle.
    Result that matters:
    a dry base and a cycle without FE.
    If you dry the pan, fix the cause and the cycle ends with no code:
    resolved.
    If the base fills again or FE persists:
    request a repair.
    Evidence to keep:
    a photo of the water in the pan before drying it.

    LG asks you to turn the breaker off before opening the kick plate to avoid a shock through the water. Do not touch wires or components in the base: anything beyond drying the pan is for the service technician.

    Evidence: LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting

Still not solved

If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.

Where this code applies

A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.

Primary scope

System
Appliances
Brand
LG
Product type
Dishwashers

Known code variants

  • code erreur FE lave-linge LG
  • codice FE LG
  • código FE LG
  • erreur FE LG
  • error FE lavadora LG
  • error FE lavavajillas LG
  • errore FE lavatrice LG
  • FE error LG washer
  • Fehlercode FE LG
  • lavavajillas LG fuga FE
  • LG dishwasher FE
  • LG dishwasher leak FE
  • LG FE
  • LG FE dishwasher code
  • LG FE lavavajillas
  • LG Waschmaschine Fehler FE
  • LG washer code FE

What it means

LG groups FE with AE and EI as a leak or overfill error. Its guide lists five origins: more water than expected, oversudsing from hand dish soap, a unit that is not level, a misaligned door or a detected leak. In its AE guide, LG explains that water in the base lifts a float switch and the unit will not resume until the source is found: levelling, door gasket, spray arms or detergent. The code does not name a part: a damaged gasket or arm is confirmed by the technician.

Warnings and stop conditions

  • Highsource verified

    If there is water on the floor or in the base, turn off the breaker before touching the unit: LG warns of a shock risk through the water.

    Evidence: LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting

Symptoms and causes

Probable causes · in order

  • Suds from the wrong detergentCommon

    LG lists hand dish soap and more than one pod. It stands apart because you see suds in the tub or on the door and the code started after a detergent change.

    Evidence: LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting · [LG Dishwasher] Guide to Error Codes

  • Unit not level or door misalignedPossible

    Checked with a level and by seeing whether the door closes square. LG says to adjust the front and back legs.

    Evidence: LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting · [LG Dishwasher] Guide to Error Codes

  • Dirty or damaged door gasketPossible

    Visible when you open the door: grease that stops it sealing can be cleaned; a torn gasket is not a home repair according to LG.

    Evidence: LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting

  • Blocked or damaged spray armPossible

    A blocked arm sends water toward the door. It can be cleaned; if broken, LG asks for a professional repair.

    Evidence: LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting

Virtual technician

Does FE still appear after these checks?

Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.

Start diagnosis

Sources and technical references

  1. 1

    LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting

    LG Electronics · 2024 · official_doc

  2. 2

    [LG Dishwasher] Guide to Error Codes

    LG Electronics · 2025 · official_doc

Sources: LG USA dishwasher AE and E1 troubleshooting · [LG Dishwasher] Guide to Error Codesreviewed 2026-10-03 · verified

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