LG dishwashers report faults as error codes on the display, and the code tells you which circuit is complaining. The four you are most likely to see are OE for drainage, IE for filling, LE for the motor and FE for overfilling - and two of those are commonly fixed without a technician.
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This covers how to read the codes, what each one actually means, and where the line sits between a filter you can clean and a part that needs replacing.
Read the code before anything else
When an LG dishwasher aborts a cycle it displays a two-letter code. Write it down. The code identifies the circuit reporting the fault, which narrows the diagnosis enormously, though it names the symptom rather than always naming the failed part.
Most LG models also have a test mode reached by holding a specific pair of buttons for a few seconds, which steps the machine through fill, wash, drain and dry in sequence. The exact combination varies by model, so check yours against the manual rather than a generic sequence found online.
The codes worth knowing
OE - not draining. The most common code, and most often not a failed part. Water is left standing in the tub at the end of the cycle.
IE - not filling. The machine is not getting water within the expected time.
LE - motor fault. The wash motor is drawing incorrect current or not turning.
FE - overfilling. Water is entering when it should not be.
AE - leak detected. Water has reached the base tray and the leak sensor has tripped.
OE: the one to try yourself
Work through it in this order.
The filter. Bottom of the tub, twists out. Food debris and grease block it, and this is the cause more often than everything else combined. Rinse it under hot water and scrub the mesh.
The drain hose. Check for a kink behind the machine, which is common after a dishwasher has been pulled out and pushed back for any reason.
The air gap. If you have one on the countertop, unscrew the cap and clear it. They block with debris and produce exactly this fault.
The garburator connection. If the dishwasher drains through a newly fitted disposal, the knockout plug may never have been removed. It is a classic post-installation OE.
Only after all of that is the drain pump itself a reasonable suspect.
IE: check the supply
Confirm the water shut-off valve under the sink is fully open, then check the inlet screen where the supply hose meets the machine. Sediment blocks it gradually, and the symptom is a machine that fills too slowly rather than not at all. If both are clear, the inlet valve is the likely failure.
LE and AE: stop here
An LE is a motor fault, and on LG models with a direct-drive motor that is a significant repair rather than a clean-and-retry. An AE means water has already escaped into the base. Neither improves by running the cycle again, and continuing to run a machine reporting AE risks water damage to the floor.
Clearing a code
Press Power to cancel, then unplug the dishwasher or switch off its breaker for a few minutes. Codes clear on power cycle. If the code returns on the next cycle, it is reporting a live fault, not a glitch, and clearing it again achieves nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the code tell me exactly which part failed?
It tells you which circuit is reporting the fault. An OE means the machine did not sense the water level drop when it should have, which could be a blocked filter, a kinked hose, a failed pump or a faulty sensor. It narrows the search rather than ending it.
Is it safe to keep using the dishwasher with a code showing?
Not with AE, which means an active leak. With OE the machine will not complete a cycle anyway. An intermittent code is worth diagnosing before it becomes permanent.
What does this cost to repair?
Our diagnostic is $100 and comes off your repair labour. Labour on a typical dishwasher repair runs $225-$300. A drain pump is usually $80 to $150 for the part; a control board is considerably more.
When to call
If the filter, hose and air gap are clear and OE persists, or you are seeing LE or AE, book a dishwasher repair. Have the model number and the code ready and it will save time on the visit.