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LG range or oven code F16: meaning and exact next steps

F16 means an Oven Sensor Issue — LG's own wording. This answer applies only to LG electric and gas ranges and wall ovens. LG documents radiant-cooktop codes separately in the same article; griddle, induction and sous-vide codes apply only to models with those features.

On the covered LG range or oven, F16 means an Oven Sensor Issue — LG's own wording. First, note whether the oven has a single cavity and whether it still heats. Then: LG treats F16 the same way as its other sensor codes: press CLEAR/OFF and retry, then, if F16 is still there, cut the breaker for 30 seconds and restore it — LG's own sequence.

Part of LG range or oven error codes guide

Differential

Likely causes of “LG range or oven code F16”, and how to tell them apart

  1. 1

    An oven sensor issue

    What separates it F16 shows on a single-cavity oven

    How to confirm LG lists F16 as an oven sensor issue

  2. 2

    A sensor that reads out of range

    What separates it Temperatures are wrong or the oven shuts off

    How to confirm Compare with an oven thermometer

  3. 3

    A damaged sensor lead or connector

    What separates it The code appears at random

    How to confirm Service inspection

  4. 4

    A sensor that touches the wall of the cavity

    What separates it Readings wander

    How to confirm Service inspection

  5. 5

    A control fault

    What separates it The code returns after the sensor is replaced

    How to confirm Service diagnosis

Before you touch a setting

Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence

  • That the code reads F16
  • Whether the oven heats and by how much
  • Whether an oven thermometer agrees with the display
  • Whether the oven has one cavity or two

Try in this order

0 of 8 completed

  1. What to do first

    Reversible

    Note whether the oven has a single cavity and whether it still heats.

  2. Correct only the documented fault domain

    Reversible

    LG treats F16 the same way as its other sensor codes: press CLEAR/OFF and retry, then, if F16 is still there, cut the breaker for 30 seconds and restore it — LG's own sequence.

  3. Press CLEAR/OFF

    Reversible

    And retry the original function.

  4. Reset at the breaker

    Reversible

    Off for 30 seconds.

  5. Run a bake

    Reversible

    With an oven thermometer inside.

  6. Compare the readings

    Reversible

    Display against thermometer.

  7. Do not touch the sensor

    Reversible

    It is fragile and hot.

  8. Schedule service

    Reversible

    If F16 returns.

Model-specific

What is true of this model and not of its siblings

The sensor
The oven sensor is a thin metal rod inside the cavity, near the top of the back wall. Its resistance changes with temperature, and the control reads it to hold the oven at the set temperature. When the reading is out of range, the control shows F16.
What you can see
You can look at the rod through the cavity, but you should not bend or move it. A rod that has been knocked, or that touches the wall, gives wrong readings.
A thermometer test
Put a reliable oven thermometer in the middle and bake at 350. If the display is far off the thermometer, or the oven will not hold a temperature, tell the technician.
The single cavity wording
LG lists F16 as an oven sensor issue for a single cavity model, and F1, F2 and F4 for the upper and lower ovens on double ovens. The page for the exact code on your display is the one to follow.
Safety
A wrong sensor can let an oven run hotter than set. Stop using it if it smells of burning or smokes.
Service
Quote the model number. The technician measures the sensor's resistance at room temperature and compares it with the specification.
Why wrong readings matter
An oven that thinks it is cooler than it is will overheat, and one that thinks it is hotter will underheat. Because the control relies on a single sensor, it shows F16 when the sensor's reading cannot be right. Treat a code with caution: if baked goods burn or stay pale, the sensor may have been reading wrongly before the code appeared.
Checking the rod without touching
Look at the rod from the front. It should project from the back wall near the top, be straight and not touch the wall or the element. If it looks bent, do not straighten it, because the connection behind it can break. Tell the technician what you saw.

Stop boundary

When this stops being a self-service repair

  • !LG says to schedule service through its Request a Repair page if the code returns after the reset, with the full model number and the exact code
  • !Never bypass a safety control to keep cooking

Evidence ledger

Sources behind this answer

01
LG USA Support LG Range — Error Codes List

Exact questions

Common questions

What does F16 mean on a LG range or oven?+

an Oven Sensor Issue — LG's own wording.

Can I use the oven?+

Not reliably; temperatures can be wrong.

Is the sensor easy to replace?+

A technician does it; it is a small part.

Wrong device or version?

Match the path before repeating the steps.

Match another device