ElectriQ E50 washing machine: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What E50 actually means

The board that drives the motor has picked up a signal it isn't happy with, so the machine has stopped rather than keep spinning the drum.

On these ElectriQ machines with a brushless (BLDC) motor, the motor is run by its own inverter board, which watches the incoming voltage, the current it's drawing and the drum's speed signal. If any of those readings fall outside limits \u2014 voltage too high or low, current too high because the drum won't turn freely, or no speed feedback from the motor \u2014 it shuts down and reports E50. It usually shows up at the point the drum should start turning or when it tries to ramp up to a spin.

What E50 looks like on a ElectriQ washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a ElectriQ washing machine, E50 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

Something jamming the drum so the motor can't turn freely (stray garment, coin or wire trapped)
Mains supply problems \u2014 extension leads, poor sockets or unstable voltage
Loose or poor connection between the main board and the motor inverter board
Failed motor inverter board (damaged internal components)
Faulty main control board sending or reading the wrong signals

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and restart \u2014 a one-off voltage dip can trigger this.
Plug it straight into a wall socket rather than an extension lead or adaptor.
With the machine off, open the door and turn the drum by hand \u2014 it should spin freely with no grinding or hard spot.
Take the load out and check nothing has worked its way past the seal into the drum.
Clean the pump filter behind the bottom flap and check for hard objects.

Common questions about ElectriQ E50

What does E50 mean on a ElectriQ washing machine?

The board that drives the motor has picked up a signal it isn't happy with, so the machine has stopped rather than keep spinning the drum. On these ElectriQ machines with a brushless (BLDC) motor, the motor is run by its own inverter board, which watches the incoming voltage, the current it's drawing and the drum's speed signal. If any of those readings fall outside limits \u2014 voltage too high or low, current too high because the drum won't turn freely, or no speed feedback from the motor \u2014 it shuts down and reports E50. It usually shows up at the point the drum should start turning or when it tries to ramp up to a spin.

Can I fix ElectriQ E50 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and restart \u2014 a one-off voltage dip can trigger this.
Plug it straight into a wall socket rather than an extension lead or adaptor.
With the machine off, open the door and turn the drum by hand \u2014 it should spin freely with no grinding or hard spot.
Take the load out and check nothing has worked its way past the seal into the drum.
Clean the pump filter behind the bottom flap and check for hard objects.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair ElectriQ E50?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E50?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most washing machine faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other ElectriQ washing machine codes

All ElectriQ fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

ElectriQ E50 error — washing machine