Expanded exact-code directory
KitchenAid dishwasher error codes
KitchenAid dishwasher codes as KitchenAid Product Help lists them, each with its meaning and the first safe check.
KitchenAid dishwashers report faults through a letter and number on the control panel, or through a pattern of lights on models without a display, and the code names the stage that failed: fill, wash, heat, drain or the control itself. The list on this page follows the codes KitchenAid publishes, each with its meaning and the one check that costs nothing, which is the right order of work on a machine that is sold as a premium appliance and is worth repairing properly.
KitchenAid dishwasher codes and what to try first
Find the model number before anything else. On a KitchenAid dishwasher it is on a label along the edge of the tub or the inside of the door, and it matters more than usual because KitchenAid builds several wash systems, and the code table you need depends on which generation you own. If your cycle was one of the heavier ones, such as a pots and pans or a high-temperature wash, note it, because heater and thermistor codes tend to appear in those.
Begin with what you can see. Look at the filter and the sump for debris, check that the spray arms turn freely by hand, and make sure the lower rack is seated so it does not block the arm. If the code refers to water, check the inlet tap and the drain hose for kinks; if it refers to the panel, dry the control area and release any key that is stuck. Then cancel, power the machine down for thirty seconds at the breaker, and run a short cycle.
When a code survives that, it usually names a part, and a KitchenAid dishwasher of this quality rewards a correct diagnosis: a drain pump, a fill valve or a heating element is far cheaper than a replacement machine. Stop for any leak under the unit and for anything electrical beyond the plug.
On KitchenAid dishwashers the codes owners search for most describe water coming in, not going out. F8 E2 is a fill valve electrical error, and the first check is to remove the drip tray at the bottom and look at the inlet valve connection for a leak. F8 E4 means water was found in the drip tray or the tub overfilled, and Whirlpool-platform instructions begin by asking whether the dishwasher is newly installed, because a loose supply connection or too much suds causes it. F6 E4 and its relatives name the float switch, so level the machine and make sure the float moves freely; F6 E3 is excessive suds, and the fix is to scoop out the foam and use only dishwasher detergent.
H2O means no water was detected, which is the supply tap or the inlet screen.
If water is in the base pan, stop and call: a leak is the point at which a code stops being a nuisance. Turn off the supply, dry the pan, and have the connections checked before you run another cycle.
Does KitchenAid use the same codes on every dishwasher?
No. Two generations of the table exist, so match the code to the model number before you act on it.
What should I check if a KitchenAid dishwasher shows a drain code?
The drain hose for kinks, the filter basket for debris, and whether the garbage disposal knockout plug was removed on a new installation.