VERIFIED
Extra water in the tub is what FE reports. What you see depends on the machine. Front-load and WashTower displays can read FE, E04 or E12, and a top-load washer reads FE once its tub overfills.
Front-load washers and WashTower: what the manual lists
- The drain pump is meant to kick in on its own to head off leaks, which implies surplus water got into the drum, possibly through the detergent dispenser. See if the dispenser is feeding in more water.
- Pull the plug, give it a minute, and power the washer up again.
- Select the Quick 30 program. A start that skips the drain action means you should cancel the program and power the unit down.
On the WashTower, the separate guide adds advice about suds and the filter.
- Detergent that is too plentiful or the wrong type produces excess suds, which can throw off the water level sensor.
- LG recommends HE detergent, measured at the amounts it specifies.
- Give the drain filter a cleaning. Opening it can release lots of water, so set a pan underneath and have a dry cloth close by.
Top-load washers
Take the cord out of the outlet, put it back and try a cycle. If the tub is still filling toward overflow, the water level sensor may be at fault, and the water supply should be turned off.
Related codes
- FF: the washer detected freezing
- IE: the tub is not reaching the right level in time
- HE: a temporary heater error
Washer repair in the Bay Area
If FE keeps coming back, the machine needs an inspection. Reach our San Francisco team on (415) 223-7887 about LG washer repair across the Bay Area, and prepare the code variant shown, the model number and the steps you have gone through.
Model compatibility: LG reuses codes across series and model years, so FE / E04 / E12 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
