On the covered Kenmore HE2, HE5 and HE5 steam model front-load washer, F22 means Kenmore's service table lists this code as: door lock failure. Unplug the washer and check the connectors at the lock and at the board; the chart names this first.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore HE2, HE5 and HE5 steam model front-load washer code F22”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A loose or damaged wire harness between the door lock assembly and the main control board
What separates it F22 appears with the door closed, and the door will not lock or the cycle will not start
How to confirm Unplug the washer and check the connectors at the lock and at the board; the chart names this first
- 2
The door lock assembly has failed
What separates it The wiring is sound and the lock still does not engage when a cycle is started
How to confirm The chart says to replace the door lock assembly once the wiring connections are confirmed okay
- 3
Debris or a worn door catch stopping the latch from seating fully
What separates it The door closes but the latch does not seat firmly, or the door feels loose when closed
How to confirm Inspect the latch receiver and the door catch for lint, a stray sock or wear, and clear anything blocking a full close
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the door latches mechanically when you close it firmly
- Whether you hear the lock click when a cycle is started
- Any debris or clothing caught around the latch area
Try in this order
0 of 4 completedCorrect only the documented fault domain
ReversibleUnplug the washer and check the wiring harness connections between the door lock assembly and the main control board. or replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire connections are okay, replace the door lock assembly. Parts named: door lock assembly, wire harness.
Unplug the washer and inspect the wiring between the door lock and the main control board
ReversibleReseat any loose connector and replace a damaged harness; the chart's first step is the wire connections, and it costs nothing to check.
Check the door and the latch area for anything blocking a full close
ReversibleA sock or debris in the latch receiver is a free fix to rule out before replacing anything, so look with a flashlight and clear it.
Replace the door lock assembly if the wiring is sound
ReversibleThat is the chart's next remedy, listed with the wire harness as possible parts; match the assembly to your full model number before ordering.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Tools
- Screwdriver or nut driver for the lower service panel and a flashlight for the latch area.
- Parts named by the chart
- Door lock assembly and wire harness.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Door lock replacement is a chart-listed repair, so book it if you are not confident with the door assembly and the harness behind it
- !Do not force the door open; use the manual release described on the F29 page instead
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The wiring-then-lock order is chart text; the latch-debris cause and the flashlight check are standard practice and ours.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F22 mean on a Kenmore HE2, HE5 and HE5 steam model front-load washer?+
Kenmore's service table lists this code as: door lock failure.
What does F22 mean compared with F29?+
F22 is a door lock failure, meaning the lock will not engage. F29 is a door unlock error, meaning the lock will not release, and it has its own manual-release steps on its page.
Can I keep using the washer with F22?+
Not for cycles that need the door locked. The washer will not run a cycle until it detects a locked door, so the fault has to be cleared first.
Is the lock the same part as the door switch?+
On these washers the lock and switch are sold as one assembly; the F26 and F28 charts call it the door lock/switch assembly.
Do I need a flashlight to check the latch?+
It helps: the latch receiver sits inside the door frame where lint and stray socks collect out of direct sight, so a flashlight makes it much faster to confirm the area is actually clear before moving on to the wiring and the lock assembly itself.